Is Al-Khadir still alive? Tell me all about him.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Many eminent scholars of Islam such as al-Bukhaari, Ibraheem al-Harbi, Abu al-Hussayn ibn al-Menadi, Abu al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawziyyah and Ibn Taymiyyah ruled that he is dead. There are many sound proofs for this opinion:

1 - Allah Says (what means): {And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]; so if you die - would they be eternal?} [Quran 21:34]

Al-Khadir was a person/ a human being and is included in the generality and commonness of this verse. He can not then be given any exceptional state unless there is a sound evidence for it. No such state exists.

2 - Allah also Says (what means): {And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], “Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him.”} [Quran 3:81]

Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“Allah has taken a covenant from every Messenger. He sent that when Muhammad is sent while he is alive he should believe in him (i.e. Muhammad) and help him (support him). If Al-Khadir was a Messenger, he is from those who took that covenant. So, if he were alive, during the era of Muhammad he would not have had any choice than to be with the Prophet Muhammad believing in what Allah had revealed to him and supporting him against all enemies of Islam during that difficult period. Again, if Al-Khadir were a Wali (ally), there is no doubt that Abu Bakr who supported the Prophet Muhammad with all his ability was superior to him; and if he were a Prophet, Moosa was superior to him. The Prophet Muhammad said: “I swear by Allah, in Whose Hand my soul is, if Moosa were alive, he would not have had any other choice but to follow me.” [Ahmad] Ibn Katheer said: “It is known that there is no sound, good, or even acceptable narration that proves that al-Khadir ever met with the Prophet Muhammad or that he ever got involved in any of the fighting that took place. If one wonders by saying: “Wasn't he present during all the battles that took place, but nobody saw him?” The answer is: “This probability is almost nil as it requires us to particularize what is general by illusions only. Again, what pushed him to remain unseen? No doubt that his reward would have been greater if he showed himself and this would have added yet another miracle to the Prophet Muhammad . Moreover- according to Ibn Katheer - if al-Khadir remained alive after the death of the Prophet Muhammad he would have told the Muslims about the wrong narrations said to be from the Prophet Muhammad that were sources of many innovations, and extremist views. He would also have fought with the Muslims against their enemies and joined their group (Muslim community). Indeed, his establishment of the right evidence and the appropriate rulings and his advice to the scholars and rulers would have been much better for him than his hiding in many different countries, his wandering everywhere around the world or his meeting with some people who might not be of the best ones and who take him as the leader who translates from them. What we have mentioned here is enough for those who understand and Allah guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.” [End of quote -Ibn Katheer]

3 - There are yet other pieces of evidence from the sound Hadeeth. The Prophet Muhammad once prayed the ‘Isha prayer and said: “Do you see this night, after a hundred years from it, no living person on this earth will be alive.” Ibn Omar said: “He meant the end of his century.” Ibn al-Jawzi said: “These sound narrations cut off the roots of the claim that al-Khadir may Allah exalt his mention, is still alive.”

Because, if al-Khadir had lived till the era of the Prophet Muhammad the above Hadeeth implies that he would not have lived after that century. So, he is now absent not present; i.e. he is no longer alive.

The above are then some proofs for his death as established by the Muslim scholars.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 87455.

Allah knows best.