Ghafir (The Forgiver)

34. And verily Joseph did come to you in times gone by with clear signs, but you ceased not to doubt in what he did bring to you: till when he died you said: “No Messenger will Allah send after him.” Thus, Allah leaves astray him who is a transgressor [of limits] and one who doubts [Allah’s Warning and His Oneness].

The conducts of the good affects the obduracy of their generation. The believing man of the family of Pharaoh said:

“If you do not believe in Moses (as) today, it is no wonder, since you did not believe in Joseph (as) either.”

In this blessed Verse, he further proceeds with his admonition.

A brief survey of the preceding Verses and the One in question reveals that to impress the impenetrable heart of Pharaoh and his people, the believing man from his family made efforts to cleanse their arrogance and disbelief by presenting his words in five forms and stages.

Firstly, he opened his remarks with precaution calling that rebellious and disbelieving people to abstain from contingent loss saying that if Moses (as) were lying, he would carry the burden of his sins but if he tells the truth, we will be afflicted with Divine torment, so behave cautiously and be afraid of the dire consequences of your deeds.

Secondly, he asked them to glance at the accounts of ancient peoples and warned them against entanglement with such dire fate.

Thirdly, mention is made of an account of other peoples who were not too remote from them and they were still aware of their history since the nexus between them and those people were still intact. He raises the question of Joseph’s (as) Prophethood who was Moses’ (as) forefather. He also mentions Joseph’s (as) people confronting with his Call.

“And verily Joseph did come to you in times gone by with clear signs, but you ceased not to doubt in what he did bring to you.”

They declined his Call for the sake of their arrogance, obduracy, and incessant suspicion rather than because of intricacies in his Call.

To dispose themselves of any obligation and in order to persist in their arrogance and following their concupiscence, they said upon Joseph’s (as) demise that God would never appoint another Messenger.

On the one side, they transgressed Divine bounds and on the other they entertained doubts as to everything; as a consequence of which God deprived them of His Bounties and left them in the mire of error and they could never expect any fate better than that.

The believing man of the family of Pharaoh further added:

“If you show the same reaction against Moses’ (as) Call without any reflection or investigation, he may be a divinely appointed Messenger but you may deprive your sealed hearts of Divine Guidance.”