Moreover, regarding His words:

“They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them,”

if He has forbidden them some other action, that prohibition falls within His command. If He has not forbidden it, they cannot be blamed for doing what they have not been forbidden to do. The point is that the term “command,” when used without qualification, includes prohibition. An example is His saying:

“Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.”

That is, those who hold authority to command. Whoever holds authority to command also holds authority to prohibit, and must be obeyed in both respects. Thus, prohibition is included within command.

Moses said to al-Khidr:

“You will find me patient, if Allah wills, and I will not disobey any command of yours.”

“He said, ‘Then if you follow me, do not question me about anything until I myself mention it to you.’”

This prohibited him from asking questions until al-Khidr himself spoke to him about the matter. When al-Khidr made a hole in the ship, Moses said to him:

“Have you made a hole in it to drown its people? You have certainly done a dreadful thing!”

Thus, he questioned him before al-Khidr himself spoke about it. Concerning the boy, he said:

“Have you killed an innocent soul who had killed no one? You have certainly done a terrible thing!”

Again, he questioned him before al-Khidr himself spoke about it. Concerning the wall, he said:

“If you had wished, you could have taken payment for it.”

This, too, is a request in meaning, for a question or request may take a conditional form. You might say, “If you were to stay with us, we would honour you,” or, “If you spend tonight with us, you will be doing us a kindness.” Another example is Adam’s saying:

“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.”

And Noah’s saying:

“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You about that of which I have no knowledge. Unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.”

There are many such examples. Hence Moses said:

“If I question you about anything after this, then do not keep me as your companion.”

This indicates that he questioned him on all three occasions before al-Khidr himself spoke to him about the matter. This was disobedience to his prohibition, and it fell within the scope of Moses’ words:

“And I will not disobey any command of yours.”

This shows that whoever disobeys a prohibition disobeys a command. Another example is the saying of Allah Most High: