Page "Islamic view of Jacob" Paragraph 5

One of the brothers ( usually understood to be Reuben ,) however, felt that instead of slaying Joseph they should instead drop him into a well, so that a caravan may come and pick him up.

Thus, they asked their father whether they could take the young Joseph out to play with them, on the condition that they would keep watch over him.

Although Jacob feared that the wolf would devour his son, the rebellious older sons forcefully took Joseph away and threw him into the well.

When the sons came back to Jacob that night, they pretended to weep and they further told him that the wolf had devoured Joseph.

To trick their father, they stained Joseph's shirt with false blood, but Jacob, who had been gifted with knowledge, knew this was a false concoction that they had devised.

Although Jacob did worry over the loss of Joseph, he remained steadfast to God throughout his grief.

As the years past, the young Joseph grew up into a man in Egypt ; Jacob, meanwhile, was back at home in Canaan, where his sons would constantly bother him about his repeated praying to God for the return of Joseph.

Although Jacob frequently complained to God it was never for God's doings, but out of the distractions of his own mind and his occasional breaking out of the bounds of patience which he had set for himself.

He constantly ignored the wicked taunting of his sons and would forgive them and tried to give them sound advice.

One day, Jacob decided to send his sons on an errand, telling them to go to Egypt in search of Joseph and Benjamin.

His sons, for the first time, listened to him and departed for Egypt.