Selected Exegesis

Khiḍr explained the esoteric meaning of killing the youth as follows: His parents were believers. Through divine revelation, Khiḍr knew that if the youth remained alive, he would lead his parents to disbelief and transgression through evil influence and corrupt inclinations, or he would harm them through his own disbelief and transgression. God was not pleased that his believing parents should be led astray due to their son’s deviation, or suffer from his harm. Therefore, we desired that God would grant them another child in place of this youth—one who would possess both spiritual purity and self-refinement, faith and righteousness, and who would be closer to them in avoiding disobedience to parents, maintaining family ties, and supporting his parents in their religion.

It is clear that the principle of exchanging children lies solely with God. Therefore, in the verse, the word “exchange” (ibdāl), which is God’s action, is singular, while “desire” is plural, since Khiḍr was also commanded and was an instrument of divine action.(404)