Stories Of The Quran
Part | 03
By: Ibn Katheer
Translated by: Ali As-Sayed Al- Halawani
The Story of: Moses And Al-Khadir
The Story Indicated His Prophethood in Four Aspects
First: Allah the Almighty says:
‘’Then they found one of Our slaves, on whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Us’’. (Al-Kahf, 65)
Second: Moses says to Al-Khadir:
‘’Musa (Moses) said to him (Al-Khadir): “May I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allah)?” He (Al-Khadir) said: “Verily you will not be able to have patience with me! And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not.” Musa (Moses) said: “If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in aught.” He (Al-Khadir) said: “Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention of it to you“. (Al-Kahf, 66-70)
So, were he not a Prophet, Moses would not address him that way, and he would not answer Moses that way as well. Moses sought his company because he wanted to get some of the knowledge Al-Khadir was given by Allah and that which Moses did not get. Were Al-Khadir anything but a Prophet, he would not be infallible. Thus, Moses would not be keen to accompany him because Moses himself was an honorable Prophet and an infallible Messenger. Were Al-Khadir anything but a Prophet, Moses would not take the trouble of searching for him for eighty years. When Moses met with Al-Khadir, Moses highly respected him and followed him submissively to gain as much as possible of his divine knowledge.
Third: Al-Khadir intentionally killed the boy. He would not do that without an inspiration from Allah Almighty ordering him to. This incident can stand as a separate proof that Al-Khadir was a Prophet. It can stand as well, as a proof that he was infallible. Al-Khadir killed the boy because he was inspired that the boy would be a disbeliever when he grows up and that his parents would follow him due to their earnest love for him. So he killed him to save the faith of the parents. This indicated that he was an infallible Prophet.
Fourth: When Al-Khadir interpreted and explained for Moses the actions he took and clarified everything to him he added:
‘’As a mercy from your Lord. And I did them not of my own accord’’,
i.e. I did not do that out of my desire, instead, I was ordered to by divine inspiration. All these indicated his Prophethood and infallibility.
Is Al-Khadir Still Alive?
The majority of scholars said: “Al-Khadir is still alive because he was the one who buried Adam (Peace be upon him) after the Deluge and thus he was affected by the invocation of Adam that he who buries him will live long.” Some people said: “he is still alive because he drank of the spring of life.” There are so many narrations and stories on which those who viewed the existence of Al-Khadir today based their opinion. But, all the narrations and Hadiths pertaining to that issue are weak and invented and those who narrated them are not infallible.
‘Abdur Razzaq said: I was told by Mu’ amir that Abu Sa’id AI-Khudri said: “One day Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) narrated to us a long narration about Ad-Dajjal and among the things he narrated to us, was: ‘Ad-Dajjal will come, and he will be forbidden to enter the mountain passes of Medina. He will encamp in one of the salt areas neighboring Medina and there will appear to him a man who will be the best or one of the best of the people. He will say: ‘I testify that you are Ad-Dajjal whose story Allah’s Messenger has told us.
‘Ad Dajjal will say (to his audience): ‘Look, if I kill this man and then give him life, will you have any doubt about my claim?’ They will reply: ‘No.’ Then Ad Dajjal will kill that man and then will make him alive. The man will say: ‘By Allah, now I recognize you more than ever! ‘Ad-Dajjal will then try to kill him (again) but he will not be given the power to do so. “, Mu’amir said: I was told that the man who stands against the Dajjal is Al-Khadir and that his neck on that day would be covered with brass.
Sheik Abu Al-Faraj Ibn Al-Jawzi refuted all these Hadiths and proved them all to be invented, and he proved the Chains of Transmission of the narrations and stories of the Prophet’s Companions and followers to be weak and fallible. Indeed, Ibn Al-Jawzi was very powerful and authentic in doing so.As for those who claimed Al-Khadir to be dead such as Imam Al-Bukhari, Abu Al-Husain Ibn Al-Munadi and sheik Abu Al-Faraj Ibn Al-Jawzi, they held as their textual proofs what follows: Allah the Almighty says:
”And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him»: then if you die, would they live forever?”. (Al-Anbyia’, 34)
So if Al-Khadir was a human being, he would be affected by this ruling: he is mortal, he must die. Allah the Almighty says:
‘’And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad (Peace be upon him» confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.” Allah said: “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)“. (Al ‘Imran, 81)
Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah took the Covenant of all the Prophets to believe in Muhammad and support him if he appears during their lifetimes. In addition, they should take the Covenant of all their own nations to believe in him and support him in the same way.
Thereupon, were Al-Khadir a Prophet or a Wali (protector or guardian), he would be involved in that Covenant and that were he alive during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he would follow him and present himself before him paying allegiance and absolute faith. Imam Ahmed narrated: I was told by Shuraih Ibn An-Nu’man after Hashim after Mujalid after AshShi’bi after Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! Were Moses alive, he would do nothing but follow me.” This is the decisive view which the earlier Qur’anic Verse indicates that all Prophets -if they happen to live during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad -are ordered to follow him and practice his own Shari `ah. On the Night Journey, he (Peace be upon him) was raised far above them all.[5] When they descended to Jerusalem and the time for Prayer was due, he (Peace be upon him) was ordered to lead them all (in Prayer).
This showed that he is the greatest Imam and the last Prophet who is most honored and respected (May Allah grant him and them all mercy). Thereupon, if Al-Khadir were alive, he would be joining forces with Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and he would follow his religion in every minute detail. This is Prophet `Isa (Jesus (Peace be upon him)) when he will descends by the end of time, he will rule over the whole world in accordance with this honorable legislation of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
However, there is nothing to certify that Al-Khadir has met together with Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in a single day or even witnessed any fight with him against the polytheists or the infidels. On the day on which the Battle of Badr was fought, the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) cast a glance at the infidels, and they were one thousand (1000) while his own Companions were three hundred and nineteen (319). Allah’s Prophet (Peace be upon him) turned (his face) towards the Qiblah.
Then, he stretched his hands and began his supplication to his Lord: ‘O Allah! Accomplish for me what Thou hast promised to me. O Allah! Bring about what Thou hast promised to me. O Allah! If this small band of Muslims is destroyed, Thou will not be worshipped on this earth.’ He (Peace be upon him) continued his supplication to his Lord, stretching his hands, facing the Qiblah, until his mantle slipped down from his shoulders.
So Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) came to him, picked up his mantle and put it on his shoulders. Then he (Abu Bakr) embraced him from behind and said: O Prophet of Allah! This prayer of yours to your Lord will suffice you, and He will fulfil for you what He has promised you. So Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, revealed (the Qur’anic verse):
‘’(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession’’. (Al-Anfal, 9)
5 I.e. Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven beyond which none can pass). (Translator)
So Allah helped him with angels.” (Sahih Muslim) However, this’ small band of Muslims’ consisted, then, of the chiefs from among the Muslims and the angels, foremost among whom was Jibril (Gabriel (Peace be upon him)). Thus, if Al-Khadir were alive, his presence, then, would be the best thing he could ever do. Narrated Al-Qadi Abu Ya`la Muhammad Ibn Al-Husain Al-Fara’ Al-Hanbali: Some people asked some of our companions about Al-Khadir, was he dead? They answered: “Yes.”
Some people claim that Al-Khadir was present during all these past events but no one could see him because he was invisible. Obviously, this claim is groundless and is based only on illusions. Indeed, if he was still alive during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he would certainly join him in his fight against the polytheists of the tribe of Quraish. See the following Hadith:
Narrated Sa’d (May Allah be pleased with him):
“On the Day of Uhud I saw on the right side of Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) and on his left side two persons dressed in white clothes and whom I did not see before nor after that, and they were Gabriel and Michael (may Allah be pleased with both of them).” (Sahih Muslim)
In addition, ‘Abdullah Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with both of them) said:
“Once the Prophet (Peace be upon him) led us in the `Isha’ (Night) Prayer during the last days of his life and after finishing it (the Prayer) (with Taslim, i.e. final salutation) he said: ‘Do you realize (the importance of) this night? Nobody present on the surface of the earth tonight will be living after thecompletion of one hundred years from this night. “, (Sahih Al-Bukhari) And,
`Abdullah Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with both of them) narrated:
“Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) led us in the `Isha’ (Night) Prayer at the latter part of the night and when he had concluded it by salutations he stood up and said: ‘Have you seen this night of yours? At the end of one hundred years after this (night) none would survive on the surface of the earth (from among my Companions).’
Ibn `Umar said: People were (not understanding) these words of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) which had been uttered pertaining to one hundred years. Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) in fact meant (by these words) that on that day none from amongst those who had been living upon the earth (from amongst his Companions) would survive (after one hundred years) and that would be the end of this generation.” (Sahih Muslim) And, Jabir Ibn `Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) as saying this one month before his death: ‘You asked me about the Last Hour whereas its knowledge is with Allah.
I, however, take an oath and say that none upon the earth, the created beings (from amongst my Companions), would survive at the end of one hundred years.” This Hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Juraij with the same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of the words: “one month before his death.” (Sahih Muslim) So, even if Al-Khadir were alive during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he would, then, be dead in accordance with these above-mentioned Hadiths. And, Allah knows best!