for which you were created? Is this what you have been commanded to do?’

So he dismounted, chanced upon one of his father’s shepherds, took the man’s cloak, and handed him his horse along with everything else in his possession. Then he headed into the open desert. He kept company with Sufyān al-Thawrī (1) and with Fudayl ibn ʿIyād, travelled on to greater Syria, and earned his food by harvesting crops and guarding orchards. In the wilderness he met a man who taught him the al-ism al-aʿẓam (the Supreme Name of Allah); when he invoked it he beheld al-Khiḍr, who said, ‘It was my brother David who taught it to you.’

This account was transmitted by ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad al-Miṣrī, the preacher (2).

Abū Saʿīd al-Kharrāz told us: Ibrāhīm ibn Bashshār told us: Ibrāhīm ibn Adham related this to me when I asked him how his journey began.

It is also reported from Ibn Bashshār through another chain that adds: ‘I asked some of the shaykhs about lawful earnings, and they said, “You should go to Syria.”

‘So I made my way to al-Maṣṣīṣah (3) and worked there for a few days. Then I was told, “Go to Tarsus (4); there the earnings are permissible.” While I was standing at the sea-gate, a man hired me to look after his orchard, and I stayed with him for a time.’

Al-Musayyab ibn Wāḍiḥ said: Abū ʿUtbah al-Khawwāṣ narrated to us:

I heard Ibrāhīm ibn Adham say, ‘Whoever truly seeks repentance must first rid himself of all injustices he has committed and avoid mixing with people; otherwise he will never attain what he hopes for.’

Khalaf ibn Tamīm said: I heard Ibrāhīm say,

‘When Ibn ʿAjlān saw me, he turned to face the qiblah and prostrated, saying, “I prostrate to Allah in gratitude for having seen you.”’

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī said: I asked Ibn al-Mubārak, ‘Is Ibrāhīm ibn Adham among…’