No Blame Upon You Today

There is a whole surah of the Quran named after Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام, and this true story comes from it.

Yusuf was only a boy when it began. His father, Ya'qub عليه السلام, was a prophet too. Yusuf also had a whole band of brothers, and they felt their father loved Yusuf more than them. "Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we are," they said among themselves.

So one day they took him out with them, put him down into the bottom of a well, and left him there.

It was dark down there, and he was all alone — but not forgotten. Allah inspired Yusuf with a promise: one day he would tell his brothers about this very deed of theirs, and they would not even realise who he was.

Travellers came by, and one of them let down his bucket. Up came a boy! Yusuf was sold for a handful of coins and taken far away, to Egypt.

Then came the long years. Years far from home. Years in prison, for something he had not done. Through all of it, Yusuf stayed patient and kept turning to Allah.

At last, by Allah's plan, everything turned around. The king of Egypt brought him out of prison and trusted him, and Yusuf asked to be put in charge of the storehouses of the land. When the hard years came and food ran short, it was Yusuf who measured it out.

One day, his brothers walked in. They had come all the way from home to buy food. Yusuf knew them at once. They had no idea who he was.

Imagine standing where he stood: the brothers who once left you in a well, right in front of you, needing something only you can give.

They came more than once. On one visit they brought his brother, the one they had called dearer to their father, and by a plan Allah arranged, Yusuf kept him by his side in Egypt.

By their last visit, times were very hard. "Mighty governor," they said, "misfortune has afflicted us and our family. We have brought only a little merchandise, but give us full measure. Be charitable to us: Allah rewards the charitable."

Be charitable to us. The brothers who had once thrown him away were now asking him for kindness.

Plenty of people would have waited years for a moment like this, ready to list every wrong and finish with: now you know how it feels.

Yusuf عليه السلام asked them just one question. "Do you know what you did to Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?"

Then the truth reached them. "Could it be that you are Yusuf?"

"I am Yusuf," he said. "This is my brother. Allah has been gracious to us: Allah does not deny anyone who is mindful of Allah and steadfast in adversity the rewards of those who do good."

The promise from the bottom of the well had come true.

"By Allah!" the brothers said. "Allah really did favour you over all of us and we were in the wrong!"

It was all up to him now. And this is what Yusuf عليه السلام said:

"No blame will there be upon you today. May Allah forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful."

No shouting. No list. Scholars of the Quran explain that he meant he would not blame them, and that after that day he would not remind them of what they had done. Then he went further, and asked Allah to forgive them too.

He sent them home with his own shirt for their father — but that is a story for another night — and asked them to bring the whole family to Egypt.

When at last the whole family was together, Yusuf told his father how good Allah had been to him. Allah had brought him out of prison and brought his family to him, after Shaytan had stirred up trouble between him and his brothers.

Did you notice what he left out? He did not mention the well at all. And the trouble between them he blamed on Shaytan, not on his brothers. Scholars say he left the well out so that his brothers would not be put to shame.

That is forgiveness from strength. He had power, full storehouses and every reason to make them pay, and he chose mercy.

So tonight, if someone has hurt you, you don't have to carry it into your dreams. You can put it down, as Yusuf عليه السلام did, and whisper, "May Allah forgive them." Then leave it with the Most Merciful of the merciful, who is looking after you all night long.

Close your eyes now. Let your heart be light. Sleep well.