Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran as a reminder and as a guidance for mankind. So while some things we hear in the recitation might make us think, ‘wow that’s so cool’, there is also always a lesson to be learned. Today as Hammad Hai was reciting Surah Al-Kahf, and Allah narrates the story of Khidr and Musa, it occurred to me that there is more to this than simply the amazing story of Khidr’s actions and the surprising reasons/wisdom behind them. When Musa first encounters Khidr, Khidr tells him, you won’t be able to have sabr (patience, forebearance) with me, and then he says, and how can you have sabr regarding that do which you have no knowledge?

When he said this, I got to thinking – Allah (SWT) tests each of us all the time. Sometimes when things go south for us, we get frustrated, and we complain – even if only to Allah (SWT). But we also know that these trials are for our own benefit – we are supposed to improve as a result. So it occurred to me, that at the time of fitnah, we lose sight of this, because we have no knowledge of how Allah (SWT) is testing us. Therefore, we lose the opportunity for sabr by complaining in our short sightedness.

Indeed, Allah (SWT) is with as Sabirun.