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.
Related Ayahs
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَـٰنًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلًا
Wherein they abide eternally. They will not desire from it any transfer.
وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّى لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا
And I do not think the Hour will occur. And even if I should be brought back to my Lord, I will surely find better than this as a return."
وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَرْضًا
And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, on display -