Jacob: Giving grief a voice

Jacob's sons thought that Joseph and his brother were loved more by their father. Their jealousy turned into a plan to distance Joseph from the family. After leaving him in a well, they told their father that a wolf had eaten him and brought his blood-stained shirt. Jacob did not accept what was told as it was; he said that what befell him was a beautiful patience and that he sought help from Allah.

Years later, when painful news arrived regarding another son, the same sorrow weighed heavy again. Jacob turned his face away from them and expressed his longing for Joseph. It is recounted that his eyes were affected by sadness. While those around him tried to discourage him from this remembrance, he said that he only opened his distress and sadness to Allah. The Quran does not conceal this deep sadness.

Jacob asked his sons to continue searching for Joseph and his brother; he told them not to despair of Allah's mercy. When his sons went to Egypt again, Joseph finally revealed his identity. Upon his brothers facing what they had done in the past, he informed them that he would not reproach them that day. Then he asked them to take his shirt to his father and bring the family to him.

When the caravan set off, Jacob said that he could smell Joseph. When the herald came and placed the shirt on his face, his sight returned. His sons asked him to pray for their forgiveness. Finally, the family reunited with Joseph. This story tells of a father's prayer expressing his sorrow, the search, and the reunion together; ignoring pain is not the same thing as hoping.