Al-Kahf 18:66

Musa meeting with Al-Khidr and accompanying Him

Allah tells us what Musa said to that learned man, who was Al-Khidr. He was one to whom Allah had given knowledge that He had not given to Musa, just as He had given Musa knowledge that He had not given to Al-Khidr.

قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ

(Musa said to him: "May I follow you...") This is a question phrased in gentle terms, with no sense of force or coercion. This is the manner in which the seeker of knowledge should address the scholar.

اتَّبَعَكَ

(I follow you) means, I accompany you and spend time with you.

عَلَى أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْداً

(so that you teach me something of that knowledge which you have been taught) meaning, teach me something from that which Allah has taught you so that I may be guided by it and learn something beneficial and do righteous deeds. At this point,

قَالَ

(He said) meaning, Al-Khidr said to Musa,

إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْراً

(Verily, you will not be able to have patience with me!) meaning, `You will not be able to accompany with me when you see me doing things that go against your law, because I have knowledge from Allah that He has not taught you, and you have knowledge from Allah that He has not taught me. Each of us has responsibilities before Allah that the other does not share, and you will not be able to stay with me,'

وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْراً

(And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not) `For I know that you will denounce me justifiably, but I have knowledge of Allah's wisdom and the hidden interests which I can see but you cannot.'

قَالَ

(He said) meaning, Musa said:

سَتَجِدُنِى إِن شَآءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا

(If Allah wills, you will find me patient,) with whatever I see of your affairs,

وَلاَ أَعْصِى لَكَ أمْراً

(and I will not disobey you in aught.) means, `I will not go against you in anything.' At that point, Al-Khidr, upon him be peace, set a condition:

قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلاَ تَسْأَلْنى عَن شَىءٍ

(Then, if you follow me, ask me not about anything) do not initiate any discussion of the matter,

حَتَّى أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْراً

(till I myself mention of it to you. ) meaning, `until I initiate the discussion, before you ask me about it.'

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged, English).