A King is Big or a King of Devotees

Once, Sultan Adham went and sat by a pond outside his Balakh city. His son was the king. When he learned about it, he mounted an elephant and reached the pond with a musical procession. He asked his father to return home. Sultan flatly refused. His son said, “Look, what you have done to yourself. Live comfortably here. You are suffering as a beggar. Everything happens today by my orders.” Sultan said, “What God can do, a king cannot.” His son said, “I will do whatever you order me to do. You will have to stay with us.” Sultani said, “Alright; I accept it. I am putting a sewing needle with my hand in this pond. Take this needle out of the water and return it to me.” The king summoned the soldiers, divers and net throwers. They tried everything, but all in vain. His son said, “Father! I will get you a thousand needles in lieu of one needle. Will your Allah take this needle out of the water?” Then Sultan said, “O Son! Will you do bhakti if my Allah takes the same needle out of the water? Will you take sanyas (renounce the kingdom)?” His son said, “You may first get this needle taken out of the water by your lord, then I will think.” Ibrahim said, “O daughters of God, fish! A needle of this humble servant has fallen in your pond. Please take my needle out and give it to me.” Within a few moments, a fish came to the shore near Ibrahim with a needle in its mouth. Ibrahim grabbed the needle and thanked the fish with folded hands. Then Sultani said, “Son! Look, a human being, even if he is a king, cannot do what God can do. Will you worship God now?” His son said, “God has only given you a needle; I can give you diamonds and pearls. I will worship God in my old age.” Devotee Ibrahim got up and departed. He went into his cave.