Is it permissible for Yusuf (peace be upon him) to say to his companion: “To the one of the two who thought that he would be saved from them, mention me to your Lord”?
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The questioner : Yusuf (peace be upon him) said to his companion: [Yusuf 12:42]; did he intend in his heart that the king would remember this man, or is this permissible? Or does it contradict the infallibility of the prophets, who naturally do not fall into error?
The Shaykh : No, this was merely adopting a material means; that is, reminding the king or the governor that there is a man with such and such characteristics. This does not contradict infallibility, but it is not perfection. Perfection has no limits, and perfection belongs to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) alone. However, there is no disobedience in it and no transgression; rather, it involves adopting the means known among people.
The questioner : Meaning, his remaining in prison for that period was a punishment.
The Shaykh : That he... and upon him...
Another questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Ah, do you have nothing?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and Joseph remained in prison several years.
لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنْسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَThe Shaykh : No, this was merely adopting a material means; that is, reminding the king or the governor that there is a man with such and such characteristics. This does not contradict infallibility, but it is not perfection. Perfection has no limits, and perfection belongs to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) alone. However, there is no disobedience in it and no transgression; rather, it involves adopting the means known among people.
The questioner : Meaning, his remaining in prison for that period was a punishment.
The Shaykh : That he... and upon him...
Another questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Ah, do you have nothing?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.