SUPPRESSING DESIRES FOR ALLAH’S SAKE Hadhrat Sufyaan Bin Ibraheem (rahmatullahi alayh) narrates: "I saw Hadhrat Ibraheem Bin Adham (rahmatullahi alayh) sobbing in Makkah Muazzamah at the place where Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was born. This place is called Suqal Lail. I greeted him and recited Durood in that blessed place. I said to him: ‘O Abu Ishaq! Why are you crying in this place?’ He responded: ‘It is good to cry here.’ I visited this place again - twice or thrice - and found him in the same condition, sobbing. After I repeatedly asked him to explain, he said: ‘O Abu Sufyaan! I desired for the past thirty years to eat Hareesah, but I applied pressure on my nafs and denied its desire. Last night I was overwhelmed by sleep. In a dream I saw a handsome young man with a green steaming mug in his hand. The fragrance of Hareesah was being emitted from the mug. I exercised control on my heart. The young man said: ‘O Ibraheem! Eat this.’ I said: ‘I shall not eat something which I had renounced for Allah’s Sake.’ The young man said: ‘Will you not eat it even if Allah Ta`ala feeds you with it?’ By Allah! I had no reply other than to cry. The young man said: ‘Eat - Allah will have mercy on you.’ I said: ‘We have been instructed not to have any food with us.’ The young man said: ‘ Eat! Allah Ta`ala will overlook it. Ridhwaan, the over-looker of Jannat has given this (Hareesah) by the Command of Allah Ta`ala. He had ordered me: ‘ O Khidr! Feed this to Ibraheem. Allah Ta`ala has taken pity on his soul. He has exercised remarkable restraint. He has prevented himself from forbidden desires.’ The young man added: ‘Allah Ta`ala feeds you, but you refrain! O Ibraheem, I heard the Malaa-ikah say: ‘A man who refuses to accept what he had not asked for , will be denied when he asks.’ I said: ‘If it is truly as you are saying, then I am in your presence. To this day I have not violated Allah’s Pledge.’ Another lad appeared. He gave Khidr something and said: ‘Put this in Ibraheem’s mouth.’ Hadhrat Khidr then fed me until I woke up. When my eyes opened I had the taste of the food in my mouth and the colour of saffron on my lips. I went to the well and rinsed my mouth, but the taste and colour remained in my mouth.’" Hadhrat Sufyaan said: "When I looked, I saw the impressions of the food and colour still in his mouth."
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