A Focus on Taqdir and Allah’s Unseen Arrangements

Early Morning Reflections

A Focus on Taqdir and Allah’s Unseen Arrangements

يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًۭا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ ٤١

““O my fellow-prisoners! The first one of you will serve wine to his master, and the other will be crucified and the birds will eat from his head. The matter about which you inquired has been decided.”” (12:41)

• Every part of the believer’s life is their Taqdir.
• Here is a lesson in understanding that the life one lives is designed by Allah.
• In moments when one is unhappy with their circumstances, one has to remind themselves that it was not granted to them by their own choice, but by Allah’s Taqdir.

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ ٤٢

“Then he said to the one he knew would survive, “Mention me in the presence of your master.” But Satan made him forget to mention Joseph to his master, so he remained in prison for several years.” (12:42)

• Allah had made it such that the man who would survive would forget Yusuf (AS)’s request.
• This forgetfulness was a blessing from Allah; a mercy from Him to protect Yusuf (AS) from relying on anyone else but his Lord.
• Similarly to people in one’s life whom they rely on and who forget to reach out to them, Allah makes it such that these people do not fulfil this role, for He is saving the believer from placing their Tawakkul on anyone else but Allah.
• Allah allows his servants to be broken in order to save them from asking of those who cannot be there for them.

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌۭ ٥٠

“The King then said, “Bring him to me.” When the messenger came to him, Joseph said, “Go back to your master and ask him about the case of the women who cut their hands. Surely my Lord has full knowledge of their cunning.”” (12:50)

• When the order was given to Yusuf (AS) to leave the prison, he asked the king to find out about the ‘women who cut their hands’.
• He does not say what happened to the wife of the Aziz of Misr, but what happened to the ‘women’, so as to cover her faults.
  

On this occasion, in the Sahih of Al-Bukhari and Jami’ of Tirmidhi, following a narration of Sayyidinah Abu Hurairah (RA), Muhammad (SAW) said:

“If I had been in a prison for so long, as Yusuf (AS) has been, and had I then been summoned for release, I would have accepted it immediately.”

This Hadith tells us of the incredible patience of the Prophets (AS), in which Muhammad (SAW) praises Yusuf (AS).

• Yusuf (AS) had such a noble character that in every moment, his forbearance was at the forefront of everything.
• In every situation, Yusuf (AS)’s modus operandi was his patience, forbearance, and noble traits of character. He did not have hope on the King or anyone saving him. Instead, his focus and patience was on the King of all Kings.
• When the believer reaches a point of complete calm with Allah’s plans and wisdom, they get to a point where one is not rushing things because they feel like it has to be done in their way. It is making Sabr knowing Allah’s plans are superior.

قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ قُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍۢ ۚ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ٥١

“The King asked the women, “What did you get when you tried to seduce Joseph?” They replied, “Allah forbid! We know nothing indecent about him.” Then the Chief Minister’s wife admitted, “Now the truth has come to light. It was I who tried to seduce him, and he is surely truthful.” (12:51)

• Allah Himself manages things for His favoured servants by releasing unseen arrangements, helping them to achieve their objectives.
• By building a relationship with Allah, one develops an awareness of this, allowing Allah to make these unseen arrangements.

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌۭ ٥٤

“The King said, “Bring him to me. I will employ him exclusively in my service.” And when Joseph spoke to him, the King said, “Today you are highly esteemed and fully trusted by us.”” (12:54)

• This is the overriding lesson of Yusuf (AS); that Allah’s protection is sufficient for every need.
• At every point, Yusuf (AS) could have gone for protection to anyone. And yet he took protection and comfort only from Allah.