Musa and Khidr: the story in the Quran

The story

1. 1

   Musa's search for knowledge

   According to an authentic narration in Sahih Bukhari (Bukhari 3401), Musa (peace be upon him) was once addressing the people when he was asked: "Who is the most knowledgeable of people?" He said: "I am." Allah did not approve of this answer and informed him that at the junction of the two seas there was a servant more knowledgeable than him.

   Musa set out to find this servant. The Quran records his determination: he said, "I will not stop until I reach the junction of the two seas, even if I must journey for years" (Al-Kahf, 60).

2. 2

   The meeting at the junction of the two seas

   Musa set out on the journey with his young companion. The sign of the meeting place was that the fish they had brought with them would come back to life and swim into the sea. While resting by a rock, the fish disappeared, but they forgot about it and continued on their way; later they went back (Al-Kahf, 61-64).

   There they found a servant to whom Allah had granted mercy and knowledge from His presence (Al-Kahf, 65). This servant's name is not mentioned in the Quran; an authentic narration from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) identifies him as Khidr (Bukhari 3401).

3. 3

   The incident of the boat

   Musa said to him: "May I follow you, on condition that you teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?" (Al-Kahf, 66). Khidr replied that Musa would not be able to remain patient with him, because it is hard to bear with things whose explanation one does not know. Musa promised to be patient (Al-Kahf, 67-70).

   They boarded a boat, and Khidr made a hole in it. Musa objected in astonishment: "Did you make a hole in it to drown its passengers?" Khidr reminded him of the promise he had made (Al-Kahf, 71-73).

4. 4

   The incidents of the boy and the wall

   Then on the way they came across a young boy, and Khidr killed him. Musa again could not bear it and condemned the taking of an innocent life (Al-Kahf, 74). Khidr gave him one last chance.

   They reached a village; its people refused to host them as guests. There they saw a wall about to collapse, and Khidr repaired it without asking for any payment. Musa said: "If you had wished, you could have taken payment for it." This third objection became the point of their parting (Al-Kahf, 76-78).

5. 5

   The wisdom explained

   Before they parted, Khidr explained the wisdom behind each event. The boat belonged to poor fishermen; he had deliberately given it a flaw so that a tyrannical ruler who was seizing boats by force would not take it. The boy he had killed would, upon growing up, have led his parents into transgression and disbelief; Allah would give them a better and more compassionate child in his place. Under the wall lay a treasure belonging to two orphan children; had the wall not been made secure, the treasure would have been exposed and lost before its time (Al-Kahf, 79-82).

   In the end, Khidr made clear that he had not done these things of his own will: "I did not do this of my own accord" (Al-Kahf, 82). So behind all three acts that seemed wrong on the surface stood Allah's hidden mercy.

The account of Musa and Khidr is narrated in verses 60-82 of Surah Al-Kahf (18). The name of the righteous man who accompanied Musa is not stated in the Quran; the source that identifies him as Khidr is an authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (Bukhari 3401). Scholars have disagreed over whether Khidr was a prophet or a righteous servant to whom Allah gave special knowledge. The central theme of the account is to show that even a great prophet like Musa does not encompass all knowledge, and that Allah's wisdom is often deeper than it appears.

• Even the most knowledgeable person does not know everything; the true possessor of knowledge is Allah.
• An event that appears wrong on the surface may conceal a hidden good from Allah.
• Learning knowledge requires humility and patience.
• One must avoid rushing to conclusions when looking at Allah's decrees.

References are drawn from Quran verses, available authentic hadith and reliable scholarship.

• QuranSurah Al-Kahf, 65-66

  These verses narrate the finding of the servant to whom Allah gave mercy and knowledge, and Musa's wish to follow him.

• HadithSahih Bukhari, 3401

  This authentic hadith, narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, describes in detail Musa's meeting with Khidr and the incidents of the boat, the boy, and the wall; Khidr's name also appears in this hadith.

• Scholarly sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Hızır"

  Referenced for the fact that Khidr's name is not mentioned in the Quran, that he is known through hadith, and for the scholarly disagreement over whether he was a prophet or a righteous servant.

Other narratives found in the Quran.

• People of the Cave

  The miraculous story of the youths who took refuge in a cave for the sake of their faith

• Dhul-Qarnayn

  A just ruler who journeyed across the earth, and the barrier against Yajuj and Majuj

• The Cow of Bani Israil

  The cow that gave Surah Al-Baqarah its name, and the lesson of asking too many questions

• Musa

Common questions about this story.

• What is the story of Musa and Khidr?

  The story of Musa and Khidr tells of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) setting out to find a more knowledgeable servant, and his three-trial journey with Khidr through the incidents of the boat, the boy, and the wall (Al-Kahf, 60-82).

• Was Khidr a prophet?

  The Quran does not name him and presents him as "a righteous servant" to whom Allah gave mercy and special knowledge. Scholars disagree over whether he was a prophet or a saintly, righteous servant.

• Why did Musa object to Khidr's actions?

  The holing of the boat, the killing of the boy, and the building of the wall without payment all appeared wrong on the surface; Musa could not remain patient because he did not know the wisdom behind these acts.

• In which surah is the story of Musa and Khidr told?

  This story appears in verses 60-82 of Surah Al-Kahf (18); Khidr's name comes from hadith number 3401 in Sahih Bukhari.