97/31. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 7478 — Musa and Khadir: Seeking Knowledge
(Allah’s) Wish and Will
وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ} وَقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ}. {وَلاَ تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ}. {إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ}. قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ نَزَلَتْ فِي أَبِي طَالِبٍ. {يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ}.
Hadith About Musa and Khadir Seeking Knowledge
Sahih Bukhari : 7478
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 7478
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ، عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّهُ تَمَارَى هُوَ وَالْحُرُّ بْنُ قَيْسِ بْنِ حِصْنٍ الْفَزَارِيُّ فِي صَاحِبِ مُوسَى أَهُوَ خَضِرٌ، فَمَرَّ بِهِمَا أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، فَدَعَاهُ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي تَمَارَيْتُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي هَذَا فِي صَاحِبِ مُوسَى الَّذِي سَأَلَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى لُقِيِّهِ، هَلْ سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَذْكُرُ شَأْنَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " بَيْنَا مُوسَى فِي مَلإِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا أَعْلَمَ مِنْكَ فَقَالَ مُوسَى لاَ. فَأُوحِيَ إِلَى مُوسَى بَلَى عَبْدُنَا خَضِرٌ. فَسَأَلَ مُوسَى السَّبِيلَ إِلَى لُقِيِّهِ، فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْحُوتَ آيَةً وَقِيلَ لَهُ إِذَا فَقَدْتَ الْحُوتَ فَارْجِعْ فَإِنَّكَ سَتَلْقَاهُ. فَكَانَ مُوسَى يَتْبَعُ أَثَرَ الْحُوتِ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَقَالَ فَتَى مُوسَى لِمُوسَى أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنْسَانِيهِ إِلاَّ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ، قَالَ مُوسَى ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِي، فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا فَوَجَدَا خَضِرًا، وَكَانَ مِنْ شَأْنِهِمَا مَا قَصَّ اللَّهُ ".
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: That he differed with Al-Hurr bin Qais bin Hisn Al-Fazari about the companion of Moses, (i.e., whether he was Kha,dir or not). Ubai bin Ka`b Al-Ansari passed by them and Ibn `Abbas called him saying, 'My friend (Hur) and I have differed about Moses' Companion whom Moses asked the way to meet. Did you hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) mentioning anything about him?"Ubai said, "Yes, I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "While Moses was sitting in the company of some Israelites a man came to him and asked, 'Do you know Someone who is more learned than you (Moses)?' Moses said, 'No.' So Allah sent the Divine inspiration to Moses:-- 'Yes, Our Slave Khadir is more learned than you' Moses asked Allah how to meet him ( Khadir) So Allah made the fish as a sign for him and it was said to him, 'When you lose the fish, go back (to the place where you lose it) and you will meet him.' So Moses went on looking for the sign of the fish in the sea.The boy servant of Moses (who was accompanying him) said to him,'Do you remember (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget to tell you (about) the fish. None but Satan made me forget to tell you about it' (18.63)Moses said: 'That is what we have been seeking." Sa they went back retracing their footsteps. (18.64). So they both found Kadir (there) and then happened what Allah mentioned about them (in the Qur'an)!' (See 18.60- 82)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7478In-book reference : Book 97, Hadith 104USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 93, Hadith 570
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 7478
This hadith about Musa and Khadir focuses on seeking knowledge with effort and guidance from Allah. Ibn Abbas and Al-Hurr differed over the companion of Musa, so they asked Ubayy bin Ka‘b, who had heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) mention the story. Musa was asked if he knew anyone more learned than him, and he said no. Allah then revealed that His slave Khadir was more learned. Musa asked how to meet him, and Allah made the fish a sign. When the fish was forgotten near the rock, Musa understood that this was the place they had been seeking. The hadith shows asking, traveling, noticing signs, and returning when the sign becomes clear.
What we learn from this hadith
- When people differ, they should ask someone with knowledge.
- Seeking knowledge may require effort, travel, and patience.
- Musa followed the sign Allah gave him.
- Forgetting happened in the story, but they returned when they realized it.
