Rebuilding the Wall Through Normal Means

Khiḍr rebuilt the wall that was about to collapse: “so he set it up straight.” Khiḍr’s work was not miraculous, and from Moses’ statement “If you had wished, you could have taken payment for it,” it can be understood that he rebuilt the wall through normal and conventional means, not through miracles or supernatural methods, because payment is not taken for miracles. Rather, the term “payment” (ajr) is used for work that is performed normally and with material tools.

It should be noted that the expression “If you had wished, you could have taken payment for it” suggests that the wall’s reconstruction was done in the presence of, or at least with the knowledge of, some people, because talking about receiving payment would be meaningless if people were unaware of the work.(327)