Just as the caravan has arrived for a stop, you have lost your camel. You look everywhere for it. Finally, the caravan sets off again without you and night falls. All your load is left on the ground and you ask everyone:
“Have you seen my camel?”
You even add:
“I will give a reward to whoever gives me news of my camel!”
And everyone mocks you. One says:
“I have just seen a very fat, reddish-haired camel! He went in that direction!”
Another:
“Didn't your camel have a broken ear?”
Another:
“Wasn't there an embroidered blanket on the saddle?”
Another one:
“I saw a camel go that way with a busted eye!”
So, everyone gives you a description of your camel in the hope of taking advantage of your largesse.
On the path of knowledge, many are those who evoke the attributes of the Unknown. But you, if you do not know where your camel is, you do recognise the falsehood of all these hints. You even meet people who say to you:
“I too have lost my camel! Let us search together!”
And when someone finally comes along who really describes your camel to you, your joy knows no bounds and you make that man your guide to recover your camel.
Source: 150 Sufi tales - Jalaluddin Rumi
