Tour in the footsteps of the Green Prophet in Haifa • Who is the Prophet Al-Khader? *10.02.24

This week, the Druze in Israel will celebrate the holiday of the Prophet al-Khadr, during which they make a pilgrimage to mark his tomb in the Galilee. But who is that prophet? And how is it related to another religious site, the Eliyahu Cave, here in Haifa? You can find some of the answers in the story that I will wrap up here, and others - in the tour that I will guide this Friday. All the details at the end of the article.

Who is the green prophet?

When I was learning to be a guide, the name "Al-Khadr", which means "the green" (in Arabic: Al-Khadr, i.e. Al-Khachar, for those who insist on the transliteration; the Arabic word, by the way, is related to the Hebrew words) would come up from time to time. hay" and "yard").

There has always been some misty air of mystery surrounding this name. They said that he was connected in some way to the prophet Elijah, they told about this or that cave or place that is dedicated to him, but none of our teachers - even though I went back and made it difficult - really knew who Al-Khader was or what exactly was the nature of his connection to Elijah. Well, I had to go out and learn for myself. Reading in the wake of El Khader led me not only to the connection between him and Elijah the prophet, but also to a whole list of other figures, from Moses the Rabbi, through Yohanan the Baptist and George the Dragon Slayer to the Mesopotamian Othanfisthem and some of the officials in the retinue of Alexander the Great.

Al-Khadr in the Koran

We meet al-Khadr for the first time in the Qur'an, although his name is omitted. In Surat al-Kahf, the 18th chapter of the Koran, it is said that Moses met al-Khadr, described as God's servant (perhaps an angel), and asked to buy wisdom from him. Al-Khader warned Moshe that the latter would not be able to stand by Al-Khader's actions in silence, but Moshe insisted and Al-Khader allowed him to join him.

During their journey together, Moshe commented on three of Al-Khader's actions that seemed evil or puzzling to him - for example, that Al-Khader punched a hole in the ship. After the third time, Al-Khader drove Moshe away from him, but not before he explained to him the reasons behind his actions. In the case of the ship, al-Khadr prevented its sailors, by punching the hole, from falling victim to the evil king who jams enemy ships. Thus it is revealed that Al-Khader is the bearer of hidden wisdom and works for the good and kindness in the world.

The years after the spread of Islam

In the years after the spread of Islam, the figure of al-Khadr became more and more popular. Hadiths concerning him were written down, legends were compiled around his figure and he became an important figure in Sufi orders, in the more mystical wings of Islam. In all these stories, al-Khader is presented as a handsome man, sometimes with a white beard, an immortal, who brings to our world hidden wisdom from the upper heavens and is also associated with acts of kindness and healing. Many times it is associated with the meeting of two bodies of water, springs and fish.

The Green Prophet travels between religions

Another characteristic of Al-Khader is the link between him and many other characters (this is called syncretism and you may remember this concept from Bible lessons). One of the figures most associated with Al-Khader is Elijah the prophet. Elijah is described in Jewish sources (and not only) as one of the only characters in the Bible who never died (ascended in the heavenly storm, as you remember) and as one who teaches sages divine Torah and works in the world with acts of kindness. The imagery between the figures led to a popular Islamic belief that saw Al-Khader as the reincarnation of Elijah, and also here, in Haifa, the Prophet Elijah's cave is known in Arabic, among other things, as Makam Al-Khader.

Another figure strongly associated with Al-Khader is the figure of St. George, the Christian saint from the city of Lod, famous for slaying a dragon. In the place where the dragon's body fell, so they say, a spring burst forth that heals all ills. Here, too, the imagery of motifs such as eternal life, healing water, the study of hidden Torah and a divine mission for the benefit of humans are what helped to connect the figures in the meeting between the Islamic, Jewish and Christian worlds, at least from the ninth century until modern times. In the monastery of Santa Caterina on the high mountain in Sinai, for example, Muslims in the 18th century saw the icons of St. George as al-Khadr and in the Ottoman area the Hıdırellez holiday was celebrated on the same date, which was a Muslim holiday for the prophet al-Khadr and a Christian holiday for St. George.

The Prophet Al-Khadr holiday of the Druze

This week, as I recall, the Druze in Israel will celebrate the holiday of the Prophet Al-Khadr with a pilgrimage to his place in Kfar Yasif. The Druze (who call themselves the Bnei Maruf or the Bnei Mawhidun) are perhaps the religious group that most profoundly embraced the syncretism between the various figures I mentioned. They see Al-Khader as a figure that has been incarnated in many forms, from his appearance in the Koran in the days of Moses, through the Prophet Elijah, John the Baptist (who himself is also related to the Prophet Elijah), Saint George, and up to one of the prophets of the Druze religion in the 11th century, Abu Abraham.

We wish, then, to our Druze readers Ziyara Makbula! (the blessing used on pilgrimages to the graves of prophets and saints).

Tour following the Green Prophet

This is the tip of the fork regarding Al Khadr. This mysterious figure is associated with many figures, some of which - John the Baptist, Alexander the Great, Helios the sun god and more - I could not expand on here. Those who are curious to hear more about them, and about their deep connection to Carmel, are invited to join me on a special tour on the occasion of the Prophet Al-Khader holiday, from Stela Maris to the Eliyahu Cave.
It happens on Saturday 10.2.24 at 13:00-10:00.
For details and registration: 052-5348582 (Dotan).
Invited and invited!