Abu Ya’la Shaddad ibn Aus, radiyallahu ‘anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, said:

“Verily, Allah has enjoined excellence (ihsan) with regard to everything. So, when you kill, kill in a good way; when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way; so everyone of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably.”

All great revolutions are channeled by the idea that one CAN do that which they once dreamed of. Every great dream and aspiration has a set of obstacles before it, and as each obstacle is surpassed one becomes more aware of their strength and endurance. The story of Yousuf (as) and Prophet Muhammad (saw) is no different. Yousuf (as) brothers plotted to kill him just like the Quraish plotted to kill the Prophet Muhammad (saw). The prophecy being applied here is truly beautiful, in fact, in understanding the story of Prophet Yousuf (as), one can better understand that which the Prophet saw endured. Hardly two years passed after its revelation when the Quraish, like the brothers of the Prophet Yusuf conspired against him in a plot to kill him. Just as Prophet Yousuf (as) emigrated to Egypt and gained respect and power, so did the Prophet Muhammad saw. True victory is only for the believers, and defeat was felt by the brothers of Prophet Yousuf as well as the Quraish. “Show mercy to us for Allah rewards richly those who show mercy” (12:88), and subhanAllah the Prophet Yousuf quickly overlooked all the wrong they had inflicted upon him – despite his great status at that time in Egypt. He said, “Today no penalty shall be inflicted upon you. May Allah forgive you. He is the greatest of all those who forgive” (12:92).
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Puddles of blood continued to flow out of of his back, as tears were streaming down his face, and his once sturdy sword lay on the floor. He traveled from present day Spain to Baghdad by foot, for the sole reason of studying under an Imam. She continued to serve her people with knowledge and taught in the great Umayyad Mosque until she could no longer do so. He was leading salah in the kabah as a teenagger, and went on to write over 150 of the best works. He memorized the Quran before the age of 14 and went on to serve as judge of Basrah.
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                 Through the winding pathways of life one may find oneself at the doorstep of an utterly new experience which requires patient perseverance.  However, before they know it that once challenging experience has become a memory neatly categorized amongst the others of the past. From time to time one may sit back to reflect on those occurrences, their reactions, the outcome and ultimately what they would have done differently.  All of this prepares us for the next hurdle, in hopes of having better judgment, and consequently not repeating similar mistakes. But what of those who are in the moment of experiencing the new?

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In support of fellow blogger IlmIsRelative and the importance of sincere apologies:

“Whoever has wronged his brother, in the way of property or honor, let him go to him and repair it, before it is taken [from him on a day] when he has no dirhams or dinars, such that if he has any good deeds, some of the good deeds will be taken and given to [the wronged one], otherwise [if he has no good deeds], some of the other’s evil deeds will be taken and cast upon him.” [Bukhari, Al-Mazalim, 5/121, #2449. Ahmad, Al-Musnad, 2/435]

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