The Prophet Joseph 5

          The new shock ripped open the old wound about Joseph. Jacob started crying and lamenting loudly.  It appeared the sons had not forgiven Jacob for loving Joseph and his brother. Instead of sympathizing with him they said, “Old man, you are sticking to the story of Joseph. If you do not stop dwelling on the past, you will kill yourself with the grief.”  Jacob’s only reply was, “I am not saying anything to you.  I am putting my sorrow and grief in front of almighty God. He has given me insight about which you do not know.” Jacob’s eyes were white with constant crying and his heart was a permanent abode of sadness.

          Jacob was not convinced about the death of Joseph, so he ordered his sons to go back to Egypt and look for him and his brother. The sons went to Egypt, but the financial condition of their family had gone from bad to worse. They were unable to pay for the grain, so they said to Joseph, “Our financial condition is very bad. We won’t be able to pay the full price for the grain; please accept this little money from us and give us full measure as charity.  God helps the charitable people.”

          Joseph’s heart was moved with this appeal. He said, “Do you remember what you have done to Joseph and his brother due to ignorance?”

          “Are you really Joseph?” the brothers said with gaped mouths. It was an excellent chance to take revenge.  The enemy was completely helpless, begging for charity, in an alien land, without any support or help. But Joseph was on the pinnacle of character, where taking personal revenge was beneath human dignity. 

          He replied, “Yes, I am Joseph, and this is my brother. God has been very kind to us. For all those who do not disobey the laws of God in times of adversity and remain steadfast, their rewards are never lost.”

          The brothers said, “By God, you are superior to us; we are to be blamed for all that has happened.”

          “Do not fear any retribution today. I pardon you,” said Joseph. “I will seek your protection from Allah also. He is the best forgiver. Now take my shirt to my father. He will understand my position and status. Come back to me with all your families.”

          The brothers returned to Jacob as Joseph had ordered them. The caravan reached Cannon, and the brothers with Joseph’s shirt ran to see their father. Suddenly, Jacob said, “You may think I have gone senile, but I smell the scent of Joseph. I am quite sure of it.” The people around him said, “You are sticking with your old craziness. There is no sign of Joseph and you smell his scent.”

          In the meanwhile, the man with the shirt arrived, and put the shirt in front of Jacob.  It was the second time the shirt of Joseph was presented to Jacob. The first time, it was a harbinger of doom, sprinkled with false blood; the sons were telling a concocted story of Joseph’s death, and it took all hope and joy from his life.  This time, Joseph’s shirt was conveying a fact about his high status and position.  It was a message of hope and a better future for the entire family. Jacob immediately understood the situation, and said to the people around him, “Did I not tell you that I understand a lot of things that you do not know?”

          The brothers came to the father with bowed heads and eyes lowered with shame. They said to the father, “Please ask Joseph to forgive us because we tried to do harm to him and his brother.”

          Jacob replied, “I will ask Joseph to forgive you.”

          The whole family left for Egypt.  Joseph came out of the city to welcome them.  He made his parents sit at a place of honor, and they bowed to him, as was the custom of the land.  At that time Joseph remembered his old dream of eleven stars, the moon and the sun bowing to him and exclaimed with delight, “This is like the dream which I had when I was a child!”  His heart was so full of gratitude as he remembered his troubled past, when he served as a prisoner. He prayed to God to continuously pour his blessings on him as He had done when He taught him to decipher data and draw correct conclusions. With the help of this knowledge, he was able to rule. God was his real protector and he hoped He would let him die as a believer, so he would join the group of virtuous people in the next life.  Joseph was overwhelmed by the new happy changes in his life. He lodged his parents with him, and the brothers were settled elsewhere in Egypt.

          In the continuous story of Joseph in the Quran, there is no mention of his preaching, but in (40-34) it is mentioned that he preached the law of God.  As is the way of people, some believed in him, and some remained doubtful about his message.