قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا 70
Translations
He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention [i.e., explanation]."
Transliteration
Qala fa-in ittaba'tani fa-la tas'alni 'an shay'in hatta uhditsa laka minhu dhikra
Tafsir (Explanation)
Khidr (the wise servant) lays down a condition for Musa (Moses) to follow him: that Musa must not question him about anything until Khidr himself provides an explanation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this condition was essential because Khidr possessed divinely-inspired knowledge ('ilm ladunni) of matters that would appear contradictory to ordinary understanding, and premature questioning would prevent Musa from benefiting from the lessons. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this teaches the importance of patience, trust, and withholding judgment before understanding the full wisdom behind apparent contradictions.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the story of Musa and Khidr (18:60-82), one of the most detailed narratives in the Quran. The broader context shows Musa's journey to meet a servant of Allah possessing special knowledge. This section specifically records Khidr's condition when Musa requests to accompany him, establishing the framework for the subsequent trials that test Musa's patience and faith.
Related Hadiths
The story of Musa and Khidr is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 74) where the Prophet Muhammad mentioned that this was among the greatest stories of patience and seeking knowledge. Additionally, hadiths emphasizing the virtue of patience (sabr) relate thematically to Musa's challenge to accept Khidr's actions without immediate questioning.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true learning sometimes requires patient trust and submission to those with greater knowledge, and that we should refrain from hasty judgments about events or decisions we don't fully understand. It reminds modern believers that apparent contradictions in divine wisdom often conceal deeper purposes that will be revealed in due time.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَـٰلِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ أَحَدًۢا
Say, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِى ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا
And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."
قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَٱرْتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا
[Moses] said, "That is what we were seeking." So they returned, following their footprints.
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.