دار محمد Daar Muhammed

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ

قَالُوا إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ

So he [Yusuf (Joseph)] began (the search) in their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of his brother’s bag. Thus did We plan for Yusuf (Joseph). He could not take his brother by the law of the king (as a slave), except that Allah willed it. (So Allah made the brothers to bind themselves with their way of “punishment, i.e. enslaving of a thief.”) We raise to degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allah).

They [(Yusuf’s (Joseph) brothers] said: “If he steals, there was a brother of his [Yusuf (Joseph)] who did steal before (him).” But these things did Yusuf (Joseph) keep in himself, revealing not the secrets to them. He said (within himself): “You are in worst case, and Allah knows best the truth of what you assert!” 12:76-77

The brothers had come to Egypt because they had heard of the kind minister and the distribution of grain. The famine had reached them, and times were difficult. However, even in this situation, at this point of desperation and hunger, the brothers managed to slip in a sly comment on Yusuf (peace be upon him) as they stood before the minister waiting to collect their grain. The very same Yusuf they had wronged when he was feeble and trusting. The same Yusuf they had dumped and not looked back.

An announcer had cried: the drinking cup of the ruler is missing! The brothers were stopped for a check, and the condition made before the search took place was, whoever was found to have the cup in his things, will have to remain back with the king. While this was a quick plan that Yusuf put together and asked his people to execute because he wished to retain his younger brother Benyamin with him, it also reminded Yusuf once again of what it had been like with his brothers’ plots when he was still a young boy.

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ

So he [Yusuf (Joseph)] began (the search) in their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of his brother’s bag. Thus did We plan for Yusuf (Joseph). He could not take his brother by the law of the king (as a slave), except that Allah willed it. (So Allah made the brothers to bind themselves with their way of “punishment, i.e. enslaving of a thief.”) We raise to degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allah). 12:76

As they stood before him, unaware that it was indeed Yusuf, they grabbed the chance at falsely dissing him once again. Even though he had not been with them for long. Even though he had done them nothing. Even though they had plotted together and left him to the wolves in a dark forest, and now he could be long dead because of it, had their plot succeeded. Oh, there was a brother before, they said, who was a thief too.

This shows, as clear as day, what man can live with. For years, decades, even for as long as he lives. With no problem. Yusuf’s story with his brothers is to be studied to understand the nature of man and what he can spiral to if he leaves his nafs (soul) unrestrained. The brothers knew exactly what they had suggested to be done on their small brother decades ago. What they had approved one to another. And what they had carried out with their own hands. “Did you not miss me?” “Did the blood we share not matter at all?” “Do you not, even after all these years, realise?”— are questions Yusuf could rightfully have spat out at them and not be blamed.

It is shocking how low the nature of insan can allow himself to fall or, tolerate, silently watch and willingly cooperate in. Thereafter, live with himself comfortably. Their false comment on their brother must have torn Yusuf to pieces. Despite the position he was in and the promising future he held, the wound of this missing part in his life remained.

Yet, in the face of this, despite emotion filling him, Yusuf’s character remained unchanged in the least. He continued to be  benevolent, generous, and an example of integrity. An embodiment of khair and wisdom. That was because Yusuf was learned and wise, following in the path of the prophets before him. He knew if he was to do good, that was for Allah. If he, in the position of power he held in the kingdom of Egypt, was to bestow and send them back home with sackfuls of grain, that was for Allah too. He felt hurt because he was, after all, human, and after years of separation, he yearned for his family. He said silently, to himself: أنتم شر مكانا “You (all) are in worst case”, yet, when it was time to act, he chose the path of every prophet and their faithful followers; the higher, nobler and more honourable way. On a level befitting his knowledge and understanding, befitting what Allah had blessed him with.

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِي مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ

And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: “O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaitan (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

“My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous.” 12:100-101

Allahumma, in this short time in dunya, and before we reach the forever of the Akhirah, make us follow the path of your chosen slaves. Ameen.