A man asked Ibraheem Ibn Adham for advice that will help him stop and realize of his sinful actions. He was told:
1- If you want to disobey Allah, then don't eat from His rizq (provision).
The man said: Then where am I to eat when every provision
is from Allah?
Ibraheem said: O such a person! Is it honorable and
good to disobey Allah, and eat from His provision?
The man said: Give me
the second advice.
2- If you want to disobey Allah, then do not live on Allah's property.
The man said: Then where am I to live if not on Allah's
property?
Ibraheem said: Is it good then, to eat from His provision, live on
His property, and disobey Him?
The man said: Give me the third one.
3- If you want to disobey Allah, then disobey Him in a place where He will not see you.
The man said: How am I to do this when He not only sees what others see,
but what is in the hearts?
Ibraheem said: O you such a person, how do you eat
from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him openly?
The man said:
Give me the fourth one.
4- If you want to disobey Allah, when the Angel of Death comes to you, tell him to come back later, after you repent.
The man
said: He will not accept this from me!
Ibraheem said: O you such a person,
when you cannot delay death, how do you expect a savior?
The man said: Give
me the fifth.
5- If you want to disobey Allah, then after death comes to you, on the Day of Judgment, when the Angels of Hell come to drag you into Hell, refuse to go with them.
The man said: They will not accept that from me!
Ibraheem said: Then how do you expect to be saved?
The man said: Enough! Enough! I seek forgiveness in Allah!
'AstaghfirAllah wa a'tubuu ilayk!' He made sincere tawbaah (repentance), and left all his acts of disobedience, and he died in such a state.
Also see: The Tricks of Shaytaan Against You
The Islamic Bulletin
P.O. Box 410186, San Francisco, CA 94141-0186
info@islamicbulletin.org