The Usurpation of Sound Ships

The meaning of “every ship by force” refers to the usurpation of sound ships, not all ships.(382) Therefore, in this phrase, based on contextual evidence and as understood from the expression “so I wanted to damage it,” the word “sound” (salīma) or “intact” (ṣaḥīḥa) is implied (he takes every sound or intact ship by force). This is because if that king had been usurping both sound and damaged ships, damaging the ship by Khiḍr would have had no effect, so only the usurpation of sound ships is meant. Another evidence for the implied word “sound” (salīma) is a narration from Imam al-Ṣādiq about Zurāra ibn Aʿyan, which will be discussed in the section on traditions.