Appearance
Was Khiḍr a Prophet?
فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا
Then they found one of Our servants to whom We had given mercy from Us and taught him knowledge from Our presence. (18:65)
The question
Does the Qur’an show that one of Our servants whom Moses met, Khiḍr, was a prophet?
Views answered: the exegetes who argue for his prophethood · Fakhr al-Rāzī
Jawādī Āmulī’s argument
From mercy from Us, knowledge from Our presence and Moses’ request to follow him, Āyatullāh Jawādī Āmulī concludes that this servant was no ordinary person: he was a prophet or a friend of God (walī). Fakhr al-Rāzī reports six arguments for his prophethood and finds each of them weak. Jawādī Āmulī accepts that none of them proves it, but adds that denying it is not easy either: what can be fully established is what the two stations share, spiritual authority (wilāyah).
Views compared
The arguments and Fakhr al-Rāzī’s replies are given as al-Tasnim reports them. Each point opens al-Tasnim at that place.
1. Mercy from Us Read →
The exegetes’ argument
“Mercy” in the Qur’an means prophethood (43:32), so We had given him mercy from Us makes him a prophet.Fakhr al-Rāzī
Prophethood is a mercy, but not every mercy is prophethood.2. Knowledge from Our presence Read →
The exegetes’ argument
God taught him without a human teacher, and whoever God teaches so is a prophet.Fakhr al-Rāzī
Self-evident knowledge also comes from God without an intermediary, and proves no one a prophet.3. Moses asks to follow him Read →
The exegetes’ argument
A prophet does not follow a non-prophet in knowledge.Fakhr al-Rāzī
Only in the knowledge that makes him a prophet; in other sciences he may.4. Khiḍr knew more than Moses Read →
The exegetes’ argument
How can you have patience… and Moses’ humility show the scholar knew more, so he too was a prophet.Fakhr al-Rāzī
In sciences unrelated to prophethood a non-prophet may surpass a prophet, as Moses’ learning after the Torah shows.5. I did not do it of my own accord Read →
The exegetes’ argument
Everything he did was by revelation, which shows prophethood.Fakhr al-Rāzī
The weakness of this argument is obvious.6. He greeted Moses as a prophet Read →
The exegetes’ argument
A narration: Khiḍr knew Moses was the prophet of the Children of Israel, so he knew by revelation.Fakhr al-Rāzī
This could come from miraculous gifts (karāmāt) and inspiration, not revelation.Jawādī Āmulī
His prophethood cannot be proven by these arguments, and denying it is not easy either. What is fully established is the station prophethood and wilāyah share: spiritual authority. Read →Reading guide
Each step opens al-Tasnim at that point.