Page 136 - General Knowledge from the Qur'an

134 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE QUR'AN

A PERSON OF KNOWLEDGE
They found a servant of Ours whom We had granted mercy from Us
and whom We had also given knowledge direct from Us. Musa said to
him, 'May I follow you on condition that you teach me some of the
right guidance you have been taught?' He said, 'You will not be able to
bear with me. How indeed could you bear with patience something
you have not encompassed in your knowledge?' Musa said, 'You will
find me patient, if Allah wills, and I will not disobey you in any mat-
ter.' He said, 'Then if you follow me, do not question me about any-
thing until I myself make mention of it to you.' They continued until
they boarded a boat and he scuppered it. Then Musa said, 'Did you
scupper it so that its owners would be drowned? This is truly a dread-
ful thing that you have done!' He said, 'Did I not say that you would
not be able to bear with me?' Musa said, 'Do not take me to task be-
cause I forgot. Do not demand of me something which is too difficult.'
So they went on until they met a youngster whom he killed. Musa
said, 'Have you killed a boy who has done no wrong, without it being
in retaliation for someone else? This is truly an appalling thing that
you have done!' He said, 'Did I not tell you that you would not be able
to bear with me?' Musa said, 'If I ask you about anything after this,
then you should no longer keep me company. I will have given you ex-
cuse enough.' So they went on until they reached the inhabitants of a
town. They asked them for food but they refused them hospitality.
They found there a wall about to fall down and he built it up. Musa
said, 'If you had wanted, you could have taken a wage for doing that.'
He said, 'This is where you and I part company. I will let you know the
explanation of those things about which you were not able to restrain
yourself. (Surat al-Kahf, 65-78)

THE PROPHET MUSA (AS) AND THE WOMEN
When he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a crowd of peo-
ple drawing water there. Standing apart from them, he found two
women, holding back their sheep. He said, 'What are you two doing
here?' They said, 'We cannot draw water until the shepherds have
driven off their sheep. You see our father is a very old man.' So he drew