Test of knowledge - Story of Musa (peace be upon him) with Khidr

When Moses said to his servant (Joshua): "I will not give up till I reach the confluence of two oceans, or I will journey on and on."

When they reached the confluence they forgot the fish (they had brought as food) which swiftly made its way into the sea.

When they had gone past (the confluence), Moses said to his servant: "Give me my breakfast. I am exhausted from this journey."

He said: "You see, I forgot the fish on the rock where we had stopped. Only Satan made me forget to mention this; but the wonder is the fish escaped to the sea."

Moses said: "But that is exactly what we were seeking." So they retraced their steps.

Then they found one of Our votaries, whom We had blessed and given knowledge from Us.

Moses said to him: "May I attend upon you that you may instruct me in the knowledge you have been taught of the right way?"

He said: "You will not be able to bear with me.

"How can you bear that which is beyond your comprehension?"

"You will find me patient if God wills," said Moses; "and I will not disobey you in any thing."

"If you must follow me," he said, "do not ask me any thing until I speak of it to you myself."

So they set out till they (came to the quay) and went on board a ship in which he made a hole, (and Moses said:) "You have made a hole in the boat to drown its passengers? You have done a strange thing!"

"Did I not tell you," he replied, "that you will not be able to bear with me?"

(Moses) said: "Do not hold me for having forgotten, and do not reprove me and make my task difficult."

The two went on till they came to a boy, whom he killed. Moses exclaimed: "You have killed an innocent soul who had taken no life. You have done a most abominable thing!"

He said: "Did I not tell you you will not be able to bear with me?"

Moses said: "If I ask you any thing again then do not keep me with you. You have my apology."

The two went on till they came upon some villagers, and asked the people for food, but they refused to entertain them. There they found a wall that was crumbling, which he repaired. Moses remarked: "You could have demanded wages for it if you liked."

"This is the parting of our "ways," he said. "But I will now explain the things you could not bear:

That boat belonged to poor people who used to toil on the sea. I damaged it because there was a king after them who used to seize every ship by force.

As for the boy, his parents were believers, but we feared that he would harass them with defiance and disbelief.

We hoped their Lord would give them a substitute better than him in virtue and goodness.

As for that wall, it belonged to two orphan boys of the city, and their treasure was buried under it. Their father was an upright man. So your Lord willed that on reaching the age of maturity they should dig out their treasure as a favour from their Lord. So, I did not do that of my own accord. This is the explanation of things you could not bear with patience."