The First: The Master Ya'qub, according to the exoteric appearance (hasab al-zahir), is the father of the Master Yusuf. Customary etiquettes and parental rights do not permit a father to prostrate to a son, whether by way of obedience or otherwise. Rather, the matter is the exact opposite of that: they permit the son—nay, obligate him—to undertake a prostration of obedience and respect toward his father, due to the saying of the Exalted:

[“And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, 'My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'] ¹

The Second: The station of the Master Ya'qub at that time was prophethood, so he was the most excellent of the people of his time. And he, in relation to Yusuf, was his father and his prophet—meaning he exceeded him in excellence according to the exoteric appearance from the aspects of both fatherhood and prophethood. It is impossible for the superior to prostrate to the inferior, and it is not permissible for his prostration to occur except to one who is more exalted and more excellent than him; and there is none more exalted and more excellent than him save his Creator. Thus, the station of Yusuf is that of Divinity (al-Uluhiyyah), considering the prostration of Ya'qub to him even after the two attributes of prophethood and fatherhood were combined in him.