Consultation in Story of Prophet Joseph
Consultation means seeking the right opinion, that is, when someone cannot reach the right opinion himself, he goes to someone else and asks for his opinion.
The progress and growth of human societies have been achieved based on consultation and interaction and benefiting from one another’s ideas and views.
If everyone thought his own opinions were enough and refused to benefit from the opinions of others, mankind would remain in the early stages of progress.
That is why Imam Ali (AS) said, “He who acts solely according to his own opinion gets ruined, and he who consults other people shares in their understanding.”
Imam Ali (AS) also said that no better way than consultation leads to the right path.
Prophet Joseph (AS), who was a divine messenger and a role model for the wise in the world, used consultation in educating people and he himself benefited from consultation. Once when he had a dream, he consulted with his father and asked him for guidance.
“When Joseph said, ‘Father, in my dream I saw eleven stars, the sun and the moon prostrating before me.” (Verse 4 of Surah Yusuf)
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His father, who knew interpretation of dreams, told his son: “My son, do not tell your dream to your brothers lest they plot against you; Satan is the sworn enemy of man.”
So the first step taken by Prophet Joseph (AS) in education was consulting with the wise and prudent people.
