The Journey of Prophet Moses and Khidr

Moses was one of the great prophets of God. One day he thought to himself, "I wonder, is there anyone who knows more than I do?" God told him that, where the two seas meet, there was a servant of His who had been given a different kind of knowledge. This servant's name was Khidr.

After a long journey Moses found Khidr. "Will you teach me some of the knowledge you have been given?" he asked. Khidr said, "You will not be able to be patient with me. You will not understand some of the things you see." Moses said, "God willing, I will be patient and I will not go against you." Khidr set one condition: "Do not ask me anything until I tell you."

First they boarded a boat. The owners of the boat carried them without asking for payment. But Khidr pulled out one of the boat's planks and made a small hole! Moses could not hold back: "Why are you making a hole in the boat of people who were kind to us?" Khidr said, "Didn't I tell you that you would not be able to be patient?" Moses apologised.

Then they came to a village. They were hungry, but the villagers would not give them food. At the edge of the village there was an old wall that was about to fall down. Khidr rebuilt that wall stone by stone and made it strong. Again Moses could not hold back: "They would not even give us food; you could have asked to be paid for this."

Khidr said, "This is where we part. But let me tell you the wisdom behind the things you could not be patient with." The boat belonged to poor people. Further on there was a cruel king who seized every sound boat. With a small hole in it, the king thought the boat was damaged and did not take it; the poor people did not lose their boat. As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan children. Under the wall was a treasure their father had left them. If the wall had fallen, the treasure would have been exposed and lost. When the children grew up, they would find their treasure.

Moses learned a great deal: everything may have a wisdom that is not understood at once.

This story tells us: being patient means not judging right away. Behind something that looks bad, a kindness may be hidden. And no matter how great our knowledge, learning never ends.