Describe symbolism in The Conference of the Birds by Farid al-Din Attar

Sam'an was a renowned sheikh, who traveled to Rome and became a Christian. For 50 years, he serves as the keeper of Mecca's holy place, a teacher to 400 pupils, a strict ascetic, a theoretician, and an attraction to astonished saints and clerics. He "split[s] religious hairs in argument," heals the sick, reads people's hearts, and symbolizes Belief, until he dreams about living in Rome and worshiping idols.