Ziyārat al-Qubūr - Ibn Taimiya - (69)

he actually saw of his community by the mark left by ablution—the ghurra (radiant faces) and taḥjīl (shining limbs). Among them are friends of Allah whose number only Allah, Majestic and Exalted, can enumerate. Even the prophets of Allah—of whom he is the leader and spokesman—most of them he did not know. Rather, Allah the Exalted has said:

“We certainly sent messengers before you; among them are those We have related to you, and among them are those We have not related to you.” [Q 40:78]

Moses did not know al-Khidr, nor did al-Khidr know Moses. When Moses greeted him with peace, al-Khidr replied, “From where in your land is the greeting of peace?” Moses said, “I am Moses.” Al-Khidr asked, “Moses of the Children of Israel?” He answered, “Yes.” Al-Khidr had heard his name and his story, but he did not recognize him by sight.

So anyone who claims that al-Khidr is the chief of the saints or that he is aware of all of them has spoken falsehood.

رآهم من أمته بسيما الوضوء؛ وهو الغرة والتحجيل، ومن هؤلاء من أولياء الله من لا يحصيه إلا الله عز وجل. وأنبياء الله الذين هو إمامهم وخطيبهم لم يكن يعرف أكثرهم؛ بل قال الله تعالى: {وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ لَمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ} [غافر: ٧٨] وموسى لم يكن يعرف الخضر، والخضر لم يكن يعرف موسى؛ بل لما سلم عليه موسى قال له الخضر: وأنى بأرضك السلام؟ فقال له: أنا موسى، قال: موسى بني إسرائيل؟ قال: نعم. وقد كان بلغه اسمه وخبره، ولم يكن يعرف عينه. ومن قال: إنه نقيب الأولياء أو أنه يعلمهم كلهم فقد قال الباطل.