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
ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
Then he followed a way
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone."
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].
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا۟ يُغَاثُوا۟ بِمَآءٍ كَٱلْمُهْلِ يَشْوِى ٱلْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ ٱلشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place.