Prophet Yūsuf: Part 1 — The Well, the House and the Prison
Section 8 of 31 · Lives of the Prophets
Beautiful Patience
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
“And they came with fake blood on his shirt. He said, “Rather, your inner desires have tempted you to do something. So, patience is best. It is Allah whose help is sought against what you describe.’’” (12:18)
And they brought his shirt, stained with false blood. Yaʿqūb said: no — rather, your own selves have made up a tale. He knew they were lying. So patience is most fitting, and it is Allah alone whose help is sought against what you describe.
What was he going to do? Was he going to kill his sons? That was the dilemma for the father: was he going to kill his own sons? So he said: ṣabrun jamīl — beautiful patience. I will have patience, and I will seek help from Allah (swt).