Moses’ journey: The limits of knowledge

Moses sets out with his young companion to reach the place where the two seas meet. When they notice the sign regarding the disappearance of the fish they had with them, they retrace their steps. There, they find a servant of God to whom He has granted mercy and knowledge. Moses wishes to accompany him to learn from what he has been taught. The Quran does not mention the name of this servant in this passage.

His traveling companion tells Moses that he will not be able to show patience regarding events whose inner essence he does not know. Moses states that he will act patiently if God wills. When the boat they board on their journey is damaged, Moses objects to it. When the condition between them is reminded, he asks not to be burdened for his forgetfulness.

Then he witnesses the killing of a child they encounter and objects again. Afterwards, he sees a wall about to collapse being repaired in a settlement that did not offer them hospitality; he says that a fee could have been taken for this. After this third conversation, their companionship ends and the time for explanation arrives.

The ship was damaged to protect it from a king who seized all intact ships. It is explained that the event concerning the child was based on divine knowledge regarding his parents; under the wall lay a treasure belonging to two orphans. The companion states that he did not do these things on his own authority. The story is in the context of specific knowledge and duty; it does not legitimize causing harm based on personal intuition.