AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

 *Hazrat Yusuf (Peace be upon him) – Part 5*

When they despaired of him, they retired, conferring in private. The eldest of them said: “Do you not know that your father has taken a promise from you in the name of Allah, and before that you had failed in your duty towards Yusuf? So I will not leave this land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me, and He is the best of judges. Go back to your father and say: ‘O our father! Your son has committed theft, and we only testified to what we knew, and we were not witnesses of the unseen. And ask the people of the town where we were, and the caravan in which we came — indeed, we are truthful.’” 

When they told Yaqub this, he said: “No, rather your souls have enticed you to something. So patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them all to me. Indeed, He is the Knowing, the Wise.” Then he turned away from them and said: “Oh, my sorrow for Yusuf!” And he wept in grief so much that his eyes turned white, and his heart was filled with suppressed sorrow. They said: “By Allah, you will not cease remembering Yusuf until you are weakened to the point of death or you perish.” He said: “I only complain of my distress and my sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know. O my sons, go and inquire about Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, no one despairs of Allah’s mercy except the disbelieving people.”

When they went to Yusuf, they said: “O ‘Aziz! Distress has afflicted us and our family, and we have brought but little money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable.” Yusuf said: “Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?” They said: “Are you indeed Yusuf?” He said: “I am Yusuf, and this is my brother.” Pointing to Binyamin, he said, “Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient — Allah does not let the reward of the doers of good be lost.” They said: “By Allah, certainly Allah has preferred you above us, and we have indeed been sinners.” Yusuf said: “No reproach upon you today. May Allah forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful. Take this shirt of mine and cast it on the face of my father; he will become sighted. And bring me all your family.”

When the caravan departed from Egypt, their father said: “Indeed, I perceive the scent of Yusuf, if only you would not think me senile.” They said: “By Allah, you are still in your old error.” When the bearer of glad tidings arrived, he cast it on Yaqub’s face, and he became sighted. He said: “Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?” His sons said: “O our father, ask forgiveness for our sins; indeed, we have been sinners.” He said: “I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”

When they all came to Yusuf, he brought his parents close to him and said: “Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in safety and security.” He raised his parents upon the throne, and they all fell down in prostration before him. At that time Yusuf said: “O my father, this is the interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord has made it true, and He has indeed been gracious to me when He took me out of the prison and brought you here from the countryside after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, He is the Knowing, the Wise.” Then Yusuf prayed to Allah: “O my Lord, You have given me of sovereignty and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die in submission to You and join me with the righteous.”

And were you present when Yaqub was at the point of death? When he said to his sons: “What will you worship after me?” They said: “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Ibrahim and Isma’il and Is’haq — one God, and to Him we submit.”