Listening to this, the soldier got angry and he whipped him on his head, and took him towards the town after injuring him. Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham’s رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه companions saw him and asked the soldier: ‘What happened?’

The soldier explained the whole matter. The companions told the soldier that he is (the wali of this era) Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه. Listening to this, the soldier came down from his horse, began to kiss his hands and feet and asked for forgiveness.

Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Adham رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه was asked: ‘Why did you say that you are a slave?’

Heرَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه replied; ‘He (the soldier) didn’t ask me whose slave I was? He just asked are you a slave? So I said ‘Yes! Because I am the slave (i.e. bondman) of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. When he hit me on my head, I asked Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to grant him Paradise.’

He was then asked: ‘He oppressed you, so why did you make Du’a for him?’

He replied: ‘I knew that I would get reward for being patient over this calamity. Therefore, I didn’t find it appropriate that I get reward and he gets inflicted with punishment.’(Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 3, pp. 216, summarised)

3. Freed the slave

Water fell onto the clothes of Sayyiduna Imam Ja’far Sadiq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ from the hands of one of his slaves. Sayyiduna Imam Ja’far Sadiq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ looked at him with a strict gaze.

The slave said: ‘My master! وَالْکٰظِمِیْنَ الْغَیْظَ  (And who restrain anger).’

Sayyiduna Imam Ja’far Sadiq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ replied: ‘I have controlled my anger.’

The slave then said: ‘وَالْعَافِیْنَ عَنِ النَّاسِ (And forgive people,).’

Sayyiduna Imam Ja’far Sadiq رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ replied: ‘I have forgiven you.’