The story of Yusuf (Jeseph), peace be upon him, is considered to be a beacon for youth in particular. It contains crucial situations showing truthfulness and chastity in the face of instinctive motives and natural desires. Joseph, peace be upon him, was able to stand in the face of temptations, even though all the enticing elements were present. He was a young person, in a strange land, unmarried, and he was commanded by a beautiful woman with high position calling him to herself in total secrecy, threatening him with prison and humiliation if he did not do what she wanted him to do. With all these tempting circumstances, he chose to be patient and preferred the way of Allah!
One of the most important lessons that one can get from this story is the continuity of conflict between good and evil and the victory of good virtue. This victory over evil for the faithful followers always happens at the end of a predicament.
Another lesson from this story is that whatever afllicts man, from intolerable ordeals or crises in life will always be solved and overcome.
Allah (SWT) tells us "So, verily, with every difficult, there is relief: Verily, with every difficult there is relief" {Surah Ash-Sharh, 5 and 6}
The story of Yusuf (of any Prophet for that matter) has soo many lessons we can learn from and indeed Allah (SWT) spoke the truth when He said "All that We relate to thee of the stories of the messengers, with it We make firm thy heart; in them there cometh to thee the Truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who believe" {Surah Hud, 120)
The story of Yusuf (Joseph) is prefaced with this saying of Allah, the Exalted;
"We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur'an: before this, thou too was among those who knew if not." {Surah Yusuf, 3)
From this it becomes clear that whatever is narrated in this story if from ALLAH. There is a great difference between what is from Allah and what is from anyone else!
The most beautiful of stories is the one that is most truthful, has the best speech, and honourable aim, has the most respected goal and the straightest path to follow. The stories of the Holy Qur'an that are used are historical events or incidents which have no element of fantasy or imagination. They are REAL!! Nevertheless, they are unique in their excitement and suspense with absolute FACTS!
THE EVENTS OF THE STORY AND ITS LESSONS:
The story starts with Joseph, peace be upon him, telling his father about the strange vision he had while asleep. He was waiting for its interpretation.
Note: A companion of the Prophet (saw) said that "visions of the Prophets are revelations from Allah".
"Behold, Joseph said to his father:"O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!" (Yusuf: 4)
But his father, Prophet Jacob (Yacub in Arabic) could only reveal one side of the vision to his son. That is, the vision was a true vision and that there was much good awaiting him in this life.
Jacob implored Joseph not to mention this vision to his brothers. Jacob feared that they would envy him and conspire against him in an unbearable way. Thus, we have the first lesson from this story! We are encouraged to fulfil our requirements with discretion and to deal with others according to their personal qualities and our knowledge of them.
Joseph, peace be upon him, was the youngest of the twelve (12) children of Jacob. He was the most preferred to the father and the most beloved to him. Jacob would meet Joseph with a smiling face and a happy heart. he would listen to what he said with interest be it for simple news or Joseph's needs. His brother Benjamin enjoyed the same status with his father although to a lesser degree. The other brothers noticed this preferential treatment from their father. They started holding secret meetings to conspire against Joseph in a way that increased their motives and envy and hatred.
They said "Truly Joseph and his brother are loved more by our father than we: but we are goodly body! Really our father is obviously in error!" {Yusuf,
The ten brothers then decided to kill Joseph. They based their action upon the belief that their father preferred the younger brothers Joseph and Benjamin over them. They thought that by getting rid of Joseph they would reconcile themselves with their father. thus, they thought their father's heart would turn to them and their hearts would be cured from remorse and pain caused by Joseph's preferred status over them.
There is an important lesson in this for every Muslim. He/She should not let his/her children feel his/her preference for some of them over the others. He/She should not have more concern and care to some of them over the others, especially if they are of different gender, female-male, or for from different mothers/fathers. In my opinion equality between children is a basic condition of justice between wives. This is a matter that one has to make sure or be certain of before thinking about marrying again for the second, third or fourth time.
When the time of thinking and planning had ended, the time for action came. The sons urged their father to send Joseph with them while they grazed their sheep. They gave him their word that they would take care of Joseph.
They said "O, our father! Why thou not trust us with Joseph, seeing we are indeed his sincere well wishers." (Yusuf, 11)
"Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him." (Yusuf, 12)
As a result of their insistence, their father agreed reluctantly.
(Jacob) said: "Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him" (Yusuf, 13)
But the brothers affirmed that they would take care of Joseph. Their father was pleased when they told him that Joseph would have a chance to enjoy himself and play. Thus, they deceived their father.
Joseph ran with his brothers to the pasture. The brothers took from the fearful words of their father, an excuse to implement their plan against Joseph. A consensus was reached that they would throw Joseph down a well ad leave him to his fate and destiny.
"Then they came to their father in the early part of the night weeping" (Yusuf, 16)
They said, "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf devoured him. But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth." (Yusuf, 17)
Hence falsehood reveals itself as if the guilty one is saying "come and take me". A poets writes, "but the eyes of a listener knows from the eyes of the speakers, whether he is a friend or a foe."
Later the sons of Jacob returned at night so that the eyes of their father would not see them and the darkness of the night would cover them. The evidence exposed them and revealed their conspiracy. Their deceit could not have been hidden from their father.
"They stained his shirt with false blood. He said 'Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting against that which ye assert, it is Allah (Alone) whose help can be sought..." (Yusuf, 18)
In this there is a call or a lesson not to be hasty in making judgments, but to be deliberate and patient in understanding the situations; to tackle the situation from all angles to find out the truth. There is also a call and lesson to seek the help of Allah (SWT) during trails, adversity or problems.
"The brothers of Joseph came weeping though they were oppressors and liars. It is not proper for a human being to be judged EXCEPT by the truth!
Then the help came to Joseph from Heaven. A caravan passed by the well and he was taken out of the well.
"Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water carrier (for water). And he let down his bucket (into the well)..He said: 'Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!' So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth well all that they do!" (Yusuf, 19)
"The (brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: In such low estimation did they hold him!" (Yusuf, 20)
Allah does not neglect his servants, BE WITH ALLAH AND BE WITHOUT FEAR!
"...And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out." "And He provides for him from (sources) he never could expect" (Surah Talaq, 2 and 3)
That is what is confirmed by the incident that Joseph, peace be upon him, faced in this story.
Joseph was later sold in Egypt. He was transferred from one country to another and from one hand to another until he was settled in the house of El-Aziz. El-Aziz was the Minister of Treasury in Egypt at that time and he saw in Joseph resourcefulness and righteousness.
"The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife; 'Make his stay (among us) honourable: May be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son.' Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of stories (and events). And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not" (Yusuf, 21)
To be continued Insh'Allah
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I care not what others think of what I do, but I care much about what I think of what I do. That is character!
WOW he indeed was a very strong man and one with temper too. He was on a mission to find a home for his people(jews) that have wondered on earth for so long without a home. But allah had greater plannes for these ppl, Allah promised to punish them by the hands of others.
