The Easy Way Out

Have you ever thought of going to jail to be the better option in your current life circumstances? Despite the experiences one goes through in life, no one would choose jail as the safe option. Even a criminal wouldn’t want to go back to jail, let alone an innocent person. But that was the choice Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) made, and he preferred that over fulfilling his desire with the most beautiful woman in front of him.

Temptations and desires are a common factor in today’s world. Fulfilling one’s desires is readily available like a ready-made packaged food – it just needs a mix. Most often when the term ‘desires’ is used by scholars and respected teachers, the youth becomes reluctant towards such advice. Let me break it down for you!

Desires are these trendy, cultural window-of-opportunity that you think relieves you from stress and difficulties of life, but in fact, they draw you further into a maze filled with trap doors and dead ends. For instance, you fancying someone from the opposite gender, and talking with them, and spending time with them makes you feel that no one cares about you the way this person does and this person understands you more than anyone ever will. Or you watch videos late at night to de-stress from a bad day, and this doomscrolling on social media lands you on adult videos that give the dopamine release that nothing else can. And this includes addiction to smoking, shisha, music, drugs and what not. Ultimately, the end result of these addictions is some dopamine release and lots of regret.

Most often, the youth succumb to these things due to the extreme difficulties of life such as bad childhood, bullying, parental trauma, loneliness, depression and much more. At times, this path is also chosen due to peer pressure and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Hence, you become part of people with whom you think you are respected and loved.

This trendy window-of-opportunity was presented to Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). It was not just presented – it was dressed up, invited, enticed, and pressured, not just once, but twice. Yusuf (peace be upon him) was not a prophet yet. He was a young man. A beautiful young man who experienced separation from his parents, sibling jealousy, loneliness, slavery. This was a moment where he could have gotten that dopamine release from his long childhood trauma, but instead, he said;

“I seek the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.” [12:23].

And it was not that Yusuf (peace be upon him) didn’t feel or do anything in regards to this infatuation. In fact, Allah ﷻ says:

“And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof [i.e., sign] of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.” [12:24].

Some Tafseer scholars, such as Abdullah bin Abi Mulaykah and Ibn Abbas, have also stated that he was almost about to succumb to his desires like he kind of loosened his trousers, proving that he was a human – a young man with baggage who was battling against his desires, and Allah ﷻ saved him due to his Iman. The second time this window-of-opportunity opened, it arrived with heavy loads of peer pressure. To this, he chose;

“My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant.” [12:33].

He had an easy way out this time too, especially with peer pressure to blame, but he rerouted and sought the difficult path which even criminals would not opt for.

The story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) isn’t just an account of his handsomeness. It is an account of trials and difficulties due to his beauty. He is an inspiration to those struggling, relapsing, recovering, or even experimenting with their windows-of-opportunity. Prophet Yusuf’s (peace be upon him) life teaches us that the easy way out is not always the solution but a trapdoor to an even bigger maze. And the difficult path that one chooses, despite many easy way out is in reality a path to success – a path where Allah ﷻ guides you out of your troubles and into becoming His chosen servants.

Regardless of the glamour and glitter of this world, it is only a dopamine release. The world itself is a decorated prison in which we are temporarily in so that we may meet the All-Mighty, who will grant us eternal bliss and happiness.

References

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