Surah 18:80
Show Full Scripture Context (18:80-81) — 2 Verses
وَأَمَّا ٱلۡغُلَٰمُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤۡمِنَيۡنِ فَخَشِينَآ أَن يُرۡهِقَهُمَا طُغۡيَٰنٗا وَكُفۡرٗا
As for the young boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would burden them both (with) insolent transgression and disbelief.
فَأَرَدۡنَآ أَن يُبۡدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهُ زَكَوٰةٗ وَأَقۡرَبَ رُحۡمٗا
We wanted their Lord to give to them both in exchange (one) better than him in purity, and closer (to them) in affection.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated from Ubayy bin Ka*b that the Prophet m said:
“The boy Al-Khidr killed ivas destined to be a disbeliever from the day he was created .»
It was recorded by Ibn Jarir from Ibn ‘Abbas. 111 He said:
ihis parents ivere believers, and we feared he tuould oppress them by rebellion and disbelief}
Their love for him might make them follow him in disbelief. Qatadah said, “His parents rejoiced when he was born and grieved for him when he was killed. If he had stayed alive, he would have been the cause of their doom. So let a man be content with the decree of Allah, for the decree of Allah for the believer, if he dislikes it, is better for him than if He were to decree something that he likes for him.”* 21 An authentic Hadith says;
“Allah does not decree anything for the believer except it is good for /»m.» |31
And Allah says:
iand it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you.} (2:216).
4So we intended that their Lord should exchange him for them for one better in righteousness and nearer to mercy.}
A child who was better than this one, a child for whom they would feel more compassion. This was the view of Ibn Jurayj. 11 *