Good Hidden in What Seemed Evil

Next: the story of al-ghulām.

He said that young boy was going to grow up to be a kāfir, a disbeliever, and a tyrant: yurhiqahumā ṭughyānan wa kufrā. Ṭughyān is tyranny, and kufr is disbelief. So this young boy would grow up not only to be a non-believer in Allah, but to be a tyrant, and he would cause his parents hardship and difficulty. Allah (swt) wanted the best for this family, so Allah wanted to take away the life of that young boy and replace him for the family with another child, who would be good and kind to his parents and a believer in Allah.

And this shows you that you never know what lies on the other side. Think about these parents' reaction when their child was killed. What do you think their reaction was? They would cry, and mourn, and be upset and sorrowful, because they did not know what Allah was planning for them. Al-Khaḍir knew the plan, but they did not. They were losing a child, but they did not know that it was the best for them — because if this child had grown up and lived, he would have caused them hardship and difficulty. And Allah (swt) wanted to take away this child and give them another child who would grow up to be kind to them. So Allah (swt) was hiding good for this family in what appeared to be evil. You might love something, and it is not good for you; and you might dislike something, and it is good for you.

Allah says: and as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief; so we intended that their Lord should change him for them for one better in righteousness and nearer to mercy.