Musa And Khidir: Unveiling Divine Wisdom In Our Trials

The Story of Musa and Khidir: Finding Wisdom in Difficulty

And after finding him, then he asked him, can I follow you so that I may learn from that, some of that which Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has taught you. Initially Khidir عليه السلام told him that you're not gonna be able to be patient with me. You won't be able to understand what is happening.

Musa عليه السلام had ilm of wahi — he was granted this divine knowledge from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And Khidir عليه السلام had a different type of knowledge. He had knowledge pertaining to the works of the universe.

Insight as to why certain things happen, and when certain things happen, and the reasons behind them. Such a thing that the ulema refer to as ilmul kawn — knowledge pertaining to the universe. This is aspects of the ghayb, which other creatures like the angels are aware of, as they help out when it comes to these things.

Nonetheless, Musa عليه السلام told him that inshallah you will find me to be amongst those who are patient, and I will tolerate anything, and I will not speak out. So as they proceeded, the first thing which they encountered was a ship. They encountered a river, a body of water that they had to cross through.

And they found the help of certain individuals that had a boat. And they offered to take them across this body of water, free of charge. And as payment, it just so happened that Khidir عليه السلام decided to puncture the boat.

When he punctured the boat, then Musa عليه السلام had to speak up, and he did speak up. And he said, how can you do such a thing? That they were so kind, they allowed us, they in fact helped us and assisted us to cross through this body of water. And as a payment you decided to puncture their boat.

Now put yourself in the perspective of those individuals who owned the boat. Imagine, you may have just given a ride to someone, perhaps you saw someone who was in need, or someone who reached out to you, maybe a relative, maybe a close friend. And you took them to their destination free of charge. You didn't even charge them for gas money. And what they did later on is they keyed your car. Or they did something offensive in a manner that they damaged your car.

Imagine how you would feel. You would be extremely let down. And this is such a thing that happens to many of us — that we are faced with different calamities every single day, every week.

Mankind Is Created in Difficulty

This is the nature of mankind:

That mankind will always be going through some difficulty or another. Every person is going to be sent a test which is fashioned to their ability, with regards to their threshold of difficulty that they can endure, that they can deal with, and that they can successfully pass.

We as Muslims understand that no matter what test comes our way — may Allah protect us from tests, and may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us husn al-tawfiq to remain steadfast — but as a Muslim we understand, no matter what test, no matter what difficulty comes our way, regardless of what it may be, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has promised us: it is not something that we cannot deal with. It is not something that it is impossible to bear, and to come out successful, having attained the reward of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for exercising patience at that time.

So imagine these people and what difficulty they went through. Their vehicle has been destroyed. How are we going to now cross the river? How are we going to carry out our livelihood? How are we going to secure our livelihood? How are we going to fend for ourselves? Our means of livelihood, our means of transportation, it has been damaged, we can no longer move anywhere.

The Second Incident: The Young Boy

They continued on along the way. After Khidir عليه السلام reprimanded Musa عليه السلام, he told him, didn't I tell you that you're not supposed to ask me about anything? So then Musa عليه السلام replied that this is a once-off — don't hold me accountable to something which I forgot. In other words, I will do my best again to remain patient. And they continued.

They continued along the way until they eventually encountered a young boy.

They met a young boy, and then all of a sudden, Khidir عليه السلام took the life of that child. He killed the child. Then Musa عليه السلام, again, he couldn't hold himself — of course, this was something which was shara'an wrong that was taking place. So he spoke out:

Did you kill someone not in exchange for another life, not because of a crime that he committed? You just killed him — cold-blooded murder. Then certainly this is such a terrible, grievous act.

Khidir عليه السلام again told him:

Didn't I tell you that you're not gonna be able to be patient? You're going to definitely comment. Again, put yourself in the position of those parents. There are certain couples that try for many years to have children, but Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, for some reason or another, does not bless them with children. There are certain couples, and of course, it's an extremely difficult thing that no one can truly understand except the couple that is going through that. You don't understand the difficulty that they would experience.

Again, all the other young children, the bundles of joy that they see — because at that time you'll only see the greener grass on the other side. They don't see all the difficulties, but they just look at that, and that's all they want, that's all they aspire for. And there are certain people who Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, after a very long time, grants children to. And then imagine those parents, if anything were to happen to that child, after years and years of begging Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and then experiencing a difficulty where the child's life is taken. Can you put yourself in the situation of those people? They had such a child that they adore, that they love so much, and their child was killed in cold-blooded murder. Imagine what feelings were going through their heart. We can't really imagine, unless it's happened to one of us. May Allah protect all of us.

So nonetheless, Musa عليه السلام promised Khidir and told him, okay, this is the last chance:

If I ask you about anything else, then we will part ways. That's it.

The Third Incident: The Wall

Then they continued, and they came across a town where they asked the people of the town for food to host them. You have to remember at that particular time, there were no such things as inns and hotels. It was very difficult; any person that was traveling wasn't able to really secure many provisions with them along the way. So it was expected from the people that normally when a wayfarer comes, a traveler comes, you would host them.

So nonetheless, they asked them for food, and what response did they get? The doors were smashed in their face. Get away from us. And as a payment, Khidir عليه السلام saw that there was a wall which was crumbling, and he decided to fix that wall. He decided to repair that wall. Musa عليه السلام, eventually not understanding what was happening, again spoke out. You could have done it for some sort of payment. We could have at least gotten some money, and we could have used that money to buy food, to seek shelter. You could have gotten this from the people of this community, but instead you just built the wall and repaired it free of charge. This doesn't make any sense.

The Wisdom Behind Each Trial

Eventually, Khidir عليه السلام informed Musa عليه السلام about all the various different things that happened. And he mentioned, don't you know — when it came to the boat:

It belonged to people who, yes, they were poor, and this was the way that they secured their livelihood. But I intentionally punctured it and damaged it, because there was a king behind them that was coming, and he was usurping every suitable boat that was found in that body of water. Outwardly, it seemed like such a terrible calamity. But in the knowledge of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, it was actually, through the divine wisdom of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, a way of looking after that group of individuals — looking after those poor people who did such a wonderful act of kindness to Musa عليه السلام and Khidir عليه السلام.

Outwardly, it was such a terrible difficulty, but in the knowledge of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, there was so much khair, there was so much aafiyah behind that act of difficulty. Sometimes we may not realize — our car may be damaged, or any other item that we possess may be damaged. We may be extremely distraught, extremely saddened and grieved. But as a Muslim we will understand, especially if we are living such lives with the obedience of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, trying always to please our Creator, that this has to be some sort of test, there has to be some sort of goodness behind this. There has to be some wisdom, some khair that I can derive from this.

It is very likely — Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentions in the Qur'an — that you may dislike something, but in reality there is so much good for you behind it.

There are various different tests that we are faced with all the time. We may be extremely grieved by those tests. But if our relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is solid, if we know that we are doing our absolute best to please our Creator, and we know that whenever we slip up we do our best to make istighfar and reconnect with our Creator, then there has to be some sort of khair, there has to be some sort of barakah, some goodness that is the result of this outwardly seemingly difficult situation. It is actually a ni'mah in disguise, a favor from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in disguise.

Similarly, a person who loses children or may not even be blessed with children — Khidir عليه السلام informed Musa عليه السلام that you don't realize: these people, if that boy was to live, he would actually have led them astray, they would have died as disbelievers, their faith would have been at stake. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala intended to replace them with a far better child that was more pure, that would result in much more bliss, and safety, and happiness for them as a couple.

Sometimes a person may be extremely grieved, but they may not realize — maybe there is khair, maybe as a couple we won't be able to look after that child. Maybe that child will actually, instead of being a coolness for our eyes, be a means of ultimate distress and grief for us. Perhaps that child could result in destruction in this world and the hereafter. We don't know. But if we are living righteous lives, doing our best to obey Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, there has to be, there absolutely has to be some sort of barakah, some sort of khair.

Similarly, when it came to the wall, it was for children whose father had passed away, and that father was such that he had a wonderful relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala:

In the Qur'an it is explicitly mentioned: the father was righteous. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala looked after the family of that individual even after he passed away.

A Story to Remember: The Cake

To end off, I would like to just share a story, one that we can inshallah relate to and one that we can inshallah keep in our minds. On one occasion there was this one young girl and she was complaining to her mother. And when she was complaining to her mother, she was telling her, everything in my life is going wrong. I am failing in school, in my math test I'm doing terrible, and now my best friend just also left my school, and I'm just facing difficulty upon difficulty. It feels as though my world is caving in on itself and it's crumbling down in pieces.

So the mother, she was making a cake, and she asked the child, you know what, why don't I give you a snack? So the child said, oh, I would love, I always love your cakes. So the mother said, here, why don't you take some vegetable oil? So the daughter was like, ew, what am I supposed to do with this oil? So the mother said, here, why don't you take these raw eggs? She took the raw eggs, she was like, how am I supposed to eat this? That's disgusting. Okay, why don't you take the baking soda? Similar response. How am I supposed to benefit from this? This is disgusting. How can anyone consume this and be happy?

So the mother said: all of these difficulties that you are facing are like different ingredients to the cake. That yes, independently, they may seem like difficult things that are happening to you. But if you put all of them together, and you give it a little bit of time, then all of these seemingly gross ingredients will now become such a wonderful, delicious cake.

Similarly, all the difficulties that a person is faced with — if he perseveres, if he maintains his connection with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala — there absolutely has to be some benefit that will come out of it. It will be such a wonderful, beautiful cake, such a wonderful picture that we can all benefit from.

If a person remains patient, many a time you would have faced a difficulty, and then you will ponder about what happened, and why did it happen, and what was the hikmah behind it. Sometimes you may not understand what the hikmah was. But then after a few years, after some time, there will be many such incidents where when you reflect on them, you'll realize subhanAllah, how much khair, how much barakah actually came out of that.

Du'a and Closing

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us all the ability to remain positive in our lives. May Allah not test us with any difficult test that we are not able to pass. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make it such that He doesn't test us with anything. And if He gives us any test, He tests us with a test of shukr. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant us all the ability to always be in a positive mindset.

Announcements

All of the students are requested to join and participate — students whether they're in high school, college, or at the madrasa as well.

We also have our annual winter intensive coming up: Paths of Piety — Evolution of the Four Madhabs and Contemporary Approaches to Fiqh. There will be separate sessions for kids and youth. You can sign up today at masjiddeas.org. It will be taking place on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, December 20th through the 22nd.

We also have various different weekly programs:

Every Monday night — a special podcast-style conversation with Mufti Azeem Uddin, hafidhahullah, along with a co-host.

Every Tuesday — our Deep Dive Communities and our Deep Dive into Tafseer.

Every Thursday — a program on Shama'il Muhammadiyya for brothers and sisters.

We also have a weekly team Fajr program taking place tomorrow.

For sisters, there are many programs including Riyad al-Saliheen, part-time hifz, Tafseer on Wednesdays 2–3pm, and a bi-weekly Seerah series on Sundays. The next session will be this Sunday, November 9th from 12 to 1:40pm.

Helping Hand is organizing a clothing and blanket drive for Pakistan food relief. The drive will take place on Saturday, November 8th from 11am to 3pm at Dar es Salaam.

Du'a Requests

One of our community members, Brother Adam, his cousin Yusuf had a stroke and is currently in recovery. Let us all keep him in our du'as, that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala remove his pain and restore his vision completely.

Farooq Khan is also in the hospital. Dr. Khalid is sick with various heart issues. Additionally, there is a request for du'a of maghfirah for Sister Imtiaz Begum, the wife of Sayyid Raziuddin.

And let us not forget all of the brothers and sisters that are suffering throughout the world — whether it be in Gaza, whether it be in Sudan, whether it be in China, wherever it may be. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala alleviate their difficulties. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant them all shifa. And may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala rid them of their oppressors. May Allah heal our sick and the sick of the Muslims, have mercy on our dead and the dead of the Muslims.