The Test of Ibrahim Adham Sultan

Sultan Adham saw the hut of a sage who had been doing spiritual practice at that place for many years. Ibrahim went to him. That worshipper said, “Do not stay here; there is no food or water here. Go somewhere else.” Sultan Ibrahim said, “I have not come here as your guest. He, whose guest (guest of Allah) I am, will arrange for my (rizq) food. A human being brings his destiny with him. Nobody eats food of anybody. O dishonest! You are not even a good citizen. You want to meet Allah. If the intention is not right, a person cannot do acts of charity. Without charity, God is not found. He, who has given life, will also give bread.” Ibrahim sat down at a distance.

In the evening, a plate descended from the sky containing different types of vegetable dishes, halwa, rice pudding, roti (bread) and a pot of water. The plate was covered with a handkerchief. Ibrahim lifted the cloth from the plate and showed it to the old worshipper. A plate descended from the sky for the old worshipper with two rotis that too of barley flour and a pot of water.

Seeing this, the old worshipper was disgruntled and said, “O Allah! I will not eat the food sent by you. You discriminate. You have sent me dry barley roti, and a good food with pilau to Ibrahim.”

Allah spoke through an ether voice, “O Devotee! This Ibrahim was an affluent king. He had billions and trillions in his treasury. He had 16 thousand queens, had children, ministers and diwans. He had servants and maids. He has renounced those luxuries for me. Whatever I give him would be less. Look at your status. You were a grass cutter. You used to dig grass all day, then you used to earn a taka (currency). Every day, you used to carry the burden of bundles on your head. You had neither a (Bibi) wife, nor mother, nor a father who was a merchant. I send you cooked rotis. You still throw tantrums. If you are not happy in my will, then go and sit somewhere else. If you feel disinclined to do bhakti (worship), then here is your trowel to dig the grass and the net to tie it, go, dig the grass and earn your daily bread. If you want to achieve something, do not step outside my will. If a devotee has kubra (arrogance), then he is far from God. If a devotee is submissive, then he is close to Hakk (God).”

Sultan Adham appealed to God, “O Benefactor! I will make a living by working hard. I will worship you too. Please do not send this food. I want to remain at your feet by eating plain and dry food. My mind will become corrupt by eating this food that you are sending; I will make some mistake.” Even that old devotee was listening to this prayer. He hung his head in shame. He [the old devotee] prayed to God, “Lord! Pardon my mistake. I will remain happy in your will.” From that day on, Ibrahim would fetch the wood from the forest, and get food after selling it in the market. He used to eat the same food for eight days and worship.