English translation
122. Narrated Sa'īd bin Jubair: I said to Ibn 'Abbās, "Nauf Al-Bakālī claims that Mūsā (Moses) (the companion of Khidr) was not the Mūsā of Banī Isrāēl but he was another Mūsā." Ibn 'Abbās remarked that the enemy of Allāh (Nauf) has told a lie.(1) Narrated Ubai bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said, "Once the Prophet Mūsā (Moses) عليه السلام stood up and addressed Banī Isrāēl. He was asked, 'Who is the most learned man amongst the people.' He said, 'I am the most learned.' Allāh admonished Mūsā as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allāh). So Allāh revealed to him 'At the junction of the two seas there is a slave amongst my slaves who is more learned than you.' Mūsā said, 'O my Lord! How can I meet him?' Allāh said, 'Take a fish in a basket (and proceed) and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish.' So Mūsā set out along with his (servant) boy, Yūsha' bin Nūn and carried a fish in a basket till they reached a rock, where they laid their heads (i.e., lied down) and slept. The fish came out of the basket and it took its way into the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. So it was an amazing thing for both Mūsā and his (servant) boy. They proceeded for the rest of that night and the following day. When the day broke, Mūsā said to his (servant) boy: 'Bring us our early meal. No doubt, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey.' Mūsā did not get tired till he passed the place about which he was told. There the (servant) boy told Mūsā, 'Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock, I indeed forgot the fish.' Mūsā remarked, 'That is what we have been seeking.' So they went back retracing their foot-steps, till they reached the rock. There they saw a man covered with a garment (or covering himself with his own garment). Mūsā greeted him. Al-Khiḏr (عليه السلام) replied saying, 'How do people greet each other in your land?' Mūsā said, 'I am Mūsā.' He asked, 'The Moses of Banī Isrā'el?' Mūsā replied in the affirmative and added, 'May I follow you so that you teach me of that knowledge which you have been taught.' Al-Khiḏr replied, 'Verily! You will not be able to have patience with me, O Mūsā! I have some of the knowledge of Allāh عزوجل which He has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some knowledge which Allāh has taught you which I do not know.' Mūsā said, 'If Allāh will, you will find me patient and I will not disobey you in aught.' So, both of them set out walking along the sea-shore, as they did not have a boat. In the meantime a boat passed by them and they requested the (crew of the boat) to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khīdr and took them on board without fare. Then a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice in the sea. Al-Khīdr said: 'O Mūsā! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allāh's Knowledge except like the amount of water taken by this sparrow from the sea with its beak.' Then Al-Khīdr went to one of the planks of the boat and plucked it out. Mūsā said, 'These people gave us a free lift but you have broken their boat and scuttled it so as to drown its people.' Al-Khīdr replied, 'Didn't I tell you that you will not be able to have patience with me.' Mūsā said, 'Call me not to account for what I forgot.' The first (excuse) of Mūsā was that he had forgotten. Then they proceeded further and found a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khīdr took hold of the boy's head from the top and plucked it out with his hands (i.e. killed him). Mūsā said, 'Have you killed an innocent person who has killed none.' Al-Khīdr replied, 'Did I not tell you that you cannot have patience with me?' Then they both proceeded till when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. There they found a wall on the point of collapsing. Al-Khīdr repaired it with his own hands. Mūsā said, 'If you had wished, surely you could have taken wages for it.' Al-Khīdr replied, 'This is the parting between you and me.' The Prophet ﷺ added, "May Allāh be Merciful to Mūsā! Would that he could have been more patient to learn more about their story."