Prophet Yusuf’s story is fascinating, full of lessons and wisdom. As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, Yusuf was his father Prophet Yaqub’s most beloved son, and his brothers were envious of him. However, the question remains – why did they throw Prophet Yusuf into a well?
The main reason for Yusuf’s brothers’ envy, according to Islamic teachings, was his father’s clear preference for him over the rest of his siblings. Yusuf was chosen because of his exceptional beauty, wisdom, and ability to interpret dreams. In the Quran, Prophet Yusuf himself narrates this:
“Surely Joseph and his brother8 are dearer to our father than we are, although we are a group of so many. Our father is clearly mistaken“(Quran 12:8)
The brothers’ envy and resentment of Yusuf reached a boiling point when Yusuf shared a dream in which the sun, moon, and eleven stars prostrated themselves before him. This dream foreshadowed Yusuf’s future rise to power and prominence, which his brothers interpreted as a sign that Yusuf would rule over them.
The brothers plotted Yusuf’s death out of jealousy and spite. One of them, however, suggested throwing him into a well instead, hoping he would die there. They hoped to get rid of Yusuf and prevent him from becoming more powerful than them.
Despite his innocence and their familial bond, Prophet Yusuf was thrown into a well by his own brothers. It was a cruel and heartless act, but Allah’s plan was to elevate Yusuf and bring him closer to his destiny.
Finally, Prophet Yusuf’s story serves as a reminder that envy and jealousy can lead to terrible acts, and that Allah is the best of planners, always guiding us towards our ultimate goal.