دار محمد Daar Muhammed

And they sold him for a low price, – for a few Dirhams (i.e. for a few silver coins). And they were of those who regarded him insignificant. (Yusuf:20)

Yusuf was sold for a few meagre dirhams in the market. Did that price define what he was worth?

So they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back. They both found her lord (i.e. her husband) at the door. She said: “What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife, except that he be put in prison or a painful torment?” (Yusuf:25)

Yusuf was falsely accused of immorality by the wife of his master. Did that do anything to the fact that he was from the purest of his time?

And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison and will be one of those who are disgraced.” (Yusuf:32)

Yusuf was thrown into prison for years and forgotten. Yet he remained the most lively and freest mentally through his belief in Allah.

When you are crushed into a ball and thrown on the pavement, it is very easy— in fact, you will be shocked how easy it is to believe that you are meant for nothing in life—but the pavement. This belief can not be farther from the truth.

You do not stop to question the systems of who threw you down, who caused this to be done to you or who approved, even from a distance, that you be dumped in a painful and scary place. Instead of some deep thinking, you simply internalise everything.

This is a very limiting way of belief that was ingrained in us through elders and culture, and even sadly, who were wrongly known as scholars. This belief is that another person’s doing plays a role in your portion, share, and honour. The delibitating experiences you have due to the doings of others are made to be yours to carry— your shame to carry. It is a twisted understanding of shame that has somehow been passed down generations.

However, the law of Ar Rahman sees it differently. The Ultimate fairness within see the other person’s doing as the other person’s doing. It is not yours. It is theirs. You did not initiate it, nor did you choose it, nor did you approve of it. It was done to you. If you had nothing to do with it before, you have nothing to carry of it after. It is a burden on their necks, for them to carry. It will remain theirs until the Great Day. What is yours is a complete repayment and recompense for what you were made to suffer. That, and mercy from Ar Rahman.

It is strange how this truth was concealed and a wrong understanding was instilled over and over again, especially in girls and women, while much more advanced concepts were properly taught and imparted at the same time. The line between perpetrator and victim is blurred, and Islam is used to blame the victim or question their sincerity or even their sanity while the criminal is shown softness and ‘understanding’. Cursed is this kind of ‘understanding’. Sometimes, it feels almost as if it is done for ease and convenience. Ease of not having to carry their own burdens, themselves. Or ease of not having to confront their own situations of accountability. Or ease of throwing their dirty secrets on the weaker and the silent ones and ‘wrapping it up’. Sometimes, another person’s situation makes one uncomfortable, having one to face what one has tried to avoid for a long time.

This culture of misplacing shame and us consciously allowing it to continue makes us a very enabling society that turns a blind eye to every strong-looking or influential person’s act while the innocent amongst us continue to suffer the consequences. We find it difficult to accept the truth when true colours are shown. We find it extremely difficult to stand up for what is right if that means losing our places and positions or the ‘good side’ of the big shots.

A soul shall not carry a burden of another. It is time we teach our young accountability and owning up for whatever their hands have sent ahead.

And they sold him for a low price, – for a few Dirhams (i.e. for a few silver coins). And they were of those who regarded him insignificant. (Yusuf:20)

When they put young Yusuf up for sale in the marketplace, I wonder what his heart must have felt like. That is all he was deemed worth at that point, but that is not what his worth really was— there is a difference here— a very significant difference. What the caravan or his brothers before that regarded him was not it. What Allah saw him for was it. What Allah chose him for was everything. And Allah made sure he attained what he was destined for, عليه السلام.

The very things seen as dishonour on the victim may be a doorway for him or her to reach where they have been asking Allah for. He knows, but we do not. How wrong are our estimations then. It may be honour in the making. It may be peace and knowledge, and wisdom. It may be reward without measure. It is certainly not shame.

99. Then, when they entered unto Yusuf (Joseph), he betook his parents to himself and said: “Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in security.”

100. 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.

101. “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.”

102. This is of the news of the Ghaib (unseen), which We reveal by Inspiration to you (O Muhammad ). You were not (present) with them when they arranged their plan together, and (also, while) they were plotting. (Yusuf: 99-102)

As for the oppressed one in this situation, it is important to muster the courage and realise this is something Shaitan and his cronies, be them from man or jinn, try to trip you with. This is because very often, they do their evil psychologically. Their whispers affect psychologically. So you need to reframe your mind, polish your perspective, and hold fast to Allah so that you can laugh at their tactics, see them for what they are and keep on walking with trust in Him.