Supplicating to and seeking the help of Al-Khadir

Q 6: Is Al-Khadir (peace be upon him) a guardian of rivers and deserts? And does he help anyone who loses his way if he calls on him?

A: The correct scholarly opinion is that Al-Khadir (peace be upon him) had already died before the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), for Allah (Exalted be He) says (what means): And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): then if you die, would they live forever? Even if we assume that he remained alive until he met the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) provides evidence that he must have died sometime after the death of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as confirmed by the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Do you see this night of yours? At the end of one hundred years from now, none from those on the face of the earth today will remain.” Thus, everything that applies to the dead applies to Al-Khadir; he does not hear anybody’s call, does not respond to anybody’s Du‘a’ (supplication), and does not guide anyone who loses their way. Supposing that he is still alive until today, he is absent and all that applies to other absentees applies to him. Therefore, no one should call on him or seek his help in times of adversity or prosperity.