Story of a Man Who Used to Sin a Lot

It was narrated that a man, who used to sin a lot, came to the wise and righteous man called Ibrahim ibn Adham. So he tells him:

“I always sin, give me advice.”

If You Want to Sin, Don’t Eat from His Provision

So Ibrahim is trying to shame him out of sinning in front of Allah. He says:

“If you want to sin against Allah, then go ahead and do so, just don’t eat from Allah’s food, and don’t use His provision.”

So, the man said:

“How can I do that when everything is provided by Allah?”

 He said:

 “Does it make sense to sin against Allah, while you’re eating His food?”

Don’t Sin in His Land

The man said:

 “You’re right. Give me the second piece of advice.”

 He said:

“If you insist on sinning against Allah while eating His food and drinking from His drink, then at least don’t sin against Him on His land.”

 The man said:

 “That is bigger than the first one when all the land belongs to Allah.”

 He said:

 “Is it proper then that you sin against Allah, while you eat His food and you do it on His land?”

Sin Where He Can’t See You

The man said:

 “Give me the third piece of advice.”

 The wise man said:

“If you’re going to insist upon doing all that, then at least sin where He can’t see you.”

 And the man said:

“This is even greater.”

 He said:

“Does it make sense that you sin against Allah on His land, while eating from His food that He provides, and you do it right in front of Him?”

Stop the Angel of Death Until You Repent

So, the man said:

 “Give me the fourth piece of advice.”

 He said:

 “If you still insist upon sinning after all this, then continue sinning, but when the angel of death comes to take you, tell him to wait for you until you repent to Allah.”

 He said:

 “The angel won’t allow me.”

 He said:

 “Then when they’re commanded to throw you into the Hellfire, then refuse to go with them.”

 He said:

 “They won’t allow me.”

 He said:

 Then, after that, the man said:

 “Enough! Enough!”

 He had understood the admonition. And it was said that from that day, the man went on without sinning against Allah.