قالَ إِن سَأَلتُكَ عَن شَيءٍ بَعدَها فَلا تُصاحِبني ۖ قَد بَلَغتَ مِن لَدُنّي عُذرًا

He said: ‘If I question you about anything after this, do not keep me in your company. You have already got sufficient excuse on my part.’

EXEGESIS

This (hā) (in after this) is a feminine pronoun which may refer to time (marrah) or the question (masʾalah),^{‎[1]Mizan, 13/346.} or the event of the killing.

EXPOSITION

Khiḍr’s (a) dispassionate response seems to have shaken Moses (a) out of his anger, and he remembered that indeed Khiḍr (a) had warned him he would see things which he would not understand. The lessons God intended for him to learn were already taking effect, and he remembered that truly many things might happen for which we do not understand the purpose, and he recalled that Khiḍr (a), in whom he had absolute trust, was only carrying out God’s command. Ashamed that he had again forgotten his promise, he quickly apologised and pleaded for one more chance.^{‎[2]See also Nemuneh, 12/494.}

If I question you about anything after this, do not keep me in your company: some have argued that Moses (a) did not forget when he objected to Khiḍr (a) slaying the boy, but despite remembering his promise he could not help himself but object to such a seemingly vile action. It is said this is because he does not claim to have forgotten here, like he did after the sabotage of the ship.^{‎[3]Furqan, 18/157.} More likely though, as we mentioned when discussing verse 74, he was overcome by emotion and was not thinking about his promise when he objected. Otherwise, he would not be so easily satisfied when Khiḍr (a) reminded him, Did I not tell you, indeed you cannot have patience with me (verse 75), without offering any more explanation or excuse.

You have already got sufficient excuse on my part: Moses (a) knew that he had already exceeded his excuses and that if Khiḍr (a) agreed to let him accompany him he would not get any further chances.^{‎[4]Tibyan, 7/75.} Or perhaps he was beginning to understand that Khiḍr (a) was right, in that he could not be patient in the face of what he does not understand.^{‎[5]See Nemuneh, 12/495.}

INSIGHTS FROM HADITH

1. From the Prophet, that he recited this verse and then said: ‘Moses, the prophet of God, felt shy. If he had been patient he would have seen [Khiḍr perform] thousands of wondrous things.’^{‎[6]Tabrisi, 6/751; Tibyan 7/75-76, with some variation.}

Note: The apparent meaning of this hadith is that if Moses (a) himself had not said If I question you about anything after this, do not keep me in your company, he would have been permitted to remain with Khiḍr (a) and seen many more things yet. This is clearer in another variant where the Prophet is reported as saying: ‘May God bless us and Moses (a). If he had remained with his companion, he would have seen the most wondrous of wonders, however he said If I question you …’^{‎[7]Tabari, 15/186; Thalabi, 6/184; Nasai.K, 6/391, h. 11310; Baghdadi, 6/397, h. 3455. Also Muslim, 7/106.}

[1] Mizan, 13/346.
[2] See also Nemuneh, 12/494.
[3] Furqan, 18/157.
[4] Tibyan, 7/75.
[5] See Nemuneh, 12/495.
[6] Tabrisi, 6/751; Tibyan 7/75-76, with some variation.
[7] Tabari, 15/186; Thalabi, 6/184; Nasai.K, 6/391, h. 11310; Baghdadi, 6/397, h. 3455. Also Muslim, 7/106.