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 82
Translations
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."
Transliteration
Wa-amma al-jidaru fa-kana li-ghulameyn yatimeyn fi al-madinah wa-kana tahtuhu kanzun lahuma wa-kana abuhumа saliha fa-arada rabbuka an yablugha ashiddahuma wa-yastakhrijа kanzahuma rahmatan min rabbik wa-ma fa'altuhu 'an amri dhalik ta'wil ma lam tasit' 'alayhi sabra
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes Khidr's explanation of the third and final act—repairing the wall for two orphan boys in the city. The wall concealed a treasure beneath it that belonged to the orphans, whose righteous father had left it for them. Khidr's actions were divinely ordained to preserve their inheritance until they reached maturity and could extract it themselves, demonstrating that Allah's wisdom sometimes operates through seemingly inexplicable means. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this illustrates Allah's perfect knowledge and mercy, where apparent harm contains hidden benefit.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the longer narrative of Musa and Khidr (18:60-82), revealed in Mecca. The entire story serves to teach believers about divine wisdom that transcends human comprehension. The three acts performed by Khidr—damaging the ship, killing the boy, and repairing the wall—each contained wisdom that was only revealed at the end, illustrating the importance of patience and trust in Allah's plan.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3401): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding this story: 'We wished that Musa had been more patient so that more of this knowledge would have been narrated to us.' This hadith emphasizes the virtue of patience (sabr) in understanding divine wisdom.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that apparent adversity or unclear divine actions may contain profound wisdom and mercy that only becomes evident with time and maturity. Believers should cultivate patience and trust in Allah's providence, recognizing that events seemingly harmful may actually be protective blessings in disguise.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا
[They are] those whose effort is lost in worldly life, while they think that they are doing well in work."
وَوُضِعَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ فَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَـٰوَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّآ أَحْصَىٰهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا۟ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.
وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِۦ خُبْرًا
And how can you have patience for what you do not encompass in knowledge?"
فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَـٰمًا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةًۢ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًٔا نُّكْرًا
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."