that was sound, so he wanted, if it passed by him, to leave it [intact] because of its defect, so when they passed it, they would repair it and benefit from it. Some say: They sealed it with pitch. He [the boy] was a disbeliever while his parents were believers, so "we feared that he would impose on them transgression and disbelief," meaning his love would cause them to follow him in his religion, "so we intended that their Lord should replace him with one better than him in purity and closer in affection," meaning more affectionate to them than the first one whom al-Khidr killed. Others than Sa'id claimed that they were replaced by a girl.

12877 - From the path of al-'Awfi, from Ibn Abbas, who said: When Moses and his people were victorious in Egypt, he settled his people in Egypt. When they were settled in their home, Allah sent down: "And remind them of the days of Allah," so he addressed his people and mentioned the goodness and blessings Allah had given them. He reminded them of when Allah saved them from the people of Pharaoh, and he reminded them of the destruction of their enemy and how Allah made them successors in the land. He said: "Allah spoke to your prophet Moses directly, chose me for Himself, and bestowed upon me love from Him, and gave you of everything you asked for; thus, your prophet is the best of the people of the earth, and you are the witnesses today."

He did not leave out any blessing that Allah had bestowed upon them without making them aware of it. A man from the Children of Israel said to him: "Is there anyone on earth more knowledgeable than you, O Prophet of Allah?" He said: "No." So Allah sent Gabriel to Moses, saying: "Allah says: 'What makes you know where I place My knowledge? ... Indeed, there is a man on the seashore who is more knowledgeable [than you].'"

Ibn Abbas said: He is al-Khidr. Moses asked his Lord to show him to him, so Allah revealed to him: "Go to the sea, for you will find a fish on the seashore. Take it and entrust it to your servant, then follow the shore of the sea. When you forget the fish and it is lost from you, then there you will find the righteous servant whom you seek." When Moses's journey became long and he became fatigued in it, he asked his servant about the fish. He said: "Did you see when we took shelter at the rock? Indeed, I forgot the fish, and none made me forget to mention it to you except Satan." The servant said: "I saw the fish when it took its course into the sea in amazement." That surprised Moses, so he returned until he reached the rock and found the fish. The fish began to strike in the sea, and Moses followed it, pushing his staff to part the water for it, and he followed the fish. The fish did not touch anything of the sea without it becoming dry until it was like rock. The Prophet of Allah was amazed by that until the fish ended up at an island among the islands of the sea. He met al-Khidr there and greeted him. Al-Khidr said: "And upon you be peace... And how can there be this greeting in this land...!? Who are you?" He said: "I am Moses." He said to him: