Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) has narrated that one day Prophet Ibrahim (as) was surveying the environs of Mount Bait al Maqdis for a pasture. He heard the voice of a person calling. He proceeded in the direction of the sound. He found a person in the process of offering his prayers. The height of the person was about twelve yards. When the person was through with the prayer, Prophet Ibrahim (as) asked him, “To whom were you offering the prayers?”
The man replied, “I was offering my prayers to the Creator of the land and the skies.”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) asked, “Where be your dwelling?”
The man pointed to a hill in reply.
Prophet Ibrahim(as) said, “I too wish to visit your abode.”
He replied, “There is a river enroute that you cannot cross.”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) asked, “Then how do you go across?”
He said, “I can walk on the water.”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) said, “Perhaps Allah might endow to me the capability to walk on the water.”
Consequently both of them walked across the girth of the river.
Prophet Ibrahim (as) asked, “Tell me which is the greatest of all days?”
The man said, “The Day of Reckoning!”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) said, “Come! Let us both pray to Allah for Deliverance on that fateful day.”
The pious man said, “Why do you make me a partner in your prayer? I have been supplicating for the last three years and my wish has not been granted so far!”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) asked, “What is your wish?”
The man said, “One day I found a handsome lad grazing a flock. I asked him who owned the flock. The lad replied that the owner was Ibrahim Khalil-ur-Rahman. I prayed to Allah that if He had a Khalil (friend) on the earth, then He must give me the honor of setting eye on that revered personality. But my prayer has remained unanswered.”
Prophet Ibrahim (as) said, “Your wish has been fulfilled. I am Ibrahim Khalil Allah! The reason for the delay in answering your prayers was that Allah appreciated the way you modulated your supplication and He wanted to hear you making the call again and again. Your repeated supplication enhanced your status in the consideration of Allah.”