THE STORY OF THE PROPHET MOSES (AND PROPHET KHIDHIR) - The Journey of Prophet Moses with the Prophet Khidhir

One day, Moses was preaching to the Children of Israel. There is a question to the Prophet Moses who is the most knowledgeable. Prophet Moses immediately replied that he was the person. Allah SWT rebuked Moses for arguing without revelation from Allah SWT. Allah SWT revealed to the Prophet Moses that his servant who was at the meeting of two seas more knowledge than the Prophet Moses. Prophet Moses asked Allah SWT that how to be able to meet that person. Allah SWT ordered Moses to bring fish in a basket. If he loses the fish then that's where the person is.

Then the Prophet Moses departed with his student named Yusya' bin Nuun. They walked by carrying a basket of fish. They arrived at a rock to rest. At that time, the fish inside the basket moved and came out of the basket and plunged into the sea in a very strange way. Allah SWT holds back the flow of sea water so that it becomes like a bridge that can be crossed by fish. While the Prophet Moses and his students continued the journey back. Students of the Prophet Moses forgot to tell the Prophet Moses that the fish had come out.

Surah Al-Kahf verses 60-61:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبۡرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبۡلُغَ مَجۡمَعَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ أَوۡ أَمۡضِيَ حُقُبٗا  ٦٠ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجۡمَعَ بَيۡنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ سَرَبٗا  ٦١

60.  And [mention] when Moses said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period."

61.  But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.

Somewhere, the Prophet Moses told his students to take food supplies. At that time, his student told the Prophet Moses that the fish in the basket had come out while resting on the rock. It was Satan who made him forget. Prophet Moses explained that that place was sought. So the two returned to the place of the rock.

Surah Al-Kahf verses 62-64:

فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدۡ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبٗا  ٦٢ قَالَ أَرَءَيۡتَ إِذۡ أَوَيۡنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخۡرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ ٱلۡحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَنۡ أَذۡكُرَهُۥۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ عَجَبٗا  ٦٣ قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبۡغِۚ فَٱرۡتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصٗا  ٦٤

62.  So when they had passed beyond it, [Moses] said to his boy, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue."

63.  He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".

64.  [Moses] said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their footprints.

After arriving at the rock, Prophet Moses saw a man there. He was called the Prophet Khidhir. The Prophet Moses greeted the Prophet Khidhir and Prophet Khidhir also replied. Prophet Moses asked the Prophet Khidhir that may the Prophet Moses follow him. The Prophet Khidhir replied that in fact the Prophet Moses would not be patient in following him because something that Moses had never known. Prophet Moses assured that he would always patiently follow him. The Prophet Khidhir allowed Moses to follow him as long as he did not ask anything before the Prophet Khidhir explained it.

Surah Al-Kahf verses 65-70:

فَوَجَدَا عَبۡدٗا مِّنۡ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ رَحۡمَةٗ مِّنۡ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمۡنَٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلۡمٗا  ٦٥ قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلۡ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمۡتَ رُشۡدٗا  ٦٦ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبۡرٗا  ٦٧ وَكَيۡفَ تَصۡبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمۡ تُحِطۡ بِهِۦ خُبۡرٗا  ٦٨ قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِيٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرٗا وَلَآ أَعۡصِي لَكَ أَمۡرٗا  ٦٩ قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعۡتَنِي فَلَا تَسۡ‍َٔلۡنِي عَن شَيۡءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحۡدِثَ لَكَ مِنۡهُ ذِكۡرٗا  ٧٠

65.  And they found a servant from among Our servants to whom we had given mercy from us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.

66.  Moses said to him, "May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?"

67.  He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.

68.  And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"

69.  [Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order."

70.  He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention."

So the Prophet Moses and the Prophet Khidhir departed by walking on the beach. Then they boarded a boat whose passengers knew the Prophet Khidhir so that they were both free to take a boat ride. When on a boat, the Prophet Khidhir and Prophet Moses saw a bird that perched on a boat and pecked at sea water. The Prophet Khidhir explained that the knowledge of Prophet Moses and the Prophet Khidhir compared to the knowledge of Allah SWT was like water drunk by a bird among the vastness of the ocean.

Suddenly the Prophet Khidhir punched the boat. Prophet Moses protested to the Prophet Khidhir because the boat had become damaged and could endanger passengers. The Prophet Khidhir only replied that in fact the Prophet Moses would not be patient with him. Moses said he was negligent.

Surah Al-Kahf verses 71-73:

فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي ٱلسَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَاۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقۡتَهَا لِتُغۡرِقَ أَهۡلَهَا لَقَدۡ جِئۡتَ شَيۡ‍ًٔا إِمۡرٗا  ٧١ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُلۡ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبۡرٗا  ٧٢ قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرۡهِقۡنِي مِنۡ أَمۡرِي عُسۡرٗا  ٧٣

71.  So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, al-Khidh r tore it open. [Moses] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing."

72.  [Al-Khidh r] said, "Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?"

73.  [Moses] said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not cover me in my matter with difficulty."

Then the Prophet Moses and the Prophet Khidhir left the boat. As they walked on the shore, they met a boy who was playing with his friends. The Prophet Khidhir killed the boy so that the boy died. Prophet Moses protested again because according to him the boy was still pure in spirit and also did not kill other people. What the Prophet Khidhir did was considered a sinful act. The Prophet Khidhir replied again that Moses would not be patient with him.

Surah Al-Kahf verses 74-76:

فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَٰمٗا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلۡتَ نَفۡسٗا زَكِيَّةَۢ بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٖ لَّقَدۡ جِئۡتَ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا نُّكۡرٗا  ٧٤ ۞قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبۡرٗا  ٧٥ قَالَ إِن سَأَلۡتُكَ عَن شَيۡءِۢ بَعۡدَهَا فَلَا تُصَٰحِبۡنِيۖ قَدۡ بَلَغۡتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذۡرٗا  ٧٦

74.  So they set out, until when they met a boy, al-Khidh r killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing."

75.  [Al-Khidh r] said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?"

76.  [Moses] said, "If I should ask you about anything after this, then do not keep me as a companion. You have obtained from me an excuse."

Prophet Moses and the Prophet Khidhir continued the journey. They arrived in a country and asked to be given food by the inhabitants of that country. But the inhabitants of the land did not want to give food to them. Then both of them saw a wall of a house that had almost collapsed in the country. Then the Prophet Khidhir straightened the wall. Prophet Moses said that if Prophet Khidhir wants, the Prophet Khidhir to be able to take wages from the work, even though there was no one who wanted to give food to them from before.

Surah Al-Kahf verse 77:

فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَيَآ أَهۡلَ قَرۡيَةٍ ٱسۡتَطۡعَمَآ أَهۡلَهَا فَأَبَوۡاْ أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارٗا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُۥۖ قَالَ لَوۡ شِئۡتَ لَتَّخَذۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ أَجۡرٗا  ٧٧

77.  So they set out, until when they came to the people of a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to offer them hospitality. And they found therein a wall about to collapse, so al-Khidh r restored it. [Moses] said, "If you wished, you could have taken for it a payment."

The Prophet Khidhir said that it was time for them to part and he would explain the intentions of the deeds he had done, so the Prophet Moses impatient. The reason the Prophet Khidhir punched the boat was because there was a king who liked to seize boats that were still good, and the boat that had damage would not be taken by the king, and the boat belonged to the poor. The reason the Prophet Khidhir killed the boy was because the boy would grow up to be an infidel while his parents were believers. It is feared that the child can lead his parents astray. And may the boy's parents get a good child to replace the deceased child. Then, the wall of the house that had almost collapsed was made because the house belonged to two orphans in the city, and his father was a pious person. And under the house there was a store of property for both of them. The treasure is useful to them when they grow up.

Surah Al-Kahf verses 78-82:

قَالَ هَٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنِكَۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأۡوِيلِ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡتَطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرًا  ٧٨ أَمَّا ٱلسَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتۡ لِمَسَٰكِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنۡ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَآءَهُم مَّلِكٞ يَأۡخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصۡبٗا  ٧٩ وَأَمَّا ٱلۡغُلَٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤۡمِنَيۡنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرۡهِقَهُمَا طُغۡيَٰنٗا وَكُفۡرٗا  ٨٠ فَأَرَدۡنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهُ زَكَوٰةٗ وَأَقۡرَبَ رُحۡمٗا  ٨١ وَأَمَّا ٱلۡجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَٰمَيۡنِ يَتِيمَيۡنِ فِي ٱلۡمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحۡتَهُۥ كَنزٞ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَٰلِحٗا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبۡلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسۡتَخۡرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحۡمَةٗ مِّن رَّبِّكَۚ وَمَا فَعَلۡتُهُۥ عَنۡ أَمۡرِيۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأۡوِيلُ مَا لَمۡ تَسۡطِع عَّلَيۡهِ صَبۡرٗا  ٨٢

78.  [Al-Khidh r] said, "This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.

79.  As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to cause defect in it as there was after them a king who seized every [good] ship by force.

80.  And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.

81.  So we intended that their Lord should substitute for them one better than him in purity and nearer to mercy.

82.  And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."

The actions of the Prophet Khidhir are not of his own will, but of the will of Allah SWT. Such is the end of the story of the journey of Prophet Moses and the Prophet Khidhir.