Q: Is Khidar (AS) alive? (text)

A: According to many, yes he is alive. Such is the view of Allamah Nawawi and Allamah Qurtubi. Imaam Nawawi finds it difficult to dispute his existence based on the multiple accounts of pious people meeting him.

Those that say no

• Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim differ pertaining to his current physical existence. They feel that he has moved on.
• Also, some cite the famous Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam), which stated to his Sahaba (radiAllaahu anhum):  ‘no person who is alive (here today) on earth shall be alive 100 years from now’ (paraphrased.)  However, those of us who feel that he is alive assert that Khidar (Alayhis Salaam) was not on earth when this du’aa was made, he was upon the seas, (ship, etc) thus he was not included in this prayer. (There is a thing is Arabic called mustasna-the principle of exception)
• Yet others claim that had Khidar (Alayhis Salaam) been alive, he would have come to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) and given his hand by pledging the nubuwat (prophet-hood) of Rasulallah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) just as Musa (Alayhis Salaam)  Issa (Alayhis Salaam) etc. would have done had they been alive. Sure, the counter augment to this would be, Khidar (Alayhis Salaam) was not a prophet, thus he may not need to take such a pledge. The counter to this could be: would a man in the likes of Khidar (Alayhis Salaam) ever deny the meeting of the final Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam), considering that he (Alayhis Salaam) meets other pious people of lesser stature than the prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam)?! (This is a separate debate in itself!)
• Those who claim he passed away use that Ayah of the Quran that makes clear, ‘no life shall attain immortality.’

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. concern yourself with more pertinent matters than him (Alayhis Salaam) being alive. Chances are great, if we have not attained extensive piety, he (Alayhis Salaam) is not going to come and visit either of us. Our praise of him would not even possibly attain a visit to our site either, but you never know. We go with Imaam Nawawi on this matter. Note: let us concern ourselves with the necessary and practical.

Question of the day: Why did we have the name Khidar (Alayhis Salaam) in green font?!