Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Yūsuf (Joseph) | BROTHERS’ REUNION
not yet been made obligatory. It was represented in their submission to Him alone.
When these people acquired material power on earth, legislation was given to them.
When they had to meet the practical needs of their life, they were able to deduce
codes and legal provisions, in addition to what the Qur’ān and the Sunnah legislate.
That is the proper and only way.
I wish there was an easy way to transform people generally at the first call made
to them to accept Islam and explain its laws to them. But this is wishful thinking.
People do not abandon jāhiliyyah or change their submission to tyranny in order to
adopt Islam and worship God alone except through the hard and arduous route
along which the Islamic message advocates itself. It always starts with an individual,
followed by a vanguard group. Then the conflict with non-Islamic society begins,
bringing in its wake all sorts of trials and hardships. When the conflict is resolved
and God grants victory to the Islamic message and its advocates, Islam is established
and people enter into God’s faith in groups. That faith involves a complete way of
life, which is the only way acceptable to God: “He who seeks a religion other than selfsurrender
to God, it will not be accepted from him.” (3: 85)
The above explanation may give us an insight into Joseph’s attitude. He was not
living in a society that had submitted all its affairs to God’s law, thereby prohibiting
seeking office or requesting a government position. He felt that the circumstances
offered him a chance to be in a position of authority, not a position of subservience in
jāhiliyyah society. Things turned out as he wished. He was then able to promote his
faith in Egypt, while the Chief Minister and the King had their authority
substantially curtailed.
High Position and Freedom for Joseph
Having elaborated the point about Joseph’s request to be in charge of the
Kingdom’s store houses, and the issue of seeking government posts in Islamic
society, we pick up the thread of the story again. When we consider the text of the
sūrah we find that it does not mention the King’s agreement to Joseph’s request. It is
as if the request itself implied the King’s approval. This is an even higher honour
given to Joseph, and it shows his high standing with the King. He only needed to
state his request for it to be answered. This is confirmed by the following verses:
“Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, free to do what he willed. We bestow Our mercy on
whom We will, and We never fail to give their reward to those who do good. But as for those
who believe in God and keep away from evil, the reward of the life to come is much better
indeed.” (Verses 56-57)
Thus the proof of Joseph’s innocence in the way that it was done, and the King’s
admiration that he has already won, and the granting of his request, all helped to
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