Al-Khidr
or "the Green Man" has a disputed
status amongst scholars; some say he's
a Saint while others say he's a Prophet
in Islam. He is assumed to be referred
to in Qur'an sura Al-Kahf (18:66), in
an encounter with Moses, where Moses,
the Biblical prophet, meets him and asks
Al-Khidr to allow him to accompany him
so Moses can learn from Al-Khidr's knowledge.
Al-Khidr, realizing that Moses had the
Torah and divine knowledge to draw upon,
informed him in a stern manner that their
knowledge is of different nature and that
Moses wouldn't bear to observe him without
asking questions. Moses promised to be
patient and they agreed to travel together.
Al-Khidr performs his first action, after
he and Moses board a ship, Al-Khidr remains
behind and damages the ship, rendering
it unsafe for use. Disregarding his oath
to follow quietly, Moses criticizes this
behavior and Al-Khidr replies that criticizing
him is a violation of the oath. Moses,
eager to learn from the wise man, apologizes.
The
second act was Al-Khidr murdering a child.
Moses, in anger, violates his oath again.
As with the sabotage of the ship, they
argue and Moses apologizes for violating
his oath. This time Al-Khidr warns Moses
that he has only one chance left as his
patience is wearing thin. The last act
was Al-Khidr restoring a damaged wall
in a village where they were denied hospitality.
Amazed by his companion's reaction to
the ill-treatment they received in the
village, Moses violates his oath for the
third and last time. Al-Khidr exposed
to Moses two facts simultaneously, first
that Moses' knowledge is limited and that
many acts which seem to be evil, malicious
or somber hide some of God's mercy and
design, a concept Sufis are adept at recognizing.
Sufis hold Al-Khidr in high esteem. As
they are about to part ways, Al-Khidr
explains that even though the ship's owners
will not be pleased with their damaged
ship, the blessing will manifest itself
when the local king confiscates all ships
fit to wage war, leaving behind the damaged
ships.
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