5. THE FOOL BRINGS ORDEALS UPON HIMSELF
When the intellect is wholesome, one’s intelligence and acumen are strong and he is able to navigate through troubles.
Al-Hasan said, ‘If the thief is smart, his arm will not be severed; as for the fool, he only brings ordeals upon himself.’
Here are the brothers of Yusuf (‘alayhi as-salam) they took him away from his father so that they can be closer to him instead, not knowing that his grief will occupy him and his conviction of their guilt will incite his hatred for them. They threw him in the pit, and said,
“Some travelers will pick him up” [Yusuf (12):10],
Unaware that when he is picked up, the news will spread reaching his father! Then they said, “The wolf ate him,” and they brought his stained shirt intact. If they had torn it apart, it would have been more plausible.
When they went to him seeking food, he said,
“Bring me a brother of yours.” [ Yusuf (12): 59],
had they the acumen, they would have known that the King of Egypt has no need for their brother. He then held Benyamin on a proof and said, “This measure tells me that such-and-such.” All the while they still remained unaware.
When Ya’qub (‘alayhi as-salam) sensed these things, he told them,
“go and find out about Yusuf.” [Yusuf (12):87],
Because Yusuf was prohibited by revelation to inform his father of his existence. That is why when they met, he told him, ‘Why did you not write to me?’ He said, ‘Jibril (falayhi as-salam) prohibited me.’
Therefore, since he was prohibited to inform him of his existence— in order for the trial to continue—what he did to his brother was like an alert, similar to one who indirecdy alludes concerning a proposal to a woman who is in her waiting period.
By Allah, Ya’qub cried for witnessing Yusuf’s intelligence, not just for seeing his image.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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