The Story of Moses and The Guide

Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured Topics: Prophet Moses (Musa), Story Views: 50363
50363

One day, Moses  delivered such an impressive sermon that all who heard it were deeply moved. Someone in the congregation asked: "O Messenger of Allah, is there another man on earth more learned than you?" Moses replied: "No!", believing so, as Allah had given him the power of miracles and honored him with the Torah.

However, Allah revealed to Moses that no man could know all there is to know, nor would one messenger alone be the custodian of all knowledge. There would always be another who knew what others did not. Moses asked Allah: "O Allah, where is this man? I would like to meet him and learn from him." He also asked for a sign to this person's identity.

Allah instructed him to take a live fish in a water-filled vessel. The point at which the fish disappears, he would find the man he sought. Moses set out on his journey, accompanied by a young man who carried the vessel with the fish. They reached a place where two rivers met and decided to rest there. Instantly, Moses fell asleep.

While he was asleep, his companion saw the fish wriggle out of the vessel into the river and swim away. However, he forgot to relate this incident to Moses. When he awoke, they continued their journey until they were exhausted and hungry. Moses asked for his morning meal. Only then did his companion recall that the fish they had brought with them had gotten away. Hearing this, Moses exclaimed: "This is exactly what we are seeking!"

They quickly retraced their steps to the place where the rivers met and where the fish had jumped out. There they found a man, his face partly covered with a hood. One could tell by his aura that he was a saintly man. He was Al-Khidr, the guide.

Allah the Almighty narrates in the Quran:

And (remember) when Moses said to his servant: "I will not give up (traveling) until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in traveling."

But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its way thought the sea as in a tunnel. So when they had passed further on (beyond that fixed place), 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 rested on the rock? I indeed forgot the fish, none but Satan made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a strange (way)!"

(Moses) said: "That is what we have been seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps.

Then they found one of Our devotees, unto whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Us.

Moses said to him (Khidr) "May I follow you so that you can teach me something of that knowledge (guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allah)?"

He (Khidr) 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?"

Moses sad: "If Allah will, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in aught."

He (Khidr) said: "Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention it to you."

So the two went off, until when they embarked on a boat and the man (Khidr) made a hole in it. Moses said: "Did you make a hole in it to drown its people? Verily, you have done Imra - a Munkar (evil, bad, dreadful) thing."

He (Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with me?"

(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 (Khidr) killed him. Moses said: "Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have done Nukra a great Munkar (prohibited, evil, dreadful) thing!"

(Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with me?"

(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 (Khidr) set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If you had wished, surely you could have taken wages for it!"

(Khidr) 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 poor people working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it (Lit., "to cause a fault in it" - i.e., to make it temporarily unserviceable), 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. 1

The story of Moses and Al-Khidr is also told in a hadith.

Ubai Ibn Ka'b told us that the Prophet (Muhammad) said: Once Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked who was the most learned man amongst the people. He said: "I." Allah admonished him as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So, Allah said to him: "Yes, at the junction of the two seas there is a slave of Mine who is more learned then you." Moses said; "O my Lord! How can I meet him?" Allah said: "Take a fish and put it in a container and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish."

Moses took a fish and put it in a container and proceeded along with his (servant) boy, Joshua (Yusha Ibn Nun), till they reached the rock where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down). Moses slept, and the fish, moving out of the container, fell into the sea. It took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the flow of water over the fish and it became like an arch (the Prophet pointed out his arch with his hands). They traveled the rest of the night, and the next day Moses said to his boy (servant): "Give us our food, for indeed, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours." Moses did not feel tired till he crossed that place which Allah had ordered him to seek after. His boy (servant) said to him: "Do you know that when we were sitting near that rock, I forgot the fish, and none but Satan caused me to forget to tell (you) about it, and it took its course into the sea in an amazing way?" So there was a path for the fish and that astonished them. Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after."

So both of them retraced their footsteps till they reached the rock. There they saw a man lying covered with a garment. Moses greeted him, and he replied saying: "How do people greet each other in your land?" Moses said: "I am Moses."

The man asked: "Moses of Bani Israel? " Moses said: "Yes, I have come to you so that you may teach me from those things which Allah has taught you." He said: "O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some of the knowledge of Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know." Moses asked: "May  I follow you?" He said: "But you will not be able to remain patient with me, for how can you be patient about things which you will not be able to understand?" Moses said: "You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient, and I will not disobey you in aught."

So both of them set out walking along the sea-shore. A boat passed by them, and they asked the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr, so they took them on board without fare. When they were on board the boat, a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice into the sea. Al-Khidr said to Moses: "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. " Then suddenly Al-Khidr took and adze and pulled up a plank, and Moses did not notice it till he had pulled up a plank with the adze. Moses said to him: "What have you done? They took us on board charging us nothing; yet you have intentionally made a hole in their boat so as to drown its passengers. Verily, you have done a dreadful thing." Al-Khidr replied: "Did I not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?' Moses replied : "Do not blame me for what I have forgotten, and do not be hard upon me for my fault." So the first excuse of Moses was that he had forgotten.

When they had left the sea, they passed by a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy's head and plucked it with his hand like this. (Sufyan, the sub-narrator gestured with his fingertips as if he were plucking some fruit.) Moses said to him: "Have you killed an innocent person who has not killed any person? You have really done a horrible thing." Al-Khidr said: "Did I not tell you that you could not remain patient with me?" Moses said: "If I ask you abut anything after this, don't accompany me, You have received an excuse from me."

Then both of them went on till they came to some people of a village, and they asked its inhabitants for food but they refused to entertain them as guests. Then they saw therein a wall which was just going to collapse and Al Khidr repaired it just by touching it with his hands. (Sufyan, the sub-narrator, gestured with his hands, illustrating how Al-Khidr passed his hands over the wall upwards.) Moses said: "These are the people whom we have called on, but they neither gave us food, nor entertained us as guests, yet you have repaired their wall. If you had wished, you could have taken wages for it."

Al-Khidr said: "This is the parting between you and me, and I shell tell you the explanation of those things on which you could not remain patient."

The Prophet added: "We wish that Moses could have remained patient by virtue of which Allah might have told us more about their story." (Sufyan, the sub-narrator, said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "May Allah bestow His Mercy on Moses! If he had remained patient, we would have been told further about their case.") 2

Notes:

1. Quran 18:60-82

2. Sahih Al-Bukhari

From the book: Stories of the Prophets by Imam Ibn Kathir, translated by Muhammad Mustafa Gemeiah and edited by Aelfwine Acelas Mischler.


The lesson contained in this story is this "You should have full faith in the wisdom of what is happening in the Divine Factory in accordance with the will of Allah. As the reality is hidden from you, you are at a loss to understand the wisdom of what is happening, and sometimes if it appears that things are going against you, you cry out, 'How and why has this happened'. The fact is that if the curtain be removed from the "unseen", you would yourselves come to know that what is happening here is for the best. Even if some times it appears that something is going against you, you will see that in the end it also produces some good results for you.

Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an.


  Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured
  Topics: Prophet Moses (Musa), Story
Views: 50363

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Older Comments:
MARIAH MORRIS FROM UNITED STATES said:
Amazing story!!!
2013-03-03

MTH FROM MALAYSIA said:
Peace To All,

To all the Jews, Christians and Muslims alike,

We Muslims respect and hold dear the legacies left by all the prophets : Moses a.s, Jesus a.s and Muhammad s.a.w. A Muslim is not considered as a true believer if he/she does not recognise and respect all the 25 Messengers of Allah including the three mentioned.

In fact, they preached the same basic teachings i.e There is no god except Allah and only Him to be worshiped. If the Torah, the Bible and the Quran originated from the same source, why the Jews disregard Jesus a.s (a Jew himself) and try to kill him as what they did to Zackaria a.s and Yahya a.s? The Jews knew prophet Muhammad s.a.w like they know their own son yet they disregard him mainly because Muhammad s.a.w is an Arab.

The Christians also disregard Prophet Muhammad s.a.w in many ways. In the eyes of Muslims, we respect and never differentiate or hate any one of them. Why this thing happen among us? Just speak with our hearts and ask Allah s.w.t to guide us into rightousness!

Humbly,

MTH
2008-01-15

DARAMOLA MOLIKI AJANI FROM NIGERIA said:
PLEASE I CANNOT ACCESS THE SECOND PAGE OF THE STORY PROPHET MOSES AND KHADRI.
ASSIST ME ACCORDINGLY.
THANKS
2008-01-03

BAMAIYI MORRIS OCHEME FROM NIGERIA said:
asalamualaikum.your site has transformed my life and widen my scope on islam.may allah in his infinite mercy always guide you to the right path.
2007-09-12

KAMEELAH LA-DEEN ABDULLAH FROM AMERICA said:
All praises belong to Allah. Thanks for the narration of Moses story. I have read the story of Moses many times in the Qur'an but I never knew the depth of it.

Thanks, may Allah continue to bless all who are striving to serve Him and educate humanity.

May the peace and blessings be with you.
2007-03-27

FARHA NAZ FROM INDIA said:
that was really indeed a very nice story which helps us all to be patient even in our tough times also!!u r indeed doing a good work by sending these stories coz such stories will really inspire people n will help in understanding islam in a more better way!!may allah bless us all!ameen!n may such sites remain till the last day of the world by the allah's grace.ameen!
2007-02-21

JAADAR SANI GARBA FROM NIGERIA said:
Assalamu alaikum i always praise you for your wonderful work of bringing a very educative topic as far as islam is concern,matching quran with hadith is the most wonderful thing can understand both the two at same time since hadith is yhe explanation of the quran.yhanks alot gGod bless you.
2007-02-05

MUHAMMAD SABIU FROM NIGERIA said:
Allah is able to keep his wisdom everywhere he wishes, as he gave Khidr a knowledged that he has not given to his beloved prophet Moses Alaihissalam. This is to indicat that to us that whichever high somebody reached he should fear Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, as He gives you in order to test you, and He can removed that wisdom from you. Allah is the most high He is the posessor of this world and the next, He is te ever forgiven, may He forgive us fro our wrong deed ameen.
2007-02-05

LAILA FROM MEXICO said:
Wow, this really reminsd me of the metaphor of the relaitonship between Christians and Jews. Everybody knows the Jesus teachiong about a fish....and then the way that Moses had no patience for the insolence of the wise man, which is how the Jews reacted to Jesus.
2007-02-04

IBRAHIM ADAMU FROM NIGRIA said:
Thank you for these type of education and expantiation from our glorious qur'an. I hope to read more and more of the mavelous stories of the qur'an. May Allah bless you abundantly with the Highest Reward of JANNAH. (AMIN). Ma'assalam
2007-02-04

AKBAR ALI FROM INDIA, NOW IN KUWAIT said:
Alhmadullilah,

The Article "The Story of Moses and The Guide" was a very good, Informative & guiding,
Inshallah, May Allah reward you all with the best in this world & in the hearafter.
Inshallah Let there more educating artilces like the one above,

Wasalam,

Akbar Ali..
2007-02-04

NI'IMOTALLAI FROM NIGERIAN said:
salamualaykum to u all, i dont have mush to say than just to say u people are real doing well.
2007-02-03

TAHIRU IMORO DABRE FROM GHANA said:
Please,I very much appreciate your Stories from the Qur`an concerning the prophets of Allah.
I really like it because it is full of inspiration and guidance to the straight path of Allah which is a watershed that quinches the thirst of those who seek to know Allah through Worshipping Him With sincere faith and devotion.
2007-02-03

INTERAL KNOWLEGE VS EXTERNAL KNOWLEGE FROM SOUTH AFRICA said:
Assalamu 'alaikum!

Surah Khaf is also of imense importance for muslims living in the Age of Fitan as it exposes the weakness and limitations of externally aquired knowlege, that is knowlege obtasined throught the 5 senses. This great Surah, of which the Blessed Messenger prescribed the recitation of for protection against Dajjaal, the False Mesiah, also provides guidance w.r.t the best use of Power (Thul Kharnain) and essential guidance for understanding Gog and Magog in the Modern Age.
See www.imranhosein.org for a lifetime's worth of work on these topics.
2007-02-03

MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR FROM GHANA said:
Assalamu Alaikum. please can you give some qoutations in the Quran and the Bible that talks about the the advent of Prpht Mohamed and the Islamic religion?
2007-02-03

MUHAMMAD LOUQMAAN FROM NIGERIA said:
Assalamu Alaykum. May Allah reward you of your immeasurable and selfless services to the Islamic world. Pleass; the ship, boat and the falling wall in this article, are they really the original ones during the time of Moses?
2007-02-03

BABANDI A. GUMEL FROM U.K. said:
We raise by grades whom We will, and over every lord of Knowledge there is one more knowing.Quran Surah Yusuf.So to attribute all knowledge to the All Knowing is knowledge itself that is Allahu A'alam.One who knows should say something beneficial otherwise you should keep quiet which is also part of Ilm on the condition if you believe in Allah and the Hereafter as the Hadith says.
2007-02-02