The story of Musa AS & Khizar AS

Before we proceed with Juma segment of Al Kahf, following Hadith will add value to recitation of this Surah on Friday. From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, who said: “Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the night of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (the Ka’bah).” Narrated by al-Daarimi. This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani)

Today we touch upon the third Story of Surah Al Kahf regarding Musa AS and Khizar AS

Once Prophet Musa stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked: “Who is the most learned man amongst the people?” He said: “I am the most learned.” Allah admonished Moses as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). Presumably, in early days of the prophet hood, Musa (Moses) AS was instructed by Allah to go and meet one his special men (name is not mentioned in Quran, but most probably it was Hazrat Khizar AS who is also thought by few to be an angel). “At the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than you.” Musa said: “O my Lord! How can I meet him?” [Al-Bukharee]

Musa set out on journey with his attendant (Most probably, Yusha ibn Noon). They had to reach where two waters met (most likely the point where Blue and White Nile meet south of Egypt). They took along a fried fish which was supposed to jump out of the basket as they reach the point of meeting. They stopped over for rest. The fish jumped out without notice. They gathered their stuff and continued move towards South. After some distance, Musa asked his companion to serve the food. Yusha told Musa AS, while they rested at the last stop, the fish became alive and went in to the water. They retraced their steps and went back to the same spot. There they found that special man of God. Allah gave him unsurpassed knowledge, Ilm-e-Ladunni. Musa requested to spend some time with him to seek knowledge. But Khizar discouraged Musa to join him. He insisted how could Musa be patient on something when his knowledge, perception and understanding depend upon his five senses. However, Musa insisted and Khizar allowed him to join him, saying: "Verily! You will not be able to have patience with me!  "And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not?" Musa (Moses) said: "If Allah will, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in aught." He (Khizar) said: "Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention it to you."

 

So they both proceeded, till, when they embarked the ship, he (Khizar) scuttled it. Musa (Moses) said: "Have you scuttled it in order to drown its people? Verily, you have committed a thing "Imra" (a Munkar - evil, bad, dreadful thing)." He (Khizar) said: "Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with me?" [Musa (Moses)] said: "Call me not to account for what I forgot, and be not hard upon me for my affair (with you)."

Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy, he (Khizar) killed him. Musa (Moses) said: "Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a thing "Nukra" (a great Munkar - prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!" (Khizar) said: "Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with me?" [Musa (Moses)] said: "If I ask you anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me."

Then they both proceeded, till, when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khizar) set it up straight. [Musa (Moses)] said: If you had wished, surely, you could have taken wages for it!" (Khizar) said: "This is the parting between me and you; I will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were unable to hold patience.

"As for the ship, it belonged to Masâkîn (poor people) working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king after them who seized every ship by force. "And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief. "So we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and near to mercy. "And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the town; and there was under it a treasure belonging to them; and their father was a righteous man, and your Lord intended that they should attain their age of full strength and take out their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of those (things) over which you could not hold patience."

There can be long list of lessons drawn from this story. But remember this Book is for every time and generation. These stories are simple but relevant. Today we live in age of reason and knowledge. Just a little click or tap can send you deep in to the ocean of knowledge. We cannot even differentiate between knowledge and information. Knowledge fed by information on internet search engines can be misleading. Google and Wikipedia are least interested in imparting true knowledge to us. They are interested only in number of clicks because each click brings some money with it. True Knowledge only belongs to Allah. He has given us but very little of his knowledge. Even revered Prophet like Musa could not claim to have all the knowledge. And Allah did not challenge him by a quick fire quiz but through knowledge of one of his men. Secondly, unless we submit to Allah, we cannot claim to have true knowledge of things.

Second important lesson is about human impatience. Allah has claimed in Quran that “I made human a creature of haste”. Allah showed Musa AS that He is the Creator who knows his creature well and made Musa’s knowledge of things look insignificant in front of Khizar AS. So a great prophet was humbled by another creature of Allah. Truly because there could be no measure of Allah’s knowledge hence it was the wisest to compare knowledge of creature with another creature. Human nature itself is very fragile with limitations such as impatience.

May Allah give us some of His True Knowledge and help us overcome our worst limitation of impatience. Ameen.