certain Sufis and spiritual mendicants and certain practitioners of speculative theology and philosophy, follow the approach of the esotericists in some matters, though not in all. Some even hold that certain members of the spiritual elite are exempt from prayer, that wine and other prohibited things are lawful for them, or that some of them have a path to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, other than following the Messenger.

Some invoke the story of Moses and al-Khidr, supposing that al-Khidr departed from the revealed law, and that other friends of Allah may therefore depart from it just as he did. They are misguided in this on two counts:

First, al-Khidr did not depart from the revealed law. Rather, what he did was permissible under the law of Moses. Thus, when he explained his reasons to Moses, Moses approved of his actions. Had they not been permissible, he would not have approved of them. But Moses did not know the reasons that made those actions permissible, so he thought that al-Khidr was like the unjust king. Al-Khidr then explained this to him.

Second, al-Khidr did not belong to Moses’ community, nor was he obliged to follow him. Rather, he said to him:

“I possess knowledge from Allah which Allah has taught me and which you do not know, and you possess knowledge from Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know.”

This is because Moses’ mission was not universal: a prophet would be sent specifically to his own people, whereas Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sent to all humanity. Indeed, he was sent to both humankind and jinn, in inward as well as outward matters. Thus, no one may depart from obedience to him and from following him, either inwardly or