Al-Hujwiri preserves a striking account about Ibrahim al-Khawwas may Allah have mercy on him during a journey through a mountainous area. His companion recited verses that affected Ibrahim deeply. When the verses were repeated, Ibrahim entered a powerful state of devotional ecstasy and moved his feet upon the rocky ground. The report says that his feet sank into the stone as though it were wax. He then lost consciousness, and after recovering he spoke of having been in Paradise.
Al-Hujwiri preserves a remarkable account about Ibrahim al-Khawwas may Allah have mercy on him during one of his journeys. Ibrahim was travelling through a mountainous region with a companion when they paused on the road. During the journey, the companion recited some verses. The words had a deep effect on Ibrahim, who asked him to repeat them.
The verses were recited again. As Ibrahim listened, the report describes him entering a powerful state of tawajud, a moment of intense spiritual emotion and devotion. His condition changed so strongly that he began moving his feet upon the hard rocky ground beneath him. What followed became the central extraordinary feature of the story.
According to the account preserved by al-Hujwiri, Ibrahim’s feet sank into the stone as though the rock had become soft like wax. The image is vivid: a hard mountain surface beneath a traveller’s feet giving way in a manner completely unlike its ordinary nature. The companion watched as Ibrahim remained absorbed in the state brought on by the verses.
Soon afterward Ibrahim lost consciousness. The journey paused as his companion waited for him to recover. When Ibrahim regained awareness, he spoke to his companion about what he had experienced during that interval. He said that he had been in the garden of Paradise while his companion had remained unaware of what was happening to him.
The story therefore moves through a clear sequence: a journey through the mountains, verses recited on the road, Ibrahim becoming deeply affected, his feet sinking into the rock like wax, his loss of consciousness, and then his words about Paradise after he awoke. Each scene follows naturally from the one before it and gives the account its distinctive character.
In Kashf al-Mahjub, this episode is remembered among the extraordinary reports connected with Ibrahim al-Khawwas may Allah have mercy on him. The most memorable moment remains the image of his feet sinking into hard stone as if it had softened beneath him, followed by the unusual experience he described after regaining consciousness.
The verses were recited again. As Ibrahim listened, the report describes him entering a powerful state of tawajud, a moment of intense spiritual emotion and devotion. His condition changed so strongly that he began moving his feet upon the hard rocky ground beneath him. What followed became the central extraordinary feature of the story.
According to the account preserved by al-Hujwiri, Ibrahim’s feet sank into the stone as though the rock had become soft like wax. The image is vivid: a hard mountain surface beneath a traveller’s feet giving way in a manner completely unlike its ordinary nature. The companion watched as Ibrahim remained absorbed in the state brought on by the verses.
Soon afterward Ibrahim lost consciousness. The journey paused as his companion waited for him to recover. When Ibrahim regained awareness, he spoke to his companion about what he had experienced during that interval. He said that he had been in the garden of Paradise while his companion had remained unaware of what was happening to him.
The story therefore moves through a clear sequence: a journey through the mountains, verses recited on the road, Ibrahim becoming deeply affected, his feet sinking into the rock like wax, his loss of consciousness, and then his words about Paradise after he awoke. Each scene follows naturally from the one before it and gives the account its distinctive character.
In Kashf al-Mahjub, this episode is remembered among the extraordinary reports connected with Ibrahim al-Khawwas may Allah have mercy on him. The most memorable moment remains the image of his feet sinking into hard stone as if it had softened beneath him, followed by the unusual experience he described after regaining consciousness.
Conclusion
The account of Ibrahim al-Khawwas preserves a vivid karamah narrative: verses heard during a mountain journey, a powerful state of tawajud, feet sinking into stone like wax, and an extraordinary experience described after he regained consciousness.
Sources
al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, Bab Maratibihim fi al-Sama, section 2
al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, same passage
al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, same passage
al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, same passage
al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, same passage
Nicholson translation of al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, audition chapter
al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub, report opening 'a certain man says'
al-Qushayri, al-Risala al-Qushayriyya, biography of Ibrahim al-Khawwas
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