Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 62)
Entry into Egypt and the Prostration of Gratitude
Then Jacob (peace be upon him) set out with his entire family toward Joseph (peace be upon him) in Egypt. When they arrived, Joseph embraced his parents warmly and welcomed them, saying: “ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِینَ” Translation: “Enter Egypt, God willing, in security and peace.” [1]
Joseph (peace be upon him) seated his father and mother beside himself on the royal throne, and his parents and remaining brothers fell down in prostration before him. Then Joseph said to his father (peace be upon them): “وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَیهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا وَقَالَ یا أَبَتِ هَذَا تَأْوِیلُ رُؤْیای مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّی حَقًّا.” Translation: “And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they fell down before him in prostration. Joseph said: ‘O my father! This is the interpretation of my former dream. My Lord has made it come true.’” [2]
Joseph (peace be upon him) then began recounting the divine blessings bestowed upon him and his family: “وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِی إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِی مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّیطَانُ بَینِی وَبَینَ إِخْوَتِی إِنَّ رَبِّی لَطِیفٌ لِّمَا یشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِیمُ الْحَكِیمُ * رَبِّ قَدْ آتَیتَنِی مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِی مِن تَأْوِیلِ الْأَحَادِیثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِی فِی الدُّنْیا وَالْآخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِی مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِی بِالصَّالِحِینَ.” Translation: “Surely my Lord has been gracious to me: He released me from prison, and He brought you from the desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. Truly, my Lord is subtle in whatever He wills; indeed, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
My Lord! You have granted me authority and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and the earth, you are my Protector in this world and the Hereafter. Let me die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.” [3]
After the completion of blessings and after reaching the height of power, purity, and insight, Joseph (peace be upon him) no longer desired anything worldly. Instead, he directed his heart entirely toward the Hereafter, wishing for a blessed end and companionship with the righteous.
The Prohibition of Prostration of Reverence in Islam
This type of prostration (as occurred in the story of Joseph, peace be upon him) was lawful and customary among earlier communities. They would prostrate before their leaders and eminent figures as a gesture of respect. However, Allah the Exalted prohibited this type of greeting (prostration) in the Shariah of Islam and made prostration exclusively for His Divine Majesty.
In this regard, a hadith mentions that when Mu‘adh (may Allah be pleased with him) returned from the Levant, he saw that the people there prostrated before their bishops. When he returned to Madinah, he prostrated before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “What is this, O Mu‘adh?” Mu‘adh replied, “I saw them prostrating to their bishops, and you, O Messenger of Allah, are more deserving of being prostrated to.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If I were to command anyone to prostrate to another person, I would command a woman to prostrate to her husband due to the greatness of his right over her.”[4]
A Timeless Story of Love and Family Bond
The story of Joseph (peace be upon him), his father, and his brothers is an eternal epic of profound love and the relationship between a father and his child — a story that Allah recorded in the Qur’an as “the best of stories (أَحْسَنُ الْقَصَص)”, making it a lasting lesson for people of wisdom: لَقَدْ كَانَ فِی قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِی الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِیثًا یفْتَرَى وَلَكِن تَصْدِیقَ الَّذِی بَینَ یدَیهِ وَتَفْصِیلَ كُلِّ شَیءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ یؤْمِنُونَ Translation: “Indeed, in their stories is a lesson for people of understanding… It is not a fabricated tale, but a confirmation of what came before it, a detailed explanation of all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who believe.” [5]
continues…
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References:
[1] Surah Yusuf, verse 99.
[2] Surah Yusuf, verse 100.
[3] Surah Yusuf, verses 100–101.
[4] Recorded by al-Tirmidhi, vol. 3, p. 465, Hadith no. 1159; and by Ahmad in al-Musnad, vol. 4, p. 381.
[5] Surah Yusuf, verse 111.
