قَالَ لَهُۥ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا 66
Translations
Moses said to him, "May I follow you on [the condition] that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgement?"
Transliteration
Qala lahu Musa hal attabi'uka 'ala an tu'allimani mimma 'ullimta rushda
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) asks Al-Khidr for permission to follow him so that he may be taught some of the divine wisdom and right guidance (rushd) that Al-Khidr has been blessed with. This represents Musa's humility and eagerness to acquire knowledge from someone whom Allah has granted special understanding, despite Musa's own high station as a prophet. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this demonstrates the permissibility of seeking knowledge from the knowledgeable, and that even prophets recognize the value of learning from those with special expertise granted by Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Al-Kahf (18:60-82), which describes the journey of Prophet Musa and his young companion Yusha' (Joshua) in search of the meeting point of two seas, where they encounter Al-Khidr, a servant of Allah with special knowledge. The broader context illustrates the nature of divine knowledge that transcends ordinary human understanding and the importance of patience and humility in seeking wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (Kitab al-'Ilm) emphasizes the virtue of seeking knowledge: 'Whoever travels a path seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him a path to Paradise.' Additionally, the general hadith about the excellence of 'Ulama (scholars) relates to the principle of learning from the knowledgeable illustrated in this passage.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us the virtue of intellectual humility and the importance of seeking knowledge from those blessed with wisdom, regardless of our own station. It reminds believers that continuous learning and remaining a student before those with greater knowledge is a path to spiritual growth and divine closeness.