Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 60)
Sorrow and Lamentation of Ya‘qub (AS) and the Concern of His Sons
After Prophet Ya‘qub (AS) learned of the incident regarding Binyamin and the stay of his eldest son in Egypt, he turned away from his sons and said: “یا أَسَفَى عَلَى یوسُفَ وَابْیضَّتْ عَینَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِیمٌ”[1] Translation: “Oh my sorrow for Joseph! And his eyes turned white from grief, for he was suppressing (his sorrow).”
When the sons saw the grief and anguish that had befallen their father, they compassionately said to him: “تَاللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا تَذْكُرُ یوسُفَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِینَ”[2] Translation: “By Allah! You will continue to remember Joseph until you become extremely ill or become of the dead.”
Ya‘qub (AS) replied: “إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّی وَحُزْنِی إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ”[3] Translation: “I only complain of my sorrow and grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.”
Complaining one’s distress to Allah is permissible and legislated (as Allah narrates it from Ya‘qub (AS) without blame), because such a complaint contains supplication and asking Allah to remove grief. Supplication is an act of worship. Allah the Exalted says: “وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِی عَنِّی فَإِنِّی قَرِیبٌ أُجِیبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْیسْتَجِیبُوا لِی وَلْیؤْمِنُوا بِی لَعَلَّهُمْ یرْشُدُونَ”[4] Translation: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, (tell them) indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, that they may be guided.”
However, complaining to other than Allah is not permissible. If a person seeks relief from harm, it is only Allah who can remove it: “وَإِن یمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ”[5] Translation: “If Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him…”
And if the purpose of complaining is to express impatience or objection to divine decree, then such an action is sinful and forbidden.
Ya‘qub’s Instruction to Search for Yusuf (AS) and His Brother
Based on the true dream of Yusuf (AS) and his sense of approaching divine relief, Ya‘qub (AS) instructed his sons: “یا بَنِی اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِن یوسُفَ وَأَخِیهِ وَلَا تَیأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا ییأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ”[6] Translation: “O my sons! Go and inquire about Joseph and his brother and do not despair of Allah’s mercy, for none despairs of Allah’s mercy except the disbelieving people.”
Indeed, despairing of Allah’s mercy is considered one of the major sins.
The sons quickly departed toward their brothers. When they entered upon Yusuf (AS), they said in a state of hardship and need: “فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَیهِ قَالُوا یَا أَیُّهَا الْعَزِیزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَیلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَینَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ یجْزِی الْمُتَصَدِّقِینَ”[7] Translation: “O noble one! Hardship has touched us and our family, and we have brought only poor goods. So, give us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah rewards the charitable.”
Continues…
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References:
[1] Yūsuf: 84
[2] Yūsuf: 85
[3] Yūsuf: 86
[4] Al-Baqarah: 186
[5] Al-An‘ām: 17
[6] Yūsuf: 87
[7] Yūsuf: 88
