Does the end justify the means? And what is the interpretation of the verse in Surat Yusuf that shows how Yusuf recovered his brother by stratagem, by placing the king's drinking cup in his saddlebag? And is it permissible to repel harm with stratagem?

The principle "the end justifies the means" is not universally valid but is subject to conditions: the end must be legitimate, and the harm of the forbidden means must be less than the benefit derived from the end. However, if the end and the means are equal in corruption, then "averting harm takes precedence over achieving benefits." Islamic law permits stratagem to achieve what is permissible and to secure rights, as seen in the story of Joseph (peace be upon him), the story of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri and Abu Hurayrah with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the sale of dates, the story of Hind with Abu Sufyan, and the story of Nu'aym ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) in the Battle of the Confederates, which indicated the permissibility of repelling the harm of an oppressor through stratagem.