Surah Al-Kahf 18:66

Musa meeting with Al-Khidr and accompanying Him

Allah tells us what Musa said to that learned man, who was Al-Khidr. He was one to whom Allah had given knowledge that He had not given to Musa, just as He had given Musa knowledge that He had not given to Al-Khidr.

(Musa said to him: "May I follow you...") This is a question phrased in gentle terms, with no sense of force or coercion. This is the manner in which the seeker of knowledge should address the scholar.

(I follow you) means, I accompany you and spend time with you.

(so that you teach me something of that knowledge which you have been taught) meaning, teach me something from that which Allah has taught you so that I may be guided by it and learn something beneficial and do righteous deeds. At this point,

(He said) meaning, Al-Khidr said to Musa,

(Verily, you will not be able to have patience with me!) meaning, `You will not be able to accompany with me when you see me doing things that go against your law, because I have knowledge from Allah that He has not taught you, and you have knowledge from Allah that He has not taught me. Each of us has responsibilities before Allah that the other does not share, and you will not be able to stay with me,'

(And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not) `For I know that you will denounce me justifiably, but I have knowledge of Allah's wisdom and the hidden interests which I can see but you cannot.'

(He said) meaning, Musa said:

(If Allah wills, you will find me patient,) with whatever I see of your affairs,

(and I will not disobey you in aught.) means, `I will not go against you in anything.' At that point, Al-Khidr, upon him be peace, set a condition:

(Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything) do not initiate any discussion of the matter,

(till I myself mention of it to you. ) meaning, `until I initiate the discussion, before you ask me about it.'

Dalam ayat ini, Allah menyatakan maksud Nabi Musa a.s. datang menemui Khidir, yaitu untuk berguru kepadanya. Nabi Musa memberi salam kepada Khidir dan berkata kepadanya, "Saya adalah Musa." Khidir bertanya, "Musa dari Bani Israil?" Musa menjawab, "Ya, benar!" Maka Khidir memberi hormat kepadanya seraya berkata, "Apa keperluanmu datang kemari?" Nabi Musa menjawab bahwa beliau datang kepadanya supaya diperkenankan mengikutinya dengan maksud agar Khidir mau mengajarkan kepadanya sebagian ilmu yang telah diajarkan Allah kepadanya, yaitu ilmu yang bermanfaat dan amal yang saleh.

Dalam ayat ini, Allah menggambarkan secara jelas sikap Nabi Musa sebagai calon murid kepada calon gurunya dengan mengajukan permintaan berupa bentuk pertanyaan. Itu berarti bahwa Nabi Musa sangat menjaga kesopanan dan merendahkan hati. Beliau menempatkan dirinya sebagai orang yang bodoh dan mohon diperkenankan mengikutinya, supaya Khidir sudi mengajarkan sebagian ilmu yang telah diberikan kepadanya. Menurut al-Qadhi, sikap demikian memang seharusnya dimiliki oleh setiap pelajar dalam mengajukan pertanyaan kepada gurunya.