The Dialectics of Sharia and Haqiqah Through Patience: Moses and Khidr in Al-Kahf 18:60–82

Abstract

The dichotomy between Sharia and Haqiqa often generates epistemological conflicts, while the role of Shabar (patience) as an integrative bridge has not been thoroughly examined methodologically. This study aims to analyze the meaning of shabar in QS. Al-Kahfi (18): 60–82 as a dialectical instrument for integrating Sharia, Haqiqa, and Islamic education. Employing a qualitative library research design, this study utilizes thematic exegesis (tafsir maudhu‘i) and hermeneutical approaches to examine the narrative of Moses and Khidr. The findings reveal that the story represents the dialectic between Sharia and Haqiqa through three phases: the quest for knowledge, the trial of patience, and the unveiling of deeper meanings. Shabar is found to be not merely a moral virtue but also an epistemological prerequisite that enables the suspension of judgment until the essence of an event is disclosed. This concept is formulated as epistemic patience, defined as the ability to regulate intellectual responses toward phenomena that have not yet been fully understood. The Moses–Khidr dialectic demonstrates that Sharia functions as a framework of legality, while Haqiqa serves as the spirit of maslaha (benefit). Both are integrated through methodological patience, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of religious and educational realities. Consequently, epistemic patience serves as an integrative bridge uniting Sharia and Haqiqa to achieve a holistic understanding of religious life. This study contributes a transformative spiritual pedagogy model for the development of contemporary Islamic Religious Education that is reflective, adaptive, and contextually relevant.