Reflections on Sūratu Yūsuf: Lessons For Everyday Life (2)

Beware of People’s Fake Emotions

Emotions can be tricky and deceitful. Don’t fall for it by being hasty in judging people rightly or wrongly. In verses 11-14, Prophet Ya’qūb’s children played a fast one on his emotions by faking affection for their brother, Yūsuf عليه السلام. They promised to protect him while concealing their evil intentions behind their smiling faces and fake promises. People are not to be trusted based on their cosmetic facial expressions.

Before accepting information from anyone or trusting them, one must apply extreme caution and circumspection. This is why Allāh subhānahu wa ta’ālā says in the Qur’ān:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ

“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.” (49:6)

Apart from faking emotions to persuade their father to release Yūsuf to them, they equally came back home shedding crocodile tears as though they had done nothing wrong! Allāh says:

وَجَاءُوا أَبَاهُمْ عِشَاءً يَبْكُونَ

“At nightfall they came to their father weeping” (12:16)

Knowing so well that their father will never believe them (he actually sensed their plot even before he released Yūsuf to them), they stained Yūsuf’s shirt with blood of lamb (but they forgot to tear the cloth to indicate a wild attack. So Ya’qūb knew that they were lying).

وَجَآءُوۡ عَلٰى قَمِيـۡصِهٖ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ​ؕ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَـكُمۡ اَنۡفُسُكُمۡ اَمۡرًا​ؕ فَصَبۡرٌ جَمِيۡلٌ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ الۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلٰى مَا تَصِفُوۡنَ

“And they brought Yūsufs shirt, stained with false blood. Seeing this their father exclaimed: “Nay (this is not true); rather your evil souls have made it easy for you to commit a heinous act. So I will bear this patiently, and in good grace. It is Allāh’s help alone that I seek against your fabrication.” (12:18)

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It is reported that one day, a woman came to the court of Shuraih al-Qādī to report a case and was crying profusely. Shuraih was unmoved. It was said to him, don’t you see her crying? He replied, “the brothers of Yūsuf came weeping even though they were liars.”

Thus, one must always seek the truth before judging matters, just as one shouldn’t be too quick to believe or trust just anyone based on appearance or eloquence in speech. The Messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

رَسُول اللَّه ﷺ قَالَ: إِنَّمَا أَنَا بشَرٌ، وَإِنَّكُمْ تَخْتَصِمُونَ إِلَيَّ، وَلَعَلَّ بَعْضَكُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَلْحَنَ بحُجَّتِهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ؛ فأَقْضِي لَهُ بِنحْوِ مَا أَسْمَعُ، فَمَنْ قَضَيْتُ لَهُ بحَقِّ أَخِيهِ فَإِنَّمَا أَقْطَعُ لَهُ قِطْعَةً مِنَ النَّارِ مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيهِ.

“I am a human being, and yu bring to me, for (judgment) your disputes, some of you perhaps being more eloquent in their plea than others, so I give judgment on their behalf according to what I hear from them. (Bear in mind, in my judgment) if I slice off anything for him from the right of his brother, he should not accept that, for I sliced off for him a portion from the Hell.”

When Prophet Dāwūd was approached by two litigants, he was moved by the accusations by the complainant that he totally forgot to take the plea of the defendant before hitting the gavel.

It is this important that one looks beyond facial appearances and cosmetic emotions when dealing with people, lest one fall into their traps and evil machinations. Even when choosing partner for marriage, it is important to be thorough and meticulous lest one mistakes the devil for a saint!

“It is not the eyes that matters; but what is behind the eyes.”

Patience is Beautiful

There’s a popular adage in my mother tongue that says, “hankuri man ama wun zo yin jin” (patient is though sweet, but difficult to do). In verses 18 and 83, prophet Ya’qūb عليه السلام displayed the rarest of all virtues. His calmness and composure in the face of provocation by his children is legendary. When they came back with Yūsuf’s blood stained shirt, claiming that a wolf had devoured him while they were away hunting, he knew that they were lying. How can a wolf devour him without a scratch on his cloth? Not even their crocodile tears could deceive Ya’qūb into buying their conspiracies. His response simply was:

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ

“No! Your souls must have tempted you to do something evil. So I can only endure with beautiful patience. It is Allāh’s help that I seek to bear your claims.”

However, despite his founded suspicion, and knowing the evil that his sons are capable of doing which was why he was so reluctant to release Yūsuf to them in the first place, Ya’qūb restrained himself from cursing them. It was a difficult thing to do, considering his extreme love for Yūsuf. But not even this shattering heartbreak could make him lose his temper and curse his own children. Rather, be resorted to seeking Allāh’s help to rectify his affairs and theirs, too.

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In verse 83, when they brought him the news of Bunyamin’s (Yūsuf’s kid brother from the same mother who Ya’qūb equally loves more than their siblings) detention in Egypt over the charge of theft of the king’s weighing cup, Ya’qūb equally maintained his calmness and decorum. It was the second time his most beloved sons would go missing in mysterious circumstances. Yet, the only thing the heartbroken father could say was:

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

He cried, “No! Your souls must have tempted you to do something evil. So I’m left with nothing but beautiful patience. I trust Allāh will return them all to me. Surely, He Allāh, is the All-knowing, All-Wise.”

Indeed, Ya’qūb was right. The brothers maliciously gave the Chief Minister (Yūsuf) a fabricated proof that nailed Bunyamin when they said:

قَالُوا إِنْ يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۚ

(To exonerate themselves) Yūsuf’s brothers said, “If he has stolen, so did his (full) brother (Yūsuf) before.” (verse 77)

Parents especially have a great lesson to learn here. At all times, they must restrain themselves and refrain from uttering bad statements and laying curses on their children. Because of Ya’qūb’s patience, Allāh not only rectified his once upon a time wicked children, but He equally bestowed prophethood on their children and grandchildren, referred in the Qur’ān as the الأسباط.

Note: Contrary to popular opinion among some of the local scholars here, the majority of the mufassirūn are of the view that apart from Yūsuf, no other son of Ya’qūb was a prophet. Shaykhu’l-Islām bn Taimiyah rahimahuLlāh said:

الذي يدل عليه القرآن واللغة والاعتبار أن إخوة يوسف ليسوا بأنبياء، وليس في القرآن، وليس عن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم -، بل ولا عن أصحابه خبر بأن الله – تعالى -نبأهم، وإنما احتج من قال أنهم نبئوا بقوله في آيتي البقرة والنساء \”والأسباط\”، وفسر الأسباط بأنهم أولاد يعقوب، والصواب أنه ليس المراد بهم أولاده لصلبه بل ذُرِّيَّتُه، كما يقال فيهم أيضاً \”بنو إسرائيل\”، وكان في ذريته الأنبياء، فالأسباط من بني إسرائيل كالقبائل من بني إسماعيل.
“What is established by the Qur’ān, Arabic language and sound logic is that Yūsuf’s brothers were not prophets. There’s no indication in the Qur’ān, or in prophetic traditions or statements of the Sahābah that Allāh sent revelations to them. Those who make this claim interpreted the word والأسباط which is found in Sūrah Baqarah and Nisā’ to mean “and the children of Ya’qūb”. The correct view is that what is meant by this word are his progenies and not his blood children…”

Allāh commands parents to exercise patience with their children. In Q.64:14, He says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

“O believers! Surely among your wives and your children there are some who are your enemies: so beware of them. But if you pardon, overlook and forgive their faults, then know that Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Then, in the next verse, He offered some words of consolation and caution, saying:

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

“Your wealth and your children are but a trial. It is Allāh with Whom is the greatest reward.”

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Prophet Ibrāhīm’s father, despite being an idolator and enemy of Allāh is another great example in this regard. In spite of his hatred for his son’s obstinacy and opposition to his idolatrous ways, he never cursed him. In fact, when his frustrations with Ibrāhīm reached the crescendo, the only thing he said was:

قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنْ آلِهَتِي يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ لَأَرْجُمَنَّكَ ۖ وَاهْجُرْنِي مَلِيًّا

“He (the father) said: “Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim (Abraham)? If you stop not (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you.” (19:46)

Being impatient with one’s children has disastrous consequences. From being deprived of prosperity and success in this world, it may land the children in Allāh’s wrath and punishment in the hereafter. The Messenger of Allāh said:

رضا الله في رضا الوالدين وسخط الله في سخط الوالدين

“Allāh’s is pleased (with one) when his parents are pleased (with him), and He is angry (with one) when his parents are angry (with him).”

As parents, we must continue to pray to Allah to rectify our children. There’s nothing beyond rectification for Allāh. A righteous parent’s prayer for his wayward children will be accepted by Allāh. We must refrain from haboring hatred and evil for our children no matter how of bad character they may be. This is because, as the Yoruba adage goes, “one’s child cannot be so bad as to make one throw him out for lion to devour.”

A child who turns out bad as a result of his parent’s curse is not only useless to himself but to his parents as well. In the end, no one will hand over his righteous and prosperous child to you. You will have to live with the sorrow and woe. And even if you have two dozens of children and one turns out bad, you still will not be able to live with the disappointment and frustration. Allāh says,

وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا

“And We have made some of you a trial for others. Will you then not be patient? And your Lord is All-Seeing.” (25:20)

To be continued…