باب مَا يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْعَالِمِ إِذَا سُئِلَ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ فَيَكِلُ الْعِلْمَ إِلَى اللَّهِ
Chapter 44 : When a religious scholar is asked "Who is the most learned person", it is better for him to attribute or entrust absolute knowledge to Allah and to say : "Allah is the Most Learned over everybody else".

Purpose of Tarjamatul Baab
Here Imam Bukhari (RA) wants to tell the scholars of knowledge that they should always have humility, should not be proud of their knowledge as they should always consider that there will be numerous people more knowledgeable than them.

Hadith No. 121
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِى سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ إِنَّ نَوْفًا الْبِكَالِىَّ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ مُوسَى لَيْسَ بِمُوسَى بَنِى إِسْرَائِيلَ ، إِنَّمَا هُوَ مُوسَى آخَرُ . فَقَالَ كَذَبَ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ ، حَدَّثَنَا أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قَالَ قَامَ مُوسَى النَّبِىُّ خَطِيبًا فِى بَنِى إِسْرَائِيلَ ، فَسُئِلَ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ . فَعَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ، إِذْ لَمْ يَرُدَّ الْعِلْمَ إِلَيْهِ ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّ عَبْدًا مِنْ عِبَادِى بِمَجْمَعِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ . قَالَ يَا رَبِّ وَكَيْفَ بِهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ احْمِلْ حُوتًا فِى مِكْتَلٍ فَإِذَا فَقَدْتَهُ فَهْوَ ثَمَّ ، فَانْطَلَقَ وَانْطَلَقَ بِفَتَاهُ يُوشَعَ بْنِ نُونٍ ، وَحَمَلاَ حُوتًا فِى مِكْتَلٍ ، حَتَّى كَانَا عِنْدَ الصَّخْرَةِ وَضَعَا رُءُوسَهُمَا وَنَامَا فَانْسَلَّ الْحُوتُ مِنَ الْمِكْتَلِ فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِى الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا ، وَكَانَ لِمُوسَى وَفَتَاهُ عَجَبًا ، فَانْطَلَقَا بَقِيَّةَ لَيْلَتِهِمَا وَيَوْمِهِمَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ مُوسَى لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا ، لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِنْ سَفَرِنَا هَذَا نَصَبًا ، وَلَمْ يَجِدْ مُوسَى مَسًّا مِنَ النَّصَبِ حَتَّى جَاوَزَ الْمَكَانَ الَّذِى أُمِرَ بِهِ . فَقَالَ لَهُ فَتَاهُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ ، قَالَ مُوسَى ذَلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِى ، فَارْتَدَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا ، فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ مُسَجًّى بِثَوْبٍ - أَوْ قَالَ تَسَجَّى بِثَوْبِهِ - فَسَلَّمَ مُوسَى . فَقَالَ الْخَضِرُ وَأَنَّى بِأَرْضِكَ السَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ أَنَا مُوسَى . فَقَالَ مُوسَى بَنِى إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِى مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رَشَدًا قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا ، يَا مُوسَى إِنِّى عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَّمَنِيهِ لاَ تَعْلَمُهُ أَنْتَ ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عَلَّمَكَهُ لاَ أَعْلَمُهُ . قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِى إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا ، وَلاَ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرًا ، فَانْطَلَقَا يَمْشِيَانِ عَلَى سَاحِلِ الْبَحْرِ لَيْسَ لَهُمَا سَفِينَةٌ ، فَمَرَّتْ بِهِمَا سَفِينَةٌ ، فَكَلَّمُوهُمْ أَنْ يَحْمِلُوهُمَا ، فَعُرِفَ الْخَضِرُ ، فَحَمَلُوهُمَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ ، فَجَاءَ عُصْفُورٌ فَوَقَعَ عَلَى حَرْفِ السَّفِينَةِ ، فَنَقَرَ نَقْرَةً أَوْ نَقْرَتَيْنِ فِى الْبَحْرِ . فَقَالَ الْخَضِرُ يَا مُوسَى ، مَا نَقَصَ عِلْمِى وَعِلْمُكَ مِنْ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ كَنَقْرَةِ هَذَا الْعُصْفُورِ فِى الْبَحْرِ . فَعَمَدَ الْخَضِرُ إِلَى لَوْحٍ مِنْ أَلْوَاحِ السَّفِينَةِ فَنَزَعَهُ . فَقَالَ مُوسَى قَوْمٌ حَمَلُونَا بِغَيْرِ نَوْلٍ ، عَمَدْتَ إِلَى سَفِينَتِهِمْ فَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا قَالَ لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا نَسِيتُ . فَكَانَتِ الأُولَى مِنْ مُوسَى نِسْيَانًا . فَانْطَلَقَا فَإِذَا غُلاَمٌ يَلْعَبُ مَعَ الْغِلْمَانِ ، فَأَخَذَ الْخَضِرُ بِرَأْسِهِ مِنْ أَعْلاَهُ فَاقْتَلَعَ رَأْسَهُ بِيَدِهِ . فَقَالَ مُوسَى أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا - قَالَ ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ وَهَذَا أَوْكَدُ - فَانْطَلَقَا حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا ، فَأَبَوْا أَنْ يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا ، فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ . قَالَ الْخَضِرُ بِيَدِهِ فَأَقَامَهُ . فَقَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى لَوْ شِئْتَ لاَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا . قَالَ هَذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنِكَ . قَالَ النَّبِىُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مُوسَى ، لَوَدِدْنَا لَوْ صَبَرَ حَتَّى يُقَصَّ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ أَمْرِهِمَا

Narrated Ubai bin Ka'b (RA)
The Prophet said, "Once the Prophet Moses stood up and addressed Bani Israel. He was asked, "Who is the most learned man amongst the people. He said, "I am the most learned." Allah admonished Moses as he did not attribute absolute knowledge to Him (Allah). So Allah inspired to him "At the junction of the two seas there is a slave amongst my slaves who is more learned than you." Moses said, "O my Lord! How can I meet him?" Allah said: Take a fish in a large basket (and proceed) and you will find him at the place where you will lose the fish. So Moses set out along with his (servant) boy, Yusha' bin Nun and carried a fish in a large basket till they reached a rock, where they laid their heads (i.e. lay down) and slept. The fish came out of the basket and it took its way into the sea as in a tunnel. So it was an amazing thing for both Moses and his (servant) boy. They proceeded for the rest of that night and the following day, when the day broke, Moses said to his (servant) boy: "Bring us our early meal. No doubt, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey." Moses did not get tired till he passed the place about which he was told. There the (servant) boy told Moses, "Do you remember when we betook ourselves to the rock, I indeed forgot the fish." Moses remarked, "That is what we have been seeking. So they went back retracing their foot-steps, till they reached the rock. There they saw a man covered with a garment (or covering himself with his own garment). Moses greeted him. Al-Khadir replied saying, "How do people greet each other in your land?" Moses said, "I am Moses." He asked, "The Moses of Bani Israel?" Moses replied in the affirmative and added, "May I follow you so that you teach me of that knowledge which you have been taught." Al-Khadir replied, "Verily! You will not be able to remain patient with me, O Moses! I have some of the knowledge of Allah which He has taught me and which you do not know, while you have some knowledge which Allah has taught you which I do not know." Moses said, "Allah willing, you will find me patient and I will not disobey you in aught. So both of them set out walking along the sea-shore, as they did not have a boat. In the meantime a boat passed by them and they requested the crew of the boat to take them on board. The crew recognized Al-Khadir and took them on board without fare. Then a sparrow came and stood on the edge of the boat and dipped its beak once or twice in the sea. Al-Khadir said: "O Moses! My knowledge and your knowledge have not decreased Allah's knowledge except as much as this sparrow has decreased the water of the sea with its beak." Al-Khadir went to one of the planks of the boat and plucked it out. Moses said, "These people gave us a free lift but you have broken their boat and scuttled it so as to drown its people." Al-Khadir replied, "Didn't I tell you that you will not be able to remain patient with me." Moses said, "Call me not to account for what I forgot." The first (excuse) of Moses was that he had forgotten. Then they proceeded further and found a boy playing with other boys. Al-Khadir took hold of the boy's head from the top and plucked it out with his hands (i.e. killed him). Moses said, "Have you killed an innocent soul who has killed none." Al-Khadir replied, "Did I not tell you that you cannot remain patient with me?" Then they both proceeded till they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they found there a wall on the point of collapsing. Al-Khadir repaired it with his own hands. Moses said, "If you had wished, surely you could have taken wages for it." Al-Khadir replied, "This is the parting between you and me." The Prophet added, "May Allah be Merciful to Moses! Would that he could have been more patient to learn more about his story with Al-Khadir. "
Comments

(Excerpts related to this issue from Ma'ariful Qur'an (Vol-5, Surah Kahf)) -

About al-Khadir (AS) and the issue of his prophet-hood
Though the name of the person concerned in this event has not been mentioned in the Qur'an - in fact, he has been called: (عباد من عبادنا a servant from among Our servants - (18:65)) - but, in the Hadith of Sahih al-Buk-hari, his name has been given as: al-Khadir. Literally, it means green, verdant. Giving the reason for his name being al-Khadir, commentators at large say that grass would grow at the spot where he would sit, no matter what the nature of the land. It would just turn green. The Qur'an has also not made it clear whether al-Khadir (AS) was some prophet, or was one of the men of Allah. But, in the sight of the majority of religious scholars, the proof of his being a prophet is embedded within the events mentioned in the Qur'an. There is a reason for it. Some of the proved events during this journey that issued forth from al-Khadir (AS) are absolutely counter to the Shari'ah and there can be no exemption from an injunction of the Shari'ah except under the authority of a Divine revelation, something restricted to a prophet and messenger of Allah. A waliyy (man of Allah) could also come to know something either through Kashf (illumination) or Ilham (inspiration). But, that is not an authority to prove a rule of Shari'ah. No injunction of the externally codified Shari'ah can be changed on that basis. Therefore, it stands established that al-Khadir (AS) was a prophet and messenger of Allah. Given to him were some of those particular injunctions, injunctions that were counter to the codified Shari'ah. Whatever he did, he did under the authority of this excepted injunction. He himself has attested to that in the sentence of the Qur'an saying:و ما فعلته عن أمري and I did not do it under my authority -18:82) that is, did it under Divine authority.
In short, according to the majority of religious scholars of the Muslim community, al-Khadir (AS) too is a prophet and messenger. But, it was an imperative of creation that some duties were assigned to him from Allah. The knowledge given to him related to these very duties. Of this Sayyidna Musa (AS) had no information, therefore, he objected. This subject has been dealt with in Tafsir al-Qurtubi, al-Bahr al-Muhit of Abu Hayyan and in most commentaries variously.

It is not lawful for any waliyy or man of Allah to contravene the injunction of codified Shari'ah
Right from here we learn that there is no shortage of ignorant and misguided Sufis who give a bad name to Tasawwuf. The likes of them would say that Shari'ah is something else and Tariqah is something else. There are many things taken as haram in the Shari'ah, but they are permissible in the Tariqah. Therefore, even if you see a waliyy (man of Allah) involved in a major sin openly and clearly, you cannot raise an objection against him! This is heresy, flagrant and false. No waliyy, no man of Allah anywhere in this world can be taken on the analogy of al-Khadir (AS), nor can any act contrary to the codified Shari'ah issuing forth from him be called permissible.

Following the teacher is incumbent on the student
In verse 18:66:هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا Sayyidna Musa (AS), despite being a prophet and messenger of great resolve, has most reverentially requested al-Khadir (AS) if he could follow him to learn his knowledge from him. This tells us that the etiquette of acquiring knowledge is nothing but that the student should show respect for the teacher and follow him (as an individual who is eager to learn) - even if the student happens to be superior to his teacher. (Qurtubi, Mazhari)

It is not permissible for an 'Alim' of the 'Shari'ah' to patiently bear what is contrary to the Shari'ah
By saying: إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا You can never be able to keep patient while with me. And how would you keep patient over something your comprehension cannot grasp? - 67, 68), al-Khadir (AS) was telling Sayyidna Musa (AS) about the fact and the reason why he would be unable to keep patient with him. He knew nothing about the reality of the thing. What he meant was that the nature of knowledge given to him was different from the knowledge of Sayyidna Musa (AS), therefore, things he did would appear to be objectionable in his sight, until he himself was to apprise him of their reality. Thus, the objections he would raise against such actions would be triggered by the dictates of his mission as a prophet.
Since Sayyidna Musa (AS) was ordered to go to and learn from al-Khadir (AS) by none but Allah Ta'ala, therefore, he was initially at peace with himself hoping that nothing he did would really be counter to the Shari'ah - though, he may not understand it externally. So, he promised to keep patient. Otherwise, the making of such a promise is not permissible for any 'Alim of Din. But, later on, overtaken by his strong sense of honor relating to the Shari'ah, he forgot about this promise.
The first event was really not that serious. That the boat people would suffer from financial loss or the boat may sink remained at the level of an impending danger
Cont'd on page 11
Cont'd from page 14
only - which stood removed later on. But, in the case of the event that took place thereafter, Musa (AS) did not even make that promise of not objecting. In fact, when he saw the incident of a boy having been killed, he objected vehemently and' did not offer any excuse whatsoever for his objection either. He simply said if he came up with an objection next time, al-Khadir (AS) would have the right of not keeping him in his company. The underlying logic was that no prophet and messenger of Allah can bear by seeing things being done against the norms of the Shari'ah and yet maintaining a stance of peevish patience. However, this was a unique situation. There were prophets on both sides. Therefore, the reality unfolded. It finally turned out that these fragmentary events were exempted for al-Khadir (AS) from the purview of the general rules of the Shari'ah. Whatever he did, he did only in accordance with the dictates of the Divine Wahy (revelation). (Mazhari)