In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Exalted, said:
لَّقَدۡ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخۡوَتِهِۦۤ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِينَ
إِذۡ قَالُواْ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ
ٱقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضً۬ا يَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِيكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمً۬ا صَـٰلِحِينَ
قَالَ قَآٮِٕلٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ وَأَلۡقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ يَلۡتَقِطۡهُ بَعۡضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَـٰعِلِينَ
قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأۡمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ
أَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعَنَا غَدً۬ا يَرۡتَعۡ وَيَلۡعَبۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
قَالَ إِنِّى لَيَحۡزُنُنِىٓ أَن تَذۡهَبُواْ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأۡڪُلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَأَنتُمۡ عَنۡهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ
قَالُواْ لَٮِٕنۡ أَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذً۬ا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُواْ بِهِۦ وَأَجۡمَعُوٓاْ أَن يَجۡعَلُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمۡرِهِمۡ هَـٰذَا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَآءً۬ يَبۡكُونَ
قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَڪۡنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ۬ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ ڪُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬ۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬اۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
Verily, in Yusuf (Joseph) and his brothers, there were Signs for those who ask. When they said: “Truly, Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother (Benjamin) are loved more by our father than we, but we are ‘Usbah (a strong group). Really, our father is in a plain error.
Kill Yusuf (Joseph) or cast him out to some (other) land, so that the favour of your father may be given to you alone, and after that you will be righteous folk.
One from among them said: “Do not kill Yusuf (Joseph), but if you must do something, throw him down to the bottom of a well, he will be picked up by some caravan of travellers.”
They said: “O our father! Why do you not trust us with Yusuf (Joseph), – when we are indeed his well-wishers? Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and verily, we will take care of him.”
He [Ya’qub (Jacob)] said: “Truly, it saddens me that you should take him away. I fear lest a wolf should devour him, while you are careless of him.”
They said: “If a wolf devours him, while we are ‘Usbah (a strong group) (to guard him), then surely, we are the losers.”
So, when they took him away, they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well, and We inspired in him: “Indeed, you shall (one day) inform them of this their affair, when they know (you) not.”
And they came to their father in the early part of the night weeping. They said:”O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Yusuf (Joseph) by our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth.” And they brought his shirt stained with false blood.
He said: “Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert.” [Surah Yusuf. 7-18]
ٱقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضً۬ا يَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِيكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمً۬ا صَـٰلِحِينَ
Kill Yusuf (Joseph) or cast him out to some (other) land, so that the favour of your father may be given to you alone, and after that you will be righteous folk.
Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “They first made a commitment to repent before the sin to make it easy for them to do it”
وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَآءً۬ يَبۡكُونَ
قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَڪۡنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ۬ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ ڪُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ
وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَآءً۬ يَبۡكُونَ
And they came to their father in the early part of the night weeping in.
Imam As-Sadi said:
They came later than their unusual time (of return) and their weeping was to be something in their favour, and an indication of their truthfulness. Then they gave a false excuse, saying:
يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَڪۡنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ۬ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ ڪُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ
O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Yusuf (Joseph) by our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth].
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬ۚ
And they brought his shirt stained with false blood]- Meaning, claiming that it is Yusuf’s blood when the wolf devoured him; but their father did not believe them and said:
بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬اۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert.
After all that severe hardship, Allah raised Yusuf, peace be upon him. Allah, The Most High, informed us of Yusuf’s final encounter with his brothers:
قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said: “Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)? “He said: I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good-doers to be lost.”
They knew that the one who addressed them was Yusuf, so they said:
أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُف
Are you indeed Yusuf?
He said:
أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا
I am Yusuf, and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us.
Meaning: Allah granted us Iman, piety and authority in the worldly life, and that is due to patience and piety.
إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ
Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient.
Meaning: One who keeps away from what Allah has forbidden, exercises patience when facing pain and calamities, and when fulfilling the commandments;
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِين
then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good-doers to be lost.
This is because it is part of Ihsan [perfection in worship and good doing] and Allah makes not the reward of the one who perfects his deeds to be lost. [1]
Prophet Salih, peace be upon him, and those Who plotted against Him
Allah, The Most High, said:
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
قَالُوا اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَن مَّعَكَ ۚ قَالَ طَائِرُكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۖ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ
وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ
قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةً بِمَا ظَلَمُوا ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
وَأَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ
And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying: “Worship Allah (Alone and none else). Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbelievers) quarreling with each other.” He said: “O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allah’s Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive mercy?” They said: “We augur ill omen from you and those with you.” He said: “Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you are a people that are being tested.” And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. They said: “Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: ‘We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.'” So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah (a lesson or a sign) for people who know. [An-Naml. 45-52]
وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ
And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform.
Meaning: They caused corruption through their disbelief and sins, shed blood, confiscate wealth and violate people’s honour through immoral conduct, and they were the ones who executed the plan to kill the she-camel. [2]
قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.
Meaning, we’ll go to him and his family at night and murder them. Then when his relatives pursue us and make a claim against us, we reject and negate it, and attest by way of an oath that we are truthful.
[وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا – So they plotted a plot]
Meaning, they were determined to murder Salih and his family secretly, and hiding the matter from their own people, out of fearing his closest family members.
Allah said: [ وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا – and We planned a plan]…
Meaning, by aiding our Prophet Salih, facilitate ease for him and destroy those amongst his people who rejected his message;
[وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ – while they perceived not].
Then Allah stated:
فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together.[3]
(1) An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi
(2) An Excerpt from Zaad Al-Maseer Fee ilm at-Tafseer By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi – rahimahullah
(3) An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi
