Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 55)
The Conspiracy and Plot of the brothers
The sons of Ya‘qub (MABH) observed the special love and attention their father had toward Yusuf (MABH) and his full brother (Binyamin), a level of affection none of them had received. This caused them deep resentment, and they harbored hatred toward Yusuf. They secretly consulted one another on how to get rid of him so that their father’s love would belong to them alone, without any rival. They then decided that after carrying out their plan, they would repent and become righteous so that Allah would accept their repentance and their father would forgive them.
After extensive discussions and consultations, they finally concluded that they should throw Yusuf (MABH) into a well so that a passing caravan would find him, take him away, and thus they would be rid of him without committing murder or shedding innocent blood. They all agreed on this plan.
Deceiving Their Father and Executing the Plot
To carry out the plan, they asked their father to send Yusuf (MABH) with them when they went out to graze livestock and play, assuring him that they would take full care of him. Their father, who loved Yusuf (MABH) dearly and feared that he could not endure the hardship and climate of the pastures as his older brothers could, responded to their request by saying: “إِنِّي لَيَحْزُنُنِي أَن تَذْهَبُوا بِهِ”[1] Translation: “Indeed, it truly saddens me that you should take him.”
Ya‘qub (MABH) further expressed his fear: he was afraid they might leave Yusuf alone, and a wolf might devour him while they were negligent. This statement unintentionally gave the brothers the very excuse they needed (or perhaps their hatred had blinded them from thinking of a better answer), and it provided them with the pretext they had been seeking. Having already resolved to throw Yusuf (MABH) into a well, they replied: “لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّخَاسِرُونَ”[2] Translation: “If the wolf eats him while we are a strong group, then surely we would be losers.”
Despite his profound worry and reluctance, the father eventually agreed, so that Allah’s decree might unfold.
Throwing Yusuf (MABH) into the Well and the Divine Revelation
Filled with hatred, jealousy, and hardness of heart, the brothers took their young sibling and cast him into the well without the slightest mercy. They abandoned him alone and helpless. But Allah, Exalted is He, did not leave him alone. In that lonely moment, Allah sent revelation to Yusuf (MABH), comforting him and assuring him not to grieve. Allah promised him that relief would come, that he would survive, and that one day he would inform his brothers of their wrongdoing, at a time when they would not recognize him.
Their False Return and the Shirt Stained with Fake Blood
As part of their scheme, the brothers returned to their father at night, pretending to cry, and apologized that a wolf had eaten Yusuf (MABH) and that they had been unable to save him. To complete their fabricated story, they brought Yusuf’s shirt, stained with false blood, hoping to convince their father that Yusuf had been torn apart by a wolf. But due to their hatred and haste, they could not construct their lie properly.
Had they been calmer, their lie would not have been exposed so quickly. Their desperation to escape the consequences of their crime made them rush, and they chose the wolf story—the very scenario their father had mentioned—without thinking. Their haste was so great that the shirt carried obvious signs of falsification.
Knowing that their lie was weak and fearing their father would not believe them, they said: “وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَادِقِينَ”[3] Translation: “And you will never believe us, even if we were telling the truth.”
At that moment, Ya‘qub (MABH), through the signs before him and the voice of his heart, realized that a wolf had not eaten Yusuf (MABH), and that the brothers had plotted against him and fabricated a false story.
He stood firm and told them: “بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ”[4] Translation: “No, rather your souls have enticed you to commit this matter. So (for me) patience of the most beautiful kind. And it is Allah alone whose help is sought against the false claims you describe.”
Ya‘qub (MABH) declared that his patience would be beautiful—free from complaint or despair—and that he would seek strength only from Allah to endure the hardship. [5]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Surah Yusuf, 12:13
[2] Surah Yusuf, 12:14
[3] Surah Yusuf, 12:17
[4] Surah Yusuf, 12:18
[5] Sayyid Qutb, Fi Zilal al-Qur’an, vol. 4, pp. 1976–1979
