Page 60 - Age of Peace Goodword.indd

The Examples Set by Two Prophets

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oseph was an Israelite prophet and Muhammad was an
JIshmaelite prophet. Both are accepted among the Semitic
religions and both were super-achievers.
The Prophet Joseph came to ancient Egypt around the
seventeenth century BC. At that time the Hyksos Kings were
the rulers of Egypt. A time came when a famine loomed large
over Egypt, but Joseph devised a plan to save the country
from starvation and at that point the then king of Egypt
offered Joseph a high position in his government, that is,
the administrator of storehouses of the land (khazain al-arz)
(12:55). According to the Bible, the king said to Joseph:

‘You will be over my house, and all my people will obey
your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I
be greater than you.’
1
Joseph accepted the post offered by the king and perhaps
continued in it till his death. The Quran refers to this story
as ahsan al-qasas, or the best story. How did Joseph’s story
become the best story? It was through the application of
wisdom. With the sovereignty of the country still in the hands
of the king, the Prophet Joseph adopted the formula of political
adjustment.

In the above Quranic verse, ‘the best story’ implies the best
method. The course of action followed by the Prophet Joseph
was that he never tried to unseat the king but accepted the
political status quo which existed at that time. The result
was miraculous. Joseph was able to command all the affairs

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