A reflection on Surah Yusuf 12:69-79 - how Yusuf (AS) restrained his anger at his brothers' accusation, and the Prophetic guidance on controlling anger.
Anger is one of the first things we work on with our students at Darus Saulieghien Quraan Academy, whether it flares between classmates or over a difficult page of memorisation. Surah Yusuf shows us a Prophet who felt real anger and chose, deliberately, to hold it.
Falsely Accused, Again
Yusuf (AS) secretly kept his brother Binyamin with him by having the royal cup placed in his bag. When accused of theft, the brothers tried to distance themselves by claiming Yusuf himself had once stolen too, an accusation scholars describe as false or exaggerated.
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
"They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allāh is most knowing of what you describe."" (Yusuf 12:77)
Allah (SWT) does not hide this moment behind a flawless portrait of His Prophet. He shows us Yusuf's real hurt, and his choice to suppress it rather than let it spill out.
The Prophetic Guidance on Anger
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said three times, "Do not become angry." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6116) He also taught a practical remedy: "Verily, anger comes from the devil, and the devil was created from fire. Fire is extinguished with water, so if you become angry, perform ablution with water." (Sunan Abi Dawud 4784)
Yusuf's brothers had also called him "one of the good-doers" earlier in the story, a compliment made twice, once by his fellow prisoners and once by these same brothers. His good character remained visible whether he was suffering in prison or standing in power.
What We Practise With Our Students
We encourage our students to pause before reacting, whether the trigger is a sibling's teasing or a frustrating mistake in revision. A moment of restraint, a sip of water, a breath before responding, mirrors exactly what this ayah shows us in Yusuf (AS): true excellence of character holds steady under provocation.
May Allah (SWT) grant our students hearts that stay composed under pressure, just as Yusuf's (AS) did. Ameen.