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
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَـٰنًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth exposed, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِىَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوٓا۟ إِذًا أَبَدًا
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever.
ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا
Bring me bars of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper."