The Layers beyond Yusuf

When we deliberate further on the Story of Yusuf (as) we might ask why God would need to put the words into Yakub’s (as) mouth in order to start the chain of events.

It is as if on top of the physical laws that govern our motion, and interactions with other physical bodies, there are moral laws that God has created and continues to sustain. And then we can see at multiple levels of existence the blessings of Allah that He maintains intricacies and keeps stability.  

Then we might remember that He is al-Batin, the One that wishes to remain hidden. And that even at the furtherest point, past the Lote tree where not even Jibreel (as) could pass. Even at that point God says that the Messenger (saw) witnessed the greatest of signs, and our  creator - the Most Gracious- remained shrouded. 

And then we might remember the famous Hadith about the man who killed 99 people. And we would recall how God stretched the Earth. 

Why would He need to do that, if by His Mercy He could decree whatever He wished. 

It is as if He had created the Angels and then appointed them to do the job of administering to our moral world. 

And as in our case, His care for them even extends to wishing for them to perform their calling to the best of their abilities. That He gave them a purpose, and wished for them to feel the fulfilment of doing that job well. 

Indeed to really come to know God is simply to look at the lives of those that He favoured with belief. And then to look at those things that He extols and wishes for us to be. 

And here we can see His care extending to every level of existence, no matter how small or how invisible to our scrutiny. 

And that even extends to cause and effect, and our free will. 

And even to our need to work. 

For is not God, Rab ul Alameen?

The Lord, sustainer of all the Worlds. 

The One who provides. 

And so He gives us our days full of light, so that we might seek our livelihood and provide for those in our care. 

And when the Messenger (saw) saw a man working hard with his hands, he (saw) said “God loves those hands”. 

And when a widow came to ask for his help, he provided her with a rope so that she could go to the outskirts of the town to collect firewood to bring it into town to then sell. So that she could feel the blessing of providing for herself, by her own means. 

And he (saw) further commanded us to pay the labourer before his sweat dries. 

Indeed just as cleanliness is close to godliness, so to are we when we work hard to provide for ourselves and those in our care. 

This because God is the ultimate provider, and when you work hard to provide for them with honesty, then God’s Barakah and blessings flows through you. And you become a vehicle for that, His blessing. 

And just as a vessel retains some of the water that is poured out from it, being a source for God’s nourishment and Barakah, is itself a blessing. 

And some of that stays with you past your endeavours. 

But most importantly when you look at those that He favours with belief, you will find that they have a strong sense of morals - of what is right, and what is wrong.  

And God is the Most Moral of all. 

How they malign Him when they bring arguments about evil and Hell. 

Indeed God wishes for you to do good, and so He sent countless Prophets and Messengers. So much so that there is not one person born who has not heard of the concept of Hell. 

The reality of Hell hits such a profound nerve in each Nation that it has in all likelihood entered the idiom of all languages. 

Then as God says : “Then what will be the end of those who wrong (another)?”

God, himself, does not need to answer the question because we all know instinctively it’s answer. 

That  Hell is simply the fullest expression of God’s morality. 

And Heaven is simply the fullest expression of His generosity. 

That He rewards those that do good to one another, and abases those who wrong one another. But it is by their own actions that they abase themselves. 

In another blog I have answered the necessity of Hell, from a different perspective. 

Knowledge is sought through study and contemplation. And not this above.