Reading outline · Narrative
Musa and the knowledgeable servant
Musa and his young companion travel to the meeting of two seas. They encounter a servant granted knowledge and mercy.
This outline follows the main passages. Open each reading to follow the story in full.
In this outline
The meeting
Musa and his young companion travel to the meeting of two seas. They encounter a servant granted knowledge and mercy.
And when Moses said unto his servant: I will not give up until I reach the point where the two rivers meet, though I march on for ages. And when they reached the point where the two met, they forgot their fish, and it took its way into …
Three troubling acts
The journey includes damage to a boat, the death of a boy and repair of a wall. Musa repeatedly questions what he sees.
So they twain set out till, when they were in the ship, he made a hole therein. (Moses) said: Hast thou made a hole therein to drown the folk thereof? Thou verily hast done a dreadful thing. He said: Did I not tell thee that thou couldst not …
The explanations
The companion explains the acts before parting. This passage does not give him the name al-Khidr.
He said: This is the parting between thee and me! I will announce unto thee the interpretation of that thou couldst not bear with patience. As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working on the river, and I wished to mar it, for there was a …
Sources & reading notes
Introductions and explanations are editorial writing. Quoted text retains its named edition; selections may be shortened with an ellipsis.
The meeting. Editorial summary of the cited text; narrative setting is not independent historical confirmation. Source ↗
Three troubling acts. Editorial summary of the cited text; narrative setting is not independent historical confirmation. Source ↗
The explanations. Editorial summary of the cited text; narrative setting is not independent historical confirmation. Source ↗
Original scene outline
The meeting
Musa and his young companion travel to the meeting of two seas. They encounter a servant granted knowledge and mercy.
Three troubling acts
The journey includes damage to a boat, the death of a boy and repair of a wall. Musa repeatedly questions what he sees.
The explanations
The companion explains the acts before parting. This passage does not give him the name al-Khidr.