Khiḍr’s Second Response to Moses’ Impatience

For the second time, Khiḍr responded to Moses’ questioning with even greater emphasis, saying “Did I not tell you that you would not be able to have patience with me?”: “Did I not tell you that you would never be able to have patience with me?”

This expression, which is stated three times in this story by Khiḍr with slight variations, appears in the verse under discussion with greater emphasis, as the word “to you” (laka) has been added, which indicates Khiḍr’s stronger and more severe objection to Moses.

In the view of the teacher, ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī, the addition of the word “to you” (laka) suggests that it was as if Moses had not heard Khiḍr’s first statement and had not heeded his advice; or if he had heard it, he thought that someone else was intended, not him. Therefore, it was as if Khiḍr said “I am telling you, not someone else”.(275)