Ibrahim Adham narrated: “I was traveling in the desert with a caravan when something happened, and I got separated from them. Suddenly, I encountered a child walking alone. I said: ‘Glory be to God! A child walking in a barren desert like this?’ I approached the child and greeted him. The child replied to my greeting.
I asked: ‘Where are you going?’
He replied: ‘To the house of my Lord.’
I said: ‘My dear, you are young, and going to the house of God is neither obligatory upon you nor a tradition.’
He said: ‘Old man, have you never seen someone younger than me who has passed away?’
I asked: ‘Where is your food and your means of transportation?’
He replied: ‘My food is piety, my transportation is my feet, and my destination is my Lord.’
I said: ‘I do not see any food with you.’
He responded: ‘Old man, is it appropriate for someone to be invited to a feast and then take food with him from his own home?’
I said: ‘No.’
He replied: ‘The one who invited me will provide for me and nourish me.’
I said: ‘Come, mount up, so you won’t miss the pilgrimage.’
He answered: ‘My duty is striving and effort, and my arrival at the destination is in His hands. Have you not heard the words of God, who says: ‘And those who strive for Our cause, We will guide them to Our ways, and God is with the good-doers’[1]?’
As we were speaking, a handsome young man appeared, dressed in white, and embraced the child, greeting him. I approached the young man and asked: ‘By the God who created your beauty, who is this child?’
He said: ‘Do you not know him? He is Ali ibn Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them).’
I then turned away from the young man and approached the child, asking: ‘By your ancestors, who is this young man?’
He replied: ‘You do not recognize him? He is my brother Khidr[2], who visits us every year and sends his greetings to us.’
I said: ‘By the right of your ancestors, will you not tell us how you travel this desert without provisions and supplies?’
He replied: ‘I am crossing this desert with the provisions of this world, and my provisions are four things.’
I asked: ‘What are they?’
He said: ‘I consider this vast world to be the kingdom of God, and all creatures as His servants, slaves, and dependents. I trust that all provisions and means are in the hands of God, and I see His will running and prevailing over everything on this earth.’[3]
I said: ‘How excellent your provisions are, O Zain al-Abidin! With such provisions, you will cross the difficult paths of the Hereafter. It is clear that you can also cross the difficult paths of this world.’[4]
Footnote:
[1] (Surah Ankabut, verse 69)
[2] (Al-Kamal al-Din, Vol. 2, p. 390)
[3] It is important to note that the concept of tawakkul (reliance on God) has different levels, and what Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) expressed and demonstrated in this story is of the highest levels of this concept.
[4] (Manaqib Ibn Shahrashub, Vol. 3, p. 280)