Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … “Khidr” has been recited in three ways: Khadir, Khidr, Khidar.
This is a title; Wahb bin Uqbah said that Khidr’s name was Baliya bin Malkan.
There is a difference of opinion regarding the life and prophethood of Khidr alayhis salam. Each side has presented far-fetched arguments to establish either his death or his life. Our view is that this is not a matter concerning the general public and silence should be maintained regarding it. In any case, it is decisively established and absolutely clear that the rank of the Prophets and Messengers is higher than that of the Sufis and Awliya (saints). We only wish to make one point:

The Life of Khidr alayhis salam:
The fundamental rule in this matter is death, unless life is established by a specific proof, and there is no such specific proof in the Qur’an or Hadith that indicates up to now the life of Khidr alayhis salam, whereas the following three evidences indicate his death:

1. Allah the Exalted says: {وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِکَ الْخُلْدَ اَفَاْئِنْ مِّتَّ فَھُمُ الْخٰلِدُوْنَ۔ } … And We did not grant immortality to any human before you; so if you die, will they then live forever?
(Surah Al-Anbiya: 34)
When the disbelievers said regarding the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that, “Let him be, one day he will die,” Allah the Exalted replied that death will come to every human, and no one is exempt from this rule, not even Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. This verse includes Khidr alayhis salam as well.

2. Allah the Exalted also said: {وَاِذْ اَخَذَ اللّٰہُ مِیْثَاقَ النَّبِیّٖنَ لَمَآ اٰتَیْتُکُمْ مِّنْ کِتٰبٍ وَّحِکْمَۃٍ ثُمَّ جَآئَکُمْ رَسُوْل’‘ مُّصَدِّق’‘ لِّمَا مَعَکُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِہٖوَلَتَنْصُرُنَّہٗقَالَئَاَقْرَرْتُمْوَاَخَذْتُمْعَلٰی ذٰلِکُمْ اِصْرِیْ قَالُوْٓا اَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْھَدُوْا وَاَنَا مَعَکُمْ مِّنَ الشّٰھِدِیْنَ۔} … When Allah took the covenant from the Prophets: “Whatever I give you of the Book and wisdom, then there comes to you a Messenger confirming what is with you, you must believe in him and support him.” He said, “Do you agree and take My covenant on that?” They said, “We agree.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.” (Surah Aal Imran: 81)
Whether Khidr alayhis salam is a Prophet or a saint, in any case, he is included in this covenant and pact. If he were alive until the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his honor would have been in coming to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and upholding this covenant and supporting him. However, the situation is that there is no evidence indicating his coming.
The verse mentions the taking of a covenant from the Prophets, so if Khidr alayhis salam is accepted as a Prophet, then he would be included in the covenant mentioned in this verse, otherwise not. And the first view is more correct. (Abdullah Rafiq)

3. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar radi Allahu anhuma, he said: The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam led us in the night prayer (Isha) in the last days of his life. When he finished, he stood up and said: “Do you see this night of yours? Indeed, at the beginning of a hundred years from now, none of those who are on the face of the earth today will remain.” (Sahih Bukhari: 601, Sahih Muslim: 2537)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah said: “And so it happened upon investigation, for the last Companion whose circumstances were recorded and who was present at that time was Sayyiduna Abu Tufayl Amir bin Wathilah radi Allahu anhu. The scholars of hadith are unanimous that he was the last of the Companions to die. At most, it can be objected that he died in 110 AH (not at the end of the first century), so the answer is that the statement of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was fulfilled with his death at the completion of one hundred years. And Allah knows best.”
(Fath al-Bari: 2/95)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar also said that in the narration of Sayyiduna Jabir radi Allahu anhu, it is mentioned that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said this hadith one month before his death. (Fath al-Bari: 1/282)
The statement of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam pertains to human beings; if we suppose that Khidr alayhis salam was alive during the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then he would be included in the purview of this hadith. And Allah knows best what is correct.
Ibn al-Jawzi said: These authentic ahadith completely uproot the claim of the life of Khidr alayhis salam.

The Prophethood of Khidr alayhis salam:
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, in his history, discussed the prophethood and death of Khidr alayhis salam. Regarding his prophethood, he said: The incident that occurred between Khidr alayhis salam and Musa alayhis salam, which Allah the Exalted mentioned in His Book (Surah al-Kahf), indicates the prophethood of Khidr for several reasons. Some of these reasons are:

1. Allah the Exalted says: { فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ اٰتَیْنٰہُ رَحْمَۃً مِّنْ عِنْدِنَا وَعَلَّمْنٰہُ مِّنْ لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا} … So they found one of Our servants, to whom We had given mercy from Us and had taught him knowledge from Us. (Surah al-Kahf: 65)

2. The statement of Musa alayhis salam to Khidr alayhis salam: {ھَلْ اَتَّبِعُکَ عَلٰٓی اَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا۔ قَالَ اِنَّکَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِیْعَ مَعِیَ صَبْرًا۔ وَکَیْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلٰی مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِہٖخُبْرًا۔ قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِیْٓ اِنْ شَآئَ اللّٰہُ صَابِرًا وَّلَآ اَعْصِیْ لَکَ اَمْرًا۔ قَالَ فَاِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِیْ فَلََا تَسْئَلْنِیْ عَنْ شَیْئٍ حَتّیٰٓ اُحْدِثَ لَکَ مِنْہُ ذِکْرًا۔} … Musa said to him, “May I follow you so that you teach me something of the guidance you have been taught?” He said, “Indeed, you will never be able to have patience with me.” He said, “If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you in any matter.” He said, “Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I myself mention it to you.” (Surah al-Kahf: 66–70)
If Khidr alayhis salam were only a saint (wali), Musa alayhis salam would not have addressed him in this manner, nor would he have replied in this way. See, Musa alayhis salam is asking him for his companionship so that he may acquire from him that which Allah the Exalted has granted only to him. If Khidr alayhis salam were not a Prophet, then he would not be infallible at all, whereas Musa alayhis salam was a great Prophet and infallible, so what desire would he have for something from him?

3. Khidr alayhis salam killed the boy; this could only be by revelation from Allah the Exalted. This is a definitive proof of his prophethood and a clear evidence of his infallibility, because it is not permissible for a saint (wali) to kill someone based on an inspiration. Then Khidr alayhis salam explained that this boy would have grown up to be a disbeliever and would have led his parents to disbelief as well. Ibn al-Jawzi, based on these reasons, established the prophethood of Khidr alayhis salam.

4. When Khidr alayhis salam explained his actions to Musa alayhis salam, he said: {رَحْمَۃً مِّنْ رَّبِّکَ وَمَا فَعَلْتُہٗعَنْاَمْرِیْ} … “As a mercy from your Lord, and I did not do it of my own accord.” (Surah al-Kahf: 82) That is, these actions were not inventions of my own soul, but I was commanded regarding them and revelation was sent to me.

5. According to hadith numbers (10394, 10395), the special quality of Khidr alayhis salam mentioned by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam appears to be his miracle.

From these reasons, it is evident that Khidr alayhis salam was a Prophet. And Allah knows best what is correct.

Ilyas alayhis salam:
In the chapter heading, the mention of Ilyas alayhis salam is present, but within the chapter there is no hadith related to him. However, he is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an:
Allah the Exalted says: {وَاِنَّ اِلْیَاسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِیْنَ۔ اِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِہِٓ اَلََا تَتَّقُوْنَ۔ اَتَدْعُوْنَ بَعْلًا وَّتَذَرُوْنَ اَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِیْنَ۔ اللّٰہَ رَبَّکُمْ وَرَبَّ اٰبَآئِکُمُ الْاَوَّلِیْن۔ فَکَذَّبُوْہُ فَاِنَّھُمْ لَمُحْضَرُوْنَ۔ اِلَّا عِبَادَ اللّٰہِ الْمُخْلَصِیْنَ۔ وَتَرَکْنَا عَلَیْہِ فِی الْاٰخِرِیْنَ۔ سَلٰم’‘ عَلٰٓی اِلْ یَاسِیْنَ۔ اِنَّا کَذٰلِکَ نَجْزِی الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ۔ اِنَّہٗمِنْعِبَادِنَاالْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ۔} … And indeed, Ilyas was surely among the messengers. When he said to his people, “Do you not fear? Do you call upon Ba’l and leave the best of creators—Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?” But they denied him, so they will surely be brought [for punishment], except the chosen servants of Allah. And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: “Peace be upon Ilyasin.” Indeed, thus do We reward the doers of good. (Surah as-Saffat: 123–131)
Ilyas alayhis salam was an Israelite Prophet from the descendants of Harun alayhis salam. The region to which he was sent was called Baalbek; some say the name of the place was Samirah, which is the central western region of Palestine. The people there were worshippers of an idol named Ba’l.