Al-Qushayri preserves a report from Ibrahim al-Khawwas, may Allah have mercy on him, about an unusual encounter with a wounded lion. The lion approached him with a swollen paw and placed it before him. Ibrahim treated the wound and bandaged it, after which the animal went away. A short time later the lion returned with two cubs, and the report says that the cubs brought bread for Ibrahim. The story is preserved in al-Risala al-Qushayriyya.
Al-Qushayri preserves an unusual story from Ibrahim al-Khawwas, may Allah have mercy on him. The account begins with a lion approaching Ibrahim while one of its paws was injured and swollen. Instead of attacking him or remaining at a distance, the animal came close and placed the wounded paw before him, as though seeking help.
Ibrahim responded to what was in front of him. The report says that he took the lion’s paw into his lap, opened the injured place, treated the wound, and then bandaged it. The first part of the story is therefore simple and direct: a wild animal comes with an injury, and Ibrahim tends to it carefully.
After the treatment, the lion left. There is no long conversation or additional scene at this point. The animal simply went away after its paw had been treated, and the story appears for a moment to have reached its end.
But after a short interval the same lion returned. This time it was accompanied by two cubs. According to the report, the two cubs came carrying bread for Ibrahim. Their arrival turns the second meeting into the memorable conclusion of the episode: the lion that had first come wounded returned after receiving help, now with its young and with food.
The two scenes fit together naturally. First comes the injured paw and Ibrahim’s treatment of it; then comes the lion’s departure; finally comes its return with the two cubs and the bread. Nothing else is needed to understand the central event, because the story’s impact lies in that simple sequence of injury, care, departure, and return.
Al-Qushayri records the report in al-Risala al-Qushayriyya among accounts associated with the extraordinary experiences of the early Sufis. In its public form, the story is best kept close to that transmitted sequence: Ibrahim al-Khawwas treats the wounded lion, and the animal later returns with two cubs who, according to the report, bring him bread.
Ibrahim responded to what was in front of him. The report says that he took the lion’s paw into his lap, opened the injured place, treated the wound, and then bandaged it. The first part of the story is therefore simple and direct: a wild animal comes with an injury, and Ibrahim tends to it carefully.
After the treatment, the lion left. There is no long conversation or additional scene at this point. The animal simply went away after its paw had been treated, and the story appears for a moment to have reached its end.
But after a short interval the same lion returned. This time it was accompanied by two cubs. According to the report, the two cubs came carrying bread for Ibrahim. Their arrival turns the second meeting into the memorable conclusion of the episode: the lion that had first come wounded returned after receiving help, now with its young and with food.
The two scenes fit together naturally. First comes the injured paw and Ibrahim’s treatment of it; then comes the lion’s departure; finally comes its return with the two cubs and the bread. Nothing else is needed to understand the central event, because the story’s impact lies in that simple sequence of injury, care, departure, and return.
Al-Qushayri records the report in al-Risala al-Qushayriyya among accounts associated with the extraordinary experiences of the early Sufis. In its public form, the story is best kept close to that transmitted sequence: Ibrahim al-Khawwas treats the wounded lion, and the animal later returns with two cubs who, according to the report, bring him bread.
Conclusion
The account ends with the same lion returning after its treatment, accompanied by two cubs who are reported to have brought bread for Ibrahim al-Khawwas.
Sources
al-Risala al-Qushayriyya, vol.2 p.553; Qushayri reports via Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Ali al-Tikriti <- Muhammad b. Ali al-Kattani <- Ibrahim al-Khawwas.