Thus We Established Yūsuf in the Land

Thus did We establish Yūsuf in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. Yūsuf (peace be upon him) went through slavery; he was bought and sold, and he went through this hardship in his life. Why? Because Allah (swt) wanted to establish him on the earth — for the sake of tamkīn, establishment.

Allah (swt) is putting this Ummah through difficulty. Why? To prepare it — to prepare it for its establishment in the land. Allah (swt) put the Companions, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), through difficulty. Why? So that one day they would be prepared and ready for establishment in the land. Allah (swt) put Mūsā through misery and difficulty — and the amazing story of Mūsā is still ahead of us: the difficulty he went through, and the struggling and the striving. Why? So that Allah (swt) would establish him in the land.

Allah (swt) says: wa kadhālika makkannā li-Yūsufa fī al-arḍ — thus did We establish Yūsuf in the land. Allah (swt) calls this establishment because he had reached Egypt. Even though he was a slave, that was his establishment for the future. And that We might teach him the interpretation of events: Yūsuf was living through the experience of life, so that he would develop knowledge and experience. He was going through a great deal.

And notice where Yūsuf (peace be upon him) was now being trained: in the house of al-ʿAzīz. Al-ʿAzīz was like the prime minister, in modern terms — and not only the prime minister, but even more powerful than that, because he was also the treasurer at the same time: the second most important post after the king. So Allah (swt) placed Yūsuf in that environment. Even though he was a slave, Allah (swt) put him in the centre of decision-making, close to events, to learn and to gain experience — just as Allah (swt) put Mūsā in the house of Firʿawn.

Wallāhu ghālibun ʿalā amrih — and Allah has full power and control over His affair. The brothers of Yūsuf thought they had control over events and were going to be rid of him. But the moment they put Yūsuf into the well, the matter was out of their hands. Now Allah (swt) was taking care of Yūsuf, and things were going to turn around against them. But most people do not know — and among those who did not know were the brothers of Yūsuf.