Prophet Musa meets Al-Khizir

INTRODUCTION

Narrator: In the last episode (See Play: Prophet Musa) we saw how prophet Musa brought the message of Allah to Firaun and by the command of Allah requested the freedom of the Israelites. The time finally came when Allah commanded Musa to lead his followers out of Egypt. We all know the miracle of the splitting of the sea and how Firaun and all his army were crushed and drowned in the ragging sea.

Prophet Musa guided his people through the desert after their escape from Firaun. It was during this journey that he spent forty nights on the top of Mount Sinai and Allah revealed His law and gave him the tablets of stone inscribed with divine rules. This was the Torah the Holy Book of the Children of Israel. During the long journey to the Promised Land Prophet Musa was inspired with knowledge from Allah, this wisdom did not comprehend everything.

Today, even if we were to gather all our knowledge, sciences, arts, literature etc and if it were to be instilled in one individual, it would still not be complete. Divine knowledge as far as man is concerned is unlimited, and sometimes it is hard for us to understand divine instructions and actions. Even after Prophet Musa received his divine mission of prophethood, his knowledge was not absolute and Allah told him that there is a righteous servant who knows more and Musa asked Allah to let him meet this person.

Allah fulfilled his request and made him meet this person. This person was Prophet Al-Khizir. Al-Khizir was a divine messenger who invited people to the oneness of Allah, prophethood of messengers and heavenly books. Al-Khizir literally means 'Green' and he was called this as one of this signs is that on whatever dry wood or hard earth he sat on would vegetate and grow.

SCENE 1: Musa's Search for Al-Khizr

Narrator: In this scene we shall see how Prophet Musa was ordered by Allah to go in search of Khizir. He was to take some fish with him. The place where he was to meet his mysterious teacher the fish would disappear.

Musa: Have you gathered all the things we need for our journey?

Companion: Yes it is all in here.

Musa: Now you must remember to watch the fish. The Lord has revealed to me that I will meet His divine messenger when the fish disappears.

(walk off stage round the pillars and back on stage)

Musa: We have travelled a long way. I think we should rest. Is fish still there.

Companion: Oh no......I forgot to tell you Musa, it slipped back into the water further back from where we have come.

Musa: Very well we shall return to that place, come now let us hurry.

(Musa and companion off stage)

Voice: So they found one of our servants on whom we have bestowed mercy from ourselves and whom we had taught knowledge from our own presence' (18:65)

SCENE 2: Musa Travels with Al-Khizir

Narrator: The fish represents our secular knowledge, which merges itself in divine knowledge at the point where the human intelligence is ready for the junction of the two. When Musa came to the junction of the seas and the fish disappeared he found a man in prayer. This was the man Allah had ordained for him to meet. We shall now see what unfolds as Musa finally meets Al-Khizir.

Musa: May I follow you, on the condition that you teach me right knowledge of what you have been taught?

Khizir: surely you will not have patience with me. How can you have patience in that which you have not got comprehensive knowledge? You may not understand my actions as you will not have the knowledge of the reasons of my actions.

Musa: if Allah pleases, you will find me patient and I shall not disobey you in any matter.

Khizir: if you follow me do not question me about anything until I myself speak to you about it. Come in to the boat with me.

(P. Khizir makes a hole in the boat)

Musa: have you made a hole in the boat to drown its passengers? Certainly you have done a grievous thing

Khizir: did I not say that you were not be able to have patience with me.

Musa: forgive me, for I forgot.

(A boy comes on the stage. They get out of the boat and walk towards the boy. Khizir then kills the boy.)

Musa: you have murdered an innocent person. Certainly you have done an evil thing.

Khizir: did I not say, you will not be able to have patience with me.

Musa: Forgive me, if I ask you anything after this you may leave me.

Khizir: lets now go to Basra. Its not far

(They walk towards a broken wall.)

Khizir: this wall is broken, I shall mend it.

(He mends the wall.)

Musa: why did you mend this wall when the people of this town were not helpful to us when we requested food?

Khizir: O Musa it is time for us to part, before you go let me explain the significance of the 3 incidence for which you had no patience. As for the boat, it belonged to a poor man. I damaged it because the king was going to seize all the good boats, this minor damage could be repaired by the poor man and be able to maintain his livelihood. As for the boy, he was disobedient and ungrateful to his parents who were believers. Instead, Allah will now bless them with an obedient child. The wall in Basra, it belonged to 2 young orphan boys. Beneath it was a treasure belonging to their righteous father, so the lord desired that when the boys reached maturity they would find the treasure.

(Musa leaves the stage.)

Narrator: Musa returned to his people, he preached to them and taught them what he had learnt. The servant of Allah- Al-Khizir- had taught Prophet Musa 2 things. Firstly that no person could have full knowledge of everything even among Allah's Messengers. Only Allah has all the knowledge of the universe and heavens and secondly that most of the catastrophes that occur on earth are concealed blessings from Allah. Surely Allah is the most merciful.

There are paradoxes in life, where apparent loss may really be a gain, apparent cruelty may be real mercy (being cruel to be kind). God's wisdom is way beyond basic human understanding! Man's limited knowledge and his inability to see into the future cause him to feel great concern over what he thinks are tragedies. The true believer would never lose heart at such losses, for he would know that the beneficent hand of Allah, that works nature, unceasingly directs humanity toward the goal of greatest good.