Story of Yusuf (AS)
- What is Yusuf (AS) lineage ?
Yusuf
(AS) is the son of Yaqub (AS), grandson of Ishaq (AS) and the great-grandson of
Ibrahim (AS).
He
is Son of a Nabi (Yaqub) Son of a Nabi (Ishaq) Son of a Nabi (Ibrahim).
- What is Unique in Yusuf (AS)
story ?
The uniqueness
of his story is that it is the only story of a prophet that is told in entirety
in a single surah in the Qur’an, Surah Yusuf, Chapter 12. Allah SWT describes
the story of Yusuf AS as “the best of stories” (Qur’an
12:3). The story of Yusuf AS begins
with a dream, and ends with the dream’s interpretation.
- What was Yusuf (AS) dream ?
Sun
, Moon and 11 stars were prostrating to Yusuf (AS) . Yaqub(AS) his father understand that he is going to be
prophet. Allah SWT elevated his position.
He also instructed Yusuf (AS) not to tell his dream to his brothers.
Since ten older brothers were already
jealous of their younger brother. They recognize their father’s particular
affection for him. Yaqub AS was a prophet, a man dedicated to submission to One
True God and he treated his family and his community with fairness, respect and
equitable love; however his heart was drawn to the gentle qualities evident in
his son Yusuf AS. Yusuf’s AS younger brother Binyamin, at this stage of the
story, was too young to be involved in any of the trickery and deception
brewing.
- What did the brothers do to
Yusuf (AS) ?
Brothers
approached Yaqub AS with a plan to take Yusuf AS into the desert with them, on
the pretext of letting him play and enjoy himself. Fear leapt into Yaqub 's AS
heart. He suspected treachery and expressed his fear that a wolf would take
Yusuf AS. Yaqub AS attempted to protect the son whom he loved so dearly.
As
soon as they departed and went to a distance,
they went directly to the well, as
they
had planned, on the pretext of drinking water. One of them put his arms around
Yusuf AS and
held
him tightly. Startled by this unusual behavior, Yusuf AS struggled to free
himself. More brothers
rushed
to hold him. One of them removed his shirt. Some more joined in to lift Yusuf
AS up and cast
him
into the deep well. Yusuf AS 's piteous
please made no difference to their cruel hearts.
Then
Allah SWT revealed to Yusuf AS that he
was safe and should not fear, for he would meet them again
some
day to remind them of what they had done. He sat lonely in the water, then
clung to a rock ledge overheard and climbed on top of it. his brothers left him
in this desolate place. Then they killed a sheep and soaked Yusuf AS's shirt in
its blood. One brother said that they should swear to keep their deed a close
secret. All of them took the oath.
They came to their father at night, weeping false
tears. It was dark, and Yaqub AS was sitting in his house anxiously awaiting
the return of Yusuf AS. The sound of ten men crying confirmed his deepest fear.
The darkness of the night was matched only by the darkness in their hearts. The
lies rolled easily from their tongues and
deep down in the heart Yaqub AS
knew that his beloved son was still alive and that his other sons were lying.
He held the blood stained in his hands, spread it out and remarked: "What
a merciful
wolf!
he ate up my beloved son without tearing his shirt!" Their faces turned
red when he
demanded
more information, but each swore by Allah SWT that he was telling the truth.
The
brokenhearted
father burst into tears.
- What was Yusuf AS's first Ordeal ?
At
the horizon is a long line of camels, horses, and men; a caravan on its way to
Egypt. The caravan of merchants halted at this famous well for water. A man
lowered in his bucket. Yusuf AS was startled by the bucket hurtling down and
grabbed hold of it before it could land in the water. As the man began to haul
he felt the load unusually heavy, so he peeped into the well. What he saw
shocked him; a man was clinging to the rope! He held the rope tightly and
shouted to his friends: "Better give me a hand fellows! Looks like I found
real treasure in the well!" His companions rushed to the well and helped
him to pull out the stranger holding onto the rope. Standing before them was a
healthy, handsome youth, beaming with an angelic smile. They saw in him a
handsome prize, for money was all that mattered to them. Immediately, they
clapped iron shackles on his feet and took him along to Egypt, far away from
his beloved homeland of Canaan. All over the Egyptian city the news spread that
an unusually handsome, robust young slave was
on
sale. People gathered by the hundreds at the slave market. some were
spectators, others were
bidders
the elite and the rich, each one craning his neck to view the handsome
specimen.
The
auctioneer had a field day as the bidding went wild, each buyer trying to
outbid the other.
Eventually,
the Aziz, the chief minister of Egypt, outbid all the others and took Yusuf AS
to his
mansion.
- What was Yusuf AS's second
ordeal ?
The
days passed and Yusuf AS grew, he was given wisdom in affairs and knowledge of
life and its conditions. His master soon knew that Allah had graced him with
Yusuf AS. He understood that Yusuf AS was the most honest, straightforward and
noble person he had met in his life. Therefore, he put Yusuf AS in charge of
his household, honored him, and treated him as a son. Aziz wife fell in
love
with him, and it was painful for her to be so close to a man, yet be unable to
hold him. Yet,
she
was not a wayward woman, for in her position she could get any man she desired.
By all
accounts,
she must have been a very pretty and intelligent lady, or why would the chief
minister
have
chosen her of all the pretty women in the kingdom? Although she bore him no
child, he
would
not take another wife, as he loved her passionately. The Quran raises the
curtain on the
scene
of this fierce and devouring love on the part of the lady.
Consequently,
his wife, to whom tradition gives the name Zulaikha. Disappointed in her
husband, perhaps her eyes had been fixed for some time on the incredibly
handsome youth who lived in her home. And one day, unable to contain herself
any longer, she maneuvered Yusuf AS into an empty room. Quickly she closed
doors. Yusuf AS's refusal only heightened her passion. As he moved to the door
to escape, she ran after him and caught hold of his shirt, like a drowning
person clinging to the boat. In her tugging she tore his shirt and held the
torn piece in her hand. They reached the door together. It opened suddenly,
there stood her husband and a relative of hers. The silly woman immediately
changed her tone to anger, and, showing the torn piece of the shirt in her
hand.
She
was now accusing Yusuf AS of molesting her, to give the impression that she was
innocent. Though bewildered Yusuf AS denied it. The shirt was passed from hand
to hand, while she watched. The witness (her cousin) looked at it and found
that it was torn at the back. The evidence showed that she was guilty. The
disappointed husband remarked to his wife: "Surely, it is a plot of you
women! Certainly mighty is you plot!". The wise and just Aziz apologized
to Yusuf AS for his wife's indecency. He also instructed her to
beg
Yusuf AS's forgiveness for accusing him falsely.
- What was Zulaikha's plan to
Regain Her Reputation ?
Word
of what had taken place between the beautiful, aristocratic wife of the
Minister and Yusuf AS soon leaked out and spread among the noblewomen of the
city. The news was spreading and the women asked themselves how she could
desire a slave and put her reputation in jeopardy.
This
talk soon reached Zulaikha’s ears. Because she was an experienced woman,
skilled in dealing with the politics of the capital city, she was not one to be
put down by the gossip of her peers. However, she was not one to submit to it
in silence. Consequently, a subtle plan for teaching the women a lesson sprung
in her mind.
She
invited them to a banquet of great luxury at her palace. And when the women
were in their places, she gave them each a knife for cutting the variety of fruits she had set
before them.
She
then called Yusuf AS to come before them. As her slave, Yusuf AS had no choice
but to obey.
They
looked up, saw his beauty and forgot that they had knives in their hands. The
women were so entranced by his shape and form that they cut clear through their
own flesh. They described Yusuf AS as a noble angel. The wife of Aziz,
confident and haughty said to her guests triumphantly. Yusuf AS stood before
the wealthiest, most elegant ladies of the capital in all the purity of his
innocent young manhood, with a face more beautiful than any in this world. And
he called upon his Creator, stating that that prison was preferable to the
environment in the palace, filled with lust and greed, and with unlawful beauty
and seduction. Without Allah’s help against their scheming he might gradually
lose his sense of right and wrong and be seduced.
That
evening, Zulaikha convinced her husband that the only way to save her honor was
to put
Yusuf AS in prison; otherwise she would not be
able to control herself or to safeguard his prestige.
The
chief minister knew Yusuf AS was
absolutely innocent, that he was a young man of honor, a
loyal
servant, and he loved him for these reasons. It was not an easy decision for
him to put an
innocent
man behind bars. However, he was left with no choice. He reasoned that Yusuf AS's honor
would
also be safeguarded if he was kept out of Zulaikha's sight. That night, with a
heavy heart,
the
chief minister sent Yusuf AS to prison.
- What was Yusuf AS's third ordeal ?
Prison
was Yusuf AS's third test. During this period Allah blessed him with an
extraordinary gift; the
ability
to interpret dreams. At about the same time two other men landed in the prison.
One was
the
cupbearer of the king; the other was the king's cook. The two men sensed that
Yusuf AS was not
a
common criminal, for an aura of piety glowed on his face. Both men had vivid
dreams, and they
were
anxious to have them explained. The king's cook dreamed that he stood in a
place with
bread
on his head, and two birds were eating the bread. The cupbearer dreamed that he
was
serving
the king wine. The two went to Yusuf AS and told him their dreams, asking him
to give them
their
meaning.
First,
Yusuf AS called them to Allah. Then he said that the cook would be crucified
until he died and
that
the cupbearer would return to the service of the king. Yusuf AS told the
cupbearer to remember
him
to the king and to say that there was a wronged soul called Yusuf AS in prison.
What Yusuf AS
predicted
did happen; the cook was crucified and the cupbearer returned to the palace.
After
the cupbearer returned to service, Satan made him forget to mention Yusuf AS's
name to the
king.
Therefore, Yusuf AS remained in prison for a few years, but he made patience
his own, praying
to
Allah.
- What was King's dream and how
Yusuf AS came out from prison ?
The
king of Egypt had a dream. This dream would become the main reason for Yusuf AS
to come out of prison in full honor and dignity.
The
king is asleep. He sees himself on the banks of the Nile river. The water is
receding before him, becoming mere mud. The fish begin to skip and jump in the
mud. Seven fat cows come out of the river
followed
by seven lean cows. The seven lean ones devour the seven fat ones. The king is
terrified.
The
seven ears of green grain grow on the riverbanks and disappear in the mud. One
the same
spot
grow seven dray ears of grain. The king awoke frightened, shocked, and
depressed, not knowing what all this meant. He sent for the sorcerers, priests
and ministers, and told them his dream.
His
high ranking officials were as puzzled as the king himself. They declared the
chimera as a mixture of false dreams, adding that they were not qualified to
interpret dreams.
When
the cupbearer who had been in prison with Yusuf AS heard about the king’s
dream, he recalled the man who had correctly interpreted his own dream years
earlier in prison. He volunteered to provide an interpretation of the dream and
asked to be sent to see Yusuf AS. He returned to the prison. He found the one
he sought and addressed him with respect that he realized was due to him. He
narrated the dream to Yusuf AS and requested its meaning so he may return to
the people of the court for them to know.(Qur’an 12:46) His words were
understood as meaning so that the king and others might know Yusuf’s AS true
worth and the error of keeping him unjustly imprisoned. From the springs of
wisdom and knowledge that Allah had granted him, Yusuf AS disclosed the meaning
of the dream to the cupbearer.
"There
will be seven years of abundance. If the land is properly cultivated, there
will be an excess of good harvest, more than the people will need. This should
be stored. Thereafter, seven years of famine will follow, during which time the
excess grain could be used." He also advised that during the famine they
should save some grain to be used for seed for the next harvest. Yusuf AS then added; "After seven years
of drought, there will be a year during which water will be plentiful. If the
water is properly used, grapevines and olive trees will grow in abundance,
providing plenty of grapes and olive oil."
The king was fascinated by Yusuf
AS's interpretation.
He
ordered for Yusuf AS to be brought to him. But Yusuf’s AS response to the
king’s messenger who came to release him from prison was totally unexpected by
the king. Yusuf AS refused to leave prison and insisted that the messenger
return to the king and ask him about the case of the women who cut their
hands. “Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan,” he
added (Qur’an 12:50) . To noble Yusuf AS, there were two considerations
far more important than freedom. The first was that his integrity and innocence
should be established beyond any doubt by clearing him of guilt in the matter
of Zulaikha and her companions. Second, Yusuf AS needed an assurance that if he
left prison he would not continue to be harassed by the highly-placed women of the
city, and by Zulaikha in particular. If one or both of these conditions were
not met, he preferred to remain in prison. Yusuf AS respectfully demanded that
the king investigate the affair of the women who cut their hands. The king
became curious and summoned the wife of Aziz and her associates for
questioning.
The
women’s response was immediate and spontaneous. They cleared him of all the
evil charges against him previously. They said, “Perfect is Allah ! We know
about him no evil.” (Qur’an 12:51)
The
wife of the minister then added her testimony. “Now the truth has become
evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.
(Qur’an 12:51)For the aristocratic Zulaikha, this public confession of her
blameworthiness was no doubt the ultimate act of penance and abasement. Earlier
she had defended herself in front of the other women. But during the
intervening years, she had reflected upon her own actions and upon the
absolutely unwavering integrity and purity of the man whose she had
deliberately set out to ruin. Yusuf’s AS request to the king to clear the
matter of the women was so that his former master Al-Aziz will know that Yusuf
AS was not a betrayer and that his Lord does not guide the scheming of
betrayers. (Qur’an 12:52)
“And
I do not acquit myself,” he continued. Indeed, the soul is a persistent
enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is
Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 12:53)
These
words reveal the tremendous purity and integrity of Yusuf’s AS character.
Although he was a prophet protected by Allah from Shaytan and his nafs, he
did not hesitate to admit publicly that he too could be subject to temptation.
And he pointed out an essential fact for all mankind to take note of: that
the nafs always, without exception, incites or urges or commands us
to do evil, unless Allah’s mercy intervenes.
Once
his innocence was established, Yusuf AS appeared before the King. After
hearing, Yusuf’s AS words the King became even more impressed and entrusted him
to a position of high rank.
Directed
and guided by Allah, Yusuf AS made a request of the king and asked to be
appointed guardian of the storehouses of the land. His request was granted and
thus Yusuf AS was made the chief minister of Egypt, bearing the title of
Al-Aziz, the highest official in the land after the king. Yusuf AS proclaimed
his Lord’s Message and established a just law base on Allah’s commands. In
addition to this, he stored up the country’s grain during the first seven years
of plenty, except that portion that the people ate.
The
young boy betrayed and thrown into the well was now established as the chief
minister of Egypt. His patience and perseverance, and above all his total
submission to the will of Allah had already resulted in great reward. Yusuf AS
knew however that the greatest reward for patience and righteousness would be
in the hereafter.
- How Yusuf AS reunited with
his family in the will of Allah SWT ?
And
the brothers of Yusuf came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he
recognized them, but he was to them unknown. (Qur’an 12:58)
The
time passed. During the first seven years of his administration, Yusuf AS set
aside abundant stocks of grain as provision for the lean years that were ahead.
Then came the drought and the barren years began. When the people became
hungry, Yusuf AS distributed the stored-up grain to them.
The
famine affected neighbouring lands as well. Yusuf AS gave grain to any needy
person that came to him.
The
nearby land of Palestine was also hit by famine and so was Yaakub’s AS family
afflicted with hunger. They soon heard that the chief minister of Egypt was
bartering food for goods. Accordingly, an aged Yaakub AS, dispatched his sons,
Yusuf’s AS half-brothers, to Egypt to buy food. He kept home the son who was
dearest to him from his remaining sons, Yusuf’s AS full brother, Binyamin.
When
the brothers arrived in Egypt and were ushered in to see Yusuf AS, he
recognised them immediately, but as they had not seen him since their
separation at the well, they did not know him. How would they have known that
the little brother that they had sold to the Egyptian caravan who had then been
sold into slavery had now become the chief minister of Egypt?
Yusuf
AS was eager for news of his beloved father, mother and younger brother. He
spoke to his brothers in a way that they could not recognize him, inquiring the
purpose of their visit. They replied that they had heard he sold grain. He
asked if they were spies.
They
denied emphatically. Yusuf AS then asked them where they lived. “In Canaan,”
they replied, “and our father is a prophet of Allah. His name is Yaqub.”
Yusuf
AS inquired about other siblings. “We were originally twelve brothers,” they
replied, never suspecting to whom they were speaking. “But the younger, who was
most loved by our father was killed. He had another brother, but our father did
not send him with us, keeping him at home because he loves him so much.”
Concealing
his concern about the welfare of his father and the household, Yusuf AS acted
suspicious as to the truth of their story. He ordered for his brothers to be
treated as official guests, and for them to be given as much as grain as they
could carry.
Before
they left on the return trip home, Yusuf AS made clear to them his terms for
dealing with them in the future.
He
ordered them to bring him a brother of theirs from their father, meaning the
son to whom their father was most attached presently or they would not receive
any grain from him nor be allowed to visit him in the future. They declared
that they would attempt to bring their younger brother along.
Yusuf
AS ordered his servants to secretly place his brothers’ goods that they had
traded in for the grain, back into their saddlebags, so that they may see them
upon their arrival home and perhaps come back to Egypt to return the goods.
THE BROTHERS RETURN TO YAQUB AS
When
they returned to their father, Yaqub AS, they explained to him that no more
grain would be provided to them unless they travelled with their youngest
brother, Binyamin. He had become very close to his father, especially after
Yusuf’s AS disappearance. Remembering his previous loss, Yaqub AS did not want
to part with his young son. Once again, the brothers promised to safeguard
their youngest brother, and once again Yaqub AS felt his heart constrict with
fear.
Yaqub
AS was greatly troubled by their demand, for in truth he had never recovered
from the pain of his sons’ earlier betrayal of his trust. Indeed, for all he
knew, this might be merely another plot of theirs for getting rid of their
half-brother. But as in the case of Yusuf AS, Yaqub AS was powerless. His sons
must return to Egypt to bring more grain to feed their families, and if their
story was true, they would not even be able to approach the ruler of Egypt
unless his youngest son accompanied them. Thus he surrendered his will to
whatever the All-Knowing might decree for him and his sons.
To
the brothers’ amazement, they found that the goods they paid for the grain had
been secretly returned to them.
The
strangeness of his sons’ treatment by the Egyptian nobleman now became another
source of uneasiness. But the aged prophet’s understanding was governed both by
patience and by wisdom. Reading the signs, he readily understood that the
matter had been decreed by Allah and that his responsibility was to accept the
destiny ordained for himself and his sons. However, for his own peace of mind,
he bound them by a solemn pledge – that they were to promise in the name of
Allah to bring their youngest brother back to him unless they were surrounded
by enemies and killed. When they gave their word, Yaakub AS said,
“Allah,
over what we say, is Witness.” (Qur’an 12:66)
Although
Yaqub AS was particularly close to his youngest two sons, he loved all his sons
dearly. They were strong, handsome, capable men, and Yaqub AS was afraid that
some harm might befall them on yet another trip to Egypt. To minimize the
risks, he made his sons promise to enter the city by different
gates. (Qur’an 12:67)
THE BROTHERS’ SECOND JOURNEY TO EGYPT
As
their father had advised, the brothers entered the city through different
gates. And soon again they were in the presence of the Aziz.
We
can imagine Yusuf’s AS feelings at seeing his beloved younger brother after a
separation of so many years. It is reported that Yusuf AS then paired off the
ten brothers two by two for eating and sleeping. Then, since the youngest,
Binyamin was without a partner, Yusuf AS paired him with himself.
Yusuf
AS secretly revealed his identity to Binyamin and advised him not to grieve
over what they had done in the past or might do in the future.
Then,
in keeping with his custom, Yusuf AS ordered that one load of grain be given to
each of the eleven men. Afterwards, he put a golden cup or bowl used for
measuring grain as well as for drinking, into his beloved brother Binyamin’s
bag.
The
eleven brothers set out for home with their load. Along the way, they were
summoned back by officials of the minister, saying that the king’s measuring
cup was missing.
The
brothers were astonished and defended themselves asserting that they were not
thieves and had no knowledge of the missing cup.
The
officials asked, “What is your punishment for one who steals?” The brothers
replied that in the religion of their great-grandfather Ibrahim AS, the one who
steals is taken as a slave. Yusuf AS did not want his brother punished under
the laws of Egypt but wanted the opportunity to keep his brother with him while
the others returned to their father Yaqub AS. The bags were searched, and the
golden cup was found amongst Binyamin’s possessions.
The
brothers were profoundly shocked and bewildered by the evidence before them.
Yet although they did not have the means to disprove it, neither did they make
the slightest attempt to defend Binyamin’s honor or deny the accusation, which
they certainly knew to be false. They joined forces in the accusations against
him, possibly out of eagerness to clear themselves of suspicion.
Thus
they failed both Binyamin and their father, with them whom they had taken a
sacred by Allah to do all in their power to protect their youngest brother and
bring him safely home. As they had sold Yusuf AS in the past for a paltry
price, they now sold Binyamin for a load of grain.
Hearing
his brothers’ accusation, Yusuf AS kept it all within himself, including all
that he had observed of their selfishness and greed. (Qur’an 12:77)
Now
recalling their solemn promise to their father, the brothers began to reflect
on the difficulty of their situation. They were deeply troubled about how they
would face him with such news, which would add so greatly to his grief over the
loss of Yusuf AS, whom he had never ceased to mourn, that it might kill him.
They
pleased to the Al-Aziz and spoke about his old age and weakness and his great
love Binyamin. They also repeated that Binyamin’s brother had been lost in the
past, and since their father was already broken-hearted on that account, they
would probably die when he heard this news. They begged him to take one of them
in Binyamin’s place. (Qur’an 12:78)
Yusuf
AS remained adamant. The brothers realized that they had reached a dead end.
There was nothing further to be hoped for from the Aziz unless they complied
with his demand.
Yusuf’s
AS scheme and actions were carried out under a divine plan for his brothers and
father. Yusuf’s AS primary objective was their repentance and reform. If he had
revealed himself to them at once, there might have been no repentance but
merely more envy and resentment. The desired lesson and effect was therefore to
be produced through suspense, drama and mystery, letting the brothers feel the
threat of being denied grain to feed their families and of encountering unknown
troubles in Egypt.
The
eldest brother took charge and reminded the rest of their oath to their father
and that they had previously failed concerning Yusuf AS. He offered to remain
in Egypt whilst the others returned to Canaan with Binyamin.
THE BROTHERS’ SECOND RETURN TO YAQUB AS
Nine
brothers now home with their loads of grain – and with heavy troubled hearts.
When
they put the whole matter in front of their father, the aged, weakened prophet
did not collapse or die in front of their eyes, as they had feared. Instead, he
responded to their news with the same words he had spoken when they had brought
him the false tale of Yusuf’s AS death.
“Rather,
your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps
Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing,
the Wise.” (Qur’an 12:83)
Yaqub
AS had firm faith that Allah’s will was working in some strange, mysterious
fashion and that it was toward some good end.
Nonetheless,
the pain of separation and the strangeness of the situation worked upon the
bereaved father’s heart. He was overcome with grief and wept uncontrollably.
This time he had lost not one son, but two more. He remembered Yusuf AS, and
wept until he became ill and lost his sight. (Qur’an 12:84) The
brothers were concerned about his pain and sorrow and questioned his constant
grief.
Despite
the fact that it was they who had brought this trouble upon their old father,
the nine sons were anything but sympathetic as they listened to his
broken-hearted murmuring.
They
reproached him, “By Allah, you will not cease remembering Yusuf until you
become fatally ill or become of those who perish.” (Qur’an 12:85)
He
said, “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from
Allah that which you do not know. (Qur’an 12:86)
He
addressed his sons and asked them to go and seek information about Yusuf AS and
Binyamin. Overlooking their lack of sympathy and support, he tried, despite his
own grief to give them comfort in their uneasy and troubled state.
“O
my sons, go and find out about Yusuf and his brother and despair not of relief
from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the
disbelieving people.” (Qur’an 12:87)
THE THIRD JOURNEY TO EGYPT
The
nine brothers now returned once more to Egypt. They stood before the Al-Aziz,
Yusuf AS. This time their pride broken, their dignity stripped away.
They
begged him to release their brother Binyamin, who stood by Yusuf’s AS side.
When the brothers appealed to Yusuf AS and described the sufferings of their
family, he began to weep. The command came to him now to make himself known to
them, actualizing what had been revealed to him years earlier when they had
abandoned him in the well:
“You
will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not
perceive [your identity].” (Qur’an 12:15)
The
brothers fell back in astonishment at hearing Yusuf AS mentioned by the virtual
ruler of Egypt. Then, it is reported, they saw on his forehead, now that he had
removed his coronet, a mark which they recognized as belonging to Yusuf AS.
Even then, they could hardly believe the evidence of their eyes.
“Are
you indeed Yusuf?” (Qur’an 12:90), they asked in utter amazement.
He
said “I am Yusuf, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us.
Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to
be lost the reward of those who do good.” (Qur’an 12:90)
Imagine
the deep shame and humiliation the brothers must have felt at that moment. When
Allah had tested them, they had listened to Shaytan, allowing envy and enmity
to dominate their lives. While they had tried to destroy Yusuf AS when he was
vulnerable and weak, even to the point of contemplating murder, he had repaid
their evil by generosity and kindness. While they had hated and envied him, he
had showed them utter nobility of heart.
They
said, “By Allah, certainly has Allah preferred you over us, and indeed, we have
been sinners.” (Qur’an 12:91)
Gentle
and forbearing, Yusuf AS had no desire to take revenge on his brothers by even
so much as a hint of reproach.
He
said, “No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is
the most merciful of the merciful.”(Qur’an 12:92)
Yusuf
AS immediately made plans to reunite his family. He requested the brothers
return to their father and cast an old shirt of his over their father’s face.
This, he said, would cause him to become clear sighted. He added, “And
bring me your family, all together.” (Qur’an 12:93)
And
so the brothers set out again for home.
THE REUNION OF YAQUB AS AND YUSUF AS
When
the caravan departed Egypt, Yaqub’s AS premonitions and intimations from Allah
became very strong and he began to feel the scent of Yusuf AS. His family
members showed him no pity or sympathy and dismissed the aged prophet has being
deranged.
The
brothers arrived home and they cast the shirt over Yaqub’s AS face and he
became clear sighted. He cried out, “Did I not tell you that I know from
Allah that which you do not know?” (Qur’an 12:96)
The
brothers expressed their remorse and sorry for what they had done.
The
noble prophet assured his sons that he would ask for forgiveness for them from
Allah. Life Yusuf AS, he uttered no reproach, vented no anger and held no
grudge in his heart against his ten sons for all the suffering they had caused
him and their two younger brothers. More than that, he comforted and assured
them of Allah’s unfailing forgiveness, saying, “Indeed, it is He who is
the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 12:98)
The
patriarch then departed with numerous family members from Palestine towards
Egypt. It is reported that when Yaqub’s AS family neared Egypt, Yusuf AS went
out to receive his parents with honor, accompanied by many people, possibly
including the king and the royal retinue.
And
he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in
prostration. (Qur’an 12:100
Then
Yusuf AS said, “O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of
before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He
took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had
induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in
what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise. (Qur’an 12:100)
Then
Yusuf AS recited one the most beautiful prayers recorded in the Qur’an, saying,
“My
Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the
interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my
protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and
join me with the righteous.” (Qur’an 12:101)
At
this point the best of stories comes to an end. The heart of the story of Yusuf
AS is patience in the face of adversity and sorrow. Yusuf AS faced every trial
with patience and complete trust in Allah. His father Yaqub AS bore his grief
and misery with patience and submission.
We
may assume from another verse in the Qur’an, (2:132-33) that perhaps after
repentance, Yusuf’s AS brothers became better men, sincere in faith, and that
continued in Allah’s worship and carried the message of His Oneness to the
idol-worshipping Egyptians.
It
is reported that when death approached Yaqub AS, he made Yusuf AS his heir,
having him promise that he would take his body back to Palestine for burial,
which Yusuf AS dutifully fulfilled, burying his father with Ibrahim AS and
Ishaq AS in the cave that Ibrahim AS had bought for the purpose in Hebron.
Yusuf
AS is said to have been the father of two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and that
he lived for 120 years.
Yusuf’s
AS high rank with Allah is made clear by the fact that Prophet Muhammad SAW met
him in the third heaven during this Ascension to the heavens. (Bukhari)
May
Allah’s boundless peace and blessings be upon Yusuf AS, and upon his honored
and distinguished forefathers, Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub for all eternity.
- What are the lessons learnt from Yusuf AS Story ?
Yusuf’s
AS story is loaded with powerful, unmistakable symbolism. The ten brothers are
unwilling to admit the Allah-given superiority of their half-brother’s nature
over their own. Out of envy and readiness to follow Shaytan’s promptings, they
conspire to reduce him to the lowest of the low. But Allah who has granted
Yusuf AS a noble nature and chosen him as a prophet, too him out of the depth
of degradation and raised him to the height of honor, power, authority and
usefulness. And in the end, the brothers had no choice but to admit his
superiority and their own sinfulness.
Yusuf’s
AS story is a striking lesson in forgiveness and generosity. His kind behavior
towards his brother without a word of reproach makes him the model of
forgiveness, forbearance and generosity of all times.
From
the Zulaikha affair, we learn that prohibited deeds and sins can be resisted if
there is sufficient fear of Allah and strong will. And from Zulaikha, we learn
the lesson of taking honest responsibility and facing the consequences of ones
mistakes without lying or making excuses.
And
the central message of the story, in the words of Yusuf AS
himself, “Indeed my Lord is subtle in what He wills” (Qur’an 12:100), that
is in the unfathomable and often mysterious workings of the divine Will.
Allah’s
wisdom and knowledge are so all-embracing and yet subtle that only He knows the
interconnection of events and people within His divine plan.
And
the ultimate important lesson of Yusuf’s AS story is summed up in Yaqub’s AS
words, repeated twice over, “Patience is most befitting” (Qur’an 12:18,
83) in relation to the working of the divine Will.
