A Bifocal Examination of Artistic Elements and Anfusi Interpretation in the Story of Moses and Khidr (AS)

The real and symbolic tale of the encounter between Prophet Moses and Prophet Khidr in verses 60 to 82 of Surah Al-Kahf presents an inner, spiritual, and ascendant journey towards perfection. Beyond its artistic aspects, the narrative has been interpreted from an Anfusi perspective, exploring various dimensions. Artistic interpreters have highlighted some of these enigmatic signs in Quranic visual art, while introspective interpreters, aligning these concepts with the inner world of humans, have unveiled its secrets beautifully. This descriptive-analytical-comparative study, employing artistic elements such as principles of imagery and artistic devices like dialogue and character portrayal, along with the utilization of Anfusi interpretation involving mystical insights from within the Quran and the interpretation of verses, aims to reveal the truths behind the meanings of this mysterious story. The findings suggest that the meanings of words in this narrative, such as Moses, Fata, the junction of the two seas, servant, ship, boy, and wall, are not merely confined to their apparent meanings. Instead, infused with vitality, movement, and color, these words resonate within hearts and minds. However, artistic interpretation elucidates reality, not imagination, as falsehood does not exist in the Quran. Anfusi interpreters consider this story as a cryptic narrative, interpreting its verses to unveil the states of the human soul and aligning them with the stages of spiritual journeying. Thus, the relationship between the outward and inward aspects of the Quran is not contradictory; rather, a strong conceptual connection exists.