Unable to Stop Sinning

A man came to Hazrat Ibrahim Ibn Adham (A.S), and said "I am unable to control myself from sinning. Please give me something to help me refrain from it”.

Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) replied, “If you accept Five conditions and are able to put them into practice, your disobedience will not cause you any problem”. “Just tell me what they are”, the man said.

“The First is that when you want to disobey Allah (S.W.T), you do not eat anything He provides”.

“Then how will I get anything to eat? Everything on the earth is from Him”. Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) replied, “So is it right to eat His provision and disobey Him at the same time? No it is not”. The man asked “What is the Second condition?”

“When you want to disobey Him, move off His land”. “That is even more difficult”, exclaimed the man. “In that case where will I live?”, “Is it right to eat His provision and live on His land and then to disobey Him?” asked Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S).

“What is the Third condition?” asked the man. “When you want to disobey Him in spite of eating His provision and living on His land, find a place where He will not see you and disobey Him there”.

“What do you mean? He knows everything that happens even in the most hidden places” replied the man.

“So is it right to disobey Him when you eat His provision and live on His land and when you know that He can see everything you do?

The man asked, “Tell me the Fourth condition”.

“When the Angel of Death arrives to take your soul, you should say to him, Give me a reprieve so that I can repent and act righteously for Allah (S.W.T)”.

“But he won't listen to me”, replied the man. “If you cannot ward off death long enough to give yourself time to repent and you know that when it comes there will be no reprieve, how can you hope to be saved?”

“What is the Fifth condition” asked the man?

“When the Angels of the Fire come to you, to take you to the Fire, don’t go with them”. They will take me whether I like it or not, exclaimed the man. “So how can you hope to be saved?” replied Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S).

“Enough, enough, Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S), I promise that I’ll ask Allah (S.W.T) for forgiveness and I’ll only turn to Him”, he remarked.

The man’s repentance was sincere and from that time on, he was attentive in his worship and avoided acts of disobedience until the day he died.