Page 80 - Perfected Faith

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PERFECTED FAITH

patience and faith. Indeed, years later, when the king sought for the
interpretation of a dream he had had, an old prisoner recalled the
Prophet Yusuf (as) as a person who had the faculty of interpreting
dreams. Yusuf (as)'s interpretation of the dream greatly impressed the
king. He thereupon called Yusuf (as) to his presence. Before the king
had a chance to talk to him, the Prophet Yusuf (as) wanted the king to
learn the facts about the incident for which he had been sent to prison
so many years ago. So, for this explanation, the king returned to the
governor's wife and the women to whom she had introduced Yusuf
(as) at the time of the incident:
... (The women said:) "Allah forbid! We know no bad of him."
The governor's wife then said, "The truth has now emerged.
Indeed I tried to seduce him then and he has simply told the
honest truth." (Surah Yusuf, 51)
After their confession, the Prophet Yusuf (as) gave the following ex-
planation:
In this way he (i.e., the governor) will know at last that I did not
dishonour him behind his back and that Allah most surely does
not guide the deviousness of the dishonourable. I do not say
that I myself was free from blame. The self indeed commands
to evil acts—except for those my Lord has mercy on. My Lord,
He is Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah Yusuf, 52-53)
These words of the Prophet Yusuf (as) are typical of his perfected
faith. He always knew that Allah would help believers and those who
are patient, and that He would certainly confound the schemes of
those who betrayed Him. His trust in Allah manifested itself in his
submission to his destiny. No matter how unfavourable the circum-
stances seemed, he could see that there was good and wisdom behind
these events Allah ordained.
Another exemplary character trait of the Prophet Yusuf (as) was his
refusal to indulge his lower self, even in situations in which he was
absolutely right. He never trusted in his lower self and always re-