The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Once the Prophet (ﷺ) Mûsa (Moses) stood up and addressed Banî Israel, He was asked, 'Who is the most learned man amongst the people '. He said, 'I am the most learned. ' Allâh admonished Mûsa (Moses) as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allâh). So Allâh inspired to him ' At the junction of the two seas there is a slave amongst my slaves who is more learned than you. ' Mûsa (Moses) said, 'O my Lord ! How can I meet him? ' Allâh said: ' Take a fish in a basket (and proceed) and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish. ' So Mûsa (Moses) set out along with his (servant) boy, Yûsha ' bin, and carried a fish in a basket till they reached a rock, where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down) and slept. The fish came out of the basket and it took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. So it was an amazing thing for both Mûsa (Moses) and his (servant) boy. They proceeded for the rest of that night and the following day. When the day broke, Mûsa (Moses) said to his (servant) boy: ' Bring us our (early) meal. No doubt, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey. ' Mûsa (Moses) did not get tired till he passed the place about which he was told. There the (servant) boy told Mûsa (Moses), 'Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock, I indeed forgot the fish. ' Mûsa (Moses) remarked, 'That is what we have been seeking '. So they went back retracing their foot-steps, till they reached the rock. There they saw a man covered with a garment (or covering himself with his own garment). Mûsa (Moses) greeted him. Al-Khidr 14 replied saying, 'How do people greet each other in your land? ' Mûsa (Moses) said, 'I am Mûsa (Moses). ' He asked, 'The Mûsa (Moses) of Banî Isrâel? Mûsa (Moses) replied in the affirmative and added, "May I follow you so that you teach me of that knowledge which you have been taught. Al-Khidr replied, 'Verily ! You will not be able to have patience with me, O Mûsa (Moses) ! I have some of the knowledge of Allâh which He has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some knowledge which Allâh has taught you which I do not know. ' Mûsa (Moses) said, 'If Allâh will, you will find me patient and I will not disobey you in aught '. So both of them set out walking along the seashore, as they did not have a boat. In the meantime a boat passed by them and they requested the (crew of the boat) to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khiḍr and took them on board without fare. Then a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice in the sea. Al-Khidr said: O Mûsa (Moses) ! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allâh's Knowledge except like the amount of water taken by this sparrow from the sea with its beak. ' Then Al-Khidr went to one of the planks of the boat and plucked it out. Mûsa (Moses) said, 'These people gave us a free lift but you have broken their boat and scuttled it so as to drown its people. ' Al-Khiḍr replied, Didn't I tell you that you will not be able to remain patient with me. ' Mûsa (Moses) said, 'Call me not to account for what I forgot. ' The first (excuse) of Mûsa (Moses) was that he had forgotten. Then they proceeded further and found a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khidr took hold of the boy's head ´from the top and plucked it out with his hands (i.e. killed him). Mûsa (Moses) said, 'Have you killed an innocent person who has killed none. ' Al-Khiḍr replied, 'Did I not tell you that you cannot remain patient with me?" Then they both proceeded till when 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 collapsing. Al-Khidr repaired it with his own hands. Mûsa (Moses) said, 'If you had wished, surely you could have taken wages for it. ' Al-Khiḍr replied, 'This is the parting between you and me." " The Prophet (ﷺ) added, May Allâh be Merciful to Mûsa (Moses) ! Would that he could have been more patient so that we could learn more about their story." [1:124-0.B.]
