Moses and Khadir - 5 - stories from al quran

Moses and AI-Khadir

Allah, the Almighty says:
{And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his boy-servant: "I will
not give up (travelling) until I reach the junction of the two seas or
(until) I spend years and years in travelling." But when they reached
the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its way
through the sea as in a tunnel. So when they had passed further on
(beyond that fixed place), Musa (Moses) said to his boy-servant: "Bring
us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this, our
journey." He said: "Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the
rock? I indeed forgot the fish,; none but Shaitan (Satan) made me
forget to remember it, it took its course into the sea in a strange
(way)!" [Musa (Moses)] said: "That is what we have been seeking;" So
they went back retracing their footsteps; Then they found one of Our
slaves, on whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had
taught knowledge from Us; Musa (Moses) said to him (Al-Khadir): "May
I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge
(guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allah)?" He
(Al-Khadir) said: "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 wills, you will find me patient, and I will
not disobey you in aught;" He (Al-Khadir) said: "Then, if you follow me,
ask me not about anything till I myself mention of it to you;" So they
both proceeded, till, when they embarked the ship, he (Al-Khadir)
scuttled it; Musa (Moses) said: "Have you scuttled it in order to drown
its people? Verily, you have committed a thing Imr (a Munkar -evil,
bad, dreadful thing); " He (Al-Khadir) 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,4 and be not hard upon me for
my affair (with you);" Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy,
and he (Al-Khadir) killed him; Musa (Moses) said: "Have you killed an
innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a
thing Nukr (a great Munkar prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!" (Al-
Khadir) said: "Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with
4 Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
"Allah forgives my followers those (evil deeds) their own selves may whisper or suggest to them
as long as they do not act (on it) or speak." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah
be pleased with him): The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "If somebody eats something
forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and
drink." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
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 (Al-Khadir) set it up
straight; (Musa (Moses)] said: If you had wished, surely, you could
have taken wages for it!" (Al-Khadir) 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
Masakin (poor people) working in the sea. So I wished to make a
defective damage in it, as there was a king behind 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 nearer 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 them not
of my own accord. That is the interpretation of those (things) over
which you could not hold patience}. (Al-Kahf, 60-82)
Some of the People of the Book said: the one who met Al-Khadir was Musa
Ibn Misha Ibn Yusuf Ibn Ya` ub Ibn Ishaq Ibn Ibrahim, father of the Prophets.
But, the most authentic view is that he was Musa Ibn `Imran, the Prophet sent
by Allah to the Children of Israel.
Narrated Imam Al-Bukhari: I was told by Al-Hamidi after Sufyan after `Amr
Ibn Dinar after Sa`id Ibn Jubair as saying: I said to Ibn `Abbas: "Nauf AI-Bakali
claims that Moses (the companion of AI-Khadir) was not the Moses of Banu
Israel but he was another Moses." Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him)
remarked that the enemy of Allah (Nauj) was a liar. Narrated Ubai bin Ka `b:
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Once Prophet Moses stood up and
addressed Banu 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). So Allah inspired to him, "At
the junction of the two seas there is a slave of mine who is more learned than
you." Moses said: "O my Lord! How can I meet him?" Allah Almighty said: "Take
a fish in a large basket (and proceed) and you will find him at the place where
you will lose the fish." So Moses set out along with his (servant) boy, Yusha` bin
Nun and carried a fish in a large basket till they reached a rock, where they laid
their heads (i. e. lay down) and slept. The fish came out of the basket and it
took its way into the sea as in a tunnel. So it was an amazing thing for both
Moses and his (servant) boy. They proceeded for the rest of that night and the
following day. When the day broke, Moses said to his (servant) boy: {Bring us
our early meal. No doubt, we have suffered much fatigue in this
journey}. Moses did not get tired till he passed the place about which he was
told. There the (servant) boy told Moses: {Do you remember when we
betook ourselves to the rock, I indeed forgot the fish}. Moses remarked:
{That is what we have been seeking. So they went back retracing their
footsteps}, till they reached the rock. There they saw a man covered with a
garment (or covering himself with his own garment). Moses greeted him. Al-
Khadir replied saying: "How do people greet each other in your land?" Moses
said: "I am Moses." He asked: "The Moses of Banu Israel?" Moses replied in the
affirmative and added: "May I follow you so that you teach me of that knowledge
which you have been taught." Al-Khadir replied: "Verily! You will not be able to
remain patient with me, 0 Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which
He has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some knowledge
which Allah has taught you which I do not know." Moses said: "Allah willing, you
will find me patient and I will not disobey you in aught. So both of them set out
walking along the seashore, as they did not have a boat. In the meantime a boat
passed by them and they requested the crew of the boa(. to take them on
board. The crew recognized Al-Khadir and took them on board without fare.
Then a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak
once or twice in the sea. Al-Khadir said: "O Moses! My knowledge and your
knowledge have not decreased Allah's knowledge except as much as this
sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak." Al-Khadir went to one
of the planks of the boat and plucked it out. Moses said: "These people gave us
a free lift but you have broken their boat and scuttled it so as to drown its
people." Al-Khadir replied: "Didn't I tell you that you will not be able to remain
patient with me." Moses said: "Call me not to account for what I forgot." The
first (excuse) of Moses was that he had forgotten. Then they proceeded further
and found a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khadir took hold of the boy's head
from the top and plucked it out with his hands (i.e. killed him). Moses said:
"Have you killed an innocent soul who has killed none." AI-Khadir replied: "Did I
not tell you that you cannot remain patient with 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 there a wall on the point of
collapsing. Al-Khadir repaired it with his own hands. Moses said: "If you had
wished, surely you could have taken wages for it." Al-Khadir replied: "This is the
parting between you and me." The Prophet (Muhammad (Peace be upon him))
added: "May Allah be Merciful to Moses! Would that he could have been more
patient to learn more about his story with Al-Khadir." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
Allah the Almighty says: {And as for the wall, it belonged to two
orphan boys in the town}, As Suhaili said: they were Asram and Sarim sons
of Kashih. {And there was under it a treasure belonging to them}, i.e. the
treasure was gold, or some kind of knowledge. However, the most likely view is
that it was some kind of knowledge inscribed on a golden board.
Al-Bazzar said: I was told by Ibrahim Ibn Sa'id Al-Jauhari after Bishr Ibn Al-
Mundhir ufter Al Harith Ibn 'Abdullah Al- Yahbasi after 'Iyad Ibn `Abbas Al-
Ghassani after Ibn Hujairah after Abu Dharr as saying: "The treasure mentioned
in Allah's Book (the Glorious Qur'an) was a solid golden board where it was
inscribed: I wondered at the one who affirmed faith in the Divine Decree and
then he exerted himself; and I wondered at the one who remembered Hell-Fire
and then he laughed; and I wondered at the one who remembered death and
then he became heedless of the meaning of 'There is no god but Allah.'" The like
was narrated by Al-Hasan Al-Basri, ` Umar the freed slave of `Afrah and Ja`far
As-Sadiq.
Allah's Saying: {And their father was a righteous man}, i.e. their
seventh or tenth grandfather. However, this proves that the righteousness of the
father benefits his own children and their children.
Allah's Saying: {as a mercy from your Lord} , this is a textual proof that
Al-Khadir was a Prophet and that he did not do anything out of his own desire
but as ordered by Allah the Almighty.
Al-Khadir's Name, Lineage and Prophethood: Is He Still Alive?
The real name, lineage and status of Al-Khadir are controversial. This can be
added to the very important question: is he still alive?
Al-Hafiz Ibn `Asakir said: He is said to be Al-Khadir son of Adam. Ibn
Qutaibah said: His name was Balya -or Aylya -Ibn Malakan Ibn Faligh Ibn `Abir
Ibn Shalikh Ibn Arfakhshdh Ibn Sam Ibn Noah (Peace be Upon him).
Isma`il Ibn Abu Uwais said: His name was Al-Mu`amir Ibn Malik Ibn
`Abdullah Ibn Nasr Ibn Lazd.
Others said: He is Khadrun Ibn `Amyaiyl Ibn Al-afiz Ibn AI-`Iys Ibn Ishaq
Ibn Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him). There are so many other views
pertaining to his name and lineage.
Imam Al-Bukhari said: I was told by Muhammad Ibn Sa'id Al-Asbahani after
Ibn Al-Mubarak after Mu`amir after Hammam on the authority of Abu Hurairah
(May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Al-
Khadir was named so because he sat over a barren white land, it turned green
with plantation after (his sitting over It)."
Qabisah narrated on the authority of Ath-Thauri after Mansur after Mujahid
as saying: Al-Khadir was named so because everything around him used to turn
into green when he stands for prayer. It was stated earlier that Moses and
Yusha` (Peace be upon them) went back retracing their footsteps, till they
reached the rock. There they saw a man covered with a green garment (or
covering himself with his own garment). Moses greeted him. Al-Khadir replied
saying: "How do people greet each other in your land?" Moses said: "I am
Moses." He asked: "The Moses of Banu Israel?" Moses replied in the affirmative
and added: "May I follow you so that you teach me of that knowledge which you
have been taught... etc."
The Story Indicated His Prophethood in Four Aspects:
First: Allah the Almighty says: {Then they found one of Our slaves, on
whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught
knowledge from Us}. (Al-Kahf, 65)
Second: Moses says to Al-Khadir: {Musa (Moses) said to him (Al-Khadir):
"May I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge
(guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allah)?" He
(Al-Khadir) said: "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 wills, you will find me patient, and I will
not disobey you in aught." He (Al-Khadir) said: "Then, if you follow me,
ask me not about anything till I myself mention of it to you"). (Al-Kahf,
66-70) So, were he not a Prophet, Moses would not address him that way, and
he would not answer Moses that way as well. Moses sought his company
because he wanted to get some of the knowledge Al-Khadir was given by Allah
and that which Moses did not get. Were Al-Khadir anything but a Prophet, he
would not be infallible. Thus, Moses would not be keen to accompany him
because Moses himself was an honorable Prophet and an infallible Messenger.
Were Al-Khadir anything but a Prophet, Moses would not take the trouble of
searching for him for eighty years. When Moses met with Al-Khadir, Moses highly
respected him and followed him submissively to gain as much as possible of his
divine knowledge.
Third: Al-Khadir intentionally killed the boy. He would not do that without
an inspiration from Allah Almighty ordering him to. This incident can stand as a
separate proof that Al-Khadir was a Prophet. It can stand as well, as a proof that
he was infallible. Al-Khadir killed the boy because he was inspired that the boy
would be a disbeliever when he grows up and that his parents would follow
him due to their earnest love for him. So he killed him to save the faith of the
parents. This indicated that he was an infallible Prophet.
Fourth: When Al-Khadir interpreted and explained for Moses the actions he
took and clarified everything to him he added: {As a mercy from your Lord.
And I did them not of my own accord}, i.e. I did not do that out of my
desire, instead, I was ordered to by divine inspiration. All these indicated his
Prophethood and infallibility.

Is Al-Khadir Still Alive?
The majority of scholars said: "Al-Khadir is still alive because he was the one
who buried Adam (Peace be upon him) after the Deluge and thus he was
affected by the invocation of Adam that he who buries him will live long." Some
people said: "he is still alive because he drank of the spring of life."
There are so many narrations and stories on which those who viewed the
existence of Al-Khadir today based their opinion. But, all the narrations and
Hadiths pertaining to that issue are weak and invented and those who narrated
them are not infallible.
'Abdur Razzaq said: I was told by Mu' amir that Abu Sa'id AI-Khudri said:
"One day Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) narrated to us a long narration
about Ad-Dajjal and among the things he narrated to us, was: 'Ad-Dajjal will
come, and he will be forbidden to enter the mountain passes of Medina. He will
encamp in one of the salt areas neighboring Medina and there will appear to him
a man who will be the best or one of the best of the people. He will say: 'I testify
that you are Ad-Dajjal whose story Allah's Messenger has told us. 'Ad Dajjal will
say (to his audience): 'Look, if I kill this man and then give him life, will you have
any doubt about my claim?' They will reply: 'No.' Then Ad Dajjal will kill that man
and then will make him alive. The man will say: 'By Allah, now I recognize you
more than ever! 'Ad-Dajjal will then try to kill him (again) but he will not be
given the power to do so. ", Mu'amir said: I was told that the man who stands
against the Dajjal is Al-Khadir and that his neck on that day would be covered
with brass.
Sheik Abu Al-Faraj Ibn Al-Jawzi refuted all these Hadiths and proved them all
to be invented, and he proved the Chains of Transmission of the narrations and
stories of the Prophet's Companions and followers to be weak and fallible.
Indeed, Ibn Al-Jawzi was very powerful and authentic in doing so.
As for those who claimed Al-Khadir to be dead such as Imam Al-Bukhari, Abu
Al-Husain Ibn Al-Munadi and sheik Abu Al-Faraj Ibn Al-Jawzi, they held as their
textual proofs what follows: Allah the Almighty says: {And We granted not to
any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad (Peace be
upon him»: then if you die, would they live forever?}. (Al-Anbyia', 34) So
if Al-Khadir was a human being, he would be affected by this ruling: he is mortal,
he must die. Allah the Almighty says: {And (remember) when Allah took the
Covenant of the Prophets, saying: "Take whatever I gave you from the
Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah), and afterwards
there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad (Peace be upon him»
confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help
him." Allah said: "Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My
Covenant (which I conclude with you)?" They said: "We agree." He
said: "Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for
this)"). (Al 'Imran, 81) Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah
took the Covenant of all the Prophets to believe in Muhammad and support him
if he appears during their lifetimes. In addition, they should take the Covenant of
all their own nations to believe in him and support him in the same way.
Thereupon, were Al-Khadir a Prophet or a Wali (protector or guardian), he would
be involved in that Covenant and that were he alive during the lifetime of
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he would follow him and present
himself before him paying allegiance and absolute faith.
Imam Ahmed narrated: I was told by Shuraih Ibn An-Nu'man after Hashim
after Mujalid after AshShi'bi after Jabir Ibn 'Abdullah that the Prophet (Peace be
upon him) said: "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! Were Moses alive, he would
do nothing but follow me." This is the decisive view which the earlier Qur'anic
Verse indicates that all Prophets -if they happen to live during the lifetime of
Prophet Muhammad -are ordered to follow him and practice his own Shari `ah.
On the Night Journey, he (Peace be upon him) was raised far above them all.5
When they descended to Jerusalem and the time for Prayer was due, he (Peace
be upon him) was ordered to lead them all (in Prayer). This showed that he is
the greatest Imam and the last Prophet who is most honored and respected
(May Allah grant him and them all mercy).
Thereupon, if Al-Khadir were alive, he would be joining forces with Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and he would follow his religion in every
minute detail. This is Prophet `Isa (Jesus (Peace be upon him)) when he will
descends by the end of time, he will rule over the whole world in accordance
with this honorable legislation of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
However, there is nothing to certify that Al-Khadir has met together with Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in a single day or even witnessed any fight
with him against the polytheists or the infidels. On the day on which the Battle of
Badr was fought, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) cast a glance at
the infidels, and they were one thousand (1000) while his own Companions were
three hundred and nineteen (319). Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) turned
(his face) towards the Qiblah. Then, he stretched his hands and began his
supplication to his Lord: 'O Allah! Accomplish for me what Thou hast promised to
me. 0 Allah! Bring about what Thou hast promised to me. 0 Allah! If this small
band of Muslims is destroyed, Thou will not be worshipped on this earth.' He
(Peace be upon him) continued his supplication to his Lord, stretching his hands,
facing the Qiblah, until his mantle slipped down from his shoulders. So Abu Bakr
(May Allah be pleased with him) came to him, picked up his mantle and put it on
his shoulders. Then he (Abu Bakr) embraced him from behind and said: 0
Prophet of Allah! This prayer of yours to your Lord will suffice you, and He will
fulfil for you what He has promised you. So Allah, the Glorious and Exalted,
revealed (the Qur'anic verse): {(Remember) when you sought help of your
5 I.e. Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven beyond which
none can pass). (Translator)
Lord and He answered you (saying): I will help you with a thousand of
the angels each behind the other (following one another) in
succession}. (Al-Anfal, 9) So Allah helped him with angels." (Sahih Muslim)
However, this' small band of Muslims' consisted, then, of the chiefs from among
the Muslims and the angels, foremost among whom was Jibril (Gabriel (Peace be
upon him)). Thus, if Al-Khadir were alive, his presence, then, would be the best
thing he could ever do. Narrated Al-Qadi Abu Ya`la Muhammad Ibn Al-Husain Al-
Fara' Al-Hanbali: Some people asked some of our companions about Al-Khadir,
was he dead? They answered: "Yes."
Some people claim that Al-Khadir was present during all these past events
but no one could see him because he was invisible. Obviously, this claim is
groundless and is based only on illusions. Indeed, if he was still alive during the
lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he would certainly join him
in his fight against the polytheists of the tribe of Quraish. See the following
Hadith: Narrated Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him): "On the Day of Uhud I
saw on the right side of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) and on his left
side two persons dressed in white clothes and whom I did not see before nor
after that, and they were Gabriel and Michael (may Allah be pleased with both of
them)." (Sahih Muslim)
In addition, 'Abdullah Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with both of
them) said: "Once the Prophet (Peace be upon him) led us in the `Isha' (Night)
Prayer during the last days of his life and after finishing it (the Prayer) (with
Taslim, i.e. final salutation) he said: 'Do you realize (the importance of) this
night? Nobody present on the surface of the earth tonight will be living after the
completion of one hundred years from this night. ", (Sahih Al-Bukhari) And,
`Abdullah Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with both of them) narrated: "Allah's
Messenger (Peace be upon him) led us in the `Isha' (Night) Prayer at the latter
part of the night and when he had concluded it by salutations he stood up and
said: 'Have you seen this night of yours? At the end of one hundred years after
this (night) none would survive on the surface of the earth (from among my
Companions).' Ibn `Umar said: People were (not understanding) these words of
the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) which had been uttered pertaining
to one hundred years. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) in fact meant (by
these words) that on that day none from amongst those who had been living
upon the earth (from amongst his Companions) would survive (after one
hundred years) and that would be the end of this generation." (Sahih Muslim)
And, Jabir Ibn `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: "I heard
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) as saying this one month before his
death: 'You asked me about the Last Hour whereas its knowledge is with Allah. I,
however, take an oath and say that none upon the earth, the created beings
(from amongst my Companions), would survive at the end of one hundred
years." This Hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Juraij with the
same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of the words: "one month
before his death." (Sahih Muslim) So, even if Al-Khadir were alive during the
lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he would, then, be dead in
accordance with these above-mentioned Hadiths.
And, Allah knows best!