Irfan A. Omar. Prophet al-Khiḍr: Between the Qur’anic Text and Islamic Contexts

London: Lexington Books, 2022. Hardcover. ISBN: 978-1-4985-9591-9. Price: $US 95.

Abstract

Khiḍr is neither well-known or well-theorized, despite the fact that he frequently appears in Muslim literature and that several Muslim civilizations have adopted his tale as their own. Building upon the extensive research and comprehensive analysis of the mysterious prophet Khiḍr by Patrick Franke and Talat Halman, Prophet al-Khiḍr: Between the Qur’anic Text and Islamic Contexts by Irfan A. Omar adds to a growing correction to this. By examining Khiḍr through a “wider frame of understanding” in Prophet al-Khiḍr, Omar hopes to demonstrate the important intersectional connections between the Khiḍr narrative and other savior-sage type stories. This covers both symbolic and legendary viewpoints in addition to textual and literary representations (22) and to ‘’examine Khiḍr’s diverse attributes as a celestial messenger entrusted with aiding the pious and truth-seekers, irrespective of time or location, status, or faith’’ (27).  Omar's efforts have given us a rich, widely portrayed, painstakingly detailed, composite, and colorful picture of the Khiḍr tale throughout Islamic history and genres.