“And the king said, ‘Bring him to me.’” — [Qur’an] The virtue of knowledge: the knowledge of rulings and sacred law, the knowledge of interpreting dreams, and the knowledge of management and nurturing. This knowledge is superior to outward appearance, even if that appearance reaches the beauty of Yusuf (Joseph). For it was because of his beauty that he faced tribulation and imprisonment, whereas it was because of his knowledge that he gained honor, status, and authority in the land. Indeed, every good in this world and the next springs from the effects and requirements of knowledge. — [As-Sa‘di, p. 410]

﴿وَشَرَوۡهُ بِثَمَنِۭ بَخۡسࣲ دَرَ ٰ⁠هِمَ مَعۡدُودَةࣲ وَكَانُوا۟ فِیهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّ ٰ⁠هِدِینَ﴾ “They sold him for a paltry price — a few counted silver coins — and they were among those who had little interest in him.” [Surah Yūsuf 12:20] Reflection “A man from among the best of the people of the earth being sold for a cheap price did not reduce his true worth in the slightest. great individuals are not harmed when the ignorant fail to recognize their value.”

He (the son) said, “I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water.” He (Noah) said, “There is no protector today from the command of Allah except for whom He has mercy.” And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned. — [Surah Hūd, 11:43] Reflection: when trials and tribulations surge, follow the path of the believers, no matter what people say about their means of salvation. They are under the protection of Allah. Do not incline toward the sinners, even if they cling to mountains as strong as the firmest peaks.

> “Indeed, Allah does not set right the deeds of the corrupters.” (Surah Yunus, 10:81) And thus — every corrupter (mufsid) who performs an act, plots a scheme, or engages in deceit — his actions will inevitably be nullified and vanish. Even if his work seems to find acceptance or success for a time, its ultimate end is decay and destruction. As for the righteous (the reformers, al-muṣliḥūn)—those whose intentions in their deeds are solely for the sake of Allah and whose actions are beneficial and divinely commanded—Allah will rectify, elevate, and continually nurture their deeds. Question: What is the ultimate outcome of corrupt deeds? And what is the ultimate outcome of righteous deeds? Reference: Tafsīr al-Saʿdī, p. 371

Have you ever wondered why the last two chapters of the Qur’an are Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Naas? Shaykh Abdul Hamid Ibn Badis offers a beautiful insight into the wisdom behind their placement.