The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 56)
The Hardships and Blessings That Befell Yusuf (PBUH) After the Well
From the moment when the brothers of Yusuf (PBUH) cast him into the well until the time he was released from prison, he faced a chain of hardships and blessings. Here, we explain some of these events to show how Allah prepares His chosen servants for accepting and delivering the mission entrusted to them.
First Event: Yusuf (PBUH) Being Found in the Well and His Sale
The first event that combines both hardship and blessing is the incident of his being found in the well and being sold.
The Noble Qur’an narrates this event in the following verses: «وَجَاءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَأَرْسَلُوا وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَى دَلْوَهُ قَالَ يَا بُشْرَى هَذَا غُلَامٌ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَاعَةً وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ* وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ *وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَكَذَلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ *وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ.» [1] Translation: A caravan arrived, and they sent their water-drawer. He lowered his bucket, and when Yusuf clung to it and emerged, the water-drawer exclaimed: “Good news! This is a boy!” They concealed him as merchandise, but Allah was fully aware of what they were doing. They sold him for a small price, just a few counted dirhams, for they were not interested in keeping him. The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife: “Honor his residence; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And thus We established Yusuf in the land (of Egypt) so that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. And Allah is dominant over His affair, but most people do not know. When he reached maturity, We granted him wisdom and knowledge, and thus do We reward the doers of good.
These verses show that a caravan passing near the well; through the plan of Allah, brought Yusuf (PBUH) out of it. This was itself a great blessing from the Lord for Yusuf (PBUH). But soon this blessing turned into hardship, because the caravan sold him to the “Azīz” of Egypt.
Nevertheless, this very hardship became the origin of another series of both hardships and blessings.
The Blessings That Arose from This Hardship
Among the blessings of this event are the following:
Respect and an honorable position: The one who purchased him (the Azīz of Egypt) advised his wife to honor the status and residence of Yusuf (PBUH), hoping that he might benefit them or that they might adopt him as a son.
Authority and establishment in the land of Egypt: In this way, Allah the Exalted granted Yusuf (PBUH) strength and establishment in the land of Egypt and provided him a position.
The knowledge of interpreting dreams and wisdom: Another blessing was that Allah granted Yusuf (Peace be upon him) the knowledge of interpreting dreams, as well as wisdom (sound judgment among people) and knowledge (of religious matters and dream interpretation). This very blessing; the knowledge of interpreting dreams; later became the cause of Yusuf (PBUH) being released from prison.
Second Event: The Infatuation of the Wife of the Azīz of Egypt with Yusuf (PBUH)
Yusuf (PBUH) grew up in the house of the Azīz of Egypt, and his youth blossomed. When he reached the fullness of manhood, love for him settled in the heart of the wife of the Azīz. After adorning herself and beautifying her appearance, she closed the doors and called Yusuf (PBUH) toward herself. But Yusuf (PBUH) refused and, with purity and chastity, refrained from falling into sin and firmly rejected her invitation.
This refusal made the wife of the Azīz accuse him of violating her honor and chastity. Although Yusuf (PBUH) was innocent of this accusation, this incident was a great hardship for him.
Third Event: The Imprisonment of Yusuf (PBUH)
Even though the innocence of Yusuf (PBUH) regarding the accusation of the wife of the Azīz had been made clear, they still issued the judgment that he should be imprisoned. It was astonishing that the reward for this noble, trustworthy man—who had shown loyalty to his master—was to be thrown into a dark dungeon! He was innocent, had committed no sin, and the signs of his honesty were completely evident.
But this was the result of the false arrogance of the Azīz and his wife, a rebellious pride and a sick mentality in which standards become reversed—so that the innocent appears guilty and the truth appears falsehood.
Thus, the return for the kindness of Yusuf (PBUH) was harm and oppression. He was moved from the palace to a dreadful prison, and he remained there for several years. However, his imprisonment became the beginning of a blessing, for many hardships carry within them hidden blessings.
Prison: An Opportunity for Calling to Allah and Interpreting Dreams
In prison, two young men became cellmates with Yusuf (PBUH). After some time, each of them saw a dream, and they narrated it to Yusuf (PBUH), saying: نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ. [2] Translation: Tell us its interpretation, for we see you as one of the doers of good.
Yusuf (PBUH) seized this opportunity and first invited them to the Oneness of Allah and to worship Him alone. Then he informed them of the interpretation of their dreams, saying: one of you will be freed and will once again serve wine to the king, and the other will be executed, crucified, and birds will eat from his head.
Then Yusuf (PBUH) said to the one whom he thought would be saved: “Mention my case to the king,” so that he might speak of the injustice done to him and perhaps the king would investigate again and his innocence would be proven. But Satan caused that man to forget to mention the story of Yusuf (PBUH) to the king, and thus Yusuf (PBUH) remained in prison for several more years.
