Hazrat Khizr was not a prophet but was a scholar who was
given knowledge by Allah (s.w.t.). Hazrat Musa represented the Jurisprudential
(“Tash’riie’”) leadership while Hazrat Khizr represented the Creational or
Universal (“Tak’wini”) leadership. Consequently, Hazrat Musa objected to the
actions of Hazrat Khizr which were against “Tash’rie” or Jurisprudence
(Religious Laws). He acted according to the wishes of Allah (s.w.t.)
It was revealed to Hazrat Musa (a.s.) that there was a
man who had vast knowledge than him. He prayed to Allah about his willingness
to meet that person (Hazrat Khizr). The story of Hazrat Khizr has been stated
in Surah al-Kahf from Ayat 60 to Ayat 82 as narrated below:
“Then they met one of Our servants who had received
Blessings and Knowledge from Us. Musa asked him, “Can I follow you so that you
will teach me the guidance that you have received?” He replied, “You will not
be able to have patience with me. How can you remain patient with that of which
you did not have complete information?” Musa said, “If Allah wishes, you will
find me patient and I shall not disobey any of your orders.” He said to Musa,
“If you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I tell you the story
about it.
They started their journey and some time later they
embarked on a boat in which he made a hole. Musa asked, “Did you make hole to
drown the people on board? This is certainly very strange>” He said, “Did I
not tell you that you would not be able to remain patient with me?” Musa said,
“Please, forgive my forgetfulness. Do not oblige me with what is difficult for
me to endure” They continued in their journey until they met a young boy whom
he killed. Musa said, “How could you murder an innocent soul? This is,
certainly, a horrifying act.” He responded, “Did I not tell you that you would
not be able to remain patient with me? Musa said, “If I ask such questions
again, abandon me; you will have enough reason to do so.” They continued their
journey again until they reached a town. They asked the people there for food,
but no one accepted them as guests. They found there a wall of a house which
was on the verge of tumbling to the ground. The companion of Musa repaired that
wall. Musa said, “You should have received some money for your labor.”
He replied, “This is where we should depart from one
another. I shall give an explanation to you for all that I have done for which
you could not remain patient.” “The boat belonged to some destitute people who
were using it as a means of their living in the sea. The king had imposed a
certain amount of tax on every (undamaged)boat. I damaged it so that they would
not have to pay the tax.” “The young boy had very faithful parents. We were
afraid that out of love for him they would lose their faith in Allah and commit
rebellion so We decided that their Lord should replace him by a better and more
virtuous son.” “The tumbling wall belonged to two orphans in the town whose
father was a righteous person. Underneath the wall there was a treasure that
belonged to them. Your Lord wanted the orphans to find the treasure through the
Mercy of your Lord when they mature. I did not repair the wall out of my own
desire. These were the explanations of my deeds about which you could not
remain patient.”
Lessons to be learned from this story are: the pursuit of
knowledge is important for everyone, the essence of the Divine knowledge is
servitude and submission to Allah, acquisition of knowledge should be to
practice it, avoid haste and be patient, there are apparent and innate feature
of every affair, confess the reality, parent’s faith impacts the children,
hurting the parents shortens the life-span, people become enemy of the things
they do not know, the courteous behavior of students before a teacher.
The treasure of the orphans referred to in the story, was
in fact a “Golden Tablet” as stated by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) “It is
surprising why a person who believes in Allah’s decrees becomes grievous. It is
amazing why a person who is sure of the death, is happy; who is certain of
Reckoning, is neglectful; who is certain of sustenance, troubles himself more
than the common; and who is assured of the change of the world but he trusts in
it.” (Majma-ul-Bayan)
Source:
The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) – Tafsir-e-Namouna by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi
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