The Stories of Al Khidr from the Sufi Perspective
According to Sufi mythology Al-Khidr literally means the green one which represents eternal liveliness. Al-Khidr is described as the hidden prophet and immortal saint. He came to symbolize divine wisdom and knowledge from Allah and the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Sufis have concocted various tales depicting Al-Khidr being immortal and possessing divine knowledge. Some of the stories are described below.
Story 1 – Dhul-Qarnayn and the Fountain of Life
Dhul Qarnayn (Alexander the Great) learns from Al- Khidr that 'of every land, the Dark Land is best, in which is a Water, a life-giver ' and that the source of this River of Life is in the North, beneath the Pole Star. They reach the destination where …show more content…
It was said to him: "If you 'd talk like that every day, then we 'd derive lots of benefit from it".
He answered: "I only gave a speech today, because Khidr came to me and said: 'Go to the people, turn to them and deliver a speech, because your brother Dhu 'n-Nun has died and I 've appointed you in his position '. It was an order from the master of masters, but otherwise I 'd not have given a speech"
Story 3 – On the Matters of the Unseen
Shaykh Ruzbehaan Baqli met Khidr when he was still ignorant of the science of realities. Khidr then gave him an apple and he ate a part thereof. Then Khidr said: "Eat all of it, for that is how much of it I ate". Shaykh Ruzbehaan Baqli then gave this description: "I saw as it were an ocean from the throne to the earth and I saw nothing but this. It was like the radiance of the sun. My mouth opened involuntarily and all of it entered my mouth. Not a drop remained, but I drank of it".
The mainstream Islamic belief of Al- Khidr
From the interpretation of the Qur’an and the consensus of the scholars, Al- Khidr is a prophet. The …show more content…
Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer” [al-Hajj 22:75]
“Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings”
[Al-Baqarah 2:213] Whoever claims independent knowledge apart from those revealed by Allah’s messengers is a disbeliever and should be executed without any question according to the consensus of the scholars because he denies the Qur’an and the Sunnah and claims the qualities of prophet hood for himself.
In conclusion, we see the Sufi claims of Al Khidr being a prophet being immortal and possessing divine knowledge. The mainstream Islamic belief is that evidence strongly points to Khidr being a prophet but not being immortal. However, Khidr being a prophet of Allah did receive revelation which is divine knowledge from Allah. On the same note, not any person except prophets receive revelation and therefore the concept of sainthood is negated in Islam as it negates the prophet hood of Muhammad (ﷺ) being the final messenger and anyone who claims to possess divine knowledge is a disbeliever.
Bibliography
Al-Bukhari, Sahih. Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 575 http://sunnah.com/bukhari/9/77 (accessed December 23,
According to Sufi mythology Al-Khidr literally means the green one which represents eternal liveliness. Al-Khidr is described as the hidden prophet and immortal saint. He came to symbolize divine wisdom and knowledge from Allah and the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
Sufis have concocted various tales depicting Al-Khidr being immortal and possessing divine knowledge. Some of the stories are described below.
Story 1 – Dhul-Qarnayn and the Fountain of Life
Dhul Qarnayn (Alexander the Great) learns from Al- Khidr that 'of every land, the Dark Land is best, in which is a Water, a life-giver ' and that the source of this River of Life is in the North, beneath the Pole Star. They reach the destination where …show more content…
It was said to him: "If you 'd talk like that every day, then we 'd derive lots of benefit from it".
He answered: "I only gave a speech today, because Khidr came to me and said: 'Go to the people, turn to them and deliver a speech, because your brother Dhu 'n-Nun has died and I 've appointed you in his position '. It was an order from the master of masters, but otherwise I 'd not have given a speech"
Story 3 – On the Matters of the Unseen
Shaykh Ruzbehaan Baqli met Khidr when he was still ignorant of the science of realities. Khidr then gave him an apple and he ate a part thereof. Then Khidr said: "Eat all of it, for that is how much of it I ate". Shaykh Ruzbehaan Baqli then gave this description: "I saw as it were an ocean from the throne to the earth and I saw nothing but this. It was like the radiance of the sun. My mouth opened involuntarily and all of it entered my mouth. Not a drop remained, but I drank of it".
The mainstream Islamic belief of Al- Khidr
From the interpretation of the Qur’an and the consensus of the scholars, Al- Khidr is a prophet. The …show more content…
Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer” [al-Hajj 22:75]
“Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings”
[Al-Baqarah 2:213] Whoever claims independent knowledge apart from those revealed by Allah’s messengers is a disbeliever and should be executed without any question according to the consensus of the scholars because he denies the Qur’an and the Sunnah and claims the qualities of prophet hood for himself.
In conclusion, we see the Sufi claims of Al Khidr being a prophet being immortal and possessing divine knowledge. The mainstream Islamic belief is that evidence strongly points to Khidr being a prophet but not being immortal. However, Khidr being a prophet of Allah did receive revelation which is divine knowledge from Allah. On the same note, not any person except prophets receive revelation and therefore the concept of sainthood is negated in Islam as it negates the prophet hood of Muhammad (ﷺ) being the final messenger and anyone who claims to possess divine knowledge is a disbeliever.
Bibliography
Al-Bukhari, Sahih. Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 575 http://sunnah.com/bukhari/9/77 (accessed December 23,