فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا 65
Translations
And they found a servant from among Our servants [i.e., al-Khiḍr] to whom We had given mercy from Us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.
Transliteration
Fawajada abdan min ibadina ataynahu rahmatan min indina wa allamahu min ladunna ilma
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Musa's (Moses) encounter with Khidr, a servant of Allah whom He had blessed with mercy and special knowledge directly from His presence. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this 'ilm (knowledge) refers to divine wisdom and understanding of hidden matters that Allah grants to certain of His servants beyond ordinary human knowledge. The ayah emphasizes that true knowledge and wisdom are divine gifts, not merely acquired through conventional learning, setting the stage for Musa's request to accompany Khidr for instruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Story of Musa and Khidr (18:60-82), which was revealed in Mecca to provide comfort to the Prophet Muhammad and the believers during persecution. The narrative illustrates how divine wisdom sometimes appears contradictory to human understanding, teaching patience and trust in Allah's ultimate knowledge and plan.
Related Hadiths
The encounter between Musa and Khidr is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari (Book of Prophets) where the Prophet Muhammad himself explains parts of this story. Additionally, hadiths about seeking knowledge emphasize that 'the best of knowledge is that which benefits,' reflecting the theme of divine wisdom presented here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that true wisdom and understanding come from Allah's grace, not merely from worldly education, and that we should humbly seek guidance from those whom Allah has blessed with spiritual knowledge. It teaches that sometimes our limited understanding cannot comprehend divine wisdom, encouraging us to trust in Allah's infinite knowledge and hidden purposes.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيمٌ
And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy... and because Allāh is Accepting of Repentance and Wise.
وَٱدْخُلِى جَنَّتِى
And enter My Paradise."
تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ
The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزَكِّى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allāh purifies whom He wills, and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.