The Divine Educational Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 113)
Educational Lessons from the Story of Prophet Musa and Al-Khidr (AS)
Second Lesson: Adorning Oneself with Proper Etiquette Before Scholars
Allah the Exalted says: «قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَى أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا * قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا * وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا * قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا * قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا» Translation: “Musa said to him, ‘May I follow you so that you may teach me some of the guidance you have been taught?’ He said, ‘Indeed, you will never be able to have patience with me. And how can you be patient concerning that of which you have no knowledge?’ Musa said, ‘If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in any matter.’ He said, ‘Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I myself explain it to you.'” [1]
The preceding verses demonstrate that Prophet Musa (AS), despite enduring considerable hardship, embarked on a long journey to meet Al-Khidr (AS) and benefit from the divine knowledge Allah had bestowed upon him. In these verses, the Noble Qur’an recounts a portion of the scholarly and educational dialogue between these two noble prophets (AS).
After introducing himself, Prophet Musa (AS) humbly, respectfully, and courteously requested Al-Khidr (AS) to permit him to become his student and learn from the knowledge that Allah had granted him. [2] A noteworthy point is that, despite his exalted status as a prophet and messenger, Musa (AS) never regarded himself as beyond the need for learning. Instead, with complete humility, he placed himself in the position of a sincere seeker of knowledge.
Al-Khidr (AS) knew that the knowledge Allah had granted him was ladunnī (divinely bestowed knowledge), a form of knowledge founded upon Allah’s hidden wisdom. Consequently, some of his actions would outwardly appear inconsistent with the apparent rulings of the Sharī’ah.[3]
For this reason, he said to Musa (AS): «إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا * وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا.» Translation: “You will not be able to be patient in my company for you will see deeds whose wisdom you do not know. It is only natural that a person cannot be patient with something which he does not understand as to its true reality and its inner wisdom.[4]
In essence, Al-Khidr (AS) intended to teach Musa (AS) that passing judgment on events without understanding all of their dimensions may lead one to incorrect conclusions. [5]
Prophet Musa (AS), one of the Ulū al-‘Azm, who had already endured years of confronting the most difficult circumstances and the most rebellious of peoples, confidently replied: «سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا» Translation: “If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in any matter.” [6]
An important point is that Musa (peace be upon him) attributed his ability to remain patient to the Will of Allah, recognizing that success in every endeavor is attainable only through Allah’s divine assistance and enabling grace (tawfīq). [7]
After witnessing the sincerity and determination of Prophet Musa (AS), Al-Khidr (AS) agreed to allow him to accompany him, but he laid down an essential condition: «فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا» Translation: “If you accompany me, do not question or object to any of my actions until I explain to you the proper time and reveal the wisdom behind them.” [8]
Prophet Musa (AS) accepted this condition, and thus their remarkable journey of learning and spiritual cultivation began. [9]
[2]. Al-Shawkānī, Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī. Fatḥ al-Qadīr: A Comprehensive Commentary Combining the Sciences of Narration and Interpretation (al-Riwāyah wa al-Dirāyah) in Qur’anic Exegesis. Vol. 3, p. 370.
[7]. Ibn Kathīr al-Dimashqī, ʿImād al-Dīn. Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr. Vol. 3, p. 96; Zaydān, ʿAbd al-Karīm. Al-Mustafād min Qaṣaṣ al-Qurʾān li al-Daʿwah wa al-Duʿāt (Lessons Derived from the Stories of the Qur’an for Daʿwah and Preachers). Vol. 1, pp. 387–388.
[9]. Al-Ṣābūnī, Muḥammad ʿAlī. Qabas min Nūr al-Qurʾān al-Karīm (A Ray of Light from the Noble Qur’an). Damascus: Dār al-Qalam, 1414 AH, Vol. 7, p. 45.
