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qāla qāʾilun minhum lā taqtulū yūsufa wa-ʾalqūhu fī ghayābati l-jubbi yaltaqiṭhu baʿḍu s-sayyārati ʾin kuntum fāʿilīna
One of them said, ‘Do not kill Joseph, but cast him into the recess of a well so that some caravan may pick him up, if you are to do [anything].’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yusuf - Verse 10
10. “Said a speaker among them: ‘Do not slay Yusuf, and if you must do it, throw him into the bottom of the well (so that) some caravan (of travelers) may pick him up’.”
The Arabic term /jubb/ means a kind of well in which stones have not been used in its construction. The word /qayabat/ also refers to a platform on the wall of a well near the water which cannot be seen from above the wall. Among his brothers, there was one who was more intelligent and had a conscience that was superior to that of the others. He opposed the conspiracy to murder Yusuf and the plan to send him into exile to a far distant land, as there was the fear that he might die in the process.
He offered another contingency plan suggesting that they should not kill Yusuf, but put him down a well in such a way as to leave him in safety, which would enable travelers, passing by in their caravans to pick him up and take him with them, thus putting a distance between him and themselves and from the eyes of their father. The verse says:
“Said a speaker among them: ‘Do not slay Yusuf, and if you must do it, throw him into the bottom of the well (so that) some caravan (of travelers) may pick him up’.”
Another important lesson drawn from this story is how a man’s jealousy can provide him with ways of entangling himself in very serious problems, and how, if this outrageous feeling is not controlled, it would involve not only oneself but others as well. It is for this very reason that in Islamic traditions various ways and techniques have been suggested to fight this abhorrent evil. Here are some examples: The Prophet (S) has been quoted who said:
“Allah dissuaded Musa Ibn Imran from being jealous, saying to him: ‘The jealous person is furious about the blessings I have bestowed upon My servants and hinders the distribution of those shares which I have allocated for My servants. He who does so does not belong to Me nor do I belong to him’.”
And a tradition quoted from Imam Sadiq (as) says:
“The faithful may be envious but are never jealous. However, a hypocrite exhibits his jealousy but does not envy.”
This part of the story teaches us that parents should be extraordinarily vigilant as to how they express affection towards their children, for it sometimes happens that a simple expression of love towards one child can create such an inferiority complex in another that it would incite him to engage in all kinds of ill conduct. The other child could feel so intensively rejected that he would be ready to assassinate his brother’s character, not recognizing any kind of boundary.
Even if he is not in a position to show the appropriate reaction, he would keep all his troubles to himself, blaming himself inwardly, which can contribute to the occurrence of mental problems.
Some Traditions Concerning Jealousy
1) The Messenger of Allah (S) said:
“Do not be jealous, do not perform acts of hostility, do not back-bite or gossip, stay as Allah’s sheep, and act in a brotherly manner towards each other.” 2
2) Also, he (S) said:
“The only thing which I am most afraid of about my Ummah is the multiplication of wealth, for people will become jealous and consequently kill each other.” 3
3) The holy Prophet (S) told his companions one day:
“Beware that the disease of the former nations has afflicted you. That disease is jealousy which does not wipe out the hair, but it can make one lose his religion.” 4
4) Ali (as) said:
“A jealous person is always in discomfort and pain, even though his body may be healthy.” 5
5) Ali (as) also said:
“Remove jealousy from your heart for jealousy is an exhausting and exasperating disease.” 6
6) Amir ul Mu’minin Ali (as) said:
“Jealousy is the worst of diseases.” 7
7) Ali (as) said:
“Stop being jealous and stop bearing grudges for they disrupt one’s religion and bring man to destruction”.
8) Imam Sadiq (as) said:
“Be in awe of Allah and do not feel jealous of one another.” 8
9) Ali (as) said:
“Jealousy makes one’s life bitter and dark.” 9
10) Amir ul Mu’minin Ali (as) in a Tradition said:
“Jealousy is a cureless disease which will not disappear except with the annihilation of the jealous person or when the one of whom others are jealous has passed away.” 10
11) Ali (as) said:
“The misfortunes of this world and the next is a consequence of one’s jealousy.” 11
12) Amir ul M’uminin Ali (as) said:
“The faithful will neither do flatter nor is jealous, save when they are seeking knowledge.” 12
13) Imam Sadiq (as) quoting his father, said:
“A man who has stinginess, jealousy and fear within him is not a faithful believer.” 13
14) Imam Sadiq (as) has been quoted as saying:
“Jealousy wears away one’s faith the same way as fire consumes wood.” 14
Footnotes