Besides the tormenting agony that tore the heart of Prophet Jacob and young Joseph following their separation resulting from Joseph’s siblings’ evil plan, the love bond that tied the father and the son was itself a source of spiritual support throughout the journey of Joseph’s life.
Still digging through the levels of meanings, morals, and lessons learned from the meritorious life story of Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him), one of the Prophets who faced some of the most difficult challenges, trials and life calamities ever known to the history of humanity till date.
The previous episode, Part IV, focused on one single virtue that runs through the heart of the most famous challenge faced by Prophet Joseph, perhaps the most difficult of all which he had to face- Chastity it was!
And in previous sketches depicting the noble Prophet’s life, we tackled a number of moral values pretty much related to embracing a genuine Muslim character and developing pure and strong faith in Almighty Allah, and what this involves of love for and fear of Him, sound reliance on Him and trust in His divine wisdom.
This episode, Part V of the series, I will reserve it for the sole sake of delving into the father-son relationship manifested in the unique relation between Prophet Joseph and his father Prophet Jacob, peace be upon them. Also related to the same main subject matter for today’s sketch is keeping sound family ties, even when feelings are lacking, if not absent.
“Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask,”
– {Quran 12:7}
Indeed, the relationship Prophet Joseph had with his brothers on one hand, and his father, on the other, was exemplary, even if in different meaning of the word in each.
Besides the tormenting agony that tore the heart of Prophet Jacob and young Joseph following the separation inflicted upon them as a result of Joseph’s siblings’ evil plan, the love bond that tied the father and the son was itself a source of spiritual support throughout the entire journey of Joseph’s life same way it was a source of sadness and torment.
How so?
Read on..
The spiritual bond and unique relation that united the father and his son eliminated many confusions through the eventful journey of Prophet Joseph, providing insights and inspiration for the son, and certainty and patience for the father. As though some secret or virtual communication was taking place between the two, since the beginning of the story and contunuously till the end.
All through the journey of Prophet Joseph, who kept receiving revelation from his Lord SWT, the words and teachings of his faithful father were engraved in his heart and mind. Inspiring him in a way, and offering him consolation in another.
As for the father, whose sadness tore his heart apart and weeping caused him blindness, the special relation and love bond that tied him to Joseph grew stronger despite the latter’s absence. It even offered him certainty that he wasn’t killed as claimed by his other sons. It also, like Joseph, was a source of solace at the times when his agony reached its heights, assuring him that Joseph was alive, in the care of Allah,
“And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, “Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe.”- – {Quran 12:18}
He was also certain that some day, they shall be united.
Such balanced and sound father-son relation is what’s quite needed in our modern age, where signs of modernity have become acquainted with emotional and spiritual detachment tearing families apart.
Equally unique, yet in a different manner, was Prophet Joseph’s relation with his siblings, which was coated with hatred and beguiling from their side and patience and forgiveness from his.
At a very young age and upon the very famous night vision Prophet Joseph saw, we learn from his father, who asked him to speak of it to nobody, that Joseph’s brothers don’t like him much, and probably jealous of him, to an extent that would drive them conspire against him, and even hurt him.
“He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.”
– – {Quran 12:5}
Such statement is further attested by Joseph’s siblings, in their statement wherein they confess their outright jealousy of young Joseph.
“When they said, “Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error. Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people.” Said a speaker among them, “Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up – if you would do [something].”” – – {Quran 12:8-10}
How brutal?! A group of brothers outlining a full-fledged conspiracy and crime against their young brother. Can you imagine the kind of hatred that would fill a human heart driving him commit such crime?!
And Indeed the harm was inflicted upon prophet Joseph
However, he set all that aside, kept his heart sincere and immune from developing lethal hatred towards his brothers. Joseph, in spite of his young age, was capable of keeping his heart pure of hatred. Seeing the harm and brutality caused to him at the hands of his own brothers, Joseph was still able to forgive them. Not just that, he never asked Allah to send his wrath upon his brothers, despite all what they’ve done to him and the pain and harm they inflicted upon him. Actually he always prayed that Allah may forgive them and that His wrath would never befall them for that the kind of evil they did to him.
Nothing can be more tiring to the heart than hatred same way forgiving is can be a matchless source of relief.
In this brutal modern age we’re living in, where brotherhood, whether amongst biological brothers, or amongst Muslims in general, is primarily lacking, love and forgiveness and keeping sound family ties is the key solution for all our moral, spiritual, and ethical failures.
Wassalaam,
Maha Youssuf
maha@muslimtribune.org
Posted on: February 2, 2012
Check previous episodes of Prophet Joseph SERIES Here;
– Part I
– Part II
– Part III
– Part IV
– Part V
– Part VI
– Part VII
Also listen to the Audio Version of the Full Series
Here