The old woman who put a bid on Hazrat Yousaf A.S.: Story by Shaykh Fariduddin Attar

 

When Hazrat Yousaf A.S. [Joseph] was attacked by his brothers and thrown in a well, he was rescued by a caravan who enslaved him to be sokd.

Hazrat Yousaf was taken to a market of slaves, where they invited customers to put a bid on him.

Hazrat Yousaf A.S. was considered one of the most beautiful of all mankind. It is evident from story of Zulekha who asked her lady servants to peel lemons as Hazrat Yousaf entered and the maids were so mesmerized by his beauty that they cut their hands instead.

At the auction of Hazrat Yousaf at slaves market, many noble and rich customers were keen to buy such good looking slave.

Suddenly, an old woman appeared and put a small bid too.

The auctioneer laughed at the woman, and said,

”O’ old woman, this is no auction for you. Just look at gorgeous slave, who had interest of kings and noblemen”

The old woman responded,

” You don’t understand, O’ ignorant auctioneer. All I want is that in history books that it is recorded that among the royal bidders for such slave, my name is included as well.

People will remember the courage of an old woman who was not afraid to put a bid for Yousaf “

Hazrat Fariduddin Attar say that to discover God requires the courage of such old woman. All of us are weak and unworthy, but only with such courage and valour we can expect to discover our Lord.