The Quran contains a troubling story in Surah Al-Kahf (18:74-81) involving the prophet Musa (Moses) and a mysterious figure named Al-Khidr. It is a shocking narrative that challenges ideas of morality and fairness in Islam.
Most people, even Muslims, may never even have heard the details of the story. Scholars believe Al-Khidr was a prophet. His name means “The Green One“, and could mean that he symbolized Islam. He had knowledge that surpassed even Moses. There is a minority of religious scholars who teach that Al-Khidr was immortal and still alive to this day.
A Child Brutally Slaughtered
In the passage, Musa is traveling with Al-Khidr. During their journey, they encounter a group of children playing. Suddenly, without any warning, Al-Khidr grabs one of the little boys and brutally kills him, without any explanation or provocation. The boy’s name was Jaysur. He was a Muslim and his parents were Muslim.
“Then they both proceeded, till they met a boy, he (Khidr) killed him….”
Quran 18:74
Apparently the Quran gives a sanitized version of this gory incident. The commentary of Al-Jalalayn gives the gruesome uncensored details of the heartless and despicable action of al-Khidr:
“So they set off, after leaving the ship, making their way on foot, until, when they met a boy, who had not yet reached puberty, playing with [other] boys, among whom his face was the fairest — and he, al-Khidr, slew him, by slitting his throat with a knife while he lay down, or by tearing his head off with his hand, or by smashing his head against a wall…”
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn 18:74
Musa is left in a state of shock. He asks his companion in horror, “…Have you killed an innocent person who had killed none? Verily, you have committed a thing “Nukra” (a great Munkar – prohibited, evil, dreadful thing)!” (18:74)
When questioned by Musa, Al-Khidr is unperturbed. He justifies his actions by saying that the boy’s parents were devout believers, and there was a fear that the child might grow up to rebel against them. In order to prevent this potential future rebellion, he took the child’s life by decapitating him.
“As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection.”
Quran 18:81
Justice Islamic-Style
This story raises serious moral concerns. Punishing someone for a crime they didn’t/haven’t committed defies the basic principle of justice and fairness. Doesn’t it make sense that some wrongdoing must have been committed first before punishment?
What was the child’s sin? He was innocent. Even Moses insisted the child was innocent. Jaysur, the kid, must have been laughing and playing with his friends on that fateful day when his young life was mercilessly ended. Maybe they were kicking a ball around, having fun, enjoying their childhood. What was the reason that his life was snuffed in such a brutal way?
Perhaps, he had been rude to his parents that day? Maybe they disallowed him to go outside and play with his friends but he went out anyway? We don’t know. Even if that were true, even if the boy was had been a mischevious kid all his life, did he deserve to have his throat slit and his head bashed against a wall? Even the most hardcore murderer, rapist, thief, is not punished in this way. An innocent child was executed for what he MIGHT do in the future.
Imagine this: You are at home doing some chores. Someone runs to you and tells you that your 9 year old son has been killed. And that you are to go collect his severed head and scrape off his brains from the ground.
What kind of a religion would allow this? This is a satanic death cult. The idea of preemptive punishment is both unjust and morally unacceptable. It contradicts the common understanding of fairness. Actions should be judged based on facts, not possibilities.
Justifying Evil
The fact that this story is found in the Quran calls into question the moral framework that Islam preaches. Islam is often described as a religion of peace and justice and that it protects children, etc, but this story debunks all those ideals.
Some Muslims might argue that Al-Khidr “SAVED” the boy from hell and gave him a direct pass to heaven. What kind of evil justification is this? Does it mean you can massacre children and tell their grieving parents, “Don’t worry. I’ve sent them to paradise!”
Some Muslims might argue that Al-Khidr was simply doing Allah’s will because Allah already decreed that the boy would grow up to be evil. This opens a can of worms for Allah. If Allah had already written his fate for him, then the boy is blameless. Al-Khidr’s act of killing an innocent child is presented as part of divine wisdom, which makes it even more troubling. It shows that Allah is unjust, merciless, and cruel. Quite the opposite of the mantra of “Most Gracious and Most Merciful” recited ad nauseum by a billion Muslims.
Not only that. If divine wisdom allows the killing of innocents based on fear of potential future actions, it sets a dangerous precedent. It suggests that violence can be excused under the guise of divine knowledge. Cult leaders can claim divine “private revelations” and do whatever they want. Whether it is ordering the assasination of someone who annoyed them (like in the case of Ka’b bin Ashraf) or marrying anyone they desired, even if it was the wife of their own adopted son (as in the case of Zainab) or their neigbour’s six year old daugther (as in the case of Aisha).
If you are not familiar with the story of Kab’ bin Ashraf, you can read this: 3 Facts You Didn’t Know About Allah
If you are not familiar with the story of Zainab, you can read this: He Married The Ex-Wife Of His Adopted Son