I thank Allah for His guidance and uncountable blessings to me, I also thank Allah for giving me responsible parents who brought me up with full caring and loving Islamic environment, may Allah showers them with His blessings and grant them Paradise, amen.
In this short journey of knowledge with you, I would like to just narrate the story of Moses and Khidhr and try to highlight some lessons that we can benefit from it. In verses 60 to 82, Allah (God) telling us the wonderful story about the superiority of Divine knowledge over human knowledge. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians but that wisdom did not comprehend the special knowledge which Allah had bestowed to Khidhr. The story of Moses was begun when this Prophet of Allah started his journey with his attendant to seek wisdom from Allah. He says to his attendant: I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas (the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez) or (until) I spend years and years in travel. But when they reach the junction, they forgot about their fish, which took its course through the sea (Straight) as in a tunnel. When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: Bring us our meal; truly we had suffered much fatigue at this stage of our journey. He replied: Did you see what happened when we betook ourselves to the rock? I indeed forgot about the fish: none but Satan made me forgot to tell you about it. Moses said: That was what we were seeking after, so they went back on their footsteps, following the path they had come. In their way, they found one of Allah’s servants [Khidhr] on whom Allah had bestowed mercy and whom Allah had taught knowledge. Moses said to Khidhr: May I follow you so as you teach me something of the higher Truth which you had been taught. Khidhr said: “Verily you will not be able to have patience with me. For how can you have patience about things which are beyond your knowledge”? Moses replied: You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient: nor shall I disobey you in auth. If then you would follow me, you should not ask questions about anything until I myself speak to you concerning it, said Khidhr.
The two continued their journey until when they were in the boat; he (Khidhr) scuttled it. Moses surprised and said: “hast you scuttled it in order to drown those in it”? Truly a strange thing you have done. He replied: Did I not tell you that you can have patience with me? Moses replied: Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case. They then proceeded until they met a young boy, he slew him. Again Moses reacted and said: Hast you slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard-of) thing had you done! He answered: Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with me? Moses replied with promise: If ever I ask you about anything after this, do not accompany me; then you would receive full excuse from my side.
The journey proceeded until when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. Moses said: If you had wished, surely you could have exacted some recompense for it. The teacher answered: “This is the parting between me and you, now I will tell you the interpretation of those things over which you were unable to hold patience.
ANSWERS BEYOND REACH OF HUMAN REASON:
The Teacher’s answers:
[a] As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want; they plied on the water, but I wished to render it undesirable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force.
[b] As for the youth, his parents were people of faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude to Allah. So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange a son better in purity of conduct and closer in affection. [Please Read the full commentary on this part: [YUSUF ALI].
[c] As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, Orphans in the town; there was, beneath it a buried treasure, to which they were entitled; their father had been a righteous man; so their Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure a mercy and favour from their Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of those things over which you was unable to hold patience.
SOME LESSONS FROM THE ABOVE VERSES:
[a] Allah’s wisdom transcends all human reasons and calculations. Therefore, whenever there is conflict between Divine Law [the Qur’an and the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)] and human law, the former must prevail. Because Divine Law [the Shari’ah al-Islamiyyah] aims to save human’s benefits [Masalih al-Insan] in such a way that sometimes beyond human rationality as in the case of Moses [A.S.]. In our discussion about the “Objectives of the Islamic Law”, we highlighted that all of the benefits [Masalih] should be protected otherwise; the norm of any society will be destructed. Any crime act against these benefits will invite punishment in Islamic Law, and that act will be considered as criminal act against limitations of Allah [HududulLah]. Human being may think that drinking alcohol eases his problem and may cure some of his health problems, without knowing that soon or later, it will result another problem. The urgent unwanted result of drinking alcohol is to prevent mind to think and to prevent him to perform Ibadah [worship].
[b] Another lesson from these verses is that Mercy and Knowledge should be coming from Allah. Therefore, human being should always near to Allah (God) praying for His mercy and seeking knowledge to please Allah, so that Allah’s guidance will be with him. Human potentiality is not enough to survive this life; his mind is limited in solving the complicated problems of human beings. He should stand in the front of the Creator [Allah, the all knowing] to ask mercy and guidance. It is strange that this weak creation isolating God from his worldly activities especially in dealing with human like him. Knowledge and Iman and Taqwa are the secret of success. Leaders should first seek the pleasure of Allah before their subjects; they need full understanding about the meaning of “Khalifah” and the objective of his creation. They should deliver their responsibility with full of sincerity to Allah, without forgetting that it [sincerity] is gift from Allah, He will only give to those He loves. Sincerity is not achievable by our deeds no matter what we do [Ghair Muktasabah], because it is gift from God to whom He loves. The key to achieve sincerity is to get the pleasure of Allah [Ridhaullah] through Ibadah and Amanah.
[c] Human sciences should be guided by the Revealed Knowledge: It is important to note here that faith of a certain person would influence his reasoning. In other words, if a person does not believe God (Allah) and His supremacy, he will outline his thinking and reasoning based on that belief, and he will then put supremacy to his reasoning in such a way that whatever his mind sees good will be ultimately good for him and for other human beings and likewise for the bad deeds. It is obvious that this mentality disregards Religion and also the different levels of understanding between human beings. Forgeting that may be a person may see things good but not good for other people. The real life example of such is the changing of laws in some western countries pertaining to the legality of changing sex organ of a person, this is undoubtedly prohibited in all Religions, but with justification that these countries are secular countries. Therefore, Religion doesn’t have right to interfere what they see as good for them.
The same case to democracy, in Islam, decision of majority is highly respected but it is not ultimate, it should be subjected its validity to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). It is important to note here [in fact, it is the difference between Shurah and democracy], that in Islam, decision of majority could be rejected and the decision coming from minority, if it is according to the Qur’an and Sunnah, could prevail and accepted. In short, Revelation should be above human reasoning.
[d] Moses teaches us to adopt true attitude towards teachers with full respect and obedience. And be reminded that Satan is always misleading us whenever we are coming near to Allah.
In conclusion, Human reasoning alone does not guaranty our success in this life and Hereafter without Mercy and Guidance [Taufiq] of Allah.
REFERENCE:
[*] THE HOLY QUR’AN: An English Translation (Saudi Arabia: King Fahd Holy Qur’an Printing Complex).
In this short journey of knowledge with you, I would like to just narrate the story of Moses and Khidhr and try to highlight some lessons that we can benefit from it. In verses 60 to 82, Allah (God) telling us the wonderful story about the superiority of Divine knowledge over human knowledge. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians but that wisdom did not comprehend the special knowledge which Allah had bestowed to Khidhr. The story of Moses was begun when this Prophet of Allah started his journey with his attendant to seek wisdom from Allah. He says to his attendant: I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas (the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez) or (until) I spend years and years in travel. But when they reach the junction, they forgot about their fish, which took its course through the sea (Straight) as in a tunnel. When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: Bring us our meal; truly we had suffered much fatigue at this stage of our journey. He replied: Did you see what happened when we betook ourselves to the rock? I indeed forgot about the fish: none but Satan made me forgot to tell you about it. Moses said: That was what we were seeking after, so they went back on their footsteps, following the path they had come. In their way, they found one of Allah’s servants [Khidhr] on whom Allah had bestowed mercy and whom Allah had taught knowledge. Moses said to Khidhr: May I follow you so as you teach me something of the higher Truth which you had been taught. Khidhr said: “Verily you will not be able to have patience with me. For how can you have patience about things which are beyond your knowledge”? Moses replied: You will find me, if Allah so will, truly patient: nor shall I disobey you in auth. If then you would follow me, you should not ask questions about anything until I myself speak to you concerning it, said Khidhr.
The two continued their journey until when they were in the boat; he (Khidhr) scuttled it. Moses surprised and said: “hast you scuttled it in order to drown those in it”? Truly a strange thing you have done. He replied: Did I not tell you that you can have patience with me? Moses replied: Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case. They then proceeded until they met a young boy, he slew him. Again Moses reacted and said: Hast you slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard-of) thing had you done! He answered: Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with me? Moses replied with promise: If ever I ask you about anything after this, do not accompany me; then you would receive full excuse from my side.
The journey proceeded until when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. Moses said: If you had wished, surely you could have exacted some recompense for it. The teacher answered: “This is the parting between me and you, now I will tell you the interpretation of those things over which you were unable to hold patience.
ANSWERS BEYOND REACH OF HUMAN REASON:
The Teacher’s answers:
[a] As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want; they plied on the water, but I wished to render it undesirable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force.
[b] As for the youth, his parents were people of faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude to Allah. So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange a son better in purity of conduct and closer in affection. [Please Read the full commentary on this part: [YUSUF ALI].
[c] As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, Orphans in the town; there was, beneath it a buried treasure, to which they were entitled; their father had been a righteous man; so their Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure a mercy and favour from their Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of those things over which you was unable to hold patience.
SOME LESSONS FROM THE ABOVE VERSES:
[a] Allah’s wisdom transcends all human reasons and calculations. Therefore, whenever there is conflict between Divine Law [the Qur’an and the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)] and human law, the former must prevail. Because Divine Law [the Shari’ah al-Islamiyyah] aims to save human’s benefits [Masalih al-Insan] in such a way that sometimes beyond human rationality as in the case of Moses [A.S.]. In our discussion about the “Objectives of the Islamic Law”, we highlighted that all of the benefits [Masalih] should be protected otherwise; the norm of any society will be destructed. Any crime act against these benefits will invite punishment in Islamic Law, and that act will be considered as criminal act against limitations of Allah [HududulLah]. Human being may think that drinking alcohol eases his problem and may cure some of his health problems, without knowing that soon or later, it will result another problem. The urgent unwanted result of drinking alcohol is to prevent mind to think and to prevent him to perform Ibadah [worship].
[b] Another lesson from these verses is that Mercy and Knowledge should be coming from Allah. Therefore, human being should always near to Allah (God) praying for His mercy and seeking knowledge to please Allah, so that Allah’s guidance will be with him. Human potentiality is not enough to survive this life; his mind is limited in solving the complicated problems of human beings. He should stand in the front of the Creator [Allah, the all knowing] to ask mercy and guidance. It is strange that this weak creation isolating God from his worldly activities especially in dealing with human like him. Knowledge and Iman and Taqwa are the secret of success. Leaders should first seek the pleasure of Allah before their subjects; they need full understanding about the meaning of “Khalifah” and the objective of his creation. They should deliver their responsibility with full of sincerity to Allah, without forgetting that it [sincerity] is gift from Allah, He will only give to those He loves. Sincerity is not achievable by our deeds no matter what we do [Ghair Muktasabah], because it is gift from God to whom He loves. The key to achieve sincerity is to get the pleasure of Allah [Ridhaullah] through Ibadah and Amanah.
[c] Human sciences should be guided by the Revealed Knowledge: It is important to note here that faith of a certain person would influence his reasoning. In other words, if a person does not believe God (Allah) and His supremacy, he will outline his thinking and reasoning based on that belief, and he will then put supremacy to his reasoning in such a way that whatever his mind sees good will be ultimately good for him and for other human beings and likewise for the bad deeds. It is obvious that this mentality disregards Religion and also the different levels of understanding between human beings. Forgeting that may be a person may see things good but not good for other people. The real life example of such is the changing of laws in some western countries pertaining to the legality of changing sex organ of a person, this is undoubtedly prohibited in all Religions, but with justification that these countries are secular countries. Therefore, Religion doesn’t have right to interfere what they see as good for them.
The same case to democracy, in Islam, decision of majority is highly respected but it is not ultimate, it should be subjected its validity to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). It is important to note here [in fact, it is the difference between Shurah and democracy], that in Islam, decision of majority could be rejected and the decision coming from minority, if it is according to the Qur’an and Sunnah, could prevail and accepted. In short, Revelation should be above human reasoning.
[d] Moses teaches us to adopt true attitude towards teachers with full respect and obedience. And be reminded that Satan is always misleading us whenever we are coming near to Allah.
In conclusion, Human reasoning alone does not guaranty our success in this life and Hereafter without Mercy and Guidance [Taufiq] of Allah.
REFERENCE:
[*] THE HOLY QUR’AN: An English Translation (Saudi Arabia: King Fahd Holy Qur’an Printing Complex).
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