A Better Replacement for the Slain Youth

Khiḍr, continuing his explanation of killing the youth, said that we wanted God to give them, in place of this child who, had he lived, would have led his parents to disbelief and transgression or would have harmed them, another child who would be better than this one both in terms of spiritual purity, self-refinement, righteousness and faith, and in terms of avoiding disobedience to parents, maintaining family ties, and supporting his parents in their religion—not leading them to disbelief and transgression, nor causing them harm: “So we desired that their Lord should give them in exchange one better than him in purity and closer in affection.”(410)