THE TREATMENT (Part 05)
8. READING THE INCIDENTS OF THE AMBIYA AND THE PIOUS
Amongst those things which help man control his desires is to read and ponder over the incidents of our pious predecessors – how they controlled their desires and realised the presence of Allah Ta’ala. Consider, for example, the incident of the Nabi of Allah, Yousuf (alayhis salaam). It is an amazing and strange incident. All the means and requirements of temptation which had not gathered for anyone before, gathered for Yousuf (alayhis salaam) . He was an extremely handsome young unmarried slave. She (Zuleikha) was a lady of beauty and dignity. Yousuf (alayhis salaam) was living in her house, etc. Despite all this Yousuf (alayhis salaam) preferred the Pleasure and Fear of Allah Ta’ala over all these temptations. He chose the prison instead of fornication. Allah Ta’ala says: “He (Yousuf alaihis salâm) said: “The prison is more beloved to me than that towards which they call me.” (Sura Yousuf, ayah 33)