"O young man, finally, you wake up!" said the statesman. The young wayfarer rubbed his eyes, then said, "How long have I slept, your majesty?" The statesman said, "Long enough, young man! And apparently, you are still sleepy. Let's just end this story!" The traveler said, "No, no your majesty, I want to listen the story, please, continue!"
The statesman smiled, then said, "Before I continue the story, I have something to tell you!" The young wayfarer said, "Please, tell me!" The statesman said, "Know that, in terms of its achievements, in fact, there are three kinds of victory. First, a victory is achieved by all means, both by force and tactics, in this case, one goodness is mixed with a thousand badness.This kind of victory occurs by the permission of Allah, but will never gain Allah's pleasure. This type of victory, can last a long time, can be short, depending on Allah's will and wisdom. Historically, if a victory like this had collapsed, you could hardly find the remnants, only the name was left. Look at the power of Mongolia, whose hero we know as Temujin. World history records that Mongolia is the only country whose power is close to global domination. The death and destruction during the 13th century Mongol conquests have been widely noted in both scholarly literature and popular memory. But the inadequacy of the troops and the frequent drunkenness weakened their military forces were the major caused that finally, the kingdom collapsed, leaving only a statue of Temujin, who died because of falling from his own horse.
The second type of victory, is the victory as a gift from Allah, which happened with Allah's permission, but seemed to happen like a coincidence, and only happened once. This type of victory usually founds in sports game, sometimes there is a team that never win, suddenly win, and after that, never win again.
The third type of victory, is a victory where the winner deserves the victory, because during the fight, the winner expects Allah's pleasure. Such a victory is the victory obtained by the Prophet Yusuf, alayhissalam. So, let's continue the story!
The response of Yusuf was a tough lesson to be learned by his brothers in dealing-with others without envy or jealousy. Everyone is destined for that which he has been created for. His brothers were remorseful and heartbroken at what they had done.They confessed to their sin saying,
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنْ كُنَّا لَخَاطِئِينَ"They said, 'By Allah, certainly has Allah preferred you over us, and indeed, we have been sinners.'" – (QS.12:91)
Yusuf forgave them saying,
قَالَ لا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَHe said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful." – (QS.12:92)
On the day that victory was blessed by Allah, one of the characteristics, was a day of forgiveness, happened naturally, without coercion or theatrics, and no fuss. A day of reunion, hugging, love, serenity, mercy and repentance. It was the forgiveness, festival where blame and reproach were absent, only forgiveness, satisfaction and repentance were there.
Even after all that his brothers put him through, Prophet Yusuf, alayhissalam, forgave his brothers. So please forgive your friends, your relatives, and your neighbors, even at country levels, for nothing that they would have done could be worse than what happened to Prophet Yusuf, alayhissalam.
Yusuf then gave an order which was instantly followed,
اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ"Take this, my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father; he will become seeing. And bring me your family, all together." – (QS.12:93)
What a shirt! It holds a great significance as it was the evidence presented by his brothers to prove that the wolf had devoured Yusuf. It was their father's proof of their deceit. It presented also a clear proof to absolve Yusuf of what he had been accused of. Finally, it was the cure to his father's loss of sight and the cure to his father's distress and grief.
وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لأجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ لَوْلا أَنْ تُفَنِّدُونِ"And when the caravan departed [from Egypt], their father said, 'Indeed, I find the smell of Joseph [and would say that he was alive] if you did not think me weakened in mind.'" – (QS.12:94)
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِي ضَلالِكَ الْقَدِيمِ
"They said, 'By Allah, indeed you are in your [same] old error.'" – (QS.12:95)
"And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, 'Did I not tell you that I know from Allah that which you do not know?'" – (QS.12:96)فَلَمَّا أَنْ جَاءَ الْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَاهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَ
قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا اسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا خَاطِئِينَ"They said, 'O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners.'" – (QS.12:97)
قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّي إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ"He said, 'I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" – (QS.12:98)
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَى يُوسُفَ آوَى إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ"And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself and said, 'Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe [and secure].'" – (QS.12:99)
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِنْ قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُمْ مِنَ الْبَدْوِ مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ نَزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِمَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ"And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, 'O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.'" – (QS.12:100)
[Part 9]Glory be to Allah the Exalted in power, the Great and always true are His words,
وَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَWho could ever believe the events which befell Yusuf? The casting of him into the well, the falling into the hands of the travellers, his selling in Egypt for the miserableprice of a few dirhams, the plot of his ladylord and her Plot with a group of ladies, and his imprisonmeht. Who thought or could put into his mind that the servents were the woven strings of a throne or a crown for a new king. A king who was born from the conflicts and sat on that great throne and was magnificently crowned. All of that could not come into being without the decree of the Powerful and the All Mighty Allah.
"...But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." – (QS.2:216)
Allah holds the causes with His mercy and decrees events with His command which then flow with His wisdom. Status, prestige and abundant bounties did not make Yusuf forget the Bestower of bounties and the King of kings, in Whose hands are everything. Yusuf saw that it was incumbent upon him to be grateful to Allah, the Exallted,for what He had showered him with. Hence, he turned to Him in prayer,إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ"His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is. – (QS.36:82)
A Muslim should realize that the actions of this life are the provisions for the Hereafter. Toward this he should zealously prepare himself. Miserable is the one who does not prepare.رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِي مِنْ تَأْوِيلِ الأحَادِيثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَMy Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous." – (QS.12:101)
Looking closely at this story and pondering over, it will reveal that it constitues a victory for morality and virtue, and a defeat for whims and carnal desires. A victory for forgiveness and pardon and a defeat for jealousy and envy. It also reveals the strength and weakness of human beings.The strength, if a human being returns to the power of his mind and listens to their inspiration of his conscience and if he knows the limits of his humanity and feels whole heartedly that he is no more than Allah's creature on earth. That he is one who has been created to rule and govern by what Allah has prescribed. And if in his weakness, if he surrenders to his whims and carnal desires and hands over his will to his evil whispering soul, he is destine for destruction.
The universal and timeless truth that all Muslims need to be so badly aware of, that Allah will always prefer the 'Muhsinun' to the evildoers. So don't despair, and don't be one of the many Muslims who stop practicing Islam because they think that Islam will make them unsuccessful in this life. I hope you do realize that those who keep their faith in Allah will always succeed in the end.
And finally the story ends, and the good guys did win in the end. But they were tested severely, and their faith was shaken several times. But they stood firm, remained patient and asked Allah for help. And that's how our life's story should also be, if we manage to continue on the straight path."
The young wayfarer said, "What is the moral aspect of the story of Prophet Yusuf, alayhissalam?"
[Part 7]
