‘And how can you be patient with what is beyond your ‘realm of’ knowledge?’ (Kehf-18/68)

Khidr understood that Hz. Moses did not have any experience regarding his station and Khidr himself was not informed about the knowledge Hz. Moses had and the knowledge Allah imparted on him. Due to (his possession of al-ilm al-ladunni), Khidr’s station did not necessitate objecting to any of Allah’s creatures. The station of Hz. Moses and prophets, however, required them to raise objections to everything they set their eyes on – with the exception of the revelation they received – because they are prophets.

               The proof of the opinion we arrived at regarding this matter is in the expression Khidr uses about Hz. Moses: ‘And how can you be patient with what is beyond your ‘realm of’ knowledge?’ (Kehf-18/68)

Muhyiddîn Ibn ‘Arabî, Al- Futuhât al-Makkiyya, v. 2, p. 123.

              Moses (a.s.)  did not have the knowledge Khidr (a.s.) had and Khidr (a.s.) did not have the knowledge Moses (a.s.) had. Because Moses (a.s.) was given a sharia, He had to protect Allah Teâlâ’s orders and act according to Allah Teâlâ’s orders in accordance with the sharia he was given. Khidr (a.s.), on the other hand, was endowed with al-ilm al-ladunni (God-given knowledge) and He was acting according to the will of Allah Teâlâ. That is the reason why Moses (a.s.) objects to Khidr’s (a.s.) actions!..

             Because prophets are given the duty of acting according to Allah Teâlâ’s sharia and protecting Allah Teâlâ’s orders as required by sharia, they object to deeds that oppose His orders. That is what their station requires of them.

             Those who have Allah Teâlâ’s al-ilm al-ladunni consider Allah Teâlâ’s will regarding that deed or event and act in accordance with His will. 

             That is why Khidr (a.s.) said: “And I didn’t do this upon my own command”. What he meant to say was that he was following Allah Teâlâ’s orders by acting in accordance with al-ilm al-ladunni he received from Allah Teâlâ and according to Allah Teâlâ’s will regarding this matter.

             Allah (ﷻ)knows best.

Ahmet Şahin Uçar