Krishna - Al-Khidr is Rishi means Poet or Prophet

Wisdom of Mahabharata | In the heart of action, remain liberated
By : Technology of the Heart:

Krishna (Avatar Vishnu) is the giver of the sacred gnosis, like a guide of soul.  Krishna is almost like Khidr. Krishna teaches the lesson of dharma (the Path, the reality of things as it).

Krishna is like the Divine Voice through whom God speaks. To appreciate Krishna's perspective, the sayings of Krishna could be compared to Hadith Qudsi (sacred transmission), which traditionally are God's words spoken through the Messenger. Similarly what Krishna speaks, speaks for God, as Divine Voice. This explanation is important to understand to avoid associationism (shirk). Allah alone is Allah.

Who is krishna (Krishna is avatar / IncarnationVishnu) ? :
In miniature India, Khidr trip over the big fish, suggesting the image of the first avatar of Vishnu, Matsya: The fish that save man in Manu myth (Satapatha Bramana, ...8 i..). Since early times in the form of water and light the locals had cult him (Khidr) as the Protector of River Sindhu (Indus-Pakistan). believe to be the incarnation (deity-saint and avatar) of Vishnu-Krishna and is known by various names such as Khwaja Khizr (God of Water), Baruna / Varuna / Varun Dev / Jhulelal (Baruna / Varuna / Varun Dev / Jhulelal is Khidr).

Prophet
The Hindu concept of Rishis is similar to the concept of prophets. The Sanskrit word Rishi is loosely translated into English as "seer" (a prophet, a man who can foresee the future). Hinduism recognizes and reveres thousands of Rishis, who can be thought of as the collective founders of the Hindu religion over many millennia. Of these, special importance is given to the Saptarshi (the Seven Sages), widely regarded as patriarchs of the Hindu religion, whose listing is different according to different texts. The Saptarshi and their clans are believed to have composed the hymns of the four Vedas by entering into communion with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit through meditation. For instance, Rigveda 1.1 is attributed to Rishi Madhucchandā Vaishwāmitra (i.e. Madhucchandā of the clan of Vishwamitra). Most Rishikās were male, but some were female too. Lopamudra is the author of one hymn in the Rigveda, and Gargi Vachaknavi is described in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as a highly respected woman in the field of Brahmajñāna. Apart from the Vedas, various Rishis are also credited with composing the several Smriti texts, like Veda Vyasa who composed the Mahābhārata.

 
This illustrates the story from the Mahabharata where Draupadi,
the wife of the Pandava brothers, prays to Lord Krishna for help
and is saved by His making the cloth of her sari endless
so she can not be humiliated.

The Honorable Lord Krishna: A Prophet Of Allah
By : Qasim Rashid
Lawyer, Speaker, Best-Selling Author of "EXTREMIST"
Posted: 08/09/2012 12:00 pm

Hindus worldwide will soon observe Krishna Janmashtami, a celebration of Lord Krishna's birth. While many recognize the differences between Islam and Hinduism, few may appreciate that according to Islamic principles and Prophet Muhammad, Lord Krishna was a true Prophet of God.

The obvious question that emerges is that if the same God sent Lord Krishna and Prophet Muhammad, why do Islam and Hinduism have notable theological differences? Simply put, Islam only argues that the original core teachings of Hinduism and Islam are the same -- the unity of God and the obligation to serve mankind. Furthermore, nothing in the Quran, Sunnah or Hadith declares that Lord Krishna was not a prophet. Thus, this short article offers nine points to consider -- together -- that Lord Krishna is a true prophet of God, a prophet whom Muslims also revere along with their fellow Hindu neighbors.

1. First, the Quran is the only ancient scripture that specifically mentions and praises other faiths. While the Quran mentions Jews and Christians specifically, in numerous places, likewise, it mentions Hindus in a group known as the Sabians. Sabians refer to non-Abrahamic traditions -- Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Taoists, etc. Thus, recognition of Hinduism exists in the Quran.

2. Islam teaches six Articles of Faith. The Fourth Article of Faith is the belief in all of God's prophets. This simple Article of Faith provides further credence to recognizing Lord Krishna as a prophet sent to the Indian subcontinent.

3. The Quran is clear that God's Divine guidance is not exclusive to any one people. Rather the Quran says that God sent "messengers to every people" (10:48) and "We raised among every people a messenger" (16:37). Prophet Muhammad further declared that God has sent no less than 124,000 prophets to mankind throughout history (Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 5, 169) of which only 28 are mentioned in the Quran. None of those 28 prophets are mentioned as being sent to the Indian subcontinent. Thus, it is perfectly reasonable that Lord Krishna is one of the many prophets God sent with His Divine message.

4. Segueing from the previous point, the Quran clearly declares, "And We sent some Messengers whom We have already mentioned to thee and some Messengers whom We have not mentioned to thee..." (4:165). Thus, to declare that Lord Krishna is not a prophet simply because the Quran does not mention him is a meritless argument.

5. Remarkably, Prophet Muhammad declared, "There was a prophet of God in India who is dark in color and his name was Kahan [Krishna]" (History of Hamadan Dailmi Chapter Al-Kaaf). Some critics allege this is not a Sahih (authentic) hadith, and while their assessment could be valid, their conclusion that the hadith should be discarded is invalid. Basic Islamic jurisprudence holds that if a hadith does not contradict the Quran, then it may be accepted as valid. As mentioned earlier, nothing in the Quran, Sunnah or Hadith declare that Lord Krishna was not a prophet of God. Thus, Prophet Muhammad's testimony provides clear guidance of Lord Krishna's status in Islam -- that of a prophet. In fact, a renowned early 19th century Muslim scholar, Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi also was of the opinion that considering the evidence and this hadith, Lord Krishna was a true Prophet of God (Dharam Parchar Pg 8 & Debate Shah Jahan Pur Pg 31).

6. Islam's Third Article of Faith is the Belief in God's Books. This is why Muslims revere the Injeel (Gospels) and Torah (Old Testament). Thus, it is only logical that Muslims also revere the Gita and Vedas, Hinduism's holy scriptures from which Lord Krishna taught.

7. Earlier I mentioned that both Islam and Hinduism teach the unity of God and service of mankind -- a message both Prophet Muhammad and Lord Krishna taught. In fact, the Vedas state, "There is only one God, worship Him" (Rig Veda, 6.45.16) and "Do not worship any one beside Him" (Rig Veda 8.1.1) and also, "God is only one, not a second" (Chandogya Upanishad Ch. 6.2.1). Furthermore, countless verses in the Vedas teach the service of mankind. For example, "Oh Noble men! We do not commit violence. We do not hurt others. We do not quarrel either. We of course chant Vedas and act according to its dictates" (Rig Veda 10.134.7) and "Every man should protect the other in all respects" (Atharva 6.64.1). Again, while admitted theological differences exist between Islam and Hinduism today, no doubt exists that Prophet Muhammad and Lord Krishna both taught God's unity and service to mankind.

8. Furthermore, Lord Krishna's scriptures clearly prophesize Prophet Muhammad's advent in multiple places. We provide just two. Bhavisyath Purana 3:5-8 states, "A spiritual reformer will come from a foreign land (outside Bharat) with his disciples. His name will be Mahamad. He will dwell in a desert." Likewise, "His [Mahamad's] followers will perform circumcision. They will not keep their hair in the form of Choti as the Brahmans do. They will keep beard. They will bring about a revolution. They will call with a loud voice [i.e. Adhaan]. They will eat meat of animals other than that of swine. They will attain purity through Jihad. Their civilization will be called Muslay [Muslim]." For the sake of brevity we will avoid further commentary on these verses as they speak volumes on their own. Suffice it to say, however, that these verses further support the argument that the same God who sent Prophet Muhammad, sent Lord Krishna. Earlier we provided Prophet Muhammad's hadith validating Lord Krishna, and now we provide Lord Krishna's holy scripture validating Prophet Muhammad. What further proof do we need that Prophet Muhammad and Lord Krishna are brothers cut from the same mold?

9. Finally, in the Quran, God gives Prophet Muhammad the auspicious title of Khataman Nabiyeen or Seal of the Prophets (33:41). While some limit this title's meaning to "last," from Hadith and authentic Arabic lexicon it is clear that the true import of "Seal" is Greatness and Validation. That is, Prophet Muhammad is called not only the greatest prophet, but also the Validation of all prophets. Thus, it makes perfect sense why Prophet Muhammad specifically called Lord Krishna a Prophet -- part of his purpose in coming was to declare to the world that God did not abandon any people. Rather, God sent His guidance and prophets to all people. In doing so, Prophet Muhammad validated Lord Krishna's truthfulness -- something no prophet of any faith outside of Islam has done. Thus, as human beings we must honor and revere all those prophets because the same God sent each of them -- Lord Krishna being no exception.

In short, Prophet Lord Krishna was a noble, righteous, beloved one of God. Far from theological division, he is a source of unity and accord between Hindus and Muslims.

 
The Historical Origin of Lord Krishna, the Incarnation of Vishnu

Stories of the past prophets – Prophet Krishna (as)
Posted by Salma Javid Khan on July 26, 2014. Filed under Ahmadiyyat: True Islam,Asia,Countries,India,Islam,Qadian,The Muslim Times

The Truth Message – Part – 2.8:
Stories of the past prophets – Prophet Shree Krishna (as)

Birth: Similar to that of Moses (as): Had to escape the killing hands of the then king by being sailed off in waters.

Miracles: Similar to that of Jesus (as) & Mohammad (saw): All these 3 of them are believed to have shown miracles with food by increasing its value of sufficiency  / quantity though the availability was less.

Prophet Krishna claimed to be the recipient of God’s word and his followers not only believe him to be a Messenger but also consider him to be God personified.

In the Bhagawat Geeta Shree Krishna himself only claimed to be a Messenger, nothing more. Enough evidence can be presented from the Mahabharat and Bhagavad Gita that Shree Krishna never claimed Godhead for himself, nor did he ever claim immortality. Krishna can easily be identified as just another prophet of God, no different from those who appeared before or after him throughout the recorded history of religion. It is indeed a fact that God conversed with him too; didn’t we read earlier that God converses with his favorites, the chosen ones?

The principal scriptures discussing Krishna’s story are the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Bhagavata Purana and the Vishnu Purana.

Life of Prophet Krishna (pbuh):
As portrayed in his authentic biographies, Krishna (pbuh) is known to have been born on earth around 1458 BC, like any other human child, to Vasudeva and his wife Devaki and his name was Kinai (Kinhai / Kanhaiya). The name “Krishna” was given to him later, meaning “the enlightened one”.

He is known to have led an ordinary child’s life with an exceptional flare of supernatural abilities which is just an another attribute shared by many other prophets of God [Read miracles performed by prophets].

He lived like humans, behaved like humans and died like humans.

During his childhood, he occasionally took childish licenses like stealing butter, or at least that is what is claimed by the Hindu analysts.

He grew up to a strong adulthood and acquired (and displayed) outstanding qualities of leadership.

In the battlefield he led great armies to epoch-making victories. In ordinary life, he rose to the exalted position of a great spiritual exemplar and performed his role as a reformer, the like of which had seldom been seen in Bharat [also called India / Al Hind / Hindustan].

Krishna is often described and portrayed as an infant or young boy playing a flute as in the Bhagavata Purana, or as a youthful prince giving direction and guidance as in the Bhagavad Gita.

The stories of Krishna appear across a broad spectrum of Hindu philosophical and theological traditions. They portray him in various perspectives: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and the Supreme Being.

As is a job of every reformer sent, be him a prophet or a messenger, it was an assigned job to Krishna (as) to destroy evil and sometimes evil-minded people who wanted to wipe out religion and/or went against its teachings. He admonished people to become righteous and to eschew evil. 

Shree Krishn Portrayed:
In his physical description, the image of Shree Krishna is portrayed as him having four or six arms instead of two and is also shown bearing wings. Most often he is portrayed standing with a flute pressed against his lips and some comely maidens (rather colorfully dressed) called gopis are shown to throng around him. Gopi is a term applied to such womenfolk who tend cows. It is a term similar to that of a shepherdess.

It should be remembered here that the title of Krishna himself was that of Go’pal which means “the tender of cows”. This, when read together with the Biblical accounts of Israelite prophets as shepherds tending the sheep of the house of Israel, makes the similarity between the two abundantly clear.

Let me explain it: India is a country of cows instead of sheep, and so the common people are referred to as cows. Hence for Krishna to be entitled a tender of cows, Gopal, is quite understandable. Likewise, reference to his disciples as gopis presents no mystery either.

To put in in one line: ‘Prophet Jesus was the shepherd of the sheep of Israel’; similarly ‘Prophet Krishna was the Gopal of the cows of India’.

Other episodes woven around the image of Krishna can also be read as parables and allegories rather than matter-of-fact statements. As regards the image of Krishna possessing extra arms, it can be symbolically interpreted to mean that highly ranked servants of God are gifted with extra faculties. And as far as wings are concerned, the Holy Quran too, mentions wings in relation to the Holy Prophet (saw) of Islam: He is enjoined by God to lower his wing of mercy over the believers.

But it often happens that religious allegories and parables are taken rather too literally by the followers of religions and thus their underlying significance is altogether missed. The image of Shree Krishna and stories woven about him, or for that matter about all the physical Gods in Hinduism, is no exception. 

Krishna, the Murli Dhar:
Krishna is also called Murli Dhar which means a flute player.
The flute here is evidently a symbol of revelation because the tune that the flute emits is not emitted by the flute itself – It only transmits that which is being breathed into it. Hence, it was Krishna (as) himself who has been depicted as a flute played by God. Whatever tune God played into him He most faithfully transmitted to the world.

Thus the reality of Krishna can be seen as no different from that of any other messenger of God who, as a faithful custodian of Divine messages, passes them on to the world unchanged. The flute thus becomes a most expressive symbol of the integrity of prophets assuring the world that they say nothing from themselves, other than what has been revealed to them from the High.

Do you remember how Abraham (pbuh) had prayed for a great Prophet with eternal missions?

And we’ve read how Moses (pbuh) prophesized coming of a great prophet after him

And we’ve also seen how Jesus (pbuh) announced the coming of a great prophet after him.

Right then, how could Hinduism, just another divine religion, remain behind in foretelling the coming of this great Prophet? This great prophet was to become the Leader of All Prophets after all.

Prophecies in the Vedas:
The Vedas of the Hindus contain numerous prophecies pertaining to the advent of a Holy Prophet. Athra Veda which is also known as Brahma Ved (i.e. Divine knowledge) contains the following prophecy:

    O people! Listen to these words with reverence. A very praise-worthy person will appear among the people. He will accept him from among 60090 enemies. His means of transport would be 20 camels. His name will soar high and then return. This great Rishi will have 100 gold coins, 10 pearl necklaces, 300 horses and 10,000 cows. (Athra Ved Kantam 20-127, 70-1-3) 

Prophecies in the Bhavishyath PuraN:
    A spiritual reformer will come from a foreign land (outside Bharat) with his disciples (companions). His name will be Mahamad (Muhammad). He will dwell in a desert. (Bhavisyath Purana 3:5-8)

    His followers will perform circumcision. They will not keep their hair in the form of Choti as the Brahmans do. They will keep beard. They will bring about a revolution. They will call with a loud voice (i.e., instead of using a bell to call the people for prayer, they will call people to prayer in a loud voice by ‘Azan’). They will eat meat of animals other than that of swine. They will attain purity through Jihad. Their civilization will be called Muslay (Muslim). (Bhavishyat Puran Vol. 3 verse:3)

————————————————————————————————————

Return of Shree Krishna (peace be upon him)
Hindus expect return of their Shree Krishna(as) at the time of the Kali Yuga / Kalyug (the age of darkness). They believe that when the world is all engulfed in darkness Krishna(as) will return in judgment in the form of a new avatar. According to their description of the Kali Yuga, they believe that we are currently at the age for his return, when the world is in an age of spiritual decadence. This is to be followed by a regenerated era.

Krishna(as) himself declares the progressive line of Prophethood in Bhagavad Gita [Chapter 4 verse 7-8]:

“Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya;
Glanir Bhavati Bharata;
Abhyutthanam Dharmasya;
Tadatmanam Srjamy Aham.”

Which means:

Whenever there is a decay of righteousness, O Bharata,
And a rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself;
.. to protect of the good, and to destroy the wicked
and to establish righteousness, I manifest myself in every age.
(Bhagavad Gita 4:7-8)

There is also a tradition of Kalki, the final Hindu avatar who would appear from the west mounted on a white horse. Kalki is also known as conqueror of dualities and of darkness.

The texts describe the coming of Kalki
When the practices taught by the Vedas and the institutes of law shall nearly have ceased, and the close of the kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of his own spiritual nature in the character of Brahma, and who is the beginning and the end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon the earth… he will then re-establish righteousness upon earth; and the minds of those who live at the of the Kali age shall be awakened, and shall be as pellucid as crystal. The men who are thus changed by virtue of that peculiar time shall be as the seeds of human beings, and shall give birth to a race that shall follow the laws of the Krita age, the Age of Purity. (Vishnu Purana, 4.24)

Here, the verses first give an indication of the state of the world when the Kalki avatar would appear in terms of lawlessness and a lack of spirituality; it then talks of Kalki re-awakening the spiritual minds of people and signaling the dawn of a new spiritual (Krita) age.

The question is whether Kalki will come just for India and for the Hindus only or whether Kalki would have a more global message and scope?

Muslims of today reject the Prohpethood of Prophet Krishna (pbuh)
While many recognize the differences between Islam and Hinduism, few may appreciate that according to Islamic principles and Prophet Muhammad (saw), ShreeKrishna (pbuh) was a true Prophet of God.

Simply put, the original core teachings of Hinduism and Islam are the same — the unity of God and the obligation to serve mankind.

Let me explain: From among the six Articles of Faith in Islam the Fourth Article demands the belief in all of God’s prophets. This simple Article of Faith provides further credence to recognizing Shree Krishna as a prophet sent to the Indian subcontinent… still thinking, why?

    Allah (the one God) created mankind and took it upon Himself to guide them, as He says in the Holy Qur’an, “Surely, it is for Us to provide guidance.” (92:13)

The Quran is clear that God’s Divine guidance is not exclusive to any one people. Rather, the Quran says

    “And We did raise among every people a Messenger.” (16:37)

Thus the Qur’an affirms the truth of all the previous Revelations. Guidance and Law were given to every nation of the world through His Messengers and this is confirmed by Allah Himself as He says in the Qur’an,

    “And for every people there was a Messenger.” (10:48)

    “And there is a Guide for every people.” (13:8).

Prophet Muhammad (saw) further declared that God has sent no less than 124,000 prophets to mankind throughout history (Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 5, 169) of which only 28 are mentioned in the Holy Quran. Segueing from the previous point, the Quran clearly declares:

    And We sent some Messengers whom We have already mentioned to thee and some Messengers whom We have not mentioned to thee…” (4:165)

Worthy of mention is the point that none of those 28 was sent to the Indian subcontinent.

Thus, it is perfectly possible and very reasonable that Shree Krishna is one of the many prophets God sent with His Divine message to the land of Bharata, i.e. India… is it not?

So confirmly, Shree Krishna (as) comes into the second category of those prophets who are not mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. However, being the ‘Seal of Prophets’, Mohammad (saw) was aware of the prophethood of Krishna (as)…:

Prophet Muhammad once declared:
    “There was a prophet of God in India who is dark in color and his name was Kinai (Kinhai / Kanhaiya).” (History of Hamadan Dailmi Chapter Al-Kaaf).

In fact, a renowned early 19th century Muslim scholar, Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi also was of the opinion that considering the evidence and this hadith, Shree Krishna was a true Prophet of God (Dharam Parchar Pg 8 & Debate Shah Jahan Pur Pg 31).

Islam’s Third Article of Faith is the Belief in God’s Books. This is why Muslims revere the Injeel (Gospels) and Torah (Old Testament). Thus, it is only logical that Muslims also revere the Divine Vedas, and the other Holy Scriptures.

Earlier I mentioned that both Islam and Hinduism teach the unity of God and service of mankind — a message both Prophet Muhammad (sa) and Shree Krishna (as) taught. In fact, the Vedas state:

    “There is only one God, worship Him” (Rig Veda, 6.45.16) and

    “Do not worship any one beside Him” (Rig Veda 8.1.1) and also,

    “God is only one, not a second” (Chandogya Upanishad Ch. 6.2.1).

Furthermore, countless verses in the Vedas teach the service of mankind. For example:

    “Oh Noble men! We do not commit violence. We do not hurt others. We do not quarrel either. We of course chant Vedas and act according to its dictates” (Rig Veda 10.134.7) and

    “Every man should protect the other in all respects” (Atharva 6.64.1).

Again, while admitting that theological differences exist between Islam and Hinduism, there’s no doubt that Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Shree Krishna (as) both taught God’s unity and service to mankind.

Let us have a comparison of Hinduism & Islam, what say?
Allow me to explain you how a four-line definition of God found in the Holy books of Islam (the final religion for all earth), Hinduism (one of the oldest religion) and Christianity – A comparison will help us arrive at an agreeable point. Please don’t forget that all divine religions are from the One & Only God and so naturally the original unaltered messages have to be similar.

Let’s compare Hinduism & Islamic concepts of God through their holy books:

Islam says, ‘He is Allah, the One;’ [Qur’an-e-Kareem 112:2]
Hinduism says, “He is One only without a second.” [Upanishad 6:2:1]

How similar!

Hinduism says,
“Almighty God is the supreme lord of all the worlds” [Bhagwad Gita 10:3]

Islam says, ‘
Allah alone is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Most Supreme. [13:17]

Hinduism says,
“Na Tasya Kascij Janita Na Janipadh” [6:9]

Islam says,
“Lam Yalid wa Lam Yulad” both of which means ‘He begets not, nor is He begotten; [112:4] meaning “Neither did He biologically reproduce anybody nor was He reproduced by anybody.”

Hinduism says, ‘
“Na Tasya Pratima Asti” meaning ‘There is no likeness of Him.” [Upanishad 4:19]

Islam says,
‘And there is none like unto Him.’ [112:5]

How wonderful!

Holy is my Lord, the Most Great. God is the Greatest.

Now people, that’s what we call ‘The touch-stone of theology’.

What’s more, Shree Krishna’s scriptures clearly prophesize Prophet Muhammad’s advent in multiple places. Leme provide just two:

1. Bhavisyath Purana 3:5-8 states:

    “A spiritual reformer will come from a foreign land (outside Bharat) with his disciples. His name will be Mahamad. He will dwell in a desert.”

2: “His [Mahamad’s] followers will perform circumcision. They will not keep their hair in the form of Choti as the Brahmans do. They will keep beard. They will bring about a revolution. They will call with a loud voice [i.e. Adhaan]. They will eat meat of animals other than that of swine. They will attain purity through Jihad. Their civilization will be called Muslay [Muslim].”

These verses speak volumes on their own… do we need to think more?

These verses further support the argument that the same God who sent Prophet Muhammad (saw) had sent Shree Krishna (as) too. First I provided Prophet Muhammad (saw)’s hadith validating Shree Krishna, and next you’ve seen Shree Krishna’s Holy Scripture validating Prophet Muhammad (saw)’s advent.

What further proof do we need that Prophet Muhammad (saw) and Shree Krishna (as) are brothers cut from the same mold?

God gives Prophet Muhammad the auspicious title of Khataman Nabiyeen or Seal of the Prophets (33:41). Prophet Muhammad is called not only the greatest prophet, but also the Validation of all prophets. Thus, it makes perfect sense why Prophet Muhammad specifically called Shree Krishna a Prophet — part of his purpose in coming was to declare to the world that God did not abandon any people. Rather, God sent His guidance and prophets to all people.

A Conclusion:
O Muslims, we must honor and revere all prophets, no matter what religion they bought or to whichever part of the planet they belong, because the same God, our Almighty Allah, sent each of them — Shree Krishna being no exception.

Prophet Shree Krishna was a noble, righteous, beloved one of God. Far from theological division, he is a source of unity and accord between Hindus and Muslims.

 

Al-Khidr the green one
By : Jon Cannon

By the eighteenth century, the Mughal glories of Agra were fading, and its great riverfront sequence of aristocratic gardens and mausoleums, of which the Taj is the most famous, were less exclusive spaces than they had once been. The people of Agra started practising an annual swimming festival, in which the still unpollauted Yamuna was crammed with a mixed Hindu and Muslim crowd, and great effigies of Krishna were floated on the water and set alight, fireworks pouring over the slow-moving waters. The swimmers devoted their splashing play to two religious figures: Krishna himself and al-Khidr, the enigmatic figure of rebirth who is the Absent Presence of the Quran, and who many miles further west overlaps with Elijah, George and the Green Man.

Mysteries of the Greenman
The Green Man is also closely related to shamanic wisdom-magicians in various cultures because he knows the secrets of Nature and is ‘at one’ with the natural world - as shamans must learn to become.  The Celtic shaman-god Cernunnos, the Green Knight from King Arthur mythology, Mercury or Hermes in Graeco-Roman traditions, the Norse magician Odin, the Hindu god Krishna, and the Islamic-Sufi saint-prophet ‘Al-Khidr’’ are all related to this aspect of the Green Man.

Quran Surah 16:44 Mysticism and Magic in the Quran

"We sent Messengers before you with Signs of Light, and we sent Books of Shadows. And unto you, Oh Mohammed, we have also sent the Message that you may explain clearly to humans what we have sent to them previously, and that they may recollect."

In 16:44 we discover two means by which the Spirit has revealed itself unto humans. The first, "Signs of Light," points towards those many esoteric Gnostic books delivered by mystics and prophets. The second points towards secret "books of shadows" developed by sorcerers. The first is designed to guide the disciples towards the inner world; the latter towards the outer world. The first reveals the means by which one may overcome the lower self (nafs) and move towards union with the Light. The latter presents the means by which one may produce magical spells to affect change in the world of matter for the furtherance of the Kingdom.

The Glorious Qur’an has both functions. Many passages guide one towards union with Light (as taught by the Prophets Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tsu, etc). Other passages are designed to be used as spells to thwart evil and encourage good (as taught by Al-Khidr.).

By studying the Qur’an and mastering both mysticism and magic the Sufi recollects his/her True nature.

Khidr
Khidr or al-Khidr (Arabic: الخضر‎ al-Khiḍr; also transcribed as Khidr, Khizr, Khyzer, Qeezr, Qhezr, Qhizyer, Qhezar, Khizar, Xızır, Hızır) is a mystical figure that some believe to be described in the Quran as a righteous servant of God possessing great wisdom or mystic knowledge. In various Islamic and non-Islamic traditions, Khidr is described as a messenger, prophet, wali or in some cases as a deity who takes the worldly place of God. The figure of al-Khidr has been syncretized over time with various other figures including Vishnu in India, Sorūsh in Iran, Saint Sarkis the Warrior and John the Baptist in Armenia, Saint George in Asia Minor and the Levant, etc.

Because of the linguistic similarities between the name "al-khidr" and the Arabic word for green ("al-akhdar"), the meaning of the name is often taken colloquially and sometimes academically to be "the Green One" or "the Verdant One." Some scholars disagree with this assessment, however the some others point to a possible reference to the Mesopotamian figure Utnapishtum from the Epic of Gilgamesh through the Arabization of his nickname, "Hasisatra". According to a new view the name Khidr is not an Arabic variant or an abbreviation of Hasisatra, it directly comes from the name of the Canaanite god Kothar-wa-Khasis and it may be later assimilated to Arabic term "al-akhdar".