Selected Course to Understand the Demands of Qur'an
Disclaimer
Whenever you want to pursue the truth and verify anything you hear about Islam, we urge you to please use the only valid and divine source of Islam, Qur'an.
On the authority of Abu Tha’labah
al-Kushanee — Jurthoom bin Nashir (may Allah be pleased with him) — that the
Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
Verily Allah ta’ala has laid down
religious obligations (fara’id ), so do not neglect them; and He has set
limits, so do not overstep them; and He has forbidden some things, so do not
violate them; and He has remained silent about some things, out of compassion for
you, not forgetfulness — so do not seek after them.
A hasan hadeeth narrated by
ad-Daraqutnee and others.
So they both proceeded until, when
they were in the boat, he scuttled it.Moses said: "Have you scuttled it in order to drown those in it?
Truly you have done a grievous thing!"
(18:71)
Commentary:
In other words Moses was in effect
asking “why have you acted in such an evil way?” The fact that he violated the condition
imposed upon him by Khidr (‘alaihi al-Salam) indicates that he judged Khidr’s
conduct to be so reprehensible that he simply could not contain himself from
making the comment of condemnation which he made (with its implied question).
Simple
translation:
He answered: "Did I not tell you
that you will never be able to have patience with me?"
(18:72)
Commentary:
Khidr(‘alaihi al-Salam) had prohibited Musa(‘alaihi
al-Salam) from asking any questions since he was
certain that Musa (‘alaihi al-Salam) would not be able to contain himself and be patient in
respect of matters the understanding of whose reality was beyond his capacity
to grasp. Khidr’s opinion concerning Musa (‘alaihi
al-Salam) was dramatically confirmed in this
event.
Simple
translation:
(Moses) said: “Take me not
to task for my having forgotten (myself), and be not hard on me on
account of what I have done!”
(18:73)
Commentary:
Nabi Musa(‘alaihi al-Salam) responded by pleading with an excuse to the effect that
he forgot about the prohibition imposed upon him.
Simple
translation:
And so the two went on, till, when
they met a young man, he slew him –
Heexclaimed: “Have you slain an innocent human being who has not
taken a life? Indeed, you have done an evil thing.”
(18:74)
Explanatory
translation:
And so the two went on until they met
a young man and he (the
sage) slew him - (whereupon Moses) exclaimed: “Have you slain an
innocent human being (innocent of his having taken) another man's life?
Indeed, you have done an evil thing!”
Commentary:
Nabi Musa’s condemnation of Khidr’s
conduct contained within it the implied question: Why have you acted in this way?
Khidr’s opinion concerning Nabi Musa’s incapacity tocontain
himself and be patient in respect of matters the understanding of whose reality
was beyond his capacity to grasp was again dramatically confirmed in this
second event.
Simple
translation:
He replied: “Did I not tell you that
you will never be able to have patience with me?”
(18:75)
Simple translation:
(Moses) said: “If, after
this, I should ever question you, you can dismiss me from your company: (for
by) now you have reached the limit in respect of receiving excuses from
me.”
(18:76)
Commentary:
Having already pleaded to be excused
because he had forgotten about the prohibition, Nabi Musa(‘alaihi
al-Salam) could not repeat the same excuse.And so he responded by accepting Khidr’sright to dismiss him from his company if any further violations of the
prohibition were to occur.