• One of the takeaways is the recommendation that a person feed his servant from the same food he himself eats, and that they eat together. The words, “Bring us our lunch” (18:62), plainly show that the meal was meant for both of them.
• Divine aid descends upon a servant in proportion to how faithfully he carries out the prescribed command; whatever pleases Allah receives assistance unmatched by what does not. Moses said, “Indeed, we have grown weary on this journey of ours” (18:62). The verse refers to the leg that went beyond the meeting point of the two seas, whereas he voiced no complaint about the earlier, considerably longer stretch.
• The servant they encountered was not a prophet but a righteous, knowledgeable man who had been inspired. Allah described him with knowledge, special devotion, and fine qualities yet never called him a prophet or messenger. His later statement, “I did not do it of my own accord” (18:82), is no proof of prophethood; it simply indicates inspiration and inner disclosure, a grace also granted to non-prophets. Allah says, “Your Lord inspired the bee” (16:68) and “We inspired the mother of Moses” (28:7).
• The knowledge Allah imparts to His servants is of two kinds:
– acquired knowledge, gained through deliberate seeking and effort;
– divine, inner knowledge, bestowed purely as a gift upon whomever He chooses. Concerning the latter He says, “We had imparted to him knowledge from Our Own Presence” (18:65); al-Khidr received a generous share of this endowment.
• Good manners toward one’s teacher and gentle speech are essential. Moses asked, “May I follow you so that you teach me of the guidance you have been taught?” (18:66), phrasing his request with deference and consultation—“Would you permit me?” He openly expressed his need for the teacher, his eagerness to learn, and his longing for what the teacher possessed. This contrasts sharply with the arrogance of those who hide their need. Nothing benefits the student more than showing his reliance on the teacher’s knowledge and thanking him for imparting it.