The remainder of: What is your opinion regarding al-Khidr? Is he a prophet or a wali (close friend of Allah)? And is he still alive to this day?
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The Shaykh : For the sake of testing and trial, because Musa (peace be upon him) said: "I do not know anyone on the face of the earth who is more knowledgeable than me". So Allah the Exalted wanted to show him that there are people on earth who are more knowledgeable than he is. He was more knowledgeable than Musa only in what Allah taught him regarding the story of the ship, the wall, and the soul he killed; he was not more knowledgeable than him regarding the Shari'ah of Allah.
Furthermore, the stronger position is that he is not alive, but rather he died at his time, just like other people. If he had been alive, it would have been obligatory for him to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and believe in him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was sent to all people.
It is well known that he did not come to the Messenger, and no one among the Companions said that he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). Then it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: So if it were possible that he exists, he would have died.
In any case, the correct view, in which I have no doubt, is that al-Khidr has died, and that his death was like the death of people at that time. Also, the correct view is that he was not a prophet, but rather a man to whom Allah the Exalted granted knowledge in certain matters, so that it would become clear to Musa (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that there are people on earth who are more knowledgeable than he is in some matters.
As for those who claim that a wali (close friend of Allah) is better than a prophet, they are disbelievers, because the prophets are the highest rank among the ranks of the children of Adam. Then, the prophet combines prophethood and the status of being a close friend of Allah, and the messenger combines messengership, prophethood, and the status of being a close friend of Allah.
Those who say that the rank of prophethood is in the interval between the messenger and the wali (close friend of Allah) are liars in that. The best ranks of the children of Adam are the prophets, and at their head are the messengers, and at the head of the messengers are the five resolute ones, then after that the truthful ones, then the martyrs, then the righteous ones from here.
Furthermore, the stronger position is that he is not alive, but rather he died at his time, just like other people. If he had been alive, it would have been obligatory for him to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and believe in him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was sent to all people.
It is well known that he did not come to the Messenger, and no one among the Companions said that he came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). Then it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said:
Indeed, within a hundred years, no one who is on the face of the earth today will remain.
إنه على رأس مائة سنة لا يبقى على وجه الأرض ممن هو عليها اليوم أحدIn any case, the correct view, in which I have no doubt, is that al-Khidr has died, and that his death was like the death of people at that time. Also, the correct view is that he was not a prophet, but rather a man to whom Allah the Exalted granted knowledge in certain matters, so that it would become clear to Musa (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that there are people on earth who are more knowledgeable than he is in some matters.
As for those who claim that a wali (close friend of Allah) is better than a prophet, they are disbelievers, because the prophets are the highest rank among the ranks of the children of Adam. Then, the prophet combines prophethood and the status of being a close friend of Allah, and the messenger combines messengership, prophethood, and the status of being a close friend of Allah.
Those who say that the rank of prophethood is in the interval between the messenger and the wali (close friend of Allah) are liars in that. The best ranks of the children of Adam are the prophets, and at their head are the messengers, and at the head of the messengers are the five resolute ones, then after that the truthful ones, then the martyrs, then the righteous ones from here.