In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Planning Repentance In Advance, Apology or Feign Ignorance Before Secretly Harming Others Is An Old Affair!

The Story of Prophet Yusuf and His Brothers [peace be upon him and them]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخۡوَتِهِۦۤ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلسَّآٮِٕلِينَ
إِذۡ قَالُواْ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ
ٱقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضً۬ا يَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِيكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمً۬ا صَـٰلِحِينَ
قَالَ قَآٮِٕلٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ وَأَلۡقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ يَلۡتَقِطۡهُ بَعۡضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَـٰعِلِينَ
قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأۡمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ
أَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعَنَا غَدً۬ا يَرۡتَعۡ وَيَلۡعَبۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
قَالَ إِنِّى لَيَحۡزُنُنِىٓ أَن تَذۡهَبُواْ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأۡڪُلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَأَنتُمۡ عَنۡهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ
قَالُواْ لَٮِٕنۡ أَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذً۬ا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُواْ بِهِۦ وَأَجۡمَعُوٓاْ أَن يَجۡعَلُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ‌ۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمۡرِهِمۡ هَـٰذَا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَآءً۬ يَبۡكُونَ
قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَڪۡنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ‌ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ۬ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ ڪُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬‌ۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬ا‌ۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ

Verily, in Yusuf (Joseph) and his brothers, there were Signs for those who ask. When they said: “Truly, Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother (Benjamin) are loved more by our father than we, but we are ‘Usbah (a strong group). Really, our father is in a plain error. Kill Yusuf (Joseph) or cast him out to some (other) land, so that the favour of your father may be given to you alone, and after that you will be righteous folk (by intending repentance before committing the sin).” One from among them said: “Do not kill Yusuf (Joseph), but if you must do something, throw him down to the bottom of a well, he will be picked up by some caravan of travellers.” They said: “O our father! Why do you not trust us with Yusuf (Joseph), – when we are indeed his well-wishers? Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and verily, we will take care of him.” He [Ya’qub (Jacob)] said: “Truly, it saddens me that you should take him away. I fear lest a wolf should devour him, while you are careless of him.” They said: “If a wolf devours him, while we are ‘Usbah (a strong group) (to guard him), then surely, we are the losers.” So, when they took him away, they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well, and We inspired in him: “Indeed, you shall (one day) inform them of this their affair, when they know (you) not.” And they came to their father in the early part of the night weeping. They said:”O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Yusuf (Joseph) by our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth.” And they brought his shirt stained with false blood. He said: “Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert.” [Surah Yusuf. Aayaat 7-18]

Reminders From The Above Aayaat

[ٱقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضً۬ا يَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِيكُمۡ وَتَكُونُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمً۬ا صَـٰلِحِينَ – Kill Yusuf (Joseph) or cast him out to some (other) land, so that the favour of your father may be given to you alone, and after that you will be righteous folk (by intending repentance before committing the sin)]. Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “They first made a commitment to repent before the sin in order make it easy for them to do it, seeking to (ignore the fact that it is something) evil and so that they can motivate one another”.

وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَآءً۬ يَبۡكُونَ
قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَڪۡنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ‌ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ۬ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ ڪُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ

[وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَآءً۬ يَبۡكُونَ – And they came to their father in the early part of the night weeping]. Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “They came later than their unsual time (of return) and their weeping was to be something in their favour, and an indication of their truthfulness”. Then they gave a false excuse, saying:

[يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَڪۡنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَڪَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ‌ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ۬ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ ڪُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ – O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Yusuf (Joseph) by our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth]. [وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ۬ كَذِبٍ۬‌ۚ – And they brought his shirt stained with false blood]- Meaning, claiming that it is Yusuf’s blood when the wolf devoured him; but their father did not believe them and said: [ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرً۬ا‌ۖ فَصَبۡرٌ۬ جَمِيلٌ۬‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ – Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert]. (1)

At the end of the story and after Yusuf was given authority in Egypt, he forgave his brothers and their father sought forgiveness for them.

Prophet Saaleh and Those Who Plotted Against Him

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ فَإِذَا هُمْ فَرِيقَانِ يَخْتَصِمُونَ
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
قَالُوا اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَن مَّعَكَ ۚ قَالَ طَائِرُكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۖ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ
وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ
قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
فَتِلْكَ بُيُوتُهُمْ خَاوِيَةً بِمَا ظَلَمُوا ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
وَأَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ

And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih (Saleh), saying: “Worship Allah (Alone and none else). Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbelievers) quarreling with each other.” He said: “O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allah’s Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive mercy?” They said: “We augur ill omen from you and those with you.” He said: “Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you are a people that are being tested.” And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. They said: “Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: ‘We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.'” So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah (a lesson or a sign) for people who know. [Surah An-Naml. Aayaat 45-52]

[ وَكَانَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا يُصْلِحُونَ – And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform]- Meaning, they caused corruption by way of their disbelief and sins, shed blood, confiscate wealth and violate people’s honour through lewd conduct, and they were the ones who excuted the plan to kill the she-camel. (2)

[ قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ – They said: Swear one to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth]- Meaning, we’ll go to him and his family at night and murder them. Then when his relatives pursue us and make a claim against us, we reject and negate it, and attest by way of an oath that we are truthful. [وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا – So they plotted a plot] – Meaning, they were determined to murder Saalih and his family secretly, even hiding the affair from their own people, out of fearing his closest family members. Allaah said: [ وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا – and We planned a plan]- Meaning, by aiding our Prophet Saalih, facilitate ease for him and destroy those amongst his people who rejected his message, [وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ – while they perceived not]. Then Allaah stated:[ فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ – Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together].(3)

Finally, amazing indeed that we witness – in our era – the behaviour of some newspapers that constantly speculate to violate the honour of people and only apologise when there is no other way of escaping blame. The apology always arrives quickly after they’ve made a lot of money through their fabricated story. If this mistake happens once or twice, then indeed it is possible to have a good suspicion that they are genuinely mistaken, but due to the fact that this evil continues, one is left with no other thought except the suspicion that they plan what to do before and after fabricating lies. Also we witness the affair of those ideologues, demagogues and rabble-rousers who secretly initiate unrest and coups in other countries to fulfil their geopolitical agendas or to steal a nation’s wealth whilst its people are preoccupied in severe and destructive enmity. Then they tell the entire world that they are seeking after freedom, liberty and progress for that nation. Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said: Allaah (The Most High) said: [وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنً۬ا وَٱرۡزُقۡ أَهۡلَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ مِنۡہُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۖ – And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, “My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.” [Surah Al-Baqarah. Verse 126]

Indeed, he [i.e. Prophet Ibraaheem Peace be upon him)] gave priority to security (in his supplication) over seeking sustenance, because security is a necessity. Security is a necessity and the people cannot enjoy sustenance alongside fear; rather sustenance cannot be reached in the presence of fear. This is what the enemies’ desire- those who try to destabilise the Muslim societies. They wish to disassociate the Muslims from their unity behind their Muslim rulers. This is what they desire and they do not desire good advice for the Muslims in name of actualizing beneficial affairs, rectification, removal of oppression and the likes. All of this is lies and false pretenses, because if ruler ship slips away chaos will be at large, corruption will spread and the beneficial affairs which they say will be actualized will be non-existent. Corruption will be at large and there will not be rectification.

Therefore, for this reason there has to be ruler ship upon which the Muslims unite. And even if (such ruler ship) has shortcomings and (affairs pertaining to) negligence, the (people) should exercise patience, because there is a prevention of that which is more severe and harmful in exercising patience. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: ‘’It is not known of a group that rose against their Muslim Ruler, except that their state of affairs after his removal was more evil than their state of affairs whilst he was present.’’ And this is something experienced at present. The rulers and heads of state who have been removed, what is the state of affairs of their countries after they were (removed)? There has not ceased to be fear, anxiety, chaos, bloodshed etc. (4)

(1)An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased

(2)An Excerpt from Zaadul Maseer Fee ilmit Tafseer – By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi. slightly paraphrased

(3)An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased

(4)An Excerpt From a Juma-ah Khutbah: Khutbah Number 1: dated 1432-03-15: http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13208%5D