HAZRAT KHAWAJA IBRAHIM BIN ADHAM (QSA)
Afzal Shah Madudi 
Hazrat Khawaja Ibrahim bin Adham (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) was one of the great awliya (holy saints) who was known for his pious life and karamat (miracles). Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) said "Ibrahim is the key to all the ulum (divine sciences)."
Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) was the King of Balkh before his spiritual journey. He once went on a hunt with his soldiers. While he was chasing a deer, he lost the company of his men when Allah Almighty made the deer speak to him and say "Have you been created for game?"
This changed the life of Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) as he left his kingdom and devoted himself completely to Allah Almighty. He was a murid (disciple) of Khawaja Khidr (Alayhissalam) and was in the company of many great mashaykh such as Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah be pleased with him).
It is said that once Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) was travelling to Makkah when he reached the middle of a desert. Suddenly, an old man appeared and said, "Do you know that you are in this horrible desert without food and drink?"
Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) said, "I knew he was the devil. I took out four coins from my pocket which I had earned by selling a basket and threw them in the sand (to show his trust in Allah). I then made up my mind to say 400 raka'ats (bowing) of prayer at every mile of the journey. It took four years to cross the desert. But Allah Almighty continued to provide most graciously all the necessary provision (rizq) to me throughout the journey. In the desert, I met Khidr (Alayissalam) who gave me the Isme Azam (Greatest name of Allah) which completely took me away from everything except Allah.``
Another time, Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) asked a man, "Do you wish to become a wali (friend of Almighty Allah)?" The man said "Yes, I do." THe shaykh said "Detach yourself from everything in this world and the next, devote yourself completely to Allah and concentrate upon Him .
(Reference: The Kashful Mahjub of Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Ali Hujweri (QSA) translated by Maulana Wahid Bakhsh Rabbani, pages 112-226)
Syedafzal Ali shah Maududi.
Editor cum Bureau chief.
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