The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 676
CH. 18 AL-KAHF the people of the town and not they who had refused to entertain them as their guests. What earthly connection was there between these two things? In this material world no sensible person could indulge in such talk, much less a great Prophet of God. Such things can happen only in visions and dreams. (d) Ibn 'Abbās is reported to have said that the word 5 (treasure) occurring in v. 83 below means "a treasure of knowledge". This shows that this word has been used in this verse in its metaphorical sense and needs to be interpreted and explained. Similarly, the repairing of the wall and the demanding of hospitality were not physical acts. Thus the whole journey was only a spiritual experience. In short, even a casual and cursory glance over the relevant verses leaves no doubt about the fact that the whole affair was nothing more than a vision. It is simply inconceivable that a great Prophet of God like Moses should have undertaken a long and arduous journey in search of a "man of God" to learn from him how to break a hole in a boat or kill a young man or to repair a wall and demand no remuneration for it. Even an illiterate rustic would consider it below his dignity to do such a foolish thing, much less a Prophet of God. PT. 15 acts which this "man of God" is stated to have performed were great secrets of the future which were communicated to Moses in his Vision in metaphorical language. If these acts are understood to have literally taken place, then they could not have excited the Holy Prophet's curiosity and he could not possibly have wished Moses to have kept silent in order to learn more about similar acts. According to Māwardī, the person whom Moses had gone to see was no human being but an angel (Kathir). All these facts taken together constitute very solid and weighty evidence, incapable of being doubted or contradicted, that the story of the journey of Moses is but a vision which needs to be interpreted and explained to understand its reality and significance. The words "his young companion" may refer to Joshua, the son of Nun, but they apply more fittingly to Jesus. Jesus was the young companion of Moses i. e. he was the last great Prophet of the Mosaic Dispensation who came not to destroy but to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17). The words, I will not stop until I reach the junction of the two seas, show that Moses' young companion joined him towards the end of his journey. Moses did not seem to have Moreover, the Holy Prophet is taken the young man with him from reported to have said the very outset of his journey. The ie. would that Moses | words do not represent him as having يقص الله علينا من خبر هما had kept silent, so that God would have revealed to us many more secrets of the future (Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tafsir). This saying of the Holy Prophet shows that the unusual 1884 started on his journey but only as pursuing it with a young companion. Strictly speaking these words can only be spoken by one who is about to reach his destination.