Did Allah ordain for Yusuf deceit, trickery, and manipulation of evidence to achieve His will, as stated in His verse: "And thus did We plan for Yusuf"?

Joseph, peace be upon him, was a truthful prophet, and Allah is the most truthful of speakers. Therefore, it is impermissible to attribute falsehood to Him, glorified be He, nor to His noble prophets.

The story of Joseph with his brothers concerning "placing the drinking cup in his brother's saddlebag" was not an act of prohibited falsehood or deceit. Rather, it was a good stratagem permitted by Allah to Joseph, peace be upon him, to achieve higher objectives:

1. Reconnecting with his family and parents. 2. Subduing his brothers to repentance and confession of their error. 3. Fulfilling Allah's promise to Jacob and restoring his son to him after a long absence.

The caller who announced that they were thieves believed they had stolen the drinking cup and did not know the full truth, so he was not lying. As for Joseph, peace be upon him, he meant by their theft that they had stolen Joseph himself from his father, and he was truthful in that.

Scholars confirm that this act by Joseph was among the "good ambiguities" (al-Ma'areedh al-Hasana) which are not lies, even if they appear as such to those who do not know the truth, and through which truth is reached and proof established. This falls under the category of "beloved and intended stratagem" that Allah loves and approves of, due to the wisdom and benefit contained therein.