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The meeting between Moses and al Khidr is still one of the most discussed in the history of Islam, so much so that it is still difficult to trace an identikit of the mysterious person
The meeting with al Khidr
According to a hadith, Moses gave a sermon in which he named himself the wisest man on earth, except to be corrected by Allah himself shortly thereafter. The Divine made him aware of a mysterious person who would inhabit the confluence of the two seas, then giving the prophet the tools and knowledge to meet him. Determined to satisfy his great curiosity, he set off in search of this man together with a boy named Yusha, who, at a certain point of the journey, saw the fish he had with him escaping, certifying the immediate proximity of the mysterious to the
Once found, Moses begged him to take him with him so as to raise his knowledge, swearing to his new guide that he would not ask any questions about his actions. At this point the two embarked on a ship, which Al Khidr however destroyed, causing confusion and anger on the part of the prophet; this unrest will then grow with the murder of a young man and the repair of a wall built by men hostile to the duo. However, due to too many questions from Moses, the two parted ways, but the master will first explain the justice and reason behind his actions.
The most enigmatic figure of Islam
Many centuries later, al Khidr remains without a shadow of a doubt one of the most mysterious and particular figures in the entire history of Islam, so much so that even today there is no valid answer to who he could actually be. The fundamental characteristics can in fact be associated exclusively with the physical aspect, which would correspond to that of a young adult with a white beard and green dress (the name also comes from here); another fundamental detail would be that of a sort of “teleportation” granted to this character, which would allow him to move very quickly from one place to another.
According to al Tabari, one of the greatest historians and scholars of Islam, there are several versions of his identity, all of which, however, difficult enough to take to be truthful. According to the first, in fact, it was part of the vanguard of Afridun I, legendary Persian ruler sometimes identified with Dhul-Qarnayn. During his military service he would drink the water of the river of life, thus becoming immortal and being elevated to the degree of mystical figure. According to another tradition, however, he would have been the son of a follower of Abraham, who he would have followed during the long journey from Babylon to the Promised land. However, between the two versions, the first appears to the historian to be more reliable and with greater historical plausibility, albeit with incredible reservations. To date, as already mentioned, there is no minimally clear and secure identification, leading the latter to become the Master par excellence of the mystical world.
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