فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَـٰمًا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةًۢ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًٔا نُّكْرًا 74
Translations
So they set out, until when they met a boy, he [i.e., al-Khiḍr] killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing."
Transliteration
Fa-antalaqa hatta idha laqiya ghulaman faqatalahu qala aqatalta nafsan zakiyyatan bighairi nafsin laqad ji'ta shay'an nukra
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when Musa (Moses) witnesses al-Khidr killing an innocent young boy, causing Musa to immediately object with shock and moral outrage. Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note that Musa's reaction reflects his righteous indignation at what appears to be an unjust killing, yet this act was part of al-Khidr's divinely-inspired wisdom that would later be explained. The phrase 'zakiyyatan' (pure/innocent) and 'nukra' (abominable) emphasize the apparent heinousness of the act from a human perspective, establishing the tension that drives the narrative toward divine wisdom transcending human understanding.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of the extended narrative in Surah Al-Kahf (ayat 60-82) detailing the journey of Musa with al-Khidr, a righteous servant of Allah possessing special knowledge. This story was revealed in Mecca to console the Prophet Muhammad and teach believers about hidden divine wisdom. The context illustrates how Allah's plans may appear contradictory to human reason but serve greater purposes unknown to us.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3401): The hadith of Musa and al-Khidr narrates these same events, explaining that al-Khidr's killing of the boy was justified because the boy would have caused his parents grief and disbelief. Additionally, hadith collections emphasize patience with divine decree even when circumstances seem unjust.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that apparent injustices or incomprehensible events in life may conceal divine wisdom we cannot perceive, and that it is natural to question what seems wrong, yet we must ultimately trust in Allah's infinite knowledge and perfect judgment in all matters.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۚ وَيُجَـٰدِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِى وَمَآ أُنذِرُوا۟ هُزُوًا
And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. And those who disbelieve dispute by [using] falsehood to [attempt to] invalidate thereby the truth and have taken My verses, and that of which they are warned, in ridicule.
قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا
[He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward [i.e., Paradise].
فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِى ٱلسَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا ۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًٔا إِمْرًا
So they set out, until when they had embarked on the ship, he [i.e., al-Khiḍr] tore it open. [Moses] said, "Have you torn it open to drown its people? You have certainly done a grave thing."
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا
And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror.