Retro-Causality and Laduni Knowledge in the Quranic Narrative of Al-Khidr and Moses: A Philosophical Inquiry into Divine Foreknowledge and Human Limitation

This article explores the concept of retro-causality as reflected in the Quranic narrative of Prophet Moses (PBUH) and Al-Khidr (PBUH), with emphasis on the theological and epistemological implications of Laduni Knowledge (العلم اللدني). Through a close reading of Surah Al-Kahf (18:60–82), the study examines how divine foreknowledge operates beyond linear time, enabling interventions that preserve faith, protect the vulnerable, and inscribe mercy into the fabric of existence. The article integrates Quranic exegesis, philosophical reflection, and metaphors such as the Mobius Strip to illuminate the limits of human cognition and the sanctity of divine orchestration. A supplementary reflection from the author’s published book The Lantern of the Wise reinforces the central thesis by introducing the contemplative rule of omitting causal chains in divine descriptions — a metacognitive insight that deepens the reader’s grasp of Tawhid and prophetic humility.