Moses' Servant
فَتَى مُوسَى
Moses' Servant, known in the Quran as *fatā Mūsā*, is a poignant figure in Islamic tradition, accompanying Prophet Moses on a profound spiritual quest. This journey, recounted in Surah Al-Kahf, highlights Moses' determined pursuit of divine knowledge, declaring, [I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period]. The servant's role becomes central when, at this significant junction, [they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away]. This seemingly minor oversight was, in fact, a crucial divine sign indicating the location of the enigmatic teacher, Al-Khidr. Later, upon Moses' request for their morning meal, the servant humbly admitted, [Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly]. This honest confession led them back to their intended destination. Often identified by commentators as Joshua (Yusha' bin Nun), who would later become a prophet himself, Moses' Servant embodies youthful companionship, faithfulness, and the humble acceptance of human forgetfulness as part of a larger divine plan, underscoring how even small acts can unlock profound spiritual encounters.
Quran 4 verses
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَىٰهُ لَآ أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰٓ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِىَ حُقُبًا
Wa iz qaalaa Moosaa lifataahu laaa abrahu hattaaa ablugha majma'al bahrayni aw amdiya huqubaa
And [mention] when Moses said to his servant, "I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period."
اور جب موسیٰ نے اپنے شاگرد سے کہا کہ جب تک دو دریاؤں کے ملنے کی جگہ نہ پہنچ جاؤں ہٹنے کا نہیں خواہ برسوں چلتا رہوں
Commentary
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
Falammaa balaghaa majma'a bainihimaa nasiyaa hootahumaa fattakhaza sabeelahoo fil bahri sarabaa
But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.
جب ان کے ملنے کے مقام پر پہنچے تو اپنی مچھلی بھول گئے تو اس نے دریا میں سرنگ کی طرح اپنا رستہ بنالیا
Commentary
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا نَصَبًا
Falammaa jaawazaa qaala lifataahu aatinaa ghadaaa'anaa laqad laqeena min safarinaa haazaa nasabaa
So when they had passed beyond it, [Moses] said to his boy, "Bring us our morning meal. We have certainly suffered in this, our journey, [much] fatigue."
جب آگے چلے تو (موسیٰ نے) اپنے شاگرد سے کہا کہ ہمارے لئے کھانا لاؤ۔ اس سفر سے ہم کو بہت تکان ہوگئی ہے
Commentary
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا
Qaala ara'ayta iz awainaaa ilas sakhrati fa innee naseetul hoota wa maaa ansaaneehu illash Shaitaanu an azkurah; wattakhaza sabeelahoo fil bahri'ajabaa
He said, "Did you see when we retired to the rock? Indeed, I forgot [there] the fish. And none made me forget it except Satan - that I should mention it. And it took its course into the sea amazingly".
(اس نے) کہا کہ بھلا آپ نے دیکھا کہ جب ہم نے پتھر کے ساتھ آرام کیا تھا تو میں مچھلی (وہیں) بھول گیا۔ اور مجھے (آپ سے) اس کا ذکر کرنا شیطان نے بھلا دیا۔ اور اس نے عجب طرح سے دریا میں اپنا رستہ لیا
Commentary
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