The seven lean years foretold by the king's dream finally arrived and the famine which resulted swept well beyond Egypt to reach Syria and Mesopotemia whose inhabitants were forced to travel to the more affluent land of Egypt in their search for food. Among them were Joseph's own brother who , several years earlier, had conspired to kill him and presumed him dead. Joseph welcomed his brothers into Egypt but would not give them any provision until they brought their younger brother back with them on their return visit. So the brothers returned home and informed their father of Joseph's request. Jacob did not welcome the idea, saying: "Can I entrust him to you save as I entrusted his brother to you aforetime? Allah is better at guarding, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy " (64). However, as the conditions of the family were so dire, Jacob finally gave to his sons' persistence and saw them off a second time:
O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust. (67)
The reason behind this curious piece of advice seems to be Jacob's anxiety that a group of ten, united men entering the gates of the city could be seen as a threat by its inhabitants. He clearly feared for their safety.
The brothers appeared before Joseph a second time and on meeting them he gave his younger brother a special welcome. "And when they went in before Joseph, he took his brother unto him, saying: Lo! I, even I, am thy brother, therefore sorrow not for what they did "(69). The verse indicates that Joseph must have had some indication about his brother's plight to console him in this manner. Joseph then devised a plan by which he could detain his younger brother and force his brothers to return to their father without him. He asked his aides to conceal the royal measuring cup, usually studded with precious stones, in his brother's luggage and, once they had done so, announced that it had been stolen. It was agreed that whoever had stolen it should be detained by the king.
Meanwhile in Palestine, on learning that he had been deprived of a second son, Jacob said: "... It may be that Allah will bring them all unto me. Lo! He, only He, is the Knower, the Wise " (83). It was no doubt a traumatic experience for Jacob who had yet to recover from the ordeal of losing Joseph. His grief was compounded and he
" ..turned away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Joseph! And his eyes were whitened with the sorrow that he was suppressing "(84) . However in a desperate snatch of hope he told his sons to "Go, O my sons, and ascertain concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of the Spirit of Allah. Lo! none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah save disbelieving folk " (87).
Thus Joseph's brothers returned to Egypt for a third time. Looking dejected and miserable, on their arrival they went to see Joseph and said to him: "O ruler! Misfortune hath touched us and our folk, and we bring but poor merchandise, so fill for us the measure and be charitable unto us. Lo! Allah will requite the charitable, "(88).
At this point Joseph suddenly revealed his true identity and spoke to them sternly and effectively, saying: "Know ye what ye did unto Joseph and his brother in your ignorance? "(89). Only then did it dawn on them that this man might be their brother Joseph and they immediately asked: " Is it indeed thou who art Joseph? He said: I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allah hath shown us favour. Lo! he who wardeth off (evil) and endureth (findeth favour); for verily Allah loseth not the wages of the kindly "(90).
With these words, Joseph reminded his brothers, and thereby all humankind of a fundamental principle of faith and a fact of life: fear of God and patient perseverance are rewarded with success. It is a principle as valid as any scientific or physical law.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
Excerpt from : " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi:-
Part 14 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPHzcJzZkFQ&feature=relmfu
Part 15 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-V0E0dA440&feature=relmfu
Part 16 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g88jhJg7iHU&feature=relmfu
Part 17 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RTWhGNVNQw&feature=relmfu
Part 18 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykrEVUnPUjk&feature=relmfu
Part 19 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHPAjS8xFpo&feature=relmfu
Part 20 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530UlNg1-zc&feature=relmfu
No comments:
Post a Comment