Moses' Search 1

 (18:60-86)

The Search of Moses

            If one is an unsatisfied member of his existing society and finds no justice for the humble and downtrodden in it, one may try to introduce some changes in the static structure of the status quo.  To think of changing the society is one thing, but how that change is going to take place and affect the individuals is another.  What norms and values are to be replaced with new ones and why?  To carve out a reasonable niche and to gather supporters who agree with it is a challenge to the unsatisfied thinker.

          Moses was such a person before he was honored with prophet hood.  He was looking to and fro for guidance and asking people to help him find out the truth.  Someone (the name is not given in the Quran) pointed out to him that at the confluence he could find a man who would help him in his quest.  Moses took a companion, a fish for lunch, and before the day break embarked on the adventure to seek guidance from a wise man.

          The sky was full of stars when he started his journey; slowly and gradually the stars lost their luster.  The rays of the rising sun brightened the atmosphere, but he could not find any living soul.  His companion looked at him and said, “We are at the right place, where two rivers meet, but there is no living soul here.  What do you want to do now?”

 Moses replied, “I will not stop until I fulfill my mission.”

They were sitting on a stone at the bank of the river talking to each other.  When Moses resumed his journey with undaunted determination to find the person, his companion followed him but forgot to carry the fish.  The fish, which was alive, slowly slipped into the river.

          Moses and his companion walked a long way till they were exhausted.  Moses stopped and said to his companion, “Let’s stop here and refresh ourselves with the lunch.”  The companion intended to sear the fish, but it was not in his bag.   He exclaimed with surprise, “The fish is not in the bag; when we stopped near the river, it slipped into the water, and I have forgotten to mention it to you.” 

Moses took a long breath and said, “I think that was our destination, but we overlooked its importance.”

Moses retraced his steps.  This time, he was able to meet the wise man he was looking for – a man on whom God had bestowed knowledge, revelation, and rahmat.  They talked for a while.  Moses told him about his dissatisfaction with the prevailing social system, the basic ideas on which the structure of society was formed, and values; he expressed the desire for change in the right direction, etc.  As the wise man stood up to depart Moses asked him, “Will you allow me to stay with you, so that I learn from the knowledge which God had so graciously bestowed upon you?”

The wise man replied, “You can accompany me on one condition.  You must not ask me questions about my actions unless I explain them to you. But what I have learned about you so far tells me that you will not be able to control yourself about the things you can’t understand, and you will start pestering me for a quick explanation.”

“If I do that, don’t keep me as a companion with you,” replied Moses.