THE INNER SECRETS OF THE THREE INCIDENTS

      When the separation of the two fellow-travellers became inevitable the Divine Teacher decided to reveal the secrets of the three incidents, to Moses so as to show him that there was public and private interests in all the three events; and that, it could be a key to open many secrets and locks of knowledge for Moses and for all. He therefore began with revealing the mystery of the ship which he scuttled, saying:ِ

      ``As for the boat, it belonged to some poor people working on the sea. I intended to put a fault in it while there was a king after them taking all boats by force.''

 

      Khezr, by the Divine knowledge that he was given, knew well that the ship which worked for the benefit of a group of poor and weak people on the sea, was going to be seized by a cruel and unjust king, very soon, for some military purposes. If the king could have commandeered the boat, no resource would be left for the owners of the ship, to provide them with their means of sustenance and support of life. Therefore, by a simple act of piercing a hole at the bottom of the boat, he rendered it unserviceable, and saved it from the confiscation.

      But Moses from the nature of his duty as a prophet, objected to what Khezr did, and said to him:ِ

      ``Did you scuttle the ship to drown its crew? Verily you did something wrong and very offensive!''

      The man of God with a fair self-possession said to Moses:ِ

      ``Did I not say that you can never stay patient with me?''

      Moses felt sorry for being hasty and forgetting his promise, and begged his pardon, saying:ِ

      ``Please take me not to task for my forgetfulness, and take things a little easy for me.''

      Thus the man of God pardoned him, and they continued with their journey.

      In their way on, they met with a boy, and Khezr slew him, without seeing any fault!

      Again seeing a murder for nothing, excited Moses and he raised his voice to object:ِ

      ``What! Did you kill an innocent person who has killed no one!? You have done a very bad thing indeed!''

      Again with coolness, and in a reproaching way said the mysterious prophet of God:ِ

      ``Moses! Did I not tell you that you will never stay patient with me?''

      The second act of Khezr seemed more cruel to Moses, when he saw him to kill a boy who had not any evident guilt. Khezr had a special eye or knowledge, by which he could see the danger of blasphemy and rebellion in that boy which could result in killing his parents who were a virtuous couple who had brought the boy up with care and love.

      Any how; again Moses asked his companion to excuse him for the last time:ِ

      ``If ever I questioned you again, you may not accompany me, for having enough excuse against me.''

      Then they set out until they reached a towns folk. There, they had already spent all their provisions for their journey, and were very tired too. So they expected the towns folk's hospitality, but they proved to be utterly parsimonious a people, and even refused to give them some food! Inspite of that, they found a wall in the town, which was broken and on the point of falling down; and Khezr repaired the wall, and set it up.

      Loving and respecting guests is an Eastern custom; and therefore, Moses expected the towns folk to offer entertainment of themselves, and unasked. But in spite of their stinginess, Khezr rebuilt for them their falling wall, and asked them not any wages! Here was when Moses made his third mistake, and said to Khezr:ِ

      ``Now that they refused to give us some food, you had better taken a wage or reward for your maintenance of the wall.''

      When so, Khezr said to Moses:ِ

      ``Now is the time of separation between me and you; but I will inform you of the interpretation of what you could not bear it patiently.''

      Khezr also knew that if the wall had fallen the treasure which was buried beneath it would have been discovered by the greedy people of the town, who were eagerly desirous for wealth. But God's intention was to hand the treasure over to its real owners who were the two orphans and who would eventually become as righteous as their father.

      And thus Khezr proved to Moses that there was public and private benefits involved in all the three acts he did.

 

 

WHAT WERE THE BASIS OF THE THREE ACTS

      Islamic scholars and inquirers have put forward the argument that on what basis did Khezr performed his three actions? Was it according to the religious Law, or the universal Law of creation? Are we really permitted to put a fault in something that belongs to some one else, just to prevent some one else to seize it? Or is it lawful to slay a boy who might commit a crime in future? Or is it necessary for us to toil and work free of any charge, to protect other people's wealth and treasure?

      The jurisprudents, and those who are well versed in the religious Law, say that; when Khezr scuttled the ship, he did something less important to save something which was very important.... much more than the charge; and this sort of actions are lawful and praiseworthy in the sight and doctrine of God's religion. On the other hand; the consent and pleasure of the poor owners of the ship could have been foreseen. Therefore what Khezr did with the ship, was not wrong.

      As for the boy; the expounders of Qurän believe that he had already reached a stage of guilt and evil, so as to have been condemned to death. In other word he had been apostate, and mischief maker; so much so, that his present could be an illustration of his future.

      And as for the repair of the wall; it should not bring forward any argument, because sacrifices for the good of other people in need; is a praiseworthy act by all the religions and creeds.

      On the other hand, Allah has created the universe according to His General Plan, which is based upon certain rules and laws. Violating these laws and regulations, must have, and it really has, its own due reaction; depending on how far someone has gone astray, and howmuch has he violated the rules of creation. Therefore, the world is controlled under the dominion, and supreme authority of two orders; universal or religious. Allah may make use of both kinds of regulations, to control the events that may happen in the creation and throughout the universe.

 

 

LESSONS OF THIS NARRATION

      There are many useful lessons that the incidents of Moses and Khezr may teach us, some of which are as follows:ِ

A- Learning more and more is so important and incumbent a duty upon Man; that even, an Arch prophet like Moses goes in serrch of a teacher to teach him something new. Nerer say I have learned enough; and seek knowledge from cradle to grave.

B- Divine Knowledge has its main source in the service and worship of God. Here in these verses, Allah Has called Khezr, ``ONE OF HIS SERVANTS'' to whom He has bestowed, ``A KNOWLEDGE'' from His own presence.

C- Knowledge should accompany action, and we should not love knowledge only for knowledge.

D- man should accompany action, and we should not love knowledge only for knowledge.

 There is the English proverb that:ِ ``All things come to him who will but wait''

      And there is the Persian proverb that:ِ ``Patience is bitter but bears sweet fruit.''

E- We should not judge our affairs with their appearances only. Sometime apparent losses can be real gains:ِ

      ``....And it may be that you dislike a thing and it is good for you; and it may be that you love a thing which is bad for you. And Allah knows and you do not know.'' S 2:212

F- some children who are offensive to their parents may be condemned to have a short life for their offense.

G- both , the teacher and student, must behave politely to one another, in word as well as in deeds.