A few observations from surah al kahf. I've been pondering on those for quite sometime, now it's time to write them down.
Moses observes 3 things.
1. An act of destruction/vandalism
2. A killing of a child
3. Response to hostility by an act of seeming compassion.
What are his reactions?
1. Exclamation at the evilness of this act; making a hole in an apparently good boat in an attempt to drown the people in it
2. Horror (and probably disgust) at how one could murder such an innocent soul for no reason.
3. Questioning and confusing at how the man reacted so paradoxically. After being rudely denied a meal the man goes and fixes a wall.
Those 3 themes are themes we experience almost everyday. Exclamation, horror and disgust and confusion/questioning.
Everyday you have experienced at least one of those.
How could the horror from witnessing the murder of a child be ever neutralized in around 2 ayahs? Well that's exactly what happened. Spectacular the way it is written so eloquently and right to the point.
I would have expected a 2 hour explanation for an act like this! But no.
This goes to show something.
It goes to show that everything in bayenah (clear) in the eyes of Allah swt. It is all simple and clear as to why unfortunate things happen. To us, they seem so complex and emotionally charged that we have no sense of objectivity whatsoever in thinking about them. And I think it isnt wrong or bad to feel this way of course. If I had been in the same position of Moses and I saw this man doing this I would be in utter and unspeakable shock at the blatancy and unjustified actions being taken.
As a child reading or hearing this part of Surat al kahf I'd say to dad "Why didnt Moses pretend that it was OK so that this Khedr guy teaches him some more?!"
I was frustrated because I've always wanted to know what would have happened if Moses just did what the man told him and kept quiet, maybe I would have learnt something new.
It reached to a point in which while I heard it being read I would pray in my mind "Please God, make Moses stay quiet" Eventhough I knew fully well that the book has already been written and it was impossible that the plot was going to change.
I kinda laugh at that now!
The beautiful thing is, Moses's human-ness and impatience is the lesson here. It is the lesson telling us to BE PATIENT. If Allah commands you of something, obey and be patient 'la3alakom tataqatoon" In the hopes that you will be God fearing and more pure people. But we dont obey, first we question. I think questioning is a great skill Allah has given us but sometimes it is the reason that stops us from reaching better levels of spirituality and understanding of the world around us.
I think Moses's story will always be one that resonates deeply in my life, ever since I was young up until now, everytime I read it I remember patience, obeying and not being so impulsive, perhaps something good will come out of it.
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