Exploring the Relationship Between Knowledge, Humility, and Faith in the Story of Prophet Musa and Khidr in Islamic Tradition
وَاِذۡ قَالَ مُوۡسٰى لِفَتٰٮهُ لَاۤ اَبۡرَحُ حَتّٰۤى اَبۡلُغَ مَجۡمَعَ الۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ اَوۡ اَمۡضِىَ حُقُبًا
The verse is from Surah Al-Kahf in the Quran, and it translates to:
"And when Musa said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period." (Quran 18:60)
This verse describes the determination of Prophet Musa and his willingness to travel great distances in order to seek knowledge and fulfill his mission.
A hadith: مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ
"Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah makes easy for him the path to Paradise." (Sahih Muslim)
This hadith highlights the importance of seeking knowledge and the reward that Allah gives to those who strive to learn and educate themselves.
Both the verse and the hadith emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge and the rewards that come with it. The verse portrays the determination of Prophet Musa in his pursuit of knowledge, while the hadith encourages us to follow his example and strive for knowledge as a means to attain Paradise.
Musa was seeking knowledge and wisdom from Khidr. As they travel together, Khidr performs actions that appear to be inexplicable or unjustified to Musa, but in reality, these actions are part of Khidr's divine mission and contain hidden wisdom that Musa cannot understand at first. Musa learned that even though he was a Prophet, he still had much to learn and that there were people who had more knowledge and wisdom than him. The story of Prophet Musa and Khidr in Islamic tradition is not primarily seen as a story of Musa's lacking or shortcomings, but rather as a story of learning and spiritual growth. The story portrays Musa as a seeker of knowledge and wisdom, and his journey with Khidr is a means for him to learn important lessons that will deepen his faith and strengthen his relationship with Allah.
However, it is also important to note that blind trust or unquestioning obedience can be dangerous. Therefore, it is recommended to seek knowledge and guidance from knowledgeable and trustworthy teachers, but also to exercise discernment and critical thinking in evaluating their teachings. This questioning and seeking of knowledge is seen as a positive aspect of Musa's character, and it is through this process that he is able to learn valuable lessons about faith, humility, and trust in Allah's plan. The cure for ignorance is inquiry.
Jabir, companion of Prophet (ﷺ) said,
خَرَجْنَا فِي سَفَرٍ
We set out on a journey
فَأَصَابَ رَجُلاً مِنَّا حَجَرٌ
Then one of us was hit by a stone
فَشَجَّهُ فِي رَأْسِهِ
which injured his head
ثُمَّ احْتَلَمَ
Later, he had a wet dream
فَسَأَلَ أَصْحَابَهُ
So he asked his companions
فَقَالَ هَلْ تَجِدُونَ لِي رُخْصَةً فِي التَّيَمُّمِ
"Is there any concession for me to perform tayammum?"
فَقَالُوا مَا نَجِدُ لَكَ رُخْصَةً وَأَنْتَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ
They replied, "We do not find any concession for you as you are able to use water."
فَاغْتَسَلَ
He then used water to perform ablution
فَمَاتَ
but he died
فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
When we arrived to the Prophet
أُخْبِرَ بِذَلِكَ
We informed him about what happened
فَقَالَ
and he said,
" قَتَلُوهُ قَتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ
"They killed him, may Allah kill them,
أَلاَّ سَأَلُوا إِذْ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا
why did they not ask if they did not know?
فَإِنَّمَا شِفَاءُ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ
The remedy for ignorance is to ask
إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَكْفِيهِ أَنْ يَتَيَمَّمَ
It would have been enough for him to perform tayammum
وَيَعْصِرَ أَوْ يَعْصِبَ
and then wipe over his wound with a bandage or cloth
Sunan Abi Dawud 336
However, the story of Musa and Khidr also shows that questioning and seeking knowledge should be done with respect and humility, and that sometimes the answers may not be immediately clear or understandable. Khidr himself explains to Musa that there are certain matters that are beyond human understanding and that can only be comprehended through faith and submission to Allah's will.
Prophet Musa is considered one of the greatest prophets and messengers in Islam, as he received direct revelation from Allah in the form of the Torah and played a significant role in guiding the Children of Israel to the right path.While Khidr is considered more knowledgeable than Musa in the Quranic narrative, their respective statuses as prophets and servants of Allah are determined by different criteria, and both are highly respected in Islamic tradition.
In Islamic tradition, Khidr is believed to possess knowledge and wisdom that is not available to ordinary people. He is often associated with esoteric and mystical knowledge, and is considered a guide and mentor for those seeking spiritual enlightenment. Khidr is also revered for his role as a helper of the poor and the oppressed.