A reflection on the amazing lessons from the life of the Prophet Yusuf as narrated in the Holy Qur'an - http://quran.com/12 - and explained by classical and modern Islamic scholars.
3. This story is from the best of stories because of
what it relates from the varying phases of life;
from trial to tribulation,
from being tested to being blessed,
from humiliation to grandeur,
from slavery to kingship,
from division to unity,
from grief to joy,
from superfluity to famine,
from famine to glut,
from hardship to ease
and from denial to affirmation.
So blessed be the One who revealed it in the best
manner possible.
6. Jealousy drives a person insane. Jealousy is one of the
most destructive emotions known to man and led to the
downfall of Shaytaans and is at the core of most evil
thoughts and acts.
Jealousy makes a person who is otherwise rational
become irrational. Here we have young adults plotting
and planning to murder their brother who is only 7-8 years
old.
Our Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) warned us, “I
warn you from jealousy. I caution you from being jealous
because jealousy destroys your good deeds like a fire eats
up wood.” [Sunan ibn Majah]
Jealousy is destructive in any form. Take care from it and
seek Allāh's refuge from the effects of jealousy: min sharri
ḥāsidin idha ḥasad.
12. If you protect your faith and chastity in your
youth and young life, Allāh will protect you in
your old life.
This means that the young man or woman who
has a strong relationship with Allāh rarely does
such a person lose that faith later on in life.
When you protect the commandments of Allāh as
a young man, Allāh will protect you as an older
person.
We see this in the story of Yūsuf ('alayhis-salām)
always having that connection with Allāh.
14. Patience brings about that which is best. The messenger came to
release Yūsuf(alayhis salam) after he has been in jail for at least
seven years in conditions that only Allāh knows. Yet despite that, he
does not leave the cell until he has been exonerated and declared
innocent of any crime.
Know that you will not succeed until you have
failed, and you will not rise until you have been
debased and humiliated. Life is a sum of peaks
and troughs.
Why? You are not going to
succeed until you have shown
Allāh that you can deal with
failure. Realize the next time you
are in a struggle and the next
time you are in a down point in
your life, that is your well and
that is your prison. If you turn to
Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta'āla),
inshā'Allāh the metaphorical
palace is right around the corner.
Born in the
household of
a prophet
Thrown in a
well to die
Sold into
slavery
In a palace
treated well
Imprisoned wrongly
Becomes a ruler
18. Appreciate the blessings that have missed us just as you appreciate
those you have.
Realise that for many of us, certain blessings will become curses
because we don't know how to handle them. Certain blessings will
become trials and tribulations because we are too weak.
If we truly believe that Allāh loves us, then we will have faith that
Allāh will give us that which is beneficial for us. Imagine if one of us
had even a fraction of the beauty of Yūsuf. Could we have withstood
even a fraction of what he withstood? Imagine if one of us was
blessed with a fraction of the wealth of Qārūn or of the 'izzah of Abu
Lahab in his town of Mecca and the Quraysh. Imagine if we had that
which many of us are jealous of others when they have it, and we are
greedy about it and we are salivating and want that power and
money. If Allāh had given it to you, perhaps it would lead you to your
destruction.
That is exactly what the Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said.
He said, “Sometimes I give money to people even though I see others
are needy of it because I am worried that if I give him that money, it
will lead him to the fire of hell. It will be too much for him, and he
will do things that he should not do.”
19.
20. Just as the servant worships Allah during times of
ease, similarly he should also worship him during
times of hardship.
For Yusuf (alayhis salam) was constantly calling to
Allah, even when he entered the prison he
continued to make da'wah, despite his difficult
situation.
Always try to give more than you take.
21.
22. A believer must call out to Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta'āla) to
help and overcome any sin.
At the point of temptation, Yūsuf (alayhis salam) is
saying, “Unless You help me overcome it and fortify me
against the seduction, I will never be able to withstand
this temptation.”
When you are in a state of temptation and attracted to a
sin, we learn from the story of Yūsuf that when you are
thinking of the sin, you should start thinking of Allāh.
A lot of people have this concept that if they are thinking
of evil, then they will do the evil and not think of Allāh
because they think it is not the right time to think of
Allāh. Allāh says, “She desired him and he desired her.”
You must turn to Allāh when thoughts of evil come to you.
It is the only way to protect yourself.
23.
24. To forgive when you have power is the height of excellence;
therefore, how much more so should you forgive when you don't have
power? You have to forgive.
Our Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) was told through this sūrah:
“A day will come when your own brethren are going to come to you
and you must say the same thing.” That is exactly what he did
standing on the doors of the Ka'bah at Fath-e-Makkah. As Quraysh
were around him he said, “What do you think I should do to you? What
do you think you deserve?” They were petrified. They deserved death
and they knew it. They deserved execution because of what they had
done for the last 23 years. Now they come trembling and scared. “You
are the son of a noble brother and one of us. Remember us.”
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said exactly what Yūsuf
said, and he never once mentioned the faults of the Quraysh after
this, just like Yūsuf. He never once brought up that reprehensible
past, even with those who personally tried to assassinate him.
If this is the case when you have power, then how much more so for
me and you when somebody does us wrong. Shouldn't we also then
say, “May Allāh forgive them”? Forgive in your hearts.
26. “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 & join me with the righteous.” [Surah Yusuf: 101]
What is important in the eyes of Allāh is the state that you die in.
The state that you die in dictates your place in the hereafter and not
the state that you began in.
It is never too late to change. It is never too late to give up a
lifestyle of evil and start a lifestyle of righteousness. The brothers of
Yūsuf are a prime example of this. They began the story in one state
and ended in another.
