Selected Exegesis

When Moses and his young companion reached the junction of the two seas, which was their appointed meeting place with Khiḍr, the young companion forgot to inform Moses about where the fish had fallen into the sea, and Moses also forgot to ask him about the condition of the fish. The falling of the fish into the sea was their sign for the meeting place.

The fish fell from the rock into the water at the meeting place and made its way toward the sea, disappearing from their sight. When Moses and his traveling companion forgot about the matter of the fish and passed beyond that place (the junction of the two seas), Moses said to his companion, “Bring us our morning meal, for we have encountered fatigue from this journey.” The fish was not their food, but rather a sign from God for them that wherever it fell into the water would be their meeting place with Khiḍr.