Page 74 - What the Qur'an Says about Liars and Their Methods

WHAT THE QUR'AN SAYS ABOUT LIARS AND THEIR METHODS
their father's initial hesitation, they swore an oath that they
would protect Yusuf (as). However, from the very beginning
their true intention was to kill him.
First they told their father that Yusuf (as) wanted to come
with them and promised to look after him very well. This was
all a part of their ploy, as the Qur'an reveals:
When they declared: "Why Yusuf and his brother
[Benjamin] are dearer to our father than we are, al-
though we constitute a powerful group. Our father is
clearly making a mistake." (Surah Yusuf, 12:8)
Saying that Ya`qub's (as) great love for Yusuf (as) had
caused him to make a mistake was a lie, because they were
aware that Yusuf's (as) morality was far superior to their own
and that therefore he was more deserving of his father's love.
"Kill Yusuf or expel him to some land so that your fa-
ther will look to you alone, and then you can be peo-
ple who do right." (Surah Yusuf, 12:9)
They all knew that they could not form a community who
do right after killing their brother, but even after telling such a
lie they still presented themselves as innocent of their planned
immorality and cruelty, and as doing this out of their love for
Ya`qub (as). This was also a lie, because people capable of
killing their brother do not understand real love and cannot
claim to do so. In fact, they wanted to kill their brother solely
because of jealousy and rivalry.
They said: "Our Father, what is wrong with you that
you refuse to trust us with Yusuf, when in truth we
only wish him well? Why don't you send him out
with us tomorrow so he can enjoy himself and play
about? All of us will make sure that he is safe."
(Surah Yusuf, 12:11-12)

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