Prophet Mūsā: Part 6 — His Last Days and al-Khaḍir
Section 7 of 21 · Lives of the Prophets
The Fish That Swam Away
The servant of Mūsā was carrying this fish. It was a dead fish. They camped in a certain area and went to sleep. But something amazing happened — and this was the start of the amazing things on this journey. The fish woke up, went all the way to the sea, and started swimming in the sea. It was swimming in the sea in front of the eyes of Yūshaʿ ibn Nūn. Yūshaʿ ibn Nūn saw this dead fish wake up, go all the way to the sea, and start swimming in it — and it was making a tunnel behind it, sarabā. He forgot to tell Mūsā about it, and they went to bed. And then they travelled; they travelled the next day.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
“So, when they reached the meeting point of the two seas, they forgot their fish, and it made its way into the sea as in a tunnel.” (18:61)
Allah (swt) says: then, when they reached the junction of the two seas… Mūsā now was tired and hungry. And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) says that Mūsā did not become tired and hungry until that moment. All through this journey, until that moment, Mūsā never felt exhausted. So they reached the junction of the two seas, they slept there, and then they travelled on the next day.
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَىٰهُ ءَاتِنَا غَدَآءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا
“When they went further, he said to his young man, “Bring us our morning meal; we have, indeed, had much fatigue from this journey of ours.”” (18:62)
So when they had passed further on, beyond the fixed place, Mūsā said to his boy-servant: bring us our morning meal; truly, we have suffered much fatigue in this journey of ours. Only then did Mūsā feel fatigue. And he told his servant: bring us the fish. And Yūshaʿ ibn Nūn remembered what had happened to the fish.
قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ وَمَآ أَنسَىٰنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥ ۚ وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَٱرْتَدَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا
“He said, “You see, when we stayed at the rock, I forgot the fish. It was none but Satan who made me forget it to tell you about it - and it made its way into the sea in an amazing manner.” He said, “That was what we were looking for.” So they returned, retracing their footsteps.” (18:63–64)
He said: do you remember when we took ourselves to the rock? — that is where they had slept, next to the rock — I indeed forgot the fish; none but Shayṭān made me forget to mention it; it took its course into the sea in a strange way. Mūsā said: that is what we were looking for. Because Allah (swt) had told Mūsā: you will find al-Khaḍir in the place where you lose the fish. So Mūsā said: that is what I was waiting for; that is what we have been seeking. So they went back, retracing their footsteps.
Now Mūsā and Yūshaʿ ibn Nūn have to travel back the same way, because Allah told Mūsā: you will find him in the place where you lose the fish. They had already travelled a long distance, and now they had to go back. So Mūsā and Yūshaʿ ibn Nūn were retracing their steps.