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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds.
وَأَمَّا ٱلْغُلَـٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَـٰنًا وَكُفْرًا
And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.
۞ 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.
قَالَ لَهُۥ صَاحِبُهُۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَكَفَرْتَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰكَ رَجُلًا
His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?