The Story of Prophet Yusuf A.SLessons | Reminders | Guidance

We relate to you the best of stories…

Surah Yusuf – the Background

• Based in 1900 BC, about 4000 years from now• Surah Yusuf – an example of education through story telling• Highlighting points:– Sabr– Ihsan

• Honorable lineage: Kareem ibn kareem ibn kareem ibn kareem

Lessons and Topics

Consequences of jealousy/hatred

Detailed explanation of human psyche

Solutions to social problems

Downside of human self

Allah’s help during difficult times

 �الر تلك آيات الكتاب المبينAlif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear

Book.

كم تعقلون عل ا ل ا أنزلناه قرآنا عربي إنIndeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an

that you might understand.

Discussion points:• Why is the Quran in Arabic?

نحن نقص عليك أحسن القصص بما أوحينا القرآن إليك هذا

We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an

وإن كنت من قبله لمن الغافلينalthough you were, before it, among the unaware.

Discussion Points: •Why is the story of Yusuf called the best of stories?

The “Best of Stories” – Why?

The whole story is narrated in one place

Compare to a history book – has lessons for us without the dry irrelevant facts

Contains a lot of moral lessons

In depth analysis of human psyche

eرeشeع eدeحeأ eتeيeأeر eيeنeإ eتeبeأ eاeي eهeيeبeأل eفeسeوeي eلeاeق eذeإمeسe وeاeلeقeمeرe رeأeيeتeهeمe لeيe سeاeجeدeيeن eشeلeاeو eاeبeكeوeك

]Of these stories mention [when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven

stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me ".

• Discussion Points:– Communication with parents

قال يا بني ال تقصص رؤياك على إخوتك فيكيدوا لك كيدا

He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan.

يطان لإلنسان عدو مبين إن الشIndeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

• Discussion Point:– Yaqub A.S’s warning – backbiting?

ك� ل� ذك� ك مك من تأويل األحاديث ويتم نعمته عليك ك� ك ويعل يجتبيك رب �وعلى آل يعقوب كما أتمها على أبويك من قبل إبراهيم وإسحاق

ك عليم حكيم إن ربAnd thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of

narratives and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed,

your Lord is Knowing and Wise."

• Discussion Points:– The reality of dreams

Reality of dreamsThree kinds of dreams:

• Anxiety/worry (Hadith nafs)• Shaitan’s nightmares• True dream from Allah

A part of the soul is extracted when we sleep – it travels through different realms and sometimes we experience that as dreams

A good dream is from Allah; a bad one is from Shaitan

When you see a good dream, tell only trusted wellwishers. When you see a bad dream, tell absolutely no one.

When you have a bad dream, spit thrice to the left, seek refuge with Allah and turn over. Tell no one and do not make a bad interpretation. The dream cannot harm you then.

A dream cannot be consulted for guiding between haq and batil or as proof of haq vs batil arguments

A dream is not the means to know the future, even a dream after istikhara, and neither does istikhara guarantee a dream.

ائلين لس قد كان في يوسف وإخوته آيات ل لCertainly were there in Joseph and his brothers

signs for those who ask ,

• Discussion Points:• Narrative-based learning in the Quran

ا ونحن عصبة إن إذ قالوا ليوسف وأخوه أحب إلى أبينا منأبانا لفي ضالل مبين

8. When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear

error.

• Favoritism by Yaqub A.S?• Words reflect character• Attitude towards parents

Discussion from Ayah 8

• Did Yaqub A.S really discriminate among his children? No! Parents can be naturally inclined towards one child because of obedience and gentleness – with these, a child can win over his parents’ heart.• Attitude towards parents should be one of humility, not superiority

اقتلوا يوسف أو اطرحوه أرضا يخل لكم وجه أبيكم وتكونوا من بعده قوما صالحين

9. Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous

people."

• Shaitan’s traps within family?• Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry

• They weren’t looking at their own faults.• Sibling rivalry was caused by Shaitan• What do we do when we dislike someone? • Isolate, insult and degrade, create an unpleasant atmosphere• Underlying reason – jealousy!

What is the most effective way of winning hearts?

Humility, gentleness,

patience, kindness, understanding

Pride, plotting and planning, isolation,

cutting off, spite, revenge

قال قائل منهم ال تقتلوا يوسف وألقوه ارة إن ي في غيابت الجب يلتقطه بعض الس

كنتم فاعلين10. Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers

will pick him up - if you would do [something]."

• How Allah creates help

ا له ا على يوسف وإن قالوا يا أبانا ما لك ال تأمنلناصحون

11. They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere

counselors?

ا له لحافظون أرسله معنا غدا يرتع ويلعب وإن12. Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well

and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians.

• Discussion Points:– Emotional blackmail of parents

ي ليحزنني أن تذهبوا به وأخاف أن قال إن يأكله الذئب وأنتم عنه غافلون

13. [Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat

him while you are of him unaware."

ا إذا قالوا لئن أكله الذئب ونحن عصبة إنخاسرون ل

14. They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."

فلما ذهبوا به وأجمعوا أن يجعلوه في غيابت هم بأمرهم هذا وهم ئن  �الجب وأوحينا إليه لتنب

ال يشعرون15. So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well... But We inspired to him, "You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your

identity]."

وجاءوا أباهم عشاء يبكون16. And they came to their father at night, weeping.

ا ذهبنا نستبق وتركنا يوسف عند قالوا يا أبانا إنا نا ولو كن  �متاعنا فأكله الذئب وما أنت بمؤمن ل

صادقين17. “They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate

him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."

 �وجاءوا على قميصه بدم كذب قال بل سولت لكم أنفسكم أمرا

18 . And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to

something…

ه المستعان على ما تصفون  �فصبر جميل والل18. (contd.) …so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the

one sought for help against that which you describe."

• Discussion Points:– Sabrun Jameel

Three meanings of sabr according to Ali R.A

Positive •Sticking to good•Thoughts, words, feelings, leading to actions

Negative •Staying away from bad•Thoughts, words, feelings, leading to actions

Acceptance•Accepting Allah’s decree and ruling