18:62
When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his
attendant: “Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much
fatigue at this (stage of) our journey.”
18:63
He replied: “Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook
ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the Fish: none
but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course
through the sea in a marvellous way!”
18:64
Moses said: “That was what we were seeking after:” So they
went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come).
18:65
So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed
Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge
from Our own Presence.
18:66
Moses said to him: “May I follow thee, on the footing that thou
teach me something of the(Higher) Truth which thou hast been
taught?”
18:67
(The other) said: “Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience
with me!”
18:68
“And how canst thou have patience about things about which
thy understanding is not complete?”
18:69
Moses said: “Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient:
nor shall I disobey thee in aught.”
18:70
The other said: “If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no
questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning
it.”
18:71
So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he
scuttled it. Said Moses: “Hastthou scuttled it in order to drown
those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!”
18:72
He answered: “Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no
patience with me?”
18:73
Moses said: “Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by
raising difficulties in my case.”
18:74
Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew
him. Moses said: “Hast thou slain an innocent person who had
slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!”
18:75
He answered: “Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no
patience with me?”
18:76
(Moses) said: “If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep
me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full)
excuse from my side.”
18:77
Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants
of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them
hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down,
but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: “If thou hadst wished,
surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!”
18:78
He answered: “This is the parting between me and thee: now will
I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou
wast unable to hold patience.
18:79
“As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they
plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for
there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by
force.
18:80
“As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we
feared that he would grieve themby obstinate rebellion and
ingratitude (to Allah and man).
18:81
“So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a
son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection.
18:82
“As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the
Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they
were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord
desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get
out their treasure – a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it
not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of(those things)
over which thou wast unable to hold patience.”