قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا 67
Translations
He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.
Transliteration
Qāla innaka lan tastaṭīʿa maʿī ṣabran
Tafsir (Explanation)
Khiḍr (the wise man) tells Mūsā (Moses) that he will not be able to maintain patience while accompanying him, as the forthcoming events will test his resolve beyond his capacity. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubī, this statement establishes the condition that Mūsā must observe silence and refrain from questioning the seemingly inexplicable actions Khiḍr will perform. The ayah emphasizes the limitation of human patience when confronted with divine wisdom that transcends ordinary understanding.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Mūsā's journey with Khiḍr, a servant of Allāh possessing special knowledge. The context is Mūsā's request to follow Khiḍr to learn from him, and Khiḍr's warning that Mūsā will witness actions that will challenge his comprehension and patience. This dialogue serves as a profound lesson about accepting divine wisdom even when human reason cannot immediately grasp it.
Related Hadiths
The incident of Mūsā and Khiḍr is referenced in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (3401) where the Prophet (ﷺ) states that Mūsā failed to maintain patience and questioned Khiḍr's actions, thus violating the condition set before him. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Mājah contains traditions emphasizing the virtue of patience in seeking knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that acquiring knowledge often requires patience and restraint from hasty judgment, especially when divine wisdom appears to contradict human logic. It reminds us that true understanding sometimes demands we accept what we cannot immediately comprehend, trusting in Allāh's infinite wisdom over our limited perception.