He asked him if he could accompany him so as to gain knowledge and to learn. He asked in a very polite way so that his request would not be refused.
(Moses said to him, “May I follow you, provided that you teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?”) (Al-Kahf 18:66)
Meaning: To teach me what Allah the Almighty has taught you of guidance, so that I will be rightly guided to the truth.
Al-Khidr replied with what Allah the Almighty had told him about: He said, “You certainly cannot be patient ˹enough˺ with me” He meant: You will see things that you will not accept, or you will not remain patient without commenting on what you will see, because you do not know the wisdom behind the acts.
That is the saying of the Most High: “And how can you be patient with what is beyond your ˹realm of˺ knowledge?”: You have no idea about those things, and there is no time to explain the wisdom for it; because it must be done immediately, and al-Khird cannot leave them undone. As a result, Moses would be annoyed and could not remain patient about them. Therefore, al-Khidr stipulated that he had to ask no question about the wisdom behind them until al-Khidr was the one who spoke about it.
“He responded, “Then if you follow me, do not question me about anything until I ˹myself˺ clarify it for you.” (Al-Kahf 18:70)
Moses answered him, having determined on the journey to seek knowledge, no matter the cost, “You will find me patient, Allah willing, and I will not disobey any of your orders.” (Al-Kahf 18:69) Meaning: I will do what you command me, even if it is against what I love and desire.
(Moses said to him, “May I follow you, provided that you teach me some of the right guidance you have been taught?”) (Al-Kahf 18:66)
It was a journey meant to acquire knowledge. Al-Khidr told Moses that he could accompany him, and he had to be patient, but he would not be able to remain patient on the matters he had no knowledge of.
طلب موسى أن يتابع الخضر بقصد التعلم منه فقال له: على وجه الاستعطاف والأدب لئلا يرفض الخضر الطلب:
“هل أتبعك على أن تعلمني مما علمت رشداً” (الكهف 18: 66)
أي مما علمك الله من الرشد والهدى ما يدُلني على الحق وتحصل لي به هداية.
فأجابه الخضر بما أخبر الله تعالى عنه: “قال إنك لن تستطيع معي صبراً” أي إنك سترى أمورًا لن توافق عليها، أو تصبر على فعلها دون تعليق؛ لأنك لا تعرف حكمتها
وذلك قوله تعالى:” وكيف تصبر على ما لم تحط به خبراً “-أي ما لم تحط به علما-، ولا وقت لشرح الحكمة منها؛ لأنها لا بد أن تفعل فورًا، ولا يمكن للخضر تركها، فنتيجة ذلك أن يتضايق موسى ولا يطيق الصبر. ولذلك اشترط عليه الخضر ألا يسأل عن الحكمة حتى يكون الخضر هو الذي يتحدث عنها.
قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا ”. (الكهف 18: 70)
أجابه موسى وقد صمم على الرحلة لطلب العلم مهما كلفه الثمن فقال: “ستجدني إن شاء الله صابراً ولا أعصي لك أمراً” أي سأنتهي إلى ما تأمرني وإن لم يكن موافقاً لما أحب وأهوى.
(قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا)
الكهف 18: 66
وكانت هذه الرحلة مصممة حتى يتم التعلم. قال له الخضر أنه ممكن أن يتبعه موسى عليه السلام ولكن عليه أن يكون صبورا و لكنه لن يكون صبورا بالأشياء التي لا علم له بها.