( إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا…) (When they said, “Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we…): Yusuf’s brothers speak among themselves, saying: “Indeed, Yusuf and his brother Benjamin are more beloved to our father than we are’. Yusuf (PBUH) and his brother Benjamin were young when their mother died, so that Ya’qub (PBUH) had to compensate for the loss of their mother. Ya’qub (PBUH) treated his children with fairness since justice must be upheld in giving, and it is not permissible to discriminate among children. However, when a child is orphaned, young, or ill, it is permissible to show more attention to them but fairness must be maintained among them in giving.

My father donated to me some of his property. My mother Amra bint Rawaha said: I shall not be pleased (with this act) until you make Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) a witness to it. My father went to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) in order to make him the witness of the donation given to me. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Have you done the same with every son of yours? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Fear Allah, and observe equity in case of your children. My father returned and got back the gift.”[1]

Therefore, fairness has to be in giving and not necessary in emotion and love. In fact, the Prophet Ya’qub (PBUH) treated his twelve sons with fairness, but he showed special heartfelt love to Yusuf (PBUH) because he was orphaned and young. The second reason is: because the dream that Yusuf (PBUH) recounted to his father, which clarified to him that he would inherit the legacy of Ibrahim and Ishaq (PBUT); that is, he will become a Prophet.

(… وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ…) (… while we are a clan…): A clan refers to a group of people whose members support each other.

(... إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ ) (…  . Indeed, our father is in clear error):

The expression (clear error) here is not used to indicate the general meaning which is to deviate from the path of righteousness to that of wrong, rather, it refers that a person unintentionally follows a road that does not lead him to his way., as Allah (swt) says:

 وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَىٰ

(And He found you lost and guided [you],) (Ad-Duha: 7)

Meaning that, you do not know the way, so Allah (swt) guided you to the straight path. Yusuf’s brothers meant that their father does not know the way of truth. Thus, jealousy arose in the hearts of the brothers even though they were the sons of Prophet. However, this is a lesson for all people to take heed and understand the danger of jealousy.

[1] Sahih Muslim, The Book of Gifts, Chapter: It Is Disliked To Favor Some Of One’s Children Over Others In Gift-Giving, Hadith No. 1623.