Twenty-Third Assembly (Khwan-Pur-Nemat)

A discussion arose about the serious sin committed by the brothers of the Prophet Joseph. The Venerable Master said: Their sin was committed before the manifestation of their prophethood, and it is said that prophets are not preserved from serious sin before prophetic revelation occurs. It is possible for them to commit a serious sin, but only rarely, and linked to repentance.

Afterwards he added: The brothers of the Prophet Joseph, before executing their nefarious designs upon him, were saying: 'We shall repent this. Thus, before they fell into grave sin, they had readied themselves for repentance, as it is written in the chapter on Joseph: 'And after that you may be righteous men' (Q12:9). O repentant ones, Imam Zahid has written in connection with this verse that one should not sin but, if it un- expectedly happens some time-as happened to Joseph's brothers-remember that, even before they had fallen into sin they already intended to repent. Later on, the Venerable Master exclaimed several times, How well this has been expressed in this commentary that one should not sin but, if one occasionally does so unexpectedly, then one should act as they did.1

After that he said: The prophets are not preserved from sins before their prophethood is manifested, so sin is possible, but linked to repentance. After becoming prophets, they are preserved from all disobedience. Moreover, they are preserved from idolatry at all times, and they are always mystic knowers of the Lord, for it has been related that they are knowers while yet in their mothers' wombs, through divine inspiration and, after being born, they are knowers through the use of their intellects.

The Helpless One asked, Immediately after being born? He replied, Yes, immediately after birth.

Afterwards he added: When Joseph's brothers travelled from Canaan to Egypt they were brought into the presence of Joseph. At that point Joseph's brothers had not recognized him. Joseph enquired if they also had another brother. They answered that they did, one called Joseph, but a wolf had devoured him, and their father had become blind as a result of his loss. He then said that he had heard that they had a brother who attack- ed lions, catching hold of them and ripping their jaws apart. They replied that it was true. Again, he said that he had heard that they had another brother who, when he shouted outside the city, the fear inspired by his cry was so great that the pregnant women in the city immediately gave birth. They acknowledged that they had such a brother. Thereupon Joseph mockingly exclaimed: 'How astonishing! How could a wolf carry off any- body from the midst of such brothers.

When the Venerable Master reached this point, he smiled broadly. He then added: When Joseph revealed himself to them, all hung their heads in fear and shame. They were afraid lest he utilize his royal power to wreak revenge on them and they were ashamed of what they had done to him. In spite of this Joseph forgave them and made no mention at all about it. He gave no hint about seeking retribution, saying 'There shall be no re- proof against you this day; God may forgive you, for He is the most merciful of the merciful' (Q12: 92). The learned here say that if anyone has done anything bad or oppressive to anybody else, he should come to forgiveness and not punish him. He should not advance towards retribution, just as the prophet Joseph act- ed towards his brothers. He even prayed for them, 'May God forgive you' (Q12: 92). When his father and brothers came to Joseph in Egypt, Joseph met the prophet Jacob after an interval of forty years. He mentioned nothing about the cruelties of his brothers-their selling him and throwing him into a well. He said: 'O my father, this is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true: and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after the Devil had sown dissensions bet- ween me and my brothers' (Q12:100). He said: 'This is the interpretation of the dream which I had that God Almighty had acted well with me. He brought me out of prison.'

So many afflictions befell the prophet Joseph yet he preferred to think of what was good. The learned here add that, if evils befall someone, he should remember, as did Joseph, what is good in preference to them.

A discussion arose about the serious sin committed by the brothers of the Prophet Joseph. The Venerable Master said: Their sin was committed before the manifestation of their prophethood, and it is said that prophets are not preserved from serious sin before prophetic revelation occurs. It is possible for them to commit a serious sin, but only rarely, and linked to repentance.

Afterwards he added: The brothers of the Prophet Joseph, before executing their nefarious designs upon him, were saying: 'We shall repent this. Thus, before they fell into grave sin, they had readied themselves for repentance, as it is written in the chapter on Joseph: 'And after that you may be righteous men' (Q12:9). O repentant ones, Imam Zahid has written in connection with this verse that one should not sin but, if it un- expectedly happens some time-as happened to Joseph's brothers-remember that, even before they had fallen into sin they already intended to repent. Later on, the Venerable Master exclaimed several times, How well this has been expressed in this commentary that one should not sin but, if one occasionally does so unexpectedly, then one should act as they did.1

After that he said: The prophets are not preserved from sins before their prophethood is manifested, so sin is possible, but linked to repentance. After becoming prophets, they are preserved from all disobedience. Moreover, they are preserved from idolatry at all times, and they are always mystic knowers of the Lord, for it has been related that they are knowers while yet in their mothers' wombs, through divine inspiration and, after being born, they are knowers through the use of their intellects.

The Helpless One asked, Immediately after being born? He replied, Yes, immediately after birth.

Afterwards he added: When Joseph's brothers travelled from Canaan to Egypt they were brought into the presence of Joseph. At that point Joseph's brothers had not recognized him. Joseph enquired if they also had another brother. They answered that they did, one called Joseph, but a wolf had devoured him, and their father had become blind as a result of his loss. He then said that he had heard that they had a brother who attack- ed lions, catching hold of them and ripping their jaws apart. They replied that it was true. Again, he said that he had heard that they had another brother who, when he shouted outside the city, the fear inspired by his cry was so great that the pregnant women in the city immediately gave birth. They acknowledged that they had such a brother. Thereupon Joseph mockingly exclaimed: 'How astonishing! How could a wolf carry off any- body from the midst of such brothers.

When the Venerable Master reached this point, he smiled broadly. He then added: When Joseph revealed himself to them, all hung their heads in fear and shame. They were afraid lest he utilize his royal power to wreak revenge on them and they were ashamed of what they had done to him. In spite of this Joseph forgave them and made no mention at all about it. He gave no hint about seeking retribution, saying 'There shall be no re- proof against you this day; God may forgive you, for He is the most merciful of the merciful' (Q12: 92). The learned here say that if anyone has done anything bad or oppressive to anybody else, he should come to forgiveness and not punish him. He should not advance towards retribution, just as the prophet Joseph act- ed towards his brothers. He even prayed for them, 'May God forgive you' (Q12: 92). When his father and brothers came to Joseph in Egypt, Joseph met the prophet Jacob after an interval of forty years. He mentioned nothing about the cruelties of his brothers-their selling him and throwing him into a well. He said: 'O my father, this is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true: and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after the Devil had sown dissensions bet- ween me and my brothers' (Q12:100). He said: 'This is the interpretation of the dream which I had that God Almighty had acted well with me. He brought me out of prison.'

So many afflictions befell the prophet Joseph yet he preferred to think of what was good. The learned here add that, if evils befall someone, he should remember, as did Joseph, what is good in preference to them.