A Discussion of the Narrations

1) Context of Revelation

ʿAlī ibn Ibrāhīm reported: When the Messenger of God informed the Quraysh about the story of the Companions of the Cave, they said, “Tell us about the learned one whom God commanded Moses to follow, and what is his story?” Then God, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed: “And when Moses said to his young companion…”.(34)

Note: The Qur’an introduces the Messenger as its expounder: “And We have sent down to you the Reminder that you may explain to people what has been sent down to them”(35), and the most qualified person to explain and expound the Qur’an is none other than the Seal of Prophethood himself.

2) The Meaning of “Young Companion” (fatā)

From Abū Jaʿfar (a.s.) who said: “The successor of Moses son of ʿImrān was Joshua son of Nūn, and he is the young companion (fatā) whom God mentioned in His Book.”(36)

Note: Such reports, when there is no contradiction, can establish their specific effects. Of course, purely scientific reports are reliable to the extent that they produce certainty.

3) The Secret of Moses’ Desire to Meet Khiḍr

From ʿAlī ibn Ibrāhīm: … He said: The reason for this was that “God spoke to Moses directly”(37), and He sent down the tablets to him containing, as God—the Exalted—said: “And We wrote for him on the tablets advice about all things and explanation for all things”.(38) Moses returned to the Children of Israel, ascended the pulpit, and informed them that God had sent down the Torah to him and spoken to him. He said to himself, “God has not created anyone more knowledgeable than me.” So God revealed to Gabriel: “Reach Moses quickly, for he has perished, and inform him that at the junction of the two seas, by the rock, there is a man more knowledgeable than you, so go to him and learn from his knowledge…”(39)

Note: In the previous discussions, it was explained that such reports cannot represent the reality of a perfect, infallible human who is among the prophets of firm resolve (ulū l-ʿazm), and even if the chain of transmission is reliable, the text requires explanation.