God Kabir and Sultan Ibrahim Adham

Al Kabir (God Kabir) had met Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham. After repeated persuasion, he renounced the kingdom and set forth to attain salvation. Please read how Allah Kabir (Supreme God Kabir) got Sultan Ibrahim out of Kaal’s trap.

Sultan Ibrahim was the Soul of Samman

At the time when Supreme God Kabir had performed a (leela) divine play in Kashi for one hundred and twenty years, Samman, a resident of Delhi and a Maniyaar by caste, his wife Neki and son Shiv (Seu) had taken initiation from the Supreme God. Their financial condition was weak. They strictly followed the teachings of God. They had complete faith in God. Both husband and wife used to sell bangles door-to-door. Besides, they also used to extol their Gurudev Kabir Ji.

They used to tell, “Our Satguru Dev Ji cured the incurable disease of Emperor Sikandar Lodhi with mere blessings. Emperor Sikandar had beheaded Swami Ramanand ji. Satguru Kabir Ji resurrected him by attaching his head to his torso. A boy named Kamaal had died. His tribe had set him adrift on a raft in the river as a last rite. Shekhtaqi, who is the religious leader of Emperor Sikandar, did not believe that Kabir ji revived Ramanand ji even after he was beheaded. He used to say to the king that Kabir knows incantations; it is nothing else. The dead can never be raised. I will only agree, if he revives a dead body in front of me.”

“Emperor Sikandar had full faith in Kabir ji because he had been very distressed by the disease and had killed Swami Ramanand ji with his own hands. Kabir ji had resurrected Ramanand ji in front of him. Shekhtaqi was also present by the river that day. Seeing the corpse, he said, “If Kabir resurrects this corpse in front of me, I will accept him as the prophet of Allah.”

“Kabir ji said, “O Shekh ji! You are also an eminent Pir; you may try first, or later you will say, “I would have done it too.” All the ministers present there and the Emperor also said the same thing, “You are not a small personality either? Do it.”

Shekhtaqi out of shame recited incantations, but in vain. He said, “The dead can never be raised. Kabir wants the corpse to float further down the river and his reputation be saved. Look, the corpse is drifting away.” Kabir ji signalled with his hand and said, “Corpse, come back.” The corpse of the boy came back like a boat powered by an engine. Kabir Ji said, “O Soul! Wherever you are, enter the dead body and come out by the order of Kabir.” Instantly, the 12-year-old boy was resurrected, and he came out of the river. The audience present there said, “Kabir ji! You have performed a (kamaal) miracle.” The boy was named Kamaal. Supreme God Kabir raised that boy Kamaal like his own child in his home. Shekhtaqi was abashed, but he did not agree. He said that the child was in shock. Considering him dead by mistake, he had been set afloat in the water. I will accept if Kabir resurrects my daughter who has died and has been buried in the grave for many days.”

“Supreme God Kabir said, “I will bring your daughter back to life after two days. Make a public announcement in the surrounding villages and in Delhi that everyone should come and see. That is what was done. The dead body was disinterred. Supreme God Kabir said, “Shekh ji! You may try lest you later say that the girl was in shock.” The people present there said, “Kabir ji! If Shekh had power, why would he have allowed his daughter to die? You may try.” Kabir ji said, “O Shekhtaqi's daughter! Come back to life.” The girl did not revive. He said this twice. The girl did not come back to life. Shekhtaqi did not feel sad that his daughter did not come back to life; he started celebrating the defeat of Kabir ji and started dancing and clapping. Kabir Ji said, “O Soul! Wherever you are, by the order of Kabir, enter your body and come out of the grave.” As soon as he said that, there was a movement in the body of the 12-year-old girl. The girl got up, came out and prostrated herself before Kabir ji. God Kabir said, “O daughter of Shekhtaqi! Go home with your father.” Shekhtaqi also grabbed his daughter's hand and asked her to come home. The girl was named Kamaali because the people present there said, “Kamaal hai, Kamaal hai (It is a miracle).” Hence, she was named Kamaali.”

Kamaali said, “As far as Shekhtaqi is concerned, I had gone to Yamraj. Now I am the daughter of Allah Akbar. This Kabir is Allah Himself.” In this way, with the blessings of Supreme God Kabir, the girl discoursed for 1/½ hours and gave information about her previous births. She said, “Once I was Rabia. At that time, Kabir ji had met me when I was 12 years old. I performed the spiritual practice preached by Him for 4 years. Then I started performing the religious practice of my Muslim religion which was futile. My next life was of a girl named Bansuri. I had even severed my body and offered it in Mecca. In the next birth, I lived the life of a prostitute. Because of those four years of true worship, I got 2½ births of a human being. Now I had no human life left. I had to take birth as an animal. At that very moment, God Kabir went to Dharmraj and got me released, and inserted me into my body. I have got this human life by His grace. Now I will live with my real father, Allah Kabir.”

Kabir ji raised Kamaali as his own daughter and kept her in his home. Lakhs of spectators present there took initiation from Supreme God Kabir. God Kabir gave the first five mantras in initiation to everyone. {Thus, Kabir ji had 64 lakh disciples at that time. They had taken refuge in Him only after seeing the miracles.}” The women of Delhi after hearing these strange things from Neki and Samman used to later discuss amongst themselves whether these things could be possible? Some used to say, “My husband was also present there at the time when Shekh's daughter was raised from the dead after being exhumed, but my husband got angry that why Kabir took the girl away? She should have been handed over to the one whose daughter she was.” The meaning is that overall, those women used to believe it to be a joke, but they used to remain silent in front of them.

The Tale of the Sacrifice of Neki-Seu-Samman

Once, Lord Kabir made a surprise visit to his devotee Samman with two of his disciples (Kamaal and Sheikh Farid). There were in all three members in Samman’s family. Samman, Samman's wife Neki, and Samman's son Seu (Shiv). Devotee Samman was so poor that at times there was not even a grain of food at home. The entire family used to go to bed hungry. Today was a similar day. Devotee Samman asked his Gurudev Lord Kabir, “Lord, please tell me your plan - when would you like to have food?”

Lord Kabir said, “Brother! We are feeling hungry. Prepare food.” Samman went inside the house and said to his wife, Neki, “Our Gurudev God has come to our house. Quickly prepare food.”

Neki said, “There is not even a single grain of food at home.”

Samman said, “Borrow some from the neighbours.”

Neki replied, “I had gone and asked, but no one lent me any flour. Despite having the flour, they deliberately did not give it to me, and are saying, “Today, your Guru ji has come to your house. You used to say that our Guruji is God. If your Guru ji is God, why do you need to borrow? He alone will fill your house.” They started ridiculing me by saying such things.”

Samman said, 'Give me your rag (old cloth). I will pawn this and bring three ser (around 1 kg) flour.”

Neki said, “This rag is torn. Nobody keeps it in pawn.” Samman gets lost in thought, and cursing his misfortune, he says, “How unfortunate I am! Today, God has come to my house, and I cannot even feed him. O God! Why did you send such a sinful creature to the earth? I must have been so evil that I did not perform any meritorious deed in my previous life. What face should I show Satguru now?” Saying this, he went inside the storeroom and started crying bitterly.

Then his wife Neki said, “Have courage. Do not cry. God has come. He will be hurt. He will think that Samman is weeping because he is troubled by our arrival.” Samman stopped crying. Then Neki said, “Tonight both of you, father and son, go and steal three ser (approximately 1 kilogram) flour, only for the saints and devotees.”

Then the boy Seu said, “Mother, Guru ji says that it is a sin to steal. You also used to teach me, “Son! One should never steal. Those who steal are doomed.” What are you saying this today, Mother? Shall we sin, Mother? Our earnings of worship will be destroyed. Mother, we will suffer in the lives of eighty-four lakh species of living beings. Do not say this, Mother. Mother! Swear to me.”

Then Neki said, “Son! You are right. It is a sin to steal but son, we will not do it for ourselves but for the saints. The city in which we have lived, we will steal to protect it.” Neki said, “Son, the people of this city are jealous of us. We had told them that our Gurudev Lord Kabir (Complete God) has come to earth. He had revived a dead cow and its calf, whom Sikandar Lodhi had got severed. He resurrected a boy and a girl. He cured the burning pain of Emperor Sikandar Lodhi. Sikander Lodhi had assassinated Shri Swami Ramanand ji (Gurudev of Lord Kabir) with a sword; Lord Kabir resurrected him too. The people of this city are making fun of this. They say, “Your Guru Kabir is God; he will also fill your house with grain. Then why are you wandering from house to house for grain (flour)?”

Son! These are innocent creatures. If today Lord Kabir leaves without eating the food of this city, then even Kaal God will be so angry that he may destroy this city. O Son! To save this calamity, we have to steal flour. We will not eat. We will prepare food and feed it only to our Satguru and the devotees who have come. Saying this, Neki's eyes filled with tears, and she said, “Son! Do not refuse.”

Wiping the tears from his mother's eyes, Seu said, “Mother, do not cry. Your son will obey your orders. Mother, you are very good. Aren’t you?”

At midnight, both, the father (Samman) and son (Seu) went to steal. They drilled a hole in the wall of a Seth's (merchant’s) shop. Samman said, “Son, I shall go inside. If anyone comes, inform me quietly. I will hand over the flour to you, and you may run away with it.”

Seu said, “No, father, I will go inside. Even if I get caught, I will be forgiven as a child.”

Samman said, “Son! If you get caught and killed, how will your mother and I survive?

Seu, while requesting, enters the shop through the hole. Then Samman says, “Son! Only bring three ser (1 kg) flour, not more. As soon as Boy Seu, after tying about three ser (1 kg) flour in his worn-out sheet, was about to return, he stepped on the scales in the dark. There was a loud sound which caused the shopkeeper to wake up. He shouted, “Thief, thief”, and catching Seu, ties him with a rope. Prior to this, Seu throws that flour tied in the sheet out of that hole and says, “Father! The merchant has caught me. Please take the flour and feed Satguru and the devotees. Do not worry about me.”

When Samman came back home with the flour, Neki, on not finding Seu with him, asked, “Where is the boy?” Samman said, “The merchant caught him and tied him to a pillar.”

Neki said, “Go back. Behead Seu and bring his head home, otherwise after identifying the boy, they will bring him to our house. Then on seeing Satguru, the people of the city will say that he is the one who gets the theft done. They may trouble Satguru Dev. We sinners, instead of offering food to our Lord, might get him imprisoned.” Saying this, the mother is asking her husband to behead her son, that too for Gurudev ji.

Samman took a kard (long knife) in his hand and went to the shop, and said, “Son Seu! Put your head out once. I have to tell you some important things. We will not be able to meet tomorrow. They might get you killed.”

Then Seu said to that merchant, “Seth ji, my father is standing outside. He wants to tell me something important. Please loosen my rope so much so that my head can go out of the hole.”

The merchant accepted his request and loosened the rope so that his head easily got out.

Seu said, “Father, behead me. If you will not behead me, you are not my father. After recognizing me, the merchant will reach our home. He has access to the king. He will get our Gurudev killed. Father! what face will we show?” Samman instantly beheaded his son with the knife and took his severed head home. On seeing that the boy has been murdered, the merchant dragged his dead body to a nearby kiln (for baking bricks) and put it in its chamber.

Neki told Samman to go back and bring the boy's body which would be lying outside. By the time Samman reached the shop, the merchant had closed the hole in the wall of that shop. Following the marks of the dragged corpse, Samman traced the corpse and brought it home. After bringing it home, he put it inside the storeroom, and covered it with old clothes. He kept the head in one part of a cupboard and shut its door. After some time, the sun rose. Neki took a bath. She cooked food for the Satguru and the devotees. She prayed to Satguru Lord Kabir to have food. Neki respectfully served food in three earthen bowls in front of Lord Kabir and both the devotees (Kamaal and Sheikh Farid). Lord Kabir said, “Put it in six bowls. The three of you may also join us and have this blessed food prepared with love. When even after repeated prayers, Lord Kabir did not agree, then the blessed food was served in six bowls. The five sat down for the food.

Then Lord Kabir said:-

Lord Kabir (Allahu Akbar = Al-Khijr) said, “Seu, come and have food. Thieves are beheaded, not saints (devotees). They are protected. They are forgiven.” As soon as Lord Kabir said this, Seu's head got attached to his body. There was not even a scar of the cut on the neck. He sat down in the row and started eating. Say- “Glory be to Lord Kabir!” (Kaviramitauja) (Words of the Vedas: - Kavir = KavirDev = Supreme God Kabir, Amit + Auja = whose power is boundless.)

Samman and Neki saw that there was no scar on Seu’s neck. They thought, “How did the boy come back to life?” When they went inside and saw, there was no dead body or head. There were only splatters of blood which was the evidence to dispel the doubts of this sinful mind. Sat Sahib (Eternal God).

Lord Kabir (Kaviragni) has performed many such divine acts, from which it is self-evident that He alone is the Supreme God. It has been stated in Samved Sankhya no. 822 and Rigved Mandal 10 Sukt 162 Mantra 2 that KavirDev increases the life of his worshipper, companion who worships according to the rules. Even if he has died, Lord Kabir releases him from Dharmraj and gives him a hundred years of life.

|| Glory be to Supreme God Kabir Bandi Chhor (Al Khijr)! ||

The Soul of Samman Became Nausher Khan

Neki and Seu attained salvation in the same birth, but Samman took it to heart that if I had money, I would not have had to behead my son. God had made Samman-Neki-Seu extremely wealthy in the same birth. They were not poor anymore. Samman had become an eminent, affluent man of Delhi, however he did not develop the desire for salvation. Due to which, because of sacrificing his son for the Supreme God present in the form of Satguru, he was born in the house of the king of Nausher Khan city in the next birth. He became an emperor. He had 80 treasures full of diamonds and pearls, but he did not perform any charitable acts, nor did he remember God.

Supreme God Kabir in the guise of Jinda Baba (Al-Khijr) went to Nausher Khan's emperor Nausher Khan and preached to donate. The Emperor said, “I am a poor king.” Jinda said, “There are flags on the top of 80 treasures of yours. (It was the identity of the king that he used to raise as many flags as the number of treasures he had.)

The Emperor said, “These are coals.” Jinda said, “If that is what your intention is, then they will become coal.” When the emperor opened the treasures and saw, they had really turned into coal. The emperor apologised by holding the feet of the Supreme God. Supreme God said, “If you donate majority of the wealth, then they will again turn into diamonds and pearls.” The emperor said, I will do as you order.” The treasures were again filled with diamonds. Emperor Nausher Khan donated a large amount of wealth. As a result of this and as a result of the worship and service of Satguru in the previous birth, he became the king of a city named Balakh in Iraq in the next birth.

Here is the detailed story: -

Birth Story of Sultan Ibrahim

There was a fakir named Adham Shah. He had built a hut some distance away from the city of Balakh. He used to go for walks in the city. One day he saw the only daughter of the emperor of Balakh who was young and beautiful. Adham Shah developed a strong desire to marry the girl.

He went to the emperor and said, “Marry this girl to me.” The king was astonished but was also scared lest the fakir should curse him. He was unable to say yes or no suddenly. He asked the fakir to come the next day. The ministers became aware of this. A consensus was reached that they would tell him the next day that to marry the king's daughter, one has to bring a pearl necklace or a hundred pearls. Otherwise, the marriage cannot take place. The condition was told to the fakir the next day.

The fakir set off to get the pearls. Someone told him that the pearls are found in the sea. He went to the shore of the sea, started filling his pot with the water of the sea and pouring it onto the sand at a distance. He kept on toiling for many days without food and water. The body also was about to perish. Whoever saw him said, “You had left home for Allah, now you are preparing for hell. The sea can never be emptied. Do worship.” God appeared there in the guise of Jinda Baba and asked Adham Shah, “What are you doing?” He told, “I want to marry the emperor's daughter. For it, they have kept a condition for me to bring pearls. I have been told that the pearls are found in the sea. I will empty the sea and take the pearls.”

Jinda said, “The sea cannot be emptied. You will die of hunger and thirst. If you strive to attain the salvation for which you left home, then it would be fruitful. You have planned to destroy your life.” Adham Shah said, “I do not need your teachings. I am doing my work, you do yours.”

Supreme God Kabir has stated that: -

{Joke: - A 70–75-year-old drunk man was standing and swaying on the road. The stick in his hand fell on the ground. He was unable to lift the stick because he was drunk. If he had fallen, it would have been difficult to get up again.

A gentleman came through the same path. The old man asked him in a trembling voice, “Pick up my stick and give it to me.” It did not take long for the traveller to understand. He said, “O Grandpa! Look at your age. It does not befit you to drink alcohol at this age. You have grandchildren. What impact will it have on them?” Hearing this, the old man said, “Do you think nobody would have given me this teaching to date? If you want to pick up the stick, then do it; otherwise, go from here.” Similar was the state of Adham Shah Fakir.}

God saw that this devotee would die. Kabir Jinda Baba (Al-Khijr) by his power made a sea wave hit the coast. Thousands of pearls were lying in the sand. Saying (Ya Allah) ‘O [my] God!’, Adham Shah tied thousands of pearls in a sheet. He went and kept them in the emperor's court, and said, “Marry the princess to me as per your promise.” The ministers ordered the soldiers to kill him by beating him with sticks and to throw him in the forest. The same was done. By the grace of God, he did not die. He became mobile within a few days.

After a few days, the emperor's daughter died. Entombing her in the grave, four guards were deployed so that no wild animal should spoil the dead body. Adham Shah learned about it. He went to the grave at night. The guards were sleeping soundly. Adham Shah exhumed the dead body, and refilling the grave back to the original state, took the girl's corpse to his hut.

In the same night, a caravan of nomads lost their way and went to the same forest. A lamp was burning in the hut. The corpse of the girl wrapped in a shroud was kept against the wall as if the girl was sitting with her legs crossed. It was winter season. Two men from the caravan went to the hut to get some fire. Hearing their noise, Adham Shah got scared that the king's men had come. He went behind the hut and hid in a cave in which he used to do spiritual practice.

When the individuals from the caravan saw the dead young girl sitting against the wall, they got frightened and went back to the caravan and told everything. A doctor also lived in the caravan. Many people and the doctor went to the hut. On seeing the girl, the doctor said, “This girl is not dead; she is in shock. I can treat her.” The leader of the caravan said, “You may give her treatment. If the girl revives, then we will ask her only who her father is or where her husband is.” First, they put a sheet over the naked body of the girl. Then the doctor made an incision in the vein of her hand and removed the impure blood.

The girl regained consciousness within a few minutes. She said, “How did I come here?” Adham Shah fakir saw in the light of the lamp that they were not the king's men. The princess has also come back to life. He came to the men of the caravan and narrated the entire story which the girl also heard.

The people of the caravan explained to the girl that if this fakir had not exhumed you out of the grave and brought you here, you would have died. Now you should stay with this fakir considering it the will of Allah. The girl consented to it. Those people got both of them married. The leader of the caravan said, “If you want to come with us, we will serve you; we will not let you face any trouble.” The fakir who had become a householder said, “We wish to stay here itself. I will never forget your favour. You have come to me as an embodiment of Allah. We both would have died. You have saved our lives.” Leaving them there, the men of the caravan departed.

After some days, the girl gave birth to a beautiful son. They named him "Sultan Ibrahim". After the child turned four, he was admitted to study with the Maulvi (Muslim Cleric) of the city of Balakh. Every day, Adham would leave his son with the Maulvi in the morning and bring him in the evening. The Emperor of Balakh only had a daughter; he did not have any son. The emperor used to help poor children. One day the Emperor of Balakh went to that Maulvi (cleric). He used to reward the students. He used to distribute clothes to poor children. The emperor was astonished to see the son of Adham Shah Fakir. His face resembled that of the emperor's daughter.

The emperor asked the Maulvi, “Whose child is this?” Maulvi told him, “A fakir comes from the forest; he is his son. He leaves the boy in the morning and picks him up in the evening. We did not inquire further.” The boy also got up and hugged the emperor. The emperor took him in his lap and left. He told the cleric, “If his father comes, send him to the palace; he can take him from there.” The emperor showed that child to the queen. Upon seeing him, remembering her daughter, the queen fainted and fell on the floor. On regaining consciousness, she embraced the child. She fed him food, rice pudding and halwa made with her own hands. The queen said, “This child resembles our daughter.” Meanwhile, the fakir went to the cleric and from there came to the emperor's palace. The emperor had already ordered the servants, “If the father of this boy comes, do not stop him. Bring him respectfully to the palace.” Seeing the same fakir, the emperor asked, “Whose child is this?

The fakir said, “He is my child. He was born to your daughter.” The emperor said, “It does not befit a fakir to lie.” The fakir narrated the whole story. The emperor could not believe it. Taking the fakir along, he first got the grave of his daughter disinterred. There was no dead body in it. Then he went to the fakir's hut. Their daughter was sitting wearing torn clothes patched at various places. As soon as she saw her parents, she ran towards them and embraced them one by one.

The emperor requested and took his daughter, her child and the fakir to his palace. He appointed fakir Adham as his successor. Due to which, he became known as Shah. His name was 'Adham'. After staying there for a few days, Adham Shah did not like the luxuries of the palace. He bade them a loving farewell and went to his hut. He used to occasionally visit his son and wife. After a few years, Adham Shah Fakir died. His tomb was built in the hut. A beautiful garden was built around it. Child Ibrahim was made the successor of his grandfather's kingdom.

Point to consider:

Meaning - Whatever earnings of worship one has made, it is not in vain, even if one faces an obstacle equivalent to the seven oceans.

The nature of the body of a devotee is very helpful in worship. Because of being born to righteous parents, the nature of the parents also stays with the child in his/her body. The birth in which Sultan Ibrahim was Samman Maniyaar, he had sacrificed his son for the service of the Satguru. There were some circumstances which led to this. Supreme God i.e., Satguru Kabir had resurrected that boy. That same Samman then became a king [Nausher Khan] in the next life, but he did not do any worship. This time, that soul received a body [Sultan Ibrahim] from a father [Adham Shah] who had been devoted to God since birth. In order to provide salvation to the soul of Samman, Supreme God induced a strong desire in Adham Shah to marry. Getting the pearls from the sea, the girl being in shock, the caravan of nomads losing their way and going to the hut, revival of the girl, the birth of Sultan Ibrahim to Adham Shah and the pious girl, who was leading a life of a saint while living with a fakir; she had developed lofty ideals; she was away from all the evils of the world. The sacrifice of his son Seu (Shiv) for the Satguru in the form of Samman, and the billions of rupees donated (Zakat) in the form of Nausher Khan. The fruit of that donation had also to be given to that living being. God Kabir had performed this divine act for him. The grandfather of Adham Shah Fakir was the emperor of that same city of Balakh. Its kingdom had been snatched by the father of Ibrahim's maternal grandfather in a war. Then the same kingdom was given to Sultan Ibrahim of the same dynasty. Because of deviating from the path of worship, even Adham Shah obtained the birth of an animal.

Supreme God Kabir has stated that: -

Taking Sultan Ibrahim in Refuge

{Allah Akbar in the guise of Jinda Baba (Al-Khijr) repeatedly exhorted Sultan Ibrahim}

After completing the life of Samman, that living being left the body. The same living being then became King Nausher Khan in the next birth. Thereafter, it became Sultan Ibrahim. There was a city named Balakh in Iraq. He had his capital in that city. The name of the king was Sultan Ibrahim Adham. As a result of the worship that soul had performed with dedication in the life of Samman, he was getting consecutive human births and he continued to become a king in return for the donations he had made. His biggest donation was three ser (approximately 1 kg) flour, which he had made by sacrificing his son. Consequently, he continued to be a wealthy king. In the life of Nausher Khan, Supreme God Kabir had created some circumstances for him to make donations. That also became a reason for him to become an affluent king of Balakh. He owned eighteen lakh horses. There was no shortage of other diamonds and pearls. Every pair of his shoes was studded with diamonds worth two and a half lakhs. It is said that he had 16 thousand women. He used to have fun. He used to commit a lot of violence whenever he went hunting.

One day, some saints came to the house of a devotee near the palace of the king. They delivered sermons. The king listened to the entire sermon while sitting on the roof of his palace at night. He was highly inspired to worship God. He said to his ministers in the morning, “Find a good saint; I want to meet one.”

There was a fraudulent (Baba) saint who was very famous. The king was taken to him. The king started worshipping as guided by him. There was a precious ring in the king’s finger. The fraudulent saint used to pretend that he does not touch money. He seemed to be a great renunciant and a recluse, but he was sly. Sultan was also impressed by him. That saint told his personal attendant, “Go to the goldsmith who made the ring of King Ibrahim, and get a similar ring made of fake gold studded with fake diamonds and pearls from that goldsmith.” The counterfeit ring looked exactly like the original ring.

One day, the king went to the saint. The saint expressed a desire to go boating. Sultan Ibrahim Adham got the boating arranged. After going to the middle of the lake, the saint said, “O King! Your ring is extremely beautiful; can I have a look?” The king took out the ring and gave it to the saint. The saint started looking at it. Surreptitiously, he exchanged the rings. The king said, “If you want, you can keep the ring, or I can get another one made for you.” The hypocrite saint said, “O! For sages and saints, this is dirt, mere dirt.” Saying this, he threw the fake ring in the lake.

The king was convinced that, the saint was indeed a renunciant and a recluse. After a few days, that fraudulent (Baba) saint got exposed. His confidant disciple told the king that your ring has been stolen by the Baba in such a way. The ring is with him. When the king found that ring buried in the ground in the same Baba's hut, he felt very sad and lost faith in the saints. He put that fraud in jail. Then the king called all the saints of his kingdom and asked them, “If you have found God, then introduce me to Him too.” No one had the answer to this. A saint said, “Please send for a glass of milk.” A servant brought a glass of milk and gave it to him. The saint put his finger in the milk and said to the king, “O King! There is no ghee (clarified butter) in your milk.” The king said, “There is a method to get ghee from milk. First, the milk is heated and cooled. Then it is curdled, and curd is formed. Then it is churned, and then heated. Then the ghee comes out.” That saint said, “Sultan ji! Just as there is a method to get ghee from milk; similarly, there is a method for attaining God from the human body. God is attained by that method. Acquire a Guru (spiritual teacher) and worship God.

The king had hatred towards gurus. He was looking at everyone with the same mindset. He put all the Mahatmas (saints) in the prison. Everyone was being forced to operate a hand mill. All sages renounce their homes and families for the sake of God. Because of not getting the right path of worship, the desire for glory automatically arises. One becomes focussed on acquiring more disciples, building a nice, big ashram, but they are good souls of God. As they are striving for the Supreme God, they have grace of God with them. God meets them in disguise to impart true knowledge to them and exhorts them, but blinded by the web of Kaal, they do not believe Him. God is the father of all. Considering them to be His children, He keeps on forgiving them. Nonetheless, He continues to help them.

Divine Act no. 1: - Hearing the call of the distressed devotees in the prison, to rescue them and to release his supreme devotee Samman from the trap of Kaal, Supreme God Kabir mounted a buffalo and reached the court (office) of Sultan Adham.

Seeing God in the guise of a sage, Ibrahim Sultan asked, “Why have you come here?” Supreme God said, “I have come to answer your question.” Ibrahim asked, “Tell me, what is God like? If you have met God, then introduce me to Him too.” Kabir ji said to the buffalo, “O Buffalo! Tell him, what is Allah like? Where is He? Swear to God and tell the truth.” The buffalo spoke like a human being, and said, “O Ibrahim! This is Allahu Akbar sitting on me.” Sultan was astounded as well as impressed to see the buffalo speak. He thought, “This could be some exorcist.” Supreme God disappeared along with the buffalo. Ibrahim fainted. God stood in front of the prison. The soldiers had orders to imprison any sage they found. They imprisoned God.

The soldiers asked him to operate a hand mill. All the other sages were also grinding flour by running a hand mill and were crying. Kabir ji said to the soldiers, “We prisoners will do one job; the soldiers will have to do the other. If we operate the hand mill, the soldiers will have to put grains (wheat, gram, millet) in it; or if we put the grains, you will have to operate the hand mill.”

The soldiers said in rage, “We will put the grains, you may operate the hand mill.” Kabir ji said, “All the saints, stand up.” Saying this, he touched his hand mill with a stick. Instantly, all the (360) hand mills started running automatically. God said, “Soldier brothers! Put the grains; grind as much as you need.” He said to the sages, “Close your eyes.” Everyone closed their eyes. Then God said, “Open your eyes.” When they opened their eyes, everyone was standing outside the prison in the forest, away from the city of Balakh. Kabir ji said, “Leave the kingdom of this king and go somewhere far away.” All the devotees after making obeisances to Supreme God and thanking him, ran away. They went far away. The king learned that an ascetic with spiritual powers had come. He got all the prisoners liberated. They were not visible when they all left. He touched a hand mill with a stick and all the (360) hand mills started running. The king went to the prison. He was amazed to see the moving hand mills. Then the hand mills stopped moving. The king was lost in thoughts.

Divine Act no. 2:- After a few days, God Kabir disguised as a camel-herding villager with a long stick in his hand, and appeared on the terrace of the king's residence. It was night-time. The king was sleeping. God began hitting the stick vigorously on top of the roof. Sultan Ibrahim woke up from sleep and scolded the servants, “Who is making this noise? Catch him and bring him here.” The servants went upstairs. They captured a camel grazer from the roof and brought him before Sultan. The king asked, “Who are you? What are you doing on the roof of my palace?”

God said, “I am a cameleer (caravan). I have lost a camel. I am looking for it on the roof.” Sultan Adham said, “O innocent man! How can a camel climb on top of the roof? This would have never happened. Search for the camel somewhere in the forest.”

God Kabir said, “O Ibrahim! Just as a camel is not present on the roof, nor is it ever found on the roof, a camel should be searched for in the forest; similarly, God is not found while sitting on the throne and enjoying luxuries; He is found among saints.” Saying this, God Kabir disappeared. Sultan Adham fell unconscious on the ground. The ministers and queens called an exorcist. He tied an amulet on the right arm of the king and said, “There is a shadow of ghosts on him; he will be fine.” The king was not finding interest in the affairs of the kingdom. He started remaining sad.

The king had again imprisoned some saints. God went to the prison again. He got them also out of the prison in the same way. This time, he told all the prisoners, “You may all stand up and close your eyes. Meditate on Allah for some time. We will operate the hand mills after that. The hand mills will run smoothly.” All the prisoners stood up and started contemplating Allah with their eyes closed. God touched a stick to a hand mill. All the hand mills started running.

God Kabir Ji said, “Open your eyes.” When everyone opened their eyes, they found themselves standing in a forest outside the prison, away from the city of Balakh. God said, “Do not come again within the boundaries of this Sultan's kingdom.” After that, the king had stopped imprisoning sages and saints, but due to fear, no sage-mahatma used to come to his kingdom. (Supreme God Kabir also wanted the same - ‘These fake gurus should not come here. They may mislead the king and drive him away from me.’ So, they had to be kept away in this manner.) After some time, the king became normal and again got engrossed in the luxurious lifestyle. Divine Act no. 3 :- God Kabir, as per His qualities, came again to perform a divine act. Disguised as a traveller, with a bundle of clothes tucked under his arm, dressed in a rural costume, God came to Sultan's residence in the evening. Sultan was sitting on a chair in the courtyard at the entrance of the house. The king asked, “Why have you come here?” God Kabir said, “I am a traveller. I have to stay at your inn for the night. Tell me the fare for one night; how much will you charge?”

Sultan Ibrahim Adham laughed and said, “O innocent traveller, this is not an inn. This is my palace. I am the king of the city.” Bandi Chhod God, the ocean of mercy, asked, “Who used to live in this palace before you?” Sultan Ibrahim Adham replied, “My father-grandfather etc used to live here.”

God’s Question: - “Where are they? I want to see them.” Sultan’s answer: - “They have died.” God asked, “For how many days, will you stay in this palace?” Instead of replying, Sultan contemplated and said, “I also have to die.” God said, “O innocent creature! If this is not an inn, then what is it?”

Saying this, God disappeared. Sultani fainted. He regained consciousness after a long time. Another Muslim cleric was sent for. Tying an amulet on the king’s left arm, he performed the rite of exorcism and said, “Nothing will happen now. It has gone.”

Divine Act no. 4:- After a few days, the king returned to normality again and started having fun. King Ibrahim used to sleep in his Naulakha (in which nine lakh fruit-bearing trees of different types were planted, it was called Naulakha Bagh/garden) Garden in the daytime. The maids used to make his bed. They used to place bouquets of flowers around it. The dress of the maids was different from that of the queens. All the maids wore the same uniform.

Kabir ji, the Lord of the poor, had to take many measures to release the soul of his beloved devotee Samman from the Kaal’s trap. One day, God Kabir disguised himself as a maid. (He assumed a female form.) He made the king's bed in the garden. He arranged the bouquets of flowers in a very beautiful way and himself lay down on the bed. When King Ibrahim came, he saw, “A maid (khavaasi) is sleeping on my bed. She is not afraid of me in the slightest.” Sultan immediately picked up a whip and lashed God lying there, three times on his waist. Three marks were formed on His waist; the skin came off. Supreme God disguised as a maid got down from the bed and once pretended to cry and then started laughing out loud. Ibrahim was astonished to see the maid laughing even after being hurt to such an extent. He was thinking that the maid should have either fainted or died. The king held the hand of God disguised as maid and asked, “Maid! Why are you laughing?”

God said, “I have lain, rested on this bed for one ghadi (24 minutes). I have received three whips as a punishment for one ghadi’s (24 minutes) rest. Even the skin of my body has come off. I am laughing because what will happen to the one who sleeps day and night on this dirty bed? I feel sorry for you, innocent creature!”

Seeing this scene, Sultan became unconscious. When he woke up, he thought, “What is happening? I am unable to understand.”

Divine Act no. 5: - After some time, the ministers and the queens said, “Take the king on a hunting trip. Stay in the forest for a few days. His worries will lessen.” That is what was done. No animal was found till noon on the first day itself. The king did not like this at all. He said, “Herds of deer walk in the forest. Not even a single deer has come today.” Suddenly, a deer appeared. The king said, “This deer should not escape. Whoever it passes by uncaught, will not be spared.” As they watched, the deer passed under the king's horse and ran towards the forest. Embarrassed, the king rode the horse swiftly behind the deer. After going far away, the deer hid in the forest. The king and the horse were very thirsty. They were about to die. He prayed to Allah for water to save their lives. He made his way back to his camp. The camp was an hour away. It was difficult to survive till then.

After going some distance, he looked around and saw a Jinda Fakir sitting there. Nearby was a small body of fresh water. It was surrounded by fructiferous trees bearing sweet fruits. The king saw a ray of life. He drank the water, ate some fruits, gave water to the horse and tied it to a tree. When he looked at Jinda Baba, he saw that he had three beautiful dogs on leash with him. A dog tie out chain (an iron chain) was lying next to them. Sultan greeted the fakir by saying ‘Salaam Walekam’. The fakir also responded by saying ‘Walekam Salaam’. The king said, “O Fakir! What will you do with the three dogs? Give me two of these.” The fakir said, “I cannot give these dogs to anyone. I have to teach them a lesson. These three have been the kings of Balakh city. I used to admonish them, “You should remember Allah. You will not stay in this world forever. You will get the life of a dog after dying. Now you are eating Naan Pulao, Cashew Nuts, Raisins, Munakka raisins, rice pudding, halwa, fruits etc. This is the result of the meritorious deeds and worship performed in your previous births. If you do not worship in this human life, you will suffer in the lives of animals like dog etc. You will not get this good food to eat. You will eat leftover pieces. You will eat faeces; you will drink dirty water from the drain.” When they were kings, they failed to heed my words. They used to think, “This fakir is a fool. Who will manage the kingdom? What will happen to the queens?” Now these three have become dogs. Look! I have kept rice pudding and halwa, containing cashews, almonds and raisins, in front of them. I do not let them eat it. I just show it to them. When they try to eat, I beat them.” Saying this, God picked up the iron chain which was lying empty and started beating the dogs with it. The dogs started screaming. God said, “Now eat the halwa; let me feed you! I will feed you leftover and stale food. O horse rider! Shall I tell you what this idle iron chain is for? The king of the city of Balakh is Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham. He too, blinded by the glare of the world and the kingdom, has forgotten Allah. Now he does not realise that he will also become a dog after death. I have admonished him several times, “Worship God; you will not stay in this palace-like inn forever”, but he has no fear of God. He, by himself becoming God, is punishing innocent fakirs. I am sitting here far away. Hence, I am saved. That king will die. Without worshipping God, he will become a dog. I will bring him and tie him with this chain.”

Hearing these words from the mouth of the Jinda fakir, seeing the plight of his ancestors in the form of dogs, Ibrahim started trembling and said, O fakir! I am the king of the city of Balakh. Forgive me.” Saying this, he fell at the feet of the fakir. After a while, when he raised his head, he saw that there was neither the Jinda Baba, nor the reservoir, nor the garden, nor the dogs. Sultani could not even consider it a dream because the horse's hooves were still wet. He had plucked some fruits, they were also kept there. It did not take Sultan long to understand. He mounted the horse and returned to the camp. He could not speak. He indicated with his hand to pack up and return to the city. Within a few minutes, the convoy left for the city of Balakh.

Divine Act no. 6: - Sitting in a room in the house, Sultan started crying. The queens and ministers tried to counsel him that it is normal for these things to happen. The chief queens were saying, “Such things happen with women; you are a man. Have courage. You are the guardian of the people.”

Just then, a dog came. He had a wound on his head. It was infested with worms. The dog said, “O Sultan Ibrahim! I was also a king. All the creatures that I killed in hunting and the soldiers that I killed in a battle with a king are taking their revenge today. They have become worms in my head and are biting me. I am not capable of doing anything. You will face the same plight. Look at your future. God is wandering behind you. You are destroying your life in the attachment of family and kingdom.” (This divine act was also performed by God Kabir himself.) This was the final blow to get Ibrahim out of the swamp.

In the same night, Sultan applied black ink on his face, wrapped a shawl in place of an alfi (a sleeveless piece of dress worn by fakirs), took a pillow, a metal pot, and a thin mattress i.e., a bedding and climbed down a (kamand) rope ladder from the rear of the house and set off. (Kamand = a thick rope with knots at every two feet, that was used to climb down from the roof of a building at the time of danger.)

Divine Act no. 7: - On the way, a (maalin) female gardener was selling Ber (jujube) outside a garden. Sultan was hungry. He had walked all night. When he asked the maalin the price of the Ber, the maalin told that one ser (kg) Ber was of one anna (currency unit). (One rupee comprised 16 annas. One ser means one kilogram) The king did not have an anna. The cost of the pair of shoes he was wearing was Rs 2.5 lakh in those days. They were studded with diamonds and emeralds.

The king said, “I do not have an anna or a rupee. I have these shoes. Their cost is 2.5 lakh rupees. Take both of them. I am hungry; weigh one ser (kg) Ber.” When after weighing 1 ser Ber, the maalin was about to put them in Ibrahim's stretched out shawl, one Ber fell. The maalin also extended her hand to pick that Ber and Ibrahim also tried to snatch that Ber from the maalin's hand. Both started claiming the Ber.

At that very moment, God Kabir appeared and said, “O Simpleton! She is a fool who does not have this much discretion that she is quarrelling for one Ber with someone who relinquished shoes worth two and a half lakh rupees. O Fool! You are relinquishing shoes worth two and a half lakh rupees and are quarrelling over a Ber only worth an anna. What kind of renunciation of yours is this? Act prudently.” Saying this, God slapped Sultan Adham on the face and disappeared.

The journey of life can also be like this: - When Sultan went ahead, he saw a poor man sleeping on the ground with his head on a clod. Instantly, he threw the pillow and the bedding. He went further and saw that a person was drinking water from the river with his hands. He threw the metal pot as well.

Admonishing a person trapped in the maze of Kaal: - It started raining on the way. Cold air started blowing. Ibrahim saw a hut that belonged to a farmer, who had two bighas of unirrigated land, an old cow that had procreated four-five times and a one-eyed wife. To save himself from the cold caused by the cold wind, Ibrahim Adham Sultan lay down behind that hut. In the night, both husband and wife were talking, “It has rained a lot. We will get sufficient fodder for the cow. There will be a good harvest for our food too. We will have so much comfort which even the king of Balakh Bukhara does not have.”

After overhearing this entire conversation, Sultan Ibrahim Adham, thinking that those two had taken leave of their senses, stayed there till sunrise with the aim of making them aware of future sorrows. After waking up in the morning, he stood at the door of their hut and greeted them. Both husband and wife came out of the hut. Ibrahim started preaching to them about worshipping God and rejecting Maya (wealth). He said, “You have one cow, a woman and two bighas of land. You are clinging to this alone. You are considering it to be a more luxurious lifestyle than that of the emperor of Balakh. This is a fair that will only last for a few days. Let me get you initiation from Guru ji; your life will be blessed. I am Sultan Ibrahim Adham of Balakh city. I have renounced that kingdom for the attainment of God.”

They said, “We do not think that you are the king of Balakh city. If so, then there is no fool like you on this earth. We do not need your teachings.” Sultan said that :-

After this, Ibrahim Adham was no longer the sultan (king) of the earth, but he became the sultan (king) of devotional worship. He became the king of devotees. Therefore, he became famous by the name of Sultan or Sultani as he was endearingly called. In the next story, he will be called and written only by the name of Sultan. For example, Dharmdas ji was being called Dhani Dharmdas. He was rich in devotional worship. There was no dearth of worldly wealth as well. God met Sultan and gave him the first mantra, and said, “Later, I will give you Satnaam, then Saar Shabd.”

There is evidence in Kabir Sagar, Chapter "Sultan Bodh" on Page 62 :-

Please consider :- At that time, Ibrahim had neither money nor other facilities to do Aarti Chauka. This is the actual method of initiation of Kabir ji. There is no provision for Aarti Chauka, goods worth lakhs or thousands in it, coconut etc. If one wants to conduct a Paath later, then one can get it done; otherwise, the initiation can be given only with chanted water and sweet substance (crystallised rock sugar, sugar, jaggery, powdered sugar, unrefined sugar). Paan (liquid) is not given while granting Satya Naam and Saar Shabd. Only the initiation-mantras are given and explained. God Kabir had met Sant Garibdas ji (Village-Chhudani, District-Jhajjar, State-Haryana). He had granted divine vision to him. Based on that, Sant Garibdas ji has stated that: -

Sant Garibdas ji on Ibrahim Adham Sultan

Supreme God Kabir told his disciple Garibdas ji that: -

{This is the meaning of these above speeches of Sant Garibdas ji. In these also, the events of the life of Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham have been described.}

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.

A Devotee Should be Completely Honest

After a few years, Ibrahim went on a tour. There was a merchant who owned a garden. He needed a servant. He employed Sultan to guard the garden. After a year, the merchant came to the garden. He asked Ibrahim to bring pomegranate. Ibrahim brought pomegranates and gave them to the merchant. The pomegranates were sour. The merchant said, “You have not even found out in a year what sweet pomegranates are like?”

Sultan said, “Seth ji! You have kept me to protect the garden, not to destroy the garden. If the protector becomes the eater, then how will things work out? I have never eaten any fruit, so how can I have the knowledge of sweet and sour?” When the Seth asked other servants, the servants told him, “This servant only eats the bread that he gets, and then keeps walking around the garden while mumbling something. We have even watched him secretly. He has never plucked any fruit and eaten it, nor has he picked up any fruit lying on the ground.”

Some servant told the merchant, “He is the king of Balakh city. I saw him 10 years ago while hunting in the forest. When I asked him that you seem to be Sultan Ibrahim Adham of Balakh city, then initially, he denied. Then I told him, “I saw you in the forest while hunting. My brother-in-law, Yakub, is a senior officer in your army. He told me that the king has taken sanyas (renunciation). His son is sitting on the throne.” Then he said, “Please do not tell anyone.” The merchant fell at Sultan’s feet and asked for forgiveness, and giving him a lot of money, said, “Kindly take this money and sustain yourself; worship as well. Feel free to stay at my house or I shall build a palace for you in the garden; stay here and worship.” Sultan thanked him and departed from there.

Definition of a (Das) Slave

Once, Sultan went to the ashram of a saint, and stayed there for a few days at the special request of the saint. The saint's name was Hukam Das. Twelve disciples lived with him in the ashram. Everyone had the word ‘Das’ appended to their names. Fakir Das, Anand Das, Karm Das, Dharmdas. Their behaviour was not that of a Das (slave). If their guru asked one of them for some service, he would say that it is Dharmdas's turn; ask him. Dharm Das would say, “It is Anand Das' turn.” Seeing their behaviour, Sultani said that: -

Sultani explained to those disciples, “When I was a king, I had bought a slave.” I asked him, “What do you like to eat?” The slave replied, “The food that the master gives to the slave is his choice.” I asked, “What do you wish? What do you like to do?” He said, “Whatever the master commands, that is my choice.” I asked, “What do you wear?” He replied, “I wear the worn-out clothes given by the master after repairing them.” I freed him. I gave him money too. Remembering his words, I follow the orders of my Guru. I never exercise my volition. I eat what God gives, considering it His command. I serve considering myself a slave. It is mandatory to please Gurudev to please God.” After that, all those disciples started following the orders of their Guru ji with the sentiment of them being slaves, and they started behaving well among themselves. They made their life successful.

How did Sultani Obtain Saarnaam?

God Kabir started living by building an ashram. He was popularly known as Jinda Baba. After a few months of granting the first mantra to Sultani, he was initiated into Satnaam (two-word mantra), in which one is the mantra "Om" and the other is told at the time of the initiation. Sultan visited many times to obtain an (darshan) auspicious sight of his Gurudev. After Satyanaam, Saar Shabd is given to a worshipper in initiation when he becomes eligible for it. After a year, Sultan Adham went to his guru's hut and made a humble request for initiation of Saarnaam. Supreme God said, "Come after a year on exactly the same day, I will give you Saarnaam. You can come anytime (for darshan) to behold and meet me.” A year later, when Sultan Ibrahim Adham went to Guruji's hut on the very same day to get the Saarnaam, Guru Ji said, “Come after exactly one year on this day, I will give the Saarnaam.” Eleven (11) years passed in doing this. He also used to come every now and then to obtain a sight of the Satguru, but for Saarnaam, he had to come only on a fixed day. When in the eleventh year, Sultani was coming for the initiation of Saarshabd, he was passing through a street next to a house. The lady of that house swept the garbage off the roof and threw it in the street; it accidentally fell on the devotee. When the garbage fell on Sultan Ibrahim, he shouted, “Can you not see? People also walk up and down the street. If I had not renounced the kingdom, I would have flayed you today.”

That sister apologised and said, O Brother! It is my mistake; I should have first looked in the street. I will take care in future.” That sister, who owned that house, was also a devotee of Jinda Baba. When she saw Ibrahim in the ashram, she asked Guruji, “O Gurudev! The devotee, who is sitting in solitude, was he ever a king?” Jinda Baba asked, “What is the matter, daughter? Here, there is no difference between a king and a commoner. Why did you ask this question? He was earlier the king of Balakh city. When I explained this knowledge to him, he renounced the kingdom. Now he works hard and makes a living by selling wood, and he also does worship.” The sister told, “While I was throwing dry garbage from the roof, accidentally some fell on him, so he was infuriated and said, “If I had not renounced the kingdom, I would have stripped your skin off.” After the spiritual discourse, those eligible for Saar Shabd were called. When Sultan Ibrahim's turn came, Guru ji said, “You are still a king. Child! Saar Shabd is given to a slave, who has accepted the body as dirt.” Sultani said, “Gurudev! It has been years since I renounced the kingdom.” Guru Maharaj Ji said, “Nothing is hidden from me; I know the way you have renounced the kingdom. You have not relinquished the sentiment of regality. Come on this very day after a year for Saarnaam.” Sultani was coming again after a year. He had to pass by the same house. Guru ji told the same female disciple, “Tomorrow that king will come to take Saarshabd. The way to the hut is next to your house. There is no other way to reach the hut. This time, fill a bucket with cow dung and ash dissolved in water, and pour it over him. Then tell me what his reaction is.” That sister did the same. At the same time, the sister also said, “O brother! It fell by mistake. I will wash your clothes and clean them. You can take a bath in the pond here.” Sultan said, “Sister, dirt has fallen on dirt; it does not matter. I shall take a bath and wash my clothes.” That female disciple told Sultani’s reaction to Gurudev. Then Guru ji gave him the Saarshabd, and said, “Son! Today you have become a slave. Now your salvation is certain.”

Therefore, devotees should learn lessons from this story. Do not be in a hurry to obtain the Saarshabd. Normalize all the vices within you. Act prudently; salvation is certain.

Who holds greater significance: A King or the King of Devotees?

Once, Sultan Adham went and sat by a pond outside his Balakh city. His son was the king. When he learned about it, he mounted an elephant and reached the pond with a musical procession. He asked his father to return home. Sultan flatly refused. His son said, “Look, what you have done to yourself. Live comfortably here. You are suffering as a beggar. Everything happens today by my orders.” Sultan said, “What God can do, a king cannot.” His son said, “I will do whatever you order me to do. You will have to stay with us.” Sultani said, “Alright; I accept it. I am putting a sewing needle with my hand in this pond. Take this needle out of the water and return it to me.” The king summoned the soldiers, divers and net throwers. They tried everything, but all in vain. His son said, “Father! I will get you a thousand needles in lieu of one needle. Will your Allah take this needle out of the water?” Then Sultan said, “O Son! Will you do bhakti if my Allah takes the same needle out of the water? Will you take sanyas (renounce the kingdom)?” His son said, “You may first get this needle taken out of the water by your lord, then I will think.” Ibrahim said, “O daughters of God, fish! A needle of this humble servant has fallen in your pond. Please take my needle out and give it to me.” Within a few moments, a fish came to the shore near Ibrahim with a needle in its mouth. Ibrahim grabbed the needle and thanked the fish with folded hands. Then Sultani said, “Son! Look, a human being, even if he is a king, cannot do what God can do. Will you worship God now?” His son said, “God has only given you a needle; I can give you diamonds and pearls. I will worship God in my old age.” Devotee Ibrahim got up and departed. He went into his cave.

Disorders like Lust, Attachment, Anger, Desire are not Destroyed; They are Pacified

Once, Ibrahim Sultan was visiting the city of Mecca. His purpose behind going there was to preach to the misled Muslim devotees who visit Mecca for Hajj or otherwise as well. He stayed there for a few days to instruct them. He also made a few disciples. A Hajj traveller went to the city of Balakh and told that Sultan Ibrahim lives in Mecca. Ibrahim’s little boy insisted on seeing his father, so his mother, the little boy along with some men and women of the city went to Mecca and met Ibrahim. Ibrahim used to preach to his disciples that one should not gaze at a boy without a beard and a moustache, and another woman. By doing so, one becomes infatuated with them. Seeing his son, Ibrahim could not hold back; he kept staring at the child. The boy was about 13 years old. The disciples said, “Gurudev, you preach to us that one should not look for a long time at a child without a beard and moustache, and you are yourself staring at him.” Ibrahim said, “I do not know why I am getting attracted towards him.” At the same time, an old man said, “O King! This is your (Begum) wife and this is your son. He was in his mother’s womb, when you renounced the kingdom. They have come to meet you.” Immediately, the boy after touching the feet of his father, sat on his lap. Tears of affection welled up in Ibrahim's eyes.

There was an ethervoice from God that – “O Sultani! You do not love me anymore. You love your family. Go to your home.” Instantaneously, Ibrahim was shocked. He closed his eyes and prayed, “O God! It is beyond my control, either kill me or this boy.” At that very moment, the boy died. Ibrahim got up and left. The people from Balakh started preparing for the last rites of the boy. To attain God, a devotee has to fulfill every criterion. Then one becomes successful. God immediately gave human life to that boy's soul and gave him birth in the house of His devotee. From childhood, that soul got the path of God.

Once, all the devotees gathered in the ashram of Baba Jinda for a satsang. That boy was 4 years old at the time. By the grace of God, his bed and Ibrahim's bed were placed side by side. Seeing Ibrahim, the boy said, “Father! Why did you leave me in Mecca? I am now born in the house of a devotee. Look, Allah has reunited me with you.” When this matter went to Guru Ji Jinda Baba (Supreme God Kabir Ji), Jinda Baba told that this is Ibrahim’s son who had died in Mecca. Now God has given birth to this soul in the house of a devotee.” Ibrahim was deeply saddened by the death of the boy, but he did not share it with anyone. That day he said, “O Ocean of Mercy! You are Omniscient. I feel relieved today. It kept coming to my mind again and again that, “Why did God do this? With what face will his mother go home? Today my soul is completely at peace.” Jinda Baba sent a message to that woman, the former mother of that boy i.e., Ibrahim's wife that she should come to the ashram. He also summoned that boy, his new parents and Ibrahim. He introduced the boy to his former mother. As soon as the boy saw her, he said, “O Mother! You left me in Mecca and went away. Allah came there. Look, he is sitting here (he spoke while pointing to Jinda Baba). He took me with him and left at these people’s house. I went into this mother's womb. Then I was born. Now I have taken initiation. I chant the first mantra. O Mother! You too should take initiation from Guru ji. You will be emancipated.” Ibrahim's wife took initiation and said, “Send this boy with me.”

Supreme God Kabir (Jinda Baba) said, “If he had to be kept in that hell (in the glare of the kingdom), why would he have died? Now you should come to the ashram and meet the child once in a month in the satsang.” Ibrahim did not feel the sense of belonging in that boy, because he was born from someone else's body. But Ibrahim’s delusion, the foolishness of his mind, was destroyed. Which he used to say in his mind that Allah should not have done it. Now he realised that whatever God does, he does good. Even if it does not feel good at that time. All living beings belong to Allah; He thinks of the welfare of all. We think of our own interests. Even the queen did not have the same feeling in that boy, but the soul was the same. Therefore, mother's affection was still alive in her heart. So, she used to feel peaceful on seeing him. Making this a reason, God emancipated both the queen and the child.

A Devotee’s Nature is Like That of a (Tarvar) Tree

Once a merchant was travelling for business by a ship. He was also accompanied by a group of those who prepared food during the journey and who entertained everyone with jokes and mockery. It was a long journey. It had to take a month. The pranksters needed a person at whom they could direct all their derision. On searching, they found Ibrahim. They caught him and took him with them. They thought that this beggar needs bread; he will get it. After going far in the sea, an entertainment programme began for the merchant. They were making fun of Ibrahim. They were saying, “There was a fool like this (Ibrahim) man. He was sitting on the same branch of the tree that he was cutting. He fell and died.” They laughed out loudly. In this way, they kept making such indecent comments for a long time.

Ibrahim was very sad. He thought, “I will have to bear this for months. I will neither be able to worship, nor will I be able to live in peace.” At that very moment, an ethervoice occurred, “O Devotee Ibrahim! If you say, then I will kill these fools. I will sink the ship; I will save you. They bother you.” Hearing this voice from the sky, all the people of the ship got frightened. Ibrahim said, “O Allah! Do not put this stigma on my forehead. They are ignorant. Instead of killing so many people, kill me or give them good sense; they should get the welfare of their souls done by worshipping you.” All the passengers including the ship owner apologised to Ibrahim and listened to the knowledge of God. They kept him respectfully with them. He was given a separate place in the ship to worship. Ibrahim, after explaining the true knowledge to all of them, brought them to the ashram and got them initiated from Guru ji.

Ibrahim himself used to give initiation. When someone told Jinda Baba i.e., Supreme God Kabir in the presence of Ibrahim that “O Gurudev! Ibrahim gives initiation”, then God told Ibrahim, “O devotee! You are making a mistake. You are not authorised.” After that day, Ibrahim stopped giving initiation, and he got all his disciples initiated again from Guru ji. He begged for forgiveness. He himself also got his naam purified (reconnected). He did not make such mistake in future.

Who was the Guru of Sultan Ibrahim Adham?

God Kabir was the guru of Sultan Ibrahim Adham. Read full account of Sultan Ibrahim Adham in Garibdas Ji Speech

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