The Cave — Verse 63

The Story of Musa and Al-Khidr The reason for Musa's conversation with the boy-servant, Yusha` bin Nun, was that he had been told about one of the servants of Allah at the junction of the two seas, who had knowledge which Musa had not been granted, so he wanted to travel to meet him. So he said to that boy-servant of his: لا أَبْرَحُ (I will not give up) meaning, I will keep on traveling, حَتَّى أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ (until I reach the junction of the two seas) meaning, the place where the two seas met. أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُباً (or a Huqub passes.) meaning, even if I have to travel for a very long time. Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) said, "Some of the scholars of the Arabic language said that Huqub means a year in the dialect of the tribe of Qays," then he narrated that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "Huqub means eighty years." Mujahid said, "Seventy years." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that it means a lifetime. Qatadah and Ibn Zayd said likewise. فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا (But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish,) He had been commanded to carry a salted fish with him, and it had been said to him, when you lose the fish, that will be a sign that you have reached the right place. So they set out and traveled until they reached the junction of the two seas, where there was a spring called `Ayn Al-Hayat (the Spring of Life). They went to sleep there, and the fish felt the drops of that water, so it came back to life. It was in a vessel with Yusha`, upon him be peace, and it jumped out of the vessel towards the sea. Yusha` woke up and the fish fell into the water and started to swim through the water, leaving a track or channel behind it. Allah said: فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِى الْبَحْرِ سَرَباً (and it took its way through the sea as in a tunnel.) meaning, like going through a tunnel on land. Ibn Jurayj said, "Ibn `Abbas said, `It left a trace as if it were a rock.'" فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا (So when they had passed further on,) means, past the place where they had forgotten the fish. Forgetfulness is attributed to them both even though it was actually Yusha` who forgot. This is like the Ayah: يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا الُّلؤْلُؤُ وَالمَرْجَانُ (Out of them both come out pearl and coral.) 55:22, although they come from the salt water, according to one of the two opinions. When they had passed one stage beyond the place where they had forgotten the fish, قَالَ لِفَتَـهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـذَا (Musa said to his boy-servant: "Bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered in this, our journey) meaning, their journey beyond the place where they should have stopped. نَصَباً (Nasaban) means, exhaustion. قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلاَّ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ (He said: "Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock I indeed forgot the fish; none but Shaytan made me forget to remember it...") Then he said, وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ (It took its course), meaning its path, فِى الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًاقَالَ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ("...into the sea in a strange (way)!" Musa said: "That is what we have been seeking.") meaning, this is what we have been looking for. فَارْتَدَّا (So they went back ) عَلَى ءَاثَارِهِمَا (their footsteps.) فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا (Then they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Us.) This was Al-Khidr, peace be upon him, as is indicated by the authentic Hadiths narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Al-Bukhari recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "I said to Ibn `Abbas: `Nawf Al-Bikali claims that Musa, the companion of Al-Khidr was not the Musa of the Children of Israel.' Ibn `Abbas said, `The enemy of Allah has told a lie.' Ubayy bin Ka`b narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, «إِنَّ مُوسَى قَامَ خَطِيبًا فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَسُئِلَ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ؟ قَالَ: أَنَا، فَعَتَبَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ إِذْ لَمْ يَرُدَّ الْعِلْمَ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَوْحَى اللهُ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ لِي عَبْدًا بِمَجْمَعِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ. قَالَ مُوسَى: يَا رَبِّ وَكَيْفَ لِي بِهِ؟ قَالَ: تَأْخُذُ مَعَكَ حُوتًا فَتَجْعَلَهُ بِمِكْتَلٍ، فَحَيْثُمَا فَقَدْتَ الْحُوتَ فَهُوَ ثَمَّ، فَأَخَذَ حُوتًا فَجَعَلَهُ بِمِكْتَلٍ، ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ وَانْطَلَقَ مَعَهُ فَتَاهُ يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا الصَّخْرَةَ وَضَعَا رُءُوْسَهُمَا فَنَامَا، وَاضْطَرَبَ الْحُوتُ فِي الْمِكْتَلِ، فَخَرَجَ مِنْهُ فَسَقَطَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا، وَأَمْسَكَ اللهُ عَنِ الْحُوتِ جِرْيَةَ الْمَاءِ، فَصَارَ عَلَيْهِ مِثْلَ الطَّاقِ، فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظَ، نَسِيَ صَاحِبُهُ أَنْ يُخْبِرَهُ بِالْحُوتِ، فَانْطَلَقَا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمَا وَلَيْلَتَهُمَا حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ قَالَ مُوسَى لِفَتَاهُ: ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـذَا نَصَباً (Musa got up to deliver a speech before the Children of Israel and he was asked, "Who is the most learned person among the people" Musa replied, "I am." Allah rebuked him because he did not refer the knowledge to Allah. So Allah revealed to him: "At the junction of the two seas there is a servant of Ours who is more learned than you." Musa asked, "O my Lord, how can I meet him" Allah said, "Take a fish and put it in a vessel and then set out, and where you lose the fish, you will find him." So Musa took a fish, put it in a vessel and set out, along with his boy-servant Yusha` bin Nun, peace be upon him, till they reached a rock (on which) they both lay down their heads and slept. The fish moved vigorously in the vessel and got out of it and fell into the sea and there it took its way through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. Allah stopped the flow of water on both sides of the way created by the fish, and so that way was like a tunnel. When Musa got up, his companion forgot to tell him about the fish, and so they carried on their journey during the rest of the day and the whole night. The next morning Musa said to his boy-servant, ("Bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this, our journey.") وَلَمْ يَجِدْ مُوسَى النَّصَبَ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ الْمَكَانَ الَّذِي أَمَرَهُ اللهُ بِهِ، قَالَ لَهُ فَتَاهُ: أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلاَّ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِى الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا قاَل: فَكَانَ لِلْحُوتِ سَرَبًا، وَلِمُوسَى وَفَتَاهُ عَجَبًا، فَقَالَ: ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا قَالَ: فَرَجَعَا يَقُصَّانِ أَثَرَهُمَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ، فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مُسَجًّى بِثَوْبٍ، فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ موسَى فَقَالَ الْخَضِرُ: وَأَنَّى بِأَرْضِكَ السَّلَامُ.فَقَالَ: أَنَا مُوسَى. فَقَالَ: مُوسَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: أَتَيْتُكَ لِتُعَلِّمَنِي مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْراً يَا مُوسَى إِنِّي عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ علْمِ اللهِ عَلَّمَنِيهِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُ أَنْتَ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى عَلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللهِ عَلَّمَكَهُ اللهُ لَا أَعْلَمُهُ. Musa did not get tired till he had passed the place that Allah had ordered him to look for. His boy-servant then said to him, ("Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock I indeed forgot the fish; none but Shaytan made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a strange way.") There was a tunnel for the fish and Musa and his boy-servant were amazed. Musa said, ("That is what we have been seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps.") So they went back retracing their steps until they reached the rock. There they found a man covered with a garment. Musa greeted him. Al-Khidr said, "Is there such a greeting in your land" Musa said, "I am Musa." He said, "Are you the Musa of the Children of Israel" Musa said, "Yes," and added, "I have come to you so that you may teach me something of that knowledge which you have been taught." Al-Khidr said, ("You will not be able to have patience with me.) O Musa! I have some of Allah's knowledge which He has bestowed upon me but you do not know it; and you too, have some of Allah's knowledge which He has bestowed upon you, but I do not know it." فَقَالَ مُوسَى: سَتَجِدُنِى إِن شَآءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلاَ أَعْصِى لَكَ أمْراً قَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ: فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنى عَن شَىءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْراً فَانْطَلَقَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى سَاحِلِ الْبَحْرِ فَمَرَّتْ سَفِيَنةٌ، فَكَلَّمُوهُمْ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوهُمْ، فَعَرَفُوا الْخَضِرَ فَحَمَلُوهُمْ بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ، فَلَمَّا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ لَمْ يَفْجَأْ إِلَّا وَالْخَضِرُ قَدْ قَلَعَ لَوْحًا مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ السَّفِينَةِ بِالْقَدُّومِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى: قَدْ حَمَلُونَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ، فَعَمَدْتَ إِلَى سَفِينَتِهِمْ فَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا؟ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْراً - قَالَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلاَ تُرْهِقْنِى مِنْ أَمْرِى عُسْراً Musa said, ("If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in aught.") Al-Khidr said to him, ("Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention it to you.") So they set out walking along the shore, until a boat passed by and they asked the crew to let them go on board. The crew recognized Al-Khidr and allowed them to go on board free of charge. When they went on board, suddenly Musa saw that Al-Khidr had pulled out one of the planks of the ship with an adz. Musa said to him, "These people gave us a free ride, yet you have broken their boat so that its people will drown! Verily, you have done a terrible thing! ("Al-Khidr said, "Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with me") (Musa said, "Call me not to account for what I forgot and be not hard upon me for my affair (with you). ")) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, فَكَانَتِ الْأُولَى مِنْ مُوسَى نِسْيَانًا، قَالَ: وَجَاءَ عُصْفُورٌ فَوَقَعَ عَلَى حَرْفِ السَّفِينَةِ، فَنَقَرَ فِي الْبَحْرِ نَقْرَةً أَوْ نَقْرَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْخَضِرُ: مَا عِلْمِي وَعِلْمُكَ فِي عِلْمِ اللهِ إِلَّا مِثْلُ مَا نَقَصَ هَذَا الْعُصْفُورُ مِنْ هَذَا الْبَحْرِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَا مِنَ السَّفِينَةِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُمَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى السَّاحِلِ إِذْ أَبْصَرَ الْخَضِرُ غُلَامًا يَلْعَبُ مَعَ الْغِلْمَانِ، فَأَخَذَ الْخَضِرُ رَأْسَهُ فَاقْتَلَعَهُ بِيَدِهِ فَقَتَلَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى: فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلاَمًا فَقَتَلَهُ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئاً نُّكْراً - قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْراً (In the first instance, Musa asked Al-Khidr because he had forgotten his promise. Then a bird came and sat on the edge of the boat, dipping its beak once or twice in the sea. Al-Khidr said to Musa, "My knowledge and your knowledge, in comparison to Allah's knowledge, is like what this bird has taken out of the sea." Then they both disembarked from the boat, and while they were walking on the shore, Al-Khidr saw a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy's head and pulled it off with his hands, killing him. Musa said to him, ("Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none! Verily, you have committed a thing Nukr!" He said, "Did I not tell you that you would not be able to have patience with me") قَالَ: وَهَذِهِ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْأُولَى/ قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَىْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلاَ تُصَاحِبْنِى قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّى عُذْراً فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَآ أَتَيَآ أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَآ أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْاْ أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَاراً يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ أَيْ مَائِلًا،فَقَالَ الْخَضِرُ بِيَدِهِ فَأَقَامَهُ فَقَالَ مُوسَى: قَوْمٌ أَتَيْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ يُطْعِمُونَا وَلَمْ يُضَيِّفُونَا فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَآ أَتَيَآ أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَآ أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْاْ أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَاراً يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لاَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْراً - قَالَ هَـذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنِكَ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْراً The narrator said, "The second blame was stronger than the first one". (Musa said, "If I ask you anything after this, keep me not in your company; you have received an excuse from me." Then they both proceeded until they came to the people of a town. They asked them for food but they refused to entertain them. (Then) they found there a wall on the point of falling down.) (Al-Khidr) set it up straight with his own hands. Musa said, "We came to these people, but they neither fed us nor received us as guests. (If you had wished, surely, you could have taken wages for it!" (Al-Khidr) said: "This is the parting between you and I. I will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were unable to be patient.") The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «وَدِدْنَا أَنَّ مُوسَى كَانَ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يَقُصَّ اللهُ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ خَبَرِهِمَا» (We wish that Musa was patient so that Allah would have told us more about both of them.) Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "Ibn `Abbas used to recite Ayah no. 79 (وَكَانَ أَمَامَهُمْ مَلِكٌ يَاْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ صَالَحَةٍ غَضْبًا) (There was a king before them who seized every good-conditioned ship by force) and Ayah no 80 (وَأَمَّا الْغُلَامُ فَكَانَ كَافِرًا وَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ) (As for the boy, he was a disbeliever and his parents were believers.) Then (in another narration) Al-Bukhari recorded a similar account which says: فَخَرَجَ مُوسَى وَمَعَهُ فَتَاهُ يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ وَمَعَهُمَا الْحُوتُ، حَتَّى انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ، فَنَزَلَا عِنْدَهَا، قَالَ: فَوَضَعَ مُوسَى رَأْسَهُ فَنَامَ، قَالَ: وَفِي أَصْلِ الصَّخْرَةِ عَيْنٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا الْحَيَاةُ لَا يُصِيبُ مِنْ مَائِهَا شَيْءٌ إِلَّا حَيِيَ فَأَصَابَ الْحُوتَ مِنْ مَاءِ تِلْكَ الْعَيْنِ، فَتَحَرَّكَ وَانْسَلَّ مِنَ الْمِكْتَلِ فَدَخَلَ الْبَحْرَ، فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْقَظَ قَالَ مُوسَى لِفَتَاهُ: ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا (...then Musa set out and with him was his boy-servant Yusha` bin Nun, and they had the fish with them. When they reached the rock, they camped there, and Musa lay down his head and slept. At the base of the rock there was a spring called Al-Hayat; its water never touched a thing but it brought it to life. Some of its water touched the fish, so it began to move and jumped out of the vessel and into the sea. When he woke up, Musa said to his boy-servant: (Bring us our morning meal.)) Then he quoted the rest of the Hadith. Then a bird came and perched on the edge of the ship, and dipped its beak in the sea, and Al-Khidr said to Musa, "My knowledge and your knowledge and the knowledge of all of creation, in comparison to the knowledge of Allah, is like what this bird has taken from the sea." Then he mentioned the rest of the report. قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَى أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْداً - قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْراً - وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْراً

He said ‘Do you see? — in other words remember when we sheltered at the rock in that location indeed I forgot the fish — and none but Satan made me forget al-shaytān ‘Satan’ substitutes for the suffixed pronoun hā’ of ansānī-hu to mention it an adhkurahu an inclusive substitution in other words it should be understood as ansānī dhikrahu ‘he Satan made me forget the mentioning of it’ — and it the fish made its way into the sea in an amazing manner’ ‘ajaban constitutes the second direct object that is to say Moses and his lad were amazed by it because of what has already been explained concerning it.

He said, 'Do you seeḍ, what is it that has left me nude [as a child], when we sheltered at the rock, at the chest to suckle; indeed I forgot the fish, when we had no need for it - and none but Satan made me forget to mention it, that is to say, it was Satan that made me forget to remember it, substituting an adhkurahu for the [suffixed] pronoun [hu in ansānī-hu]. Moses had been asleep when the fish made its way into the sea in the way related, while the lad-the-Soul had been awake, and so Satan-the-Estimation, the one who had adorned the tree for Adam [cf. Q. 2:35-6], made Moses forget to remember the soul-the-Fish, since the state was one of distraction (dhuhūl). The 'way' that caused amazement was the aforementioned burrowing [made by the fish].

He said, 'Do you seeḍ, what is it that has left me nude [as a child], when we sheltered at the rock, at the chest to suckle; indeed I forgot the fish, when we had no need for it - and none but Satan made me forget to mention it, that is to say, it was Satan that made me forget to remember it, substituting an adhkurahu for the [suffixed] pronoun [hu in ansānī-hu]. Moses had been asleep when the fish made its way into the sea in the way related, while the lad-the-Soul had been awake, and so Satan-the-Estimation, the one who had adorned the tree for Adam [cf. Q. 2:35-6], made Moses forget to remember the soul-the-Fish, since the state was one of distraction (dhuhūl). The 'way' that caused amazement was the aforementioned burrowing [made by the fish].

قال له خادمه: أتذكر حين لجأنا إلى الصخرة التي استرحنا عندها؟ فإني نسيت أن أخبرك ما كان من الحوت، وما أنساني أن أذكر ذلك لك إلا الشيطان، فإن الحوت الميت دبَّتْ فيه الحياة، وقفز في البحر، واتخذ له فيه طريقًا، وكان أمره مما يُعْجَبُ منه.

قال " أرأيت إذ أوينا إلى الصخرة فإني نسيت الحوت وما أنسانيه إلا الشيطان أن أذكره " قال قتادة وقرأ ابن مسعود أن أذكركه ولهذا قال " فاتخذ سبيله " أي طريقه.

وقوله - سبحانه - : ( قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى الصخرة فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الحوت ) حكاية لما رد به يوشع على موسى - عليه السلام - عندما طلب منه الغداء .والاستفهام فى قوله ( أرأيت ) للتعجب مما حدث أمامه من شأن الحوت حيث عادت إليه الحياة ، وقفز فى البحر ، ومع ذلك نسى يوشع أن يخبر موسى عن هذا الأمر العجيب .أى : قال يوشع لموسى - عليه السلام - : تذكر وانتبه واستمع إلى ما سألقيه عليك من خبر هذا الحوت ، أرأيت ما دهانى فى وقت أن أوينا ولجأنا إلى الصخرة التى عند مجمع البحرين ، فإنى هناك نسيت أن أذكر لك ما شاهدته منه من أمور عجيبة ، فقد عادت إليه الحياة ، ثم قفز فى البحر .وقال ( إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى الصخرة ) دون أن يذكر مجمع البحرين ، زيادة فى تحديد المكان وتعيينه . وأوقع النسيان على الحوت دون الغداء الذى طلبه منه موسى ، للإِشعار بأن الغداء الذى طلبه موسى منه ، هو ذلك الحوت الذى فقداه .وقوله ( وَمَآ أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلاَّ الشيطان أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ) جملة معترضة جئ بها لبيان ما يجرى مجرى السبب فى وقوع النسيان منه .وقوله ( أن أذكره ) بدل اشتمال من الهاء فى ( أنسانيه ) .أى : وما أنسانى تذكيرك بما حدث من الحوت إلا الشيطان الذى يوسوس للإِنسان ، بوساوس متعددة ، تجعله يذهل وينسى بعض الأمور الهامة .وقوله ( واتخذ سَبِيلَهُ فِي البحر عَجَباً ) معطوف على قوله ( فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الحوت ) .أى : نسيت أن أخبرك بأن الحوت عندما أوينا إلى الصخرة عادت إليه الحياة ، واتخذ طريقه فى البحر اتخاذا عجيبا ، حيث صار يسير فيه وله أثر ظاهر فى الماء ، والماء من حوله كالقنطرة التى تنفذ منها الأشياء .وعلى هذا تكون جملة ، ( واتخذ سَبِيلَهُ فِي البحر عَجَباً ) ، من بقية كلام يوشع للتعجب مما حدث من الحوت ، حيث عادت إليه الحياة بقدرة الله - تعالى - ، واتخذ طريقه فى البحر بتلك الصورة العجيبة .وقيل : إن هذه الجملة من كلام الله - تعالى - لبيان طرف آخر من أمر هذا الحوت العجيب ، بعد بيان أمره قبل ذلك بأنه اتخذ سبيله فى البحر سربا .ويبدو لنا أن الرأى الأول أرجح ، لأن سياق الآية يدل عليه ، لذا اكتفى به بعض المفسرين دون أن يشير إلى غيره .قال الامام الرازى : قوله ( واتخذ سَبِيلَهُ فِي البحر عَجَباً ) فيه وجوه :الأول : أن قوله ( عجبا ) صفة لمصدر محذوف ، كأنه قيل : واتخذ سبيله فى البحر اتخاذا عجبا ، ووجه كونه عجبا ، انقلابه من المكتل وصيرورته حيا وإلقاء نفسه فى البحر .الثانى : أن يكون المراد منه ما ذكرنا من أنه - تعالى - جعل الماء عليه كالطاق وكالسراب .الثالث : قيل إنه تم الكلام عند قوله ( واتخذ سَبِيلَهُ فِي البحر ) ثم قال بعده : ( عجبا ) والمقصود منه تعجب يوشع من تلك الحالة العجيبة التى رآها ، ثم من نسيانه لها . . .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا (63)يقول تعالى ذكره: قال فتى موسى لموسى حين قال له: آتنا غداءنا لنطعم: أرأيت إذا أوينا إلى الصخرة فإني نسيت الحوت هنالك ( وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهُ إِلا الشَّيْطَانُ ) يقول: وما أنساني الحوت إلا الشيطان ( أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ) فأن في موضع نصب ردّا على الحوت، لأن معنى الكلام: وما أنساني أن أذكر الحوت إلا الشيطان سبق الحوت إلى الفعل، وردّ عليه قوله ( أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ) وقد ذكر أن ذلك في مصحف عبد الله: وما أنسانيه أن أذكره إلا الشيطان.حدثني بذلك بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ، حدثني العباس بن الوليد قال: سمعت محمد بن معقل، يحدّث عن أبيه، أن الصخرة التي أوى إليها موسى هي الصخرة التي دون نهر الذئب (1) على الطريق ( وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ) يعجب منه.كما حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى ، وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعا عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، قوله: ( فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ) قال: موسى يعجب من أثر الحوت في البحر ودوراته التي غاب فيها، فوجد عندها خضرا.حدثنا القاسم، قال: ثنا الحسين، قال: ثني حجاج، عن ابن جريج، عن مجاهد، مثله.حدثنا الحسن، قال: أخبرنا عبد الرزاق، قال: أخبرنا معمر، عن قتادة، في قوله : ( وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ) فكان موسى لما اتخذ سبيله في البحر عجبا، يعجب من سرب الحوت.حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال: قال ابن زيد، في قوله: ( وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ) قال: عجب والله حوت كان يوكل منه أدهرا، أيّ شيء أعجب من حوت كان دهرا من الدهور يؤكل منه، ثم صار حيا حتى حشر في البحر.حدثني محمد بن سعد، قال: ثني أبي، قال: ثني عمي ، قال: ثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن ابن عباس، قال: جعل الحوت لا يمسّ شيئا في البحر إلا يبس حتى يكون صخرة، فجعل نبيّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعجب من ذلك.حدثنا أبو كريب، قال: ثنا الحسن بن عطية، قال: ثنا عمرو بن ثابت، عن أبيه، عن سعيد بن جبير، عن ابن عباس ( وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ) قال: يعني كان سرب الحوت في البحر لموسى عجبا.------------------------الهوامش:(1) في ( عرائس المجالس للثعلبي المفسر ، طبعة الحلبي ص 218 ) : دون نهر الزيت .

قال ) له فتاه وتذكر ( أرأيت إذ أوينا إلى الصخرة ) وهي صخرة كانت بالموضع الموعود قال معقل بن زياد : هي الصخرة التي دون نهر الزيت ( فإني نسيت الحوت ) أي تركته وفقدته وذلك أن يوشع حين رأى ذلك من الحوت قام ليدرك موسى فيخبره فنسي أن يخبره فمكثا يومهما حتى صليا الظهر من الغد .قيل في الآية إضمار معناه : نسيت أن أذكر لك أمر الحوت ثم قال :( وما أنسانيه إلا الشيطان أن أذكره ) أي : وما أنساني أن أذكر لك أمر الحوت إلا الشيطان وقرأ حفص : ( أنسانيه ) وفي الفتح : ( عليه الله ) بضم الهاء .وقيل معناه أنسانيه لئلا أذكره .( واتخذ سبيله في البحر عجبا ) قيل : هذا من قول يوشع ، ويقول : طفر الحوت إلى البحر فاتخذ فيه مسلكا فعجبت من ذلك عجبا .وروينا في الخبر : كان للحوت سربا ولموسى وفتاه عجبا .وقيل : هذا من قول موسى لما قال له يوشع واتخذ سبيله في البحر قال له موسى : عجبا كأنه قال : أعجب عجبا .قال ابن زيد : أي شيء أعجب من حوت يؤكل منه جهرا ثم صار حيا بعدما أكل بعضه؟ .

لما كان النهي عن الجهر بالدعاء أو قراءة الصلاة سداً لذريعة زيادة تصميمهم على الكفر أعقب ذلك بأمره بإعلان التوحيد لقطع دابر توهم من توهموا أن الرحمان اسم لمسمى غير مسمى اسم الله ، فبعضهم توهمه إلهاً شريكاً ، وبعضهم توهمه مُعيناً وناصراً ، أمر النبي بأن يقول ما يقلع ذلك كله وأن يعظمه بأنواع من التعظيم .وجملة { الحمد لله } تقتضي تخصيصه تعالى بالحمد ، أي قصر جنس الحمد عليه تعالى لأنه أعظم مستحق لأن يحمد . فالتخصيص ادعائي بادعاء أن دواعي حمد غير الله تعالى في جانب دواعي حمد الله بمنزلة العدم ، كما تقدم في سورة الفاتحة .و ( مِن ) في قوله : { من الذل } بمعنى لام التعليل .والذل : العجز والافتقار ، وهو ضدّ العز ، أي ليس له ناصر من أجل الذل . والمراد : نفي الناصر له على وجه مؤكد ، فإن الحاجة إلى الناصر لا تكون إلا من العجز عن الانتصار للنفس . ويجوز تضمين ( الولي ) معنى ( المانع ) فتكون ( من ) لتعدية الاسم المضمن معناه .ومعنى { كبره } اعتقد أنه كبير ، أي عظيم العِظم المعنوي الشامل لوجوب الوجود والغِنى المطلق ، وصفات الكمال كلها الكاملة التعلقات ، لأن الاتصاف بذلك كله كمال ، والاتصاف بأضداد ذلك نقص وصغار معنوي .وإجراء هذه الصلات الثلاث على اسم الجلالة الذي هو متعلق الحمد لأن في هذه الصلاة إيماء إلى وجه تخصيصه بالحمد . والإتيان بالمفعول المطلق بعد { كَبّره } للتوكيد ، ولما في التنوين من التعظيم ، ولأنّ من هذه صفاته هو الذي يقدر على إعطاء النعم التي يعجز غيره عن إسدائها .

قال له فتاه: { أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ ْ} أي: ألم تعلم حين آوانا الليل إلى تلك الصخرة المعروفة بينهما { فإني نسيت الحوت وما أنسانيه إلا الشيطان ْ} لأنه السبب في ذلك { وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ْ} أي: لما انسرب في البحر ودخل فيه، كان ذلك من العجائب.قال المفسرون: كان ذلك المسلك للحوت سربا، ولموسى وفتاه عجبا، فلما قال له الفتى هذا القول، وكان عند موسى وعد من الله أنه إذا فقد الحوت، وجد الخضر، فقال موسى: { ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ْ}

وفي قوله : وما أنسانيه إلا الشيطان أن أذكره أن مع الفعل بتأويل المصدر ، وهو منصوب بدل اشتمال من الضمير في أنسانيه وهو بدل الظاهر من المضمر ، أي وما أنساني ذكره إلا الشيطان ; وفي مصحف عبد الله " وما أنسانيه أن أذكره إلا الشيطان " . وهذا إنما ذكره يوشع في معرض الاعتذار لقول موسى : ( لا أكلفك إلا أن تخبرني بحيث يفارقك الحوت ; فقال : ما كلفت كثيرا ) فاعتذر بذلك القول .قوله تعالى : واتخذ سبيله في البحر عجبا يحتمل أن يكون من قول يوشع لموسى ; أي اتخذ الحوت سبيله عجبا للناس ويحتمل أن يكون قوله : واتخذ سبيله في البحر تمام الخبر ، ثم استأنف التعجيب فقال من نفسه : عجبا لهذا الأمر . وموضع العجب أن يكون حوت قد مات فأكل شقه الأيسر ثم حيي بعد ذلك .قال أبو شجاع في كتاب الطبري : رأيته - أتيت به - فإذا هو شق حوت وعين واحدة ، وشق آخر ليس فيه شيء قال ابن عطية : وأنا رأيته والشق الذي ليس فيه شيء عليه قشرة رقيقة ليست تحتها شوكة .ويحتمل أن يكون قوله : واتخذ سبيله إخبارا من الله - تعالى - ، وذلك على وجهين : إما أن يخبر عن موسى أنه اتخذ سبيل الحوت من البحر عجبا ، أي تعجب منه وإما أن يخبر عن الحوت أنه اتخذ سبيله عجبا للناس . ومن غريب ما روي في البخاري عن ابن عباس من قصص هذه الآية : ( أن الحوت إنما حيي لأنه مسه ماء عين هناك تدعى عين الحياة ، ما مست قط شيئا إلا حيي ) وفي التفسير : إن العلامة كانت أن يحيا الحوت ; فقيل : لما نزل موسى بعد ما أجهده السفر على صخرة إلى جنبها ماء الحياة أصاب الحوت شيء من ذلك الماء فحيي . وقال الترمذي في حديثه قال سفيان : ( يزعم ناس أن تلك الصخرة عندها عين الحياة ، ولا يصيب ماؤها شيئا إلا عاش ، قال : وكان الحوت قد أكل منه فلما قطر عليه الماء عاش ) وذكر صاحب كتاب [ ص: 390 ] ( العروس ) : أن موسى - عليه السلام - توضأ من عين الحياة فقطرت من لحيته على الحوت قطرة فحيي ; والله أعلم .

Moses was told about a further sign, i.e. that when he reached the required destination, the fish kept for eating would go down into the water in a peculiar manner. And at a certain place this was exactly what happened. But the fish was with the disciple and he could not for some reason inform Moses about this incident. After proceeding a little further, Moses came to know of this incident. He immediately returned to that place and found Khidr there, the person for whom he had undertaken such a long journey. God had bestowed on this servant, Khidr, special knowledge and powers, so that he could bring certain extraordinary influence to bear upon the affairs of this world. In view of this knowledge, he used to act against the customary norms. That is why, on Moses request to be allowed to accompany him, he said that he Moses would not be able to bear it.

Precedence of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) over Al-Khadir (علیہ السلام) ، his up-bringing and miracles In the next verse, it was said: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ‌ سَرَ‌بًا So, when they reached the meeting point of the two seas, they forgot their fish and it made its way into the sea as in a tunnel- 61. Before we explain the nature of the extraordinary happening there, it is appropriate to first refer to the distinct position bestowed upon Sayyidna Musa 1 in the comity of prophets. This has been mentioned explicitly in the Qur'an, and Sunnah. The special distinction of having conversed with Allah Ta` a1a is his hallmark. With al-Khadir (علیہ السلام) ، the matter is different. To begin with, the very fact of his being a prophet has been debated. Even if his prophet-hood (nubuwwah) is acknowledged, he does not hold the station of a Messenger (Rasul) of Allah ﷺ . Neither is he credited with a Book, nor does he have a distinct community of followers. Therefore, considering all related aspects, Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) has marked precedence over al-Khadir (علیہ السلام) . But, Allah Ta` ala has His own wise ways to help those close to Him perform better. He would not let the least want or short coming go uncorrected and not amended. This process of reform at the highest level would even bring serious displeasure from Allah and it is through an equally serious measure that they are made to repair for it. This whole story reflects the same mode of person-al training. By saying: اَنَا (and: I), he had said: 'I am the foremost in knowledge.' Allah Ta` ala did not like it. So, as a measure of warning, he was given the whereabouts of a servant who had a field of knowledge specially given to him by Allah. This Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) did not have. Though the knowledge of Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) was far higher in rank than that given to him, but the truth of the matter was that Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) just did not have it. On the other side, Allah Ta` ala had blessed Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) with an intense desire to seek knowledge. As soon as he smelt the scent of knowledge elsewhere too, knowledge that he did not have, he was all set to go for it traveling like an ardent student and it was Allah Ta` ala Himself that he turned to for the ad-dress of that servant of His (al-Khadir علیہ السلام). Now, there is something worth pondering at this point. Had it been the will of Allah Ta’ ala that Musa (علیہ السلام) should meet al-Khadir (علیہ السلام) at that spot, He could have arranged that easily. Or, if Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) himself was Divinely destined to travel, he could have been given a clear address to help him reach it without any botheration. But, what happened here was different. The address given to him was far from being precise - 'when you reach the place where the dead fish stirs and disappears, that will be the place you will find Our servant.' Just about what this Hadith of the Sahih al-Bukhari proves is that the command to put a fish in their basket came from Allah Ta’ ala. Beyond that, it is not known whether the order was to carry a fish for eating or that it was to be carried as separate from what was to be eaten. Both probabilities exist. Therefore, some of the commentators said that this grilled fish was put in to eat and, during the course of the journey, the two travelers kept eating out of it as well. Eaten thus was almost half of it. After that, miraculously enough, this grilled and half-eaten fish came alive and went into the sea. Ibn ` Atiyyah and many others also observed that this fish kept surviving in the world as a matter of miracle and there were those who even saw that it had only one side intact while the other was eaten. Ibn ` Atiyyah has also put his personal sighting on record. (Qurtubi) And there are other commentators who have said that the command was to put a fish in a basket separate from that for food. The fish was put as commanded. Here too, at least this much is definite that the fish was dead. Its stirring up, becoming alive and going into the sea was nothing but a miracle. We have said a little earlier that the address of al-Khadir was left imprecise in a manner that it would not remain easy to pinpoint it. Obviously, this too was nothing but a trial and test for Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) . As though this was not enough, the scenario of an additional test was activated for them when they had reached the exact spot but forgot the fish. In the verse of the Qur'an, this act of forgetting has been attributed to Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) and his companion both: نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا (they forgot their fish - 61). But, as regards the story proved from the Hadith of al-Bukhari, it seems to indicate that Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) was asleep when came the time for the fish to become alive and go into the sea. This extraordinary event was witnessed by Yusha' ibn Nun only and he had intended that he would relate it to Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) as soon as he woke up. But, soon after that happened, Allah Ta’ ala cast a state of oblivion on him and he forgot to do that. If so, the attribution of forgetfulness to both of them would be similar to the statement of the Qur’ an: اللُّؤلُؤ وَالمَرجَاںُ - 55:22. Here it has been said that pearl and coral are extracted from both sweet and brackish waters - although, these are collected from the later only. But, saying something like this in usage is common. Then it is also possible that since both respected elders had for-gotten to take this fish along with them as far as the journey from that point onwards was concerned. Therefore, forgetfulness was attributed to both. Nevertheless, this was yet another test. After having reached the projected destination, the fish came alive and disappeared into the sea. The reality had unfolded and the place was pinpointed. But, that was not the end. The seeker of truth had to undergo yet another test. Therefore, forgetfulness overtook both of them and it was only after having traveled one day and one night more that they realized hunger and fatigue. This was the third test, because any realization of fatigue and hunger should have naturally come earlier than that. If they had recalled the fish at that earlier time and place, they would have not suffered from such a long additional journey. But, such was the will of Allah Ta` ala that they had to face a little more of hardship. It was only after having gone through the grind of such a long journey that they felt hungry and thirsty and there it was that they remembered the fish and found out that they had come far ahead of their desired destination. Therefore, they returned back on the same footprints they had left earlier. The first mention of the fish going into the sea was made through the word: سَرَبَاً (saraba - 61). Sarab means a tunnel that is dug to open up a passage through the mountains or an underground subway in cities. This tells us that the fish when it went into the sea had a tunnel-like passage forming itself in whatever direction it moved. Water currents did not obstruct its passage at all, rather left it open - as made explicit by the narrative from the Sahih of al-Bukhari. The second time, when Yusha ibn Nun related this event before Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) after their long journey, it was done in the following وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ‌ عَجَبًا ، amazingly, it made its way into the sea - 63). There is no contradiction between the two, because the incidence of a tunnel forming itself into the sea was by itself an extraordinarily amazing event.

(He said) Joshua said: (Didst thou see) O Moses, (when we took refuge on the rock, and I forgot the fish) the matter of the fish (and none but Satan caused me to forget to mention it) to you, (it took its way into the waters by a marvel) it was dry land.