قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا 78
Translations
[Al-Khiḍr] said, "This is parting between me and you. I will inform you of the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience.
Transliteration
Qala hadha firaqu baynee wa baynaka sa-unnabbika bi ta'weeli ma lam tastati' alayhi sabra
Tafsir (Explanation)
Khidr (peace be upon him) declares the parting of ways between himself and Musa (peace be upon him), and announces that he will now explain the hidden wisdom behind the three seemingly troubling actions that Musa could not patiently endure: the drilling of the ship, the killing of the boy, and the rebuilding of the wall. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this marks the conclusion of their journey and Khidr's fulfillment of his promise to reveal the true meanings ('ta'weel') behind actions that appeared contradictory to divine law but were performed under divine instruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the story of Musa's journey with Khidr, which occupies verses 60-82 of Surah Al-Kahf. The narrative illustrates the limits of human knowledge and the importance of humility before divine wisdom. This Meccan surah was revealed to provide comfort to the Prophet Muhammad and believers during persecution, teaching reliance on Allah's hidden wisdom even when circumstances seem incomprehensible.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3401): The Prophet Muhammad praised Musa for his patience, saying if he had been patient, more of Khidr's knowledge would have been revealed to him. The hadith emphasizes that Musa's impatience, though understandable, prevented him from witnessing the complete explanation and remaining with Khidr longer.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that apparent harm or wrongdoing may conceal divine wisdom and mercy that we cannot perceive, encouraging believers to trust in Allah's plan even when they cannot immediately understand His actions. It reminds us that impatience and judgment without complete knowledge can prevent us from receiving greater understanding and blessings.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَتَرَى ٱلشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَٰوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِى فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا
And [had you been present], you would see the sun when it rose, inclining away from their cave on the right, and when it set, passing away from them on the left, while they were [lying] within an open space thereof. That was from the signs of Allāh. He whom Allāh guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray - never will you find for him a protecting guide.
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone."
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَٱرْتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا
[Moses] said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their footprints.
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَـٰلًا
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Shall we [believers] inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds?