Al-Qushayri preserves a report from Ibrahim al-Khawwas, may Allah have mercy on him, about a journey in the Hijaz during which thirst became so severe that he collapsed. Water was sprinkled on his face, and when he opened his eyes he saw a handsome rider who gave him water and invited him to ride behind him. After only a short time, Ibrahim said that Madinah had come into view. The rider then told him to dismount and convey greetings to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, identifying himself in that message as al-Khidr.
Ibrahim al-Khawwas, may Allah have mercy on him, was remembered in classical biography as a Sufi traveler closely associated with tawakkul and repeated journeys toward Mecca. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi records that he travelled through the desert by many routes. Against that background, al-Qushayri preserves a remarkable account from one of his journeys in the Hijaz.
Ibrahim relates that thirst became so severe that he collapsed. The next thing in the report is water touching his face. When he opened his eyes, he saw a handsome man mounted on a light-colored riding animal. The rider gave him water to drink, bringing relief at the moment when he had become physically exhausted.
After Ibrahim had drunk, the rider told him to sit behind him. Ibrahim says that he was still in the Hijaz. Only a short time passed before the rider asked him what he could see. Ibrahim looked and answered that he could see Madinah. The report does not describe the distance covered or explain how the journey happened so quickly; it simply places the brief ride and the sudden sight of Madinah one after the other.
The rider then told Ibrahim to dismount. Before leaving, he asked him to convey greetings to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and to say that “your brother al-Khidr sends you greetings.” In the wording transmitted by al-Qushayri, this is the point at which the rider identifies himself. The story therefore ends with the water, the unusually rapid arrival near Madinah, and this final message.
A separate report in al-Qushayri also associates Ibrahim al-Khawwas with an encounter involving al-Khidr, but it describes a different occasion and is not merged with this journey. The main account remains the single travel story narrated by Ibrahim himself: severe thirst, unexpected water, a ride, Madinah appearing after a short interval, and the rider's self-identification at parting.
The remembered karamah is thus a story of rescue during travel and an extraordinary arrival. Ibrahim al-Khawwas reaches the point of collapse, receives water from an unknown rider, travels with him for a short time, and then finds Madinah before him. The account closes when the rider asks that his greeting be conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and identifies himself within the report as al-Khidr.
Ibrahim relates that thirst became so severe that he collapsed. The next thing in the report is water touching his face. When he opened his eyes, he saw a handsome man mounted on a light-colored riding animal. The rider gave him water to drink, bringing relief at the moment when he had become physically exhausted.
After Ibrahim had drunk, the rider told him to sit behind him. Ibrahim says that he was still in the Hijaz. Only a short time passed before the rider asked him what he could see. Ibrahim looked and answered that he could see Madinah. The report does not describe the distance covered or explain how the journey happened so quickly; it simply places the brief ride and the sudden sight of Madinah one after the other.
The rider then told Ibrahim to dismount. Before leaving, he asked him to convey greetings to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and to say that “your brother al-Khidr sends you greetings.” In the wording transmitted by al-Qushayri, this is the point at which the rider identifies himself. The story therefore ends with the water, the unusually rapid arrival near Madinah, and this final message.
A separate report in al-Qushayri also associates Ibrahim al-Khawwas with an encounter involving al-Khidr, but it describes a different occasion and is not merged with this journey. The main account remains the single travel story narrated by Ibrahim himself: severe thirst, unexpected water, a ride, Madinah appearing after a short interval, and the rider's self-identification at parting.
The remembered karamah is thus a story of rescue during travel and an extraordinary arrival. Ibrahim al-Khawwas reaches the point of collapse, receives water from an unknown rider, travels with him for a short time, and then finds Madinah before him. The account closes when the rider asks that his greeting be conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and identifies himself within the report as al-Khidr.
Conclusion
The report remembers Ibrahim al-Khawwas, may Allah have mercy on him, receiving water in severe thirst, being carried until Madinah appeared after a short interval, and hearing the rider identify himself in his farewell message as al-Khidr.
Sources
al-Risala al-Qushayriyya, vol. 2 p. 551: Qushayri <- Muhammad b. Abd Allah al-Shirazi <- Muhammad b. Faris al-Farisi <- Abu al-Hasan Khayr al-Nassaj <- Ibrahim al-Khawwas. Al-Khawwas reports severe thirst and collapse, water sprinkled on his face, a handsome rider on a shahba' mount who gave him water and carried him, Madinah becoming visible after a short time, and the rider's self-identification in the message as al-Khidr.
al-Risala al-Qushayriyya, chapter on tawakkul, vol. 1 around p. 302: Ibrahim al-Khawwas is reported saying that al-Khidr met him and asked for companionship; he separated from him fearing that reliance on al-Khidr would impair his tawakkul.
Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 6 p. 98: Ibrahim al-Khawwas is described as one of the Sufi shaykhs known for tawakkul and frequent journeys to Mecca and elsewhere; al-Khaldi transmits from him that he traversed the desert to Mecca by seventeen routes.