| Allah Almighty says in His Book: "There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it…. |
Allah Almighty says in His Book: "There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe." [Yousif: Joseph: 111] Thus, if you want to memorize any story from the Quranic stories, you have to understand it and deduce from it lessons and sermons. Then, you start memorizing and you will find memorizing the story very easy.
Joseph Surah is a truly a masterpiece of the Quranic stories… I remember how this Surah was my start in the journey of memorizing the Almighty's Book. One of the important things to find real enjoyment in memorizing is to start by what you love and what interests you without sticking to a certain ranking. Your objective will be is to please Allah Almighty and perfecting memorizing the Quran or part of the Quran. The objective is not to memorize the Quran according to its ranking. But if you memorize one Surah thoroughly in sake of Allah, it is much better for you than memorizing the whole Quran only for the sake of memorizing or to have people say that you have memorized the Quran!
Therefore, that was my systematic way of memorization. The result was that what I had memorized stayed long though I did not revise it! I used to leave everything, sit to memorize the Book of Allah Almighty, find great pleasure in reciting the Quran and enjoy its meanings which capture hearts.
We will try now memorizing Surah Joseph (pbuh). But before we start this job, we need to divide this Surah into portions according to the events of this story. Then, we memorize each portion alone, next, we connect the portions to each other. We will find ourselves memorizing this Surah without much effort.
I will leave this Surah for you, dear reader to divide it into portions that suit your ability to memorize. The portions may be large or small. I will give you an idea about the story and the lessons it includes, so that you feel with me the events and the situation which were hints from this great Surah.
The best stories
The stories of the prophets in the Holy Quran come within the Surah verses, nonetheless, the Quran considered this story in a whole Surah because of its importance, many lessons, sermons and the benefits which the story had introduced to us. Therefore, we find Allah Almighty talk to His beloved Mohammed (pbuh) said to him: "We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur'an: before this, thou too was among those who knew it not."[Yousif: Joseph: 3]
Joseph dreamed and told his father, "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!" 5. Said (the father): "My (dear) little son! relate not thy vision to thy brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee: for Satan is to man an avowed enemy! "[Yousif: Joseph: 4-5]. The father knows his sons and he knows that Joseph was the best of his brothers who hate him. Therefore, the father asked Joseph not to tell his brothers, because he was afraid that they may hurt Joseph.
Joseph's brothers
Joseph had a number of brothers who envy him for being their father's favorite. They wanted to separate him from their father and so they tried always to concoct plots for Joseph because their father loves him more. One day, they met and decided to take Joseph and throw him in the well to get rid of him and gain Jacob's, their father, affection. Therefore, they came, swindled their father and said, "They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph,- seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers? 12. "Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him." 13. (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." 14. They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party, then should we indeed (first) have perished ourselves!" ."[Yousif: Joseph: 11-14] Of course, they were lying to their father, and therefore, their lying would be uncovered after a while.
They took Joseph
Jacob, the father, (pbuh) agreed to send Joseph with his brothers who took him to a place far away where there was the well. They swindled Joseph and then threw him in the well before they hurried home! But before that they had taken Joseph's shirt, dipped it in blood, came back to their father weeping, and said, "Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping. 17. 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." 18. 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". . ."[Yousif: Joseph: 16-18] Here, we see how Jacob, the father, (pbuh) had faced this calamity with patience and surrendered the whole issue to Allah… and so we must be patient on all calamities and let Allah manages. We must not rely in all our issues and life on anyone other than Allah.
What was the fate of Joseph?
Allah was with Joseph and He did not leave him at all because Joseph was a believer child who fears Allah and does not disobey Him. He used to love Allah who loves him. Allah had arranged for Joseph a place in the well that he did not feel afraid. Allah protected him from any harm. Joseph sat in the well waiting for who may come and save him until a caravan who sent their servant to bring them water from the well. When he put down the bucket into the well, Joseph held it and climbed up with it. The servant saw Joseph, hurried back and said: I have found a child!! Hence, one of the merchants took him to Egypt and availed him for selling. One of the princes, Al-Aziz came and bought him for a miserable price, only few dirhams. "The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! 21. The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honourable: maybe he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son."[Yousif: Joseph: 20-21]
A new journey starts
The Aziz took Joseph, the child, and brought him up in a good manner. He always used to tell his wife to dignify this kid because he was good. Josef was getting gradually older and increasingly beautiful, knowledge and wisdom. Here, Allah describes this stage of Prophet Joseph’s (pbuh) life and says, "When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right.” [Yousif: Joseph: 22]
But this journey included some troubles that Allah had prescribed for Joseph (pbuh). Aziz's wife was fond of Joseph and she tried to sleep with him but he was always refusing. He was saying: My master Aziz has dignified me a lot and I fear Allah Almighty, how come that I make things that make Allah angry? Therefore, every believer who loves Allah Almighty should stop committing sin that makes Allah Almighty angry. He should be in the state of permanent fear of Allah. Allah sees us wherever we are. Therefore, Joseph said, " He said: "(Allah) forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!" [Yousif: Joseph: 23] At the time, a master or a chief was called lord.
Joseph goes to prison
Aziz’s wife was furious of Joseph, tried to approach him forcibly and to compel him to sleep with her but he refused and escaped. While he was running away from her, she tore his shirt from behind. Suddenly, Aziz appeared in front of them. His wife hurried to tell him: Joseph had attacked her!! Joseph defended himself saying: she was trying me to commit adultery but I ran away from her and she tore my shirt from behind.
A wise relative to Aziz’s wife came to judge between them. He said: if Joseph’s shirt was torn from behind, it meant he was running away and she was chasing and attacking him and thus his shirt was torn from behind.
Therefore, Aziz checked Joseph’s shirt to find that it was torn from behind. This proved that Joseph was innocent of his wife’s accusations and was sincere in each word he had said. Aziz reprimanded his wife for what wrong she had done to Joseph and asked to repent from this wrong deed. But the word was spread in the city and ladies started to talk about Aziz’s wife, her love to Joseph and she was wrong. But Aziz’s wife summoned the city ladies and gave each one a knife and then asked Joseph to get out. When they saw Joseph, they were crazy of his beauty to the extent that they cut their fingers with the knives unknowingly! The ladies were saying: This was a nonhuman, but a kind angel. Then, Aziz’s wife said to the ladies: This is Joseph whom you blamed me of. I will send him to prison if he does not carry out what I ask him to do.
Joseph interprets dreams
Therefore, Aziz thought that if he put Joseph in prison, the issue and the city ladies talk would end. We may wonder if we knew that Joseph (pbuh) had preferred jail to committing a sin… therefore, He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant." 34. So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and knoweth (all things)." [Yousif: Joseph: 33-34]
Joseph went to prison and Allah had arranged for him to meet two other guys in prison. One of them said: I saw a dream that I would like to ask about its interpretation. I saw myself squeezing grapes to make wine. Joseph said: the interpretation of this dream was that you will carry wine and give your lord to drink. This is what will happen to you but you live and therefore please tell your lord my story and that I can interpret dreams.
The second guy said: I saw a dream that I would like to ask about its interpretation. I saw myself standing and bread was on my head. Birds came and ate from this bread. Joseph said: the interpretation of this dream is you will be crucified on wood till you pass away and then birds will come and eat from your head!
The two guys left the prison and as Joseph told, the second guy made a mistake, thus was crucified, died and birds came to eat from his head. While the first guy took wine and gave his lord to drink but he forgot to tell him about Joseph’s story.
The king sees a dream
The king of Egypt saw a dream while he was sleeping. He summoned his ministers the next day and asked for an interpretation for this dream. He said: I had seen seven fat cows i.e. fleshy and heavy weight. The king continued telling his dream and said: I saw also seven lean cows i.e. emaciated and skinny. I saw also seven green ears of corn and seven dry ones.
The king was asking an interpretation to his dream and asked them to bring whoever could interpret that dream. They said: we do not know dream interpretation but we look for someone who could do that. “The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom seven lean ones devour, and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! Expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions." [Yousif: Joseph: 43]
Then, that guy who was with Joseph in prison came and remembered that Joseph could interpret this dream. But Joseph was in prison what to do? The guy went to the king’s palace and told them that there is a man who can interpret this dream and his name is Joseph but he is in prison. They went to Joseph, told him the dream and asked for interpreting the king’s dream.
Joseph interprets the dream
Joseph said to them: the interpretation of this dream that the seven fat cows denote that seven years of good will come, and the crop of wheat will be in abundance. The other seven skinny cows denote that seven years of drought and very little crop will follow. However, a year will follow these years of drought when it will rain, the plants grow again and the famine ends. Allah Almighty says about this, “(Joseph) said: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont: and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which ye shall eat. 48. "Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded. 49. "Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil)." [Yousif: Joseph: 47-49]
The king was pleased with this interpretation, worked on utilizing the good years, stored corn in storage areas and also prepared for the years of drought that will follow.
The truth shows
Therefore, the king ordered to bring Joseph in front of him but Joseph refused until he was declared innocent of the accusations that led him to prison, and that Aziz’s wife was the one who enticed him and that he would not be the attacker but she was the one who assaulted him. At this moment, Aziz’s wife came and said: Now I tell the truth, Joseph was innocent of the accusation that took him to prison, I was the one who tried to entice him but he refused and he did not do anything that makes Allah angry.
The Holly Quran tells us in rhetoric and wonderful style about the innocence of our Prophet Joseph (pbuh) and this is Aziz’s wife or as the Quran called her the woman of Aziz, “Said the 'Aziz's wife: "Now is the truth manifest (to all): it was I who sought to seduce him from his (true) self: He is indeed of those who are (ever) true (and virtuous). 52. "This (say I), in order that He may know that I have never been false to him in his absence, and that Allah will never guide the snare of the false ones.” [Yousif: Joseph: 51-52]
This was how the truth appeared and Aziz’s wife admitted it. She was the one who tried to commit adultery that makes Allah Almighty angry. Innocence of Joseph had come and the king knew that this youth was sincere, pure and a believer. Therefore, he sent someone to bring Joseph to him. When Joseph came and appeared in front of the king, the king said to him: Today you have become strong and we will give you what you want and I shall depend on you.
Joseph replied: I have knowledge in managing money and accounts, please assign me this position. I will handle all accounts in a perfect manner. The king gave the position to Joseph. Egypt flourished during the time of Joseph and became richer and stronger. Allah Almighty says, “Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take possession therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good.” [Yousif: Joseph: 56]
The seven year famine
The famine occurred. The seven good years ended and were replaced by the seven years of drought. People resorted on Egypt King to give them corn for their feeding. The king assigned that responsibility to Joseph (pbuh) who was responsible for distribution of corn to the people from different countries. The famine reached the village of Jacob (pbuh), father of Joseph, who sent his sons, the brothers of Joseph, to Egypt to bring some corn.
They went to Egypt to bring corn from our Prophet Joseph and they did not know that he was Joseph. They believed that he was being taken by some people and became their servant. They did not imagine at all that Joseph was the honorable of Egypt distributing corn and controlling the money and the treasure of the whole country. Allah Almighty says about this stage of Joseph’s life, “Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take possession therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good. 57. But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and are constant in righteousness.” [Yousif: Joseph: 56:57] This was how Allah had made our Prophet Joseph stronger holding what he wanted, went to and fro freely. This was by the grace of Allah Almighty to our Prophet Joseph because he endured too much the harm of his brothers.
Joseph’s brothers come
Joseph’s brother came to him but they did not recognize him; nonetheless, he recognized them!! He asked them: How much corn do you need? They said: We need an amount that will satisfy us, our father and our younger brother who remained with his father. He said: Why didn’t you bring your younger brother with you?? They said: Our father is much related to him and he won’t let him at all. Joseph said to them: I will give you what you need of corn on condition that you bring me your younger brother whom you left with your father. Almighty says, “And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he said: "Bring unto me a brother ye have, of the same father as yourselves, (but a different mother): see ye not that I pay out full measure, and that I do provide the best hospitality? 60. "Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall ye (even) come near me." 61. They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his father: Indeed we shall do it." [Yousif: Joseph: 59-61]
Allah is the best to take care
They returned to their father and said to him: O father can we take our brother with us because Egypt governor stopped us from taking our corn share. He wanted us to bring our younger brother. Their father said: do you want me to send him with you to do what you have done to Joseph?? “But Allah is the best to take care (of him), and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" [Yousif: Joseph: 64]!!!
They replied: O father, we will bring him back to you and do no harm to him. We will take him with us to get the corn and come back. Father said: I won’t send with you until you swear to Allah Almighty that you will bring him back to me and till you give me a solemn oath to Allah that you bring him back to me unless Allah estimate something out of your will.
So, Joseph’s brothers promised their father not to hurt their younger brother and they will bring him back to their father as soon as they get corn from Egypt. Almighty says, “Further he said: "O my sons! enter not all by one gate: enter ye by different gates. Not that I can profit you aught against Allah (with my advice): None can command except Allah. On Him do I put my trust: and let all that trust put their trust on Him." [Yousif: Joseph: 67]
They went back again
Joseph's brothers targeted Egypt accompanied by their younger brother. They surrounded him with all the care and diligence till they have arrived Joseph. They came to Joseph with their younger brother who was good-hearted and did not want to hurt anyone. He was different from his brothers and this was why he had this proximity to his father after Joseph had gone. Joseph (pbuh) did not want to tell them he was Joseph and left them unaware. However, he called his younger brother and told him not to fear. That was me your brother Joseph and the younger brother was very pleased. Joseph told him not to tell his brothers. I would make a simple trick to keep you with me without they were aware of that. Here, the Quran tells us about that in saying of Almighty, "Now when they came into Joseph's presence, he received his (full) brother to stay with him. He said (to him): "Behold! I am thy (own) brother; so grieve not at aught of their doings." [Yousif: Joseph: 69] He kept his brother beside him and took into the palace without they noted that. He told him not to be sad about what was happening. Joseph (pbuh) wanted to make a simple trick to take his younger brother.
The beaker of the king
Joseph ordered his guys to put the king's beaker which was used to weigh corn in his brother's luggage. Then, he ordered them to declare it stolen and look for it! They started the search for the king's beaker in Joseph's brothers 'luggage. Suddenly, they got the beaker from the younger brother's luggage. Here, Joseph's guys declared that the younger brother was the thief of the beaker and he had to go to prison!
Joseph's brothers said: We did not come here to steal, but this young kid was a thief, nonetheless, we had to take him back to his father because he would be very sad. Joseph told them: Who stole would be sent to prison and I would not let him go with you. They said: O Aziz our brother has an old father and we cannot go back without him. Then, they begged Aziz a lot, but he refused to send his younger brother with them. He had him stay in the palace with him and he was very generous to him. He started to talk with him about their father Jacob. Almighty says, "They said: "O exalted one! Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable, (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place; for we see that thou art (gracious) in doing good." 79 He said: "(Allah) forbid that we take other than him with whom we found our property: indeed (if we did so), we should be acting wrongfully." [Yousif: Joseph: 78-79]
Joseph's brothers in confusion
Joseph's brothers were increasingly dithered in this situation, and they did not know what to do after they had given their father a promise and testament to bring his younger son. Therefore, the elder brother said to them: Go back to your father and tell him what happened and say that your younger son stole and we are sincere. Here, the Book of Allah Almighty describes this difficult situation, Allah Almighty says, "Now when they saw no hope of his (yielding), they held a conference in private. The leader among them said: "Know ye not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah’s name, and how, before this, ye did fail in your duty with Joseph? Therefore will I not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah commands me; and He is the best to command. 81. "Turn ye back to your father, and say, 'O our father! behold! thy son committed theft! we bear witness only to what we know, and we could not well guard against the unseen! " [Yousif: Joseph: 80-81]
They went back to their father
Thus, Joseph's brothers went back to their father, Jacob, (pbuh), told him what happened with them and their younger brother had stolen and gone to prison! Here, this father's sadness increased and told them: You must have done him harm. I will be patient until Allah returns him and also Joseph with him. “Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good enough) for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe Allah will bring them (back) all to me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom" [Yousif: Joseph: 83] Jacob was sad of his sons and he did not find in front of him anything but resorted to Allah Almighty in this difficult circumstances and distanced himself from them saying, " and said: "How great is my grief for Joseph!" [Yousif: Joseph: 84] He repeats this statement and felt sorry for Joseph and his brother and how he had sent him with them.
Jacob loses his sight
Jacob became blind from great sadness. He lost sight because he was very sad for the loss of his sons. His sons were trying to reduce his sadness but it increased with grief and pain for his sons were the most precious thing in his life.
They came again and told their father: Do not remember Joseph because this affects your health a lot. However, he complained his sadness to Allah almighty. The Quran tells us about Jacob's speech, his talk to Allah "He said: "I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah, and I know from Allah that which ye know not..." [Yousif: Joseph: 86] Anguish is extreme sadness. Consider with me this wonderful speech when Jacob was on the climax of sadness but he did not lose hope in Allah, "and I know from Allah that which ye know not..." but I am sure that Allah will return them to me soon!!! This is the patience of prophets. Where are we from this patience?!
Do we have the ability for such patience? When we encounter any calamity, do we remember the story of Joseph and Jacob's sadness for his sons, how he lost his sight but he did not lose hope in Allah Almighty. How to lose hope in Allah, and Allah is the most merciful?
Then, our Prophet Jacob started a practical example for this trust in Allah, and he said to his sons: go and look for Joseph and his brother, and do not give up of Allah mercy!! Let us read this in the Holly Quran's words. "O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah’s Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith." [Yousif: Joseph: 87] Thus our Prophet Jacob (pbuh) asked his sons to search and look in every place, not in a hurry but quietly and not to despair of the mercy of Allah Almighty.
The brothers went back again
Joseph’s brothers have suffered a lot on their father. They went back to Egypt to see Aziz (Joseph) who they did not know that he was Joseph, their brother. They arrived at Joseph and said to him: We have suffered a lot, our father has lost his sight, and we do not have anything left. We beg you to send our younger brother with us. Maybe, when we return him to his father, he regains his sight.
Joseph said: Now you become begging, do you know what you had done to your brother Joseph before?? Do you remember when you threw him in the well?? They promptly screamed: Are you Joseph!!!? He said: Yes and this is my younger brother. We were patient a lot and therefore Allah had blessed us and saved us from you. “They said: "Art thou indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother: Allah has indeed been gracious to us (all): behold, he that is righteous and patient,- never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right." 91. They said: "By Allah. indeed has Allah preferred thee above us, and we certainly have been guilty of sin!" 92. He said: "This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!” [Yousif: Joseph: 90-92]
Jacob regains his sight
Joseph (pbuh) said to them: But now take my shirt to your father. Put this shirt on his face, and his sight will be back. I request that you bring with you all your family to the palace. When they returned to their father carrying the shirt and before they reached their house, Jacob, the father, (pbuh) smelt Joseph’s sweat. Immediately, he said: I smell my son, Joseph. Those who around him said: Do you still remember Joseph who was eaten by a wolf?
Joseph’s brothers arrived and put the shirt on their father’s face. His sight was back as it had been before!! Jacob said to them: I have told you that I knew things from Allah you do not know. Here, Joseph’s brothers felt their mistake and guilt, thus they sought pardon and forgiveness and they said to their father: “They said: "O our father! ask for us forgiveness for our sins, for we were truly at fault." 98. He said: "Soon will I ask my Lord for forgiveness for you: for he is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Yousif: Joseph: 97-98] They admitted their mistake. That was a good thing. Jacob (pbuh) promised them to ask Allah for forgiveness and repentance to their sins.
The dream comes true
Jacob praised Allah a lot after he rejoiced that his son Joseph was still alive and became king of Egypt, besides regaining his sight. He took his sons, headed to Egypt and entered the palace of the king, Joseph. The custom was that anyone who appeared in front of the king had to prostrate and kneel in front of him. When Joseph's father and his mother came into the palace, Joseph raised them on the throne in respect and tribute to them.
Then, his eleven brothers came in and prostrated to him. By doing this, Joseph's dream came true when he said, "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!" [Yousif: Joseph: 4] .What is meant by eleven stars was that his brothers were eleven and the sun and the moon denoted to his father and mother. Thus, the dream that he had seen when he was young came true. In this scene, Joseph stayed in modesty in front of his parents and modesty to Allah Almighty. He remembered Allah grace and never forgot it. He addressed his father saying, "And he raised his parents high on the throne (of dignity), and they fell down in prostration, (all) before him. He said: "O my father! this is the fulfilment of my vision of old! Allah hath made it come true!” [Yousif: Joseph: 100]
Our Prophet Joseph's (pbuh) supplication
Our Prophet Joseph had made a great supplication in this situation in which he expressed his thanks to Allah Almighty. He remembered the greatness of the Creator Almighty and admitted that he is Allah's slave no matter how much dominance he had obtained. He asked Allah Almighty to breathe his last on faith and Islam. He asked Allah to make him one of the good people and unite with them on the Day of Resurrection. Let us read the wonderful style of the Quran in illustrating our Prophet Joseph (pbuh), "O my Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on me some power, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams and events,- O Thou Creator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Take Thou my soul (at death) as one submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous." [Yousif: Joseph: 101]
Finally, Allah Almighty sealed this beautiful story by addressing our beloved Apostle Mohammed (pbuh) saying, “Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee; nor wast thou (present) with them then when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.” [Yousif: Joseph: 102] This story is about unseen news which only Allah Almighty knows. You O Allah’s Apostle, you did not have knowledge of this story and the deception that Joseph's brothers made unless Allah was who told you that.
Sermons and lessons from Joseph's story
- Allah had saved Joseph when he was in the well, because he was a believer in Allah and confident of Allah’s Almighty grace. He was obedient to his parents. Here, we learn that whoever obeys Allah, his Apostle, and his parents, Allah will bless his soul and save him from the perils. If you want Allah to be on your side in difficult times, be with Allah in your regular times. When our Prophet Joseph (pbuh) was exposed to Aziz's wife assault, he refused to disobey Allah because he feared Allah and therefore Allah saved him.
- Even in difficult times when he went to prison, we find him to be patient and preferred prison to sin and he said, "He said: "Before any food comes (in due course) to feed either of you, I will surely reveal to you the truth and meaning of this ere it befall you: that is part of the (duty) which my Lord hath taught me. I have (I assure you) abandoned the ways of a people that believe not in Allah and that (even) deny the Hereafter. 38. "And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah. that (comes) of the grace of Allah to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful." [Yousif: Joseph: 37-38]
- This story teaches us patience in all its kinds. Patience of the father on his sons, the brother on his brothers and the believer when he encounters difficult situations where he resorts on Allah Almighty. It teaches us that lying does not last long. Joseph's brothers lied to their father and said that the wolf had eaten Joseph. But this lie did not continue, and what they are was revealed. Then, they felt their error, remorse and grief. We also learn that Allah Almighty does not abandon patient believers. In spite of all the situations that Joseph experienced in his life, he always found Allah to his side and this is the true believer.
- The believer must not be arrogant when Allah has bestowed on him grace, office and wealth. The believer who Allah loves is the one who becomes more modest whenever his wealth, knowledge and rank increase. Thus, Joseph said a great saying that reflects his strong faith in Allah: “They said: "Art thou indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother: Allah has indeed been gracious to us (all): behold, he that is righteous and patient,- never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right." [Yousif: Joseph: 90]
5. So, piety and patience are the only way to charity which leads to paradise. Here, patience must be for the sake of Allah Almighty.
- Our Prophet Jacob (pbuh) had a great position reflected in his absolute confidence in the mercy of Allah while he was highly distressed! Nonetheless, he ordered his sons not despair of the mercy and grace of Allah Almighty. So, he said, “He said: "I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah, and I know from Allah that which ye know not... 87. "O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah’s Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith." [Yousif: Joseph: 86-87] A disbeliever is the one who is despair of the generosity and grace of Allah while a believer whenever he encounters calamity, he will resort on Allah who he finds him near and responsive.
- Our Prophet Joseph (pbuh) was on top of sovereignty in the greatest country of its time but he did not forget that he would die and go back to Allah and Allah would reward him on his deeds. So, he said, “Take Thou my soul (at death) as one submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous." [Yousif: Joseph: 101]
Now my beloved brother
You can memorize this story after you have understood it. That is you should select a number of verses that make an independent portion. The Surah portions may count to twenty for example. You memorize the first portion followed by the second one, and then you join the two and memorize them together.
After that, you start with the third portion followed by the fourth, and then you join them together and memorize them continuously. Next, you memorize the four portions before you take the rest. You start repeating the four portions as if they are one portion until you memorize them all. Then, you move to the fifth followed by the sixth and then you join between them… and so according to the chain of portions until you finish the whole Surah successfully if Allah Almighty wills.
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By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel
www.kaheel7.com/eng
