Aqueous View

My research surrounding Khidr resulted in some fairly interesting points I wish to share with you. I will be examining the section of the Qu'ran Sura Al-Kahf lines 60-82. The historical character Al-Khidr reaches into the mists of time. He has associations with Elijah, St George, Kothar-wa-Khasis, The Green Man and even Anahita. Khidr runs deep like the ocean. His name translated means “verdent one” the colour of the sea at its depths and he is sometimes pictured standing on a fish, another important universal symbol. In this sense we can analyze Khidr as an aqueous archetype.

“Moses said to his servant, “I will not rest until I reach the place where the two seas meet even if it takes me years!” but when they reached the place where the two seas meet they had forgotten all about their fish which made it's way into the sea and swam away.” (Al-Kahf 60-61)

Although we can understand Moses' meaning in a literal sense, we can also explore it on a figurative level. Prophet Isa (pbuh) said to his future apostles on the shores of Galilee “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) Not only does the symbol of fish indicate community, it also indicates sustenance in the literal sense as well as in the figurative sense through iman. The idea of “forgetting all about their fish” becomes a commentary on the decline of appropriate teaching in religious circles. This has led the Ummah to “swim away” from their religion.

Moses is searching for a remedy for the loss of faith and the acquisition of knowledge. He and his servant pinpoint a place where they must look and retrace their footsteps. Allah (swt) said “and there they found one of Our servants – a man to whom We had granted our mercy and whom We had given knowledge of Our own,” (Al-Kahf 65). Allah (swt) in this case is speaking using the Royal “I”. He is speaking as a King, which makes us think that this servant is a nobleman. Not only is the man noble, he has been granted knowledge directly from Him. So enters Khidr.

It's interesting that Khidr is portrayed standing on a fish and above water pulling people to safety. In this sense Khidr represents clarity of thought. Being “above” comments on the position Khidr has been given as perhaps an angel guide, or even a perfect wali. Some information indicates that Khidr is immortal and to this day walks the earth assisting the perplexed.

A parallel Yahya (pbuh) is also worth exploring for it's aqueous view and in relation to Khidr. Khidr is associated with Elijah and there is also mention of John being successor to Elijah and equally aquatic.

John the Baptist was a cousin to Jesus and was best known to be the one to baptize Jesus. The bible quotes John the baptist as saying “I am the one who will prepare you for the light”. During his baptismal rite, John's main message was repentance. Baptism signals a young child's entry into the Christian faith. Water is used to ritually cleans, to prepare for prayer and receive the light. Similarly, wudu cleanses and prepares. The difference is that in Islam there is no need for intercession. Catholics cannot baptize themselves because they are not “holy” they need a “holier” person to cleanse them, Like a child, we are not wholly responsible for our preparation to receive knowledge and light whereas wudu is a daily repeated baptism. We are made wholly responsible for our preparation and ritual choice to seek the straight path. We have the direct connection to Allah (swt). In this sense we are all nuns and priests.

Khidr is said to have found the elixir of eternal life, the fountain of youth. Again we have the aqueous symbol in the form of a drink. My ideas about Khidr still being alive are symbolic. In a sense Khidr is alive in our belief in Paradise and the unknowable unseen. When we drink the knowledge of the Qu'ran we experience this elixir. The search for Khidr involves deep sea diving into the cosmic ocean to find several truths. There is good proof that we should continuously search the depths with patience. A excerpt taken from Seneca's Moral Letters describes the desire for attempting to obtain this knowledge:

Hasten to find me, but hasten to find yourself first. Make progress, and, before all else, endeavour to be consistent with yourself. And when you would find out whether you have accomplished anything, consider whether you desire the same things today that you desired yesterday. A shifting of the will indicates that the mind is at sea, heading in various directions, according to the course of the wind. But that which is settled and solid does not wander from its place. This is the blessed lot of the completely wise man, and also, to a certain extent, of him who is progressing and has made some headway. Now what is the difference between these two classes of men? The one is in motion, to be sure, but does not change its position; it merely tosses up and down where it is; the other is not in motion at all. Farewell.

A truth about our own nature, truth about this world and how to live in it, truth about what will come after. One class of men are like bobbing corks on a swift wave. The other class of men, like Khidr rise above the waves and stand above fish, helping others to the shoreline. We should be like a sugar dissolving.  Not quickly, or slowly but at a steady pace. As Rumi best answered:

“Which is greater Muhammad or Bestami? Bestami said “How great is my glory” whereas Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) acknowledged “We do not know You as we should”.

Rumi's answer was Prophet Muhammad because Bestami had taken one gulp of the divine and stopped whereas the Prophet drank slowly and continuously the divine unfolding always.