One day, Musa (AS) delivered an impressive and moving sermon leading to someone in the congregation asking Musa (AS) if he (AS) was the most knowledgeable person on earth. Musa (AS) replied in the affirmative resulting in Angel Jibril admonishing him (AS) and informing him that there is someone on earth who has knowledge that Musa (AS) didn’t have. Thus, Musa (AS) asked Allah (SWT) for forgiveness and asked Him (SWT) where this man was and he (AS) desired to meet him. Allah (SWT) told Musa (AS) how he could meet this man and eventually, Musa (AS) reached the location and met Khidr (AS).
Musa (AS) requests Khidr if he (AS) could follow him around so that he (AS) could learn the knowledge that Allah (SWT) taught Khidr. Khidr agreed but warned Musa (AS) not to speak or ask questions until he gives permission. This interaction teaches us that one of the benefits of knowledge is tolerance and open-mindedness. A person must have the patience to listen to other points of view.
The first story of their journey involved traveling on a ship owned by poor sailors, as both Musa (AS) and Khidr didn’t have any money and the rich shipowners wouldn’t allow them to board their ships but these poor sailors accepted them as passengers for free. While onboard, Khidr makes a hole in the ship, forcing the ship to return to shore before it sinks, and so, Musa (AS) and Khidr disembark. Musa (AS) loses his patience and demands to know why Khidr damaged the ship, but Khidr reminds Musa (AS) not to speak or ask questions until he gives permission.
Khidr and Musa (AS) continue their journey together and they meet a boy, whom Khidr kills in front of Musa (AS). Musa (AS) becomes appalled at the murder of an innocent child by Khidr and accuses him of committing an evil deed. Again, Khidr reprimands Musa (AS) for his impatience and speaking without permission. Thus, Musa (AS) apologizes and pleads to Khidr that he (AS) won’t speak until given permission and will leave Khidr if he (AS) violates this condition again.
Both Khidr and Musa (AS) are hungry and pass through a town asking for food from its residents, but no one feeds them. Instead, the townspeople ridicule and mock them. As they were leaving this town, Khidr, and Musa (AS) find a collapsed wall that Khidr stops to repair for the townspeople. Musa (AS) says to Khidr, “If you had wished, surely you could have taken wages for it!” Khidr replies, “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.”
Whenever we face tragedy or calamity in life, we should seek solace from reading this surah, Surah Al-Kahf, from which the narration of this journey and its explanation comes.
During this journey of Khidr and Musa (AS), we witness three calamities, the first one deals with the loss of money or possession, the second calamity deals with the loss of life of a loved one, and the third one deals with prolonged suffering. We face these three calamities regularly in our lives.
Regarding the ship and creating a hole in it, there were multiple owners of this ship, as they couldn’t afford to buy one individually while the rest of the city where they reside is wealthy. Khidr tells Musa (AS) that Allah (SWT) told him to damage the ship as the ruler was going to confiscate all the ships for his navy but will leave this damaged ship, as he doesn’t want to waste time and resources to repair it. Consequently, this damaged ship is the only one left in the city, resulting in these owners becoming wealthy. Tragedies like this cause us inconvenience but are blessings in disguise by Allah (SWT), as Allah (SWT) spares us from experiencing a larger tragedy. This story of the ship teaches us that generosity can save us from calamities. Why did Allah (SWT) choose to save this ship? Because the fishermen on this ship were the most generous as they allowed people to travel aboard their ship for free, although they needed money. This shows us that when we are generous and kind to others, Allah (SWT) will protect us.
The second calamity dealt with the murder of a young boy. Allah (SWT) knew that this boy would grow up being insolent to his righteous parents. Therefore, Allah (SWT) decided that it is better to have this boy killed at a young age to save his parents from later heartache while at the same time, the parents would cherish the good memory of their young son and Allah (SWT) will replace him with a righteous child. This story teaches us that life and death are in the hands of Allah (SWT) and when death occurs, we must believe it was the best for that person, as only Allah (SWT) knows the best time for death to befall all of us. Also, another lesson we learn is that if we are patient, Allah (SWT) will substitute something or someone better in place of what He (SWT) took away from us.
The third tragedy is about two orphans and their deceased righteous father leaving a treasure for them beneath the collapsed wall that Khidr repaired. The father planned to inform his sons about this treasure but died before he could do so, and thus, his sons ended up living a difficult life. Imagine what the townspeople would have done with the treasure if they found it, they most probably wouldn’t give it to the two boys, as evident with their harsh behavior with Khidr and Musa (AS), who were visitors to their town but didn’t offer them any food or water. Therefore, Allah (SWT) delayed the discovery of this treasure when the two orphans were old enough to manage and defend it. One of the lessons we learn from this story is to be righteous and pious ourselves if we want our children to also be righteous and pious and to have the best of the deen and duniya.
The underlying theme of all three stories of the journey of Khidr and Musa (AS) is the acceptance of Allah’s (SWT) qadr and therefore, whatever Allah (SWT) decides is the best for us.
