Surah 18

But when they reached the junction of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it took its way through the sea as in a tunnel.

So when they had passed further on (beyond that fixed place), Mûsâ (Moses) said to his boy-servant: "Bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this, our journey."

He said: "Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock? I indeed forgot the fish; none but Shaitân (Satan) made me forget to remember it. It took its course into the sea in a strange (way)!"

[Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "That is what we have been seeking." So they went back retracing their footsteps.

Then they found one of Our slaves, on whom We had bestowed mercy from Us, and whom We had taught knowledge from Us.

Mûsâ (Moses) said to him (Khidr): "May I follow you so that you teach me something of that knowledge (guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by Allâh)?"

He (Khidr) said: "Verily you will not be able to have patience with me!

"And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not?"

Mûsâ (Moses) said: "If Allâh wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in aught."

He (Khidr) said: "Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything till I myself mention of it to you."

So they both proceeded, till, when they embarked the ship, he (Khidr) scuttled it. Mûsâ (Moses) said: "Have you scuttled it in order to drown its people? Verily, you have committed a thing "Imr" (a Munkar - evil, bad, dreadful thing)."

He (Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you, that you would not be able to have patience with me?"

[Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "Call me not to account for what I forgot,[6] and be not hard upon me for my affair (with you)."

Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy, and he (Khidr) killed him. Mûsâ (Moses) said: "Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a thing Nukr (a great Munkar - prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!"

(Khidr) said: "Did I not tell you that you can have no patience with me?"

[Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "If I ask you anything after this, keep me not in your company, you have received an excuse from me."

Then they both proceeded, till, when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khidr) set it up straight. [Mûsâ (Moses)] said: If you had wished, surely, you could have taken wages for it!"

(Khidr) said: "This is the parting between me and you, I will tell you the interpretation of (those) things over which you were unable to hold patience.

"As for the ship, it belonged to Masâkîn (poor people) working in the sea. So I wished to make a defective damage in it, as there was a king behind them who seized every ship by force.

"And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief.