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The Prophet al-Khidr

Between the Qur'anic Text and the Islamic Tradition
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The Qur'anic verses 18:60-82 in Surat al-Kahf present the story of Khidr and Moses as a lesson on the modalities of being and of knowing. Traditionally, the story is seen from a variety of vantage points which include historical, textual, literary, and allegorical, each of which is framed differently depending upon the religio-cultural context. This book, in addition to examining the theological sources, traces the story's mythical, mystical, and popular interpretations engendered by the Qur'anic story. The author argues that the story's major contribution is its ability to communicate the importance of cultivating humility - a fundamental goal for any person of faith. Despite his importance in the Qur'an, Moses is not the main hero in this story; instead, he is being used to point to an even higher truth pertaining to the spiritual dimensions of faith. This book suggests that Khidr's Qur'anic story symbolizes these truths by providing a perspective on the tension between materiality and spirituality, the zahir (exoteric) and the batin (esoteric), and human and divine forms of knowledge. Additionally, in this work the Khidr narrative is viewed as a source of nourishment for theories that speak to the intersectionality between Islam and other religious traditions.
Irfan A. Omar is associate professor at Marquette University
Introduction Chapter 1: The Origins and Meanings of the Khidr Story Chapter 2: Khidr in Muslim Sources and Traditions of Piety Chapter 3: Khidr in Sufism Chapter 4: Khidr in Folklore Chapter 5: Khidr in Muhammad Iqbal's Poetry Conclusion Works Cited Index
Omar offers a fresh and insightful narrative of a timeless, ubiquitous, protean, and always engaging figure in Islamicate literature and lore. He draws on a wide range of sources, from exegesis of the Qur'an's Sura of the Cave (18) to mystical texts elaborating on Al-Khidr's unique spiritual credentials. Omar emphasizes throughout Al-Khidr's role as an inter-religious cross-cultural symbol of mediation and liberation from stereotypes-an "initiator" who continually surprises with manifestations of his stature and versatility as a paradigmatic sage and mentor. -- John Renard, Saint Louis University
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