c. 1775

Angels Visit the Sage Sultan Ibrahim ibn-Adham of Balkh

Sultan Ibrahim ibn-Adham was a very wealthy Muslim king who ruled in the eighth century. According to tradition, Ibrahim awoke one night to find strangers searching for a camel on his palace roof. When he inquired why they were looking in such an unlikely place, they replied that any king who tried to find God in a palace was equally foolish. Reflecting on this revelation and other mystical experiences, Ibrahim gave up his throne to live in the forest as a dervish, or Muslim ascetic. Here, four angels present Ibrahim with meals in covered dishes. The angels' assistance suggests divine recognition, a testimonial to the virtues of the ascetic lifestyle.