الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
The prophethood of Yusuf (AS)
The account of the life of Yusuf (AS) in the Qur’an is one of the most detailed and uniquely fascinating stories of all. It illustrates the qualities, which are the prerequisites for success in this life and in the hereafter, whilst demonstrating the blameworthy characteristics in man which lead to his downfall and failure. As Imam Ibn Kathir mentioned in his book, Stories of the Prophets, it is a story “involving both human weaknesses such as jealousy, hatred, pride, passion, deception, intrigue, cruelty, terror as well as noble qualities such as patience, loyalty, bravery, nobility and compassion.”
Yusuf (AS)’s lineage consists of prophets; he was the son of Yaqub (AS), his grandfather was Ishaq (AS) and his great grandfather was Ibrahim (AS). Thus, it came as no surprise to his father when it became apparent that Yusuf (AS) was destined to receive divine revelation.
The story of Yusuf (AS) begins with the glad tidings of his prophethood, which then develops into a series of tragic trials and tribulations, and finally ends with success and glory where Yusuf (AS) becomes a ruler in Egypt. The story begins with his dream about himself and ends with his interpretation of that dream.
Yusuf (AS) had eleven brothers. They all lived near Jerusalem in Palestine, which at that time was called Canaan. His youngest brother was called Binyamin (Benjamin).
When Yusuf (AS) was a young boy, he had a dream in which he saw the sun, the moon and eleven stars bow down to him. Yusuf (AS) told his father, Yaqub (AS), about his strange dream. Yaqub (AS) realized that this was a vision from Allah (swt) and an indication of Yusuf’s future prophethood. Yaqub (AS) warned his son not to disclose this vision to his brothers, for he feared that it would cause further jealousy amongst them.
Yaqub (AS) loved all of his sons. But they all, except Binyamin, felt jealous of Yusuf (AS) because they thought that Yusuf (AS) was depriving them of their father’s love. Little did they care that in fact, it was Yusuf’s praiseworthy character which endowed this deep love and affection from his father. His brothers thus plotted to remove Yusuf (AS) from this position of love and affection so that they could receive their father’s undivided devotion.
The brothers were so jealous of Yusuf that they came up with a plan to get rid of him forever. One brother suggested that they should kill him. Others did not have the heart to kill him and thought it would be better to send him to a faraway place. Finally, they decided to throw him into a well. Travelers would find him when they stopped for water, and Yusuf (AS) would disappear from the brothers’ lives forever.
One day, the brothers asked their father if they could take Yusuf (AS) with them to play. Yaqub (AS) was afraid for Yusuf (AS), but agreed to let him go. The brothers set off together with Yusuf (AS). When they were a long way from home, the brothers acted on their plan. They threw Yusuf (AS) into a well and left him there.
The brothers then returned home without Yusuf (AS). They went to their father weeping, saying that Yusuf (AS) had been eaten by a wolf whilst they were playing. The brothers showed Yaqub (AS) their younger brother’s shirt covered with the blood of a sheep, to convince him of their story.
Upon receiving this heartbreaking tragic news about his most beloved son, Yaqub (AS) did not believe his sons. “He said, ‘Nay, but yourselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that which you assert’.”(Yusuf: 18)
In the face of such great loss, Allah’s Prophet Yaqub (AS) showed us how one should respond. Yaqub (AS) did not despair of Allah’s help, nor dissatisfied with the calamity that befell upon him. Instead, he remained patient and sought refuge in and the help of Allah (swt) alone.
There are indeed lessons for us from this episode of the story in Surat Yusuf. Allah (swt) says, “And Allah was the All-Knower of what they did.”(Yusuf: 19)
Allah (swt) was fully aware of what was occurring and could indeed have stopped the wrongdoers who harmed Yusuf (AS). However, out of His infinite foresight and wisdom, He decreed otherwise and allowed it to occur so that His decision of a great future for Yusuf (AS) would prevail at the appointed time. Allah (swt) let the wrongdoers have a momentary respite so that eventually Yusuf (AS) would succeed and have authority over his nation, not just over his brothers.
And Yusuf (AS) was still alive deep inside the well.
Yusuf (AS) as a slave
Meanwhile, a passing caravan of merchants came to rest at the well and discovered this young handsome boy at the bottom of the well. The merchants rescued Yusuf (AS), took him as a slave to Egypt and sold him to the chief minister of Egypt. The chief minister soon realized that Yusuf (AS) was no ordinary slave boy and had huge potential in him. He thus ordered his wife, Zulaikha, to be kind to Yusuf (AS) and provide him with a comfortable life. This was indeed Allah’s plan, for He says:
“Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.” (Yusuf: 21)
Allah (swt) wanted to take Yusuf (AS) out of his homeland in Cannan (which is the area of Palestine, Syria and Jordan) and bring him to Egypt for a great destiny ahead and He allowed Yusuf’s (AS) brothers to commit the evil acts which were all part of Allah’s greater plan.
Prophet Yusuf (AS) languishes in prison
Over the years, Yusuf (AS) grew into a man, and Allah gifted him with immense beauty and wisdom. Yusuf (AS) was a modest man, but he received a lot of attention because of his good looks. The chief minister’s wife, Zulaikha, attempted to seduce him. Allah (swt) informs us that when the women of Egypt saw Yusuf (AS), “They said, ‘How perfect is Allah! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!” ([Yusuf: 31). Moreover, Muhammad (S) said regarding Yusuf (AS)’s beauty: “He was given half of all beauty”.
Eventually, even though he did nothing wrong, Yusuf (AS) was sent to prison as a way of avoiding unwanted attention and sin. It was Allah’s design that Yusuf (AS) should end up in prison away from the evils of these lustful women!
Once in prison, the story of Yusuf (AS) enters its third phase of tests, wherein he continues with his prophetic mission of dawah to his fellow prisoners. Yusuf (AS) spent several years in prison (possibly nine years) for a crime that he did not commit. However, there was greater wisdom behind Yusuf (AS)’s imprisonment, which was soon to be unveiled by Allah (SWT), the Master of all planners.
The King’s dream
It so happened that the King of Egypt had a troubling dream that nobody could explain. The king dreamt that seven fat cows were eaten by seven thin cows. He then saw seven healthy ears of corn and seven dry and dried-up ears of corn. The King was troubled because he could not understand the dream, and no one could explain it to him.
Sometimes dreams have special meanings, which we do not understand. Allah blessed Yusuf (AS) with the ability to interpret dreams; he knew what dreams meant and could explain them to people. The King’s servant knew of Yusuf (AS) and his gift of interpreting dreams, and asked Yusuf (AS) to interpret the King’s dream.
With the gift Allah had given him, Yusuf (AS) interpreted the King’s dream. The dream meant that for the next seven years there would be plenty of crops and food throughout the land. But, for seven years after that, there would be famine throughout the land. There would be no crops and not enough food for the people to live on.
When the king received this interpretation, he felt convinced. The king recognized Yusuf (AS)’s virtues, knowledge and foresight and immediately ordered the release of Yusuf (AS). However, Yusuf (AS) refused to leave prison unless he was exonerated and his innocence declared. The king thereupon investigated the allegations that were made against Yusuf (AS) by Zulaikha, which soon proved to be unfounded. The king, recognizing the greatness of Prophet Yusuf (AS), thus ordered his immediate release. Allah (swt) says,
“And the king said:‘Bring him to me that I may attach him to my person.’ Then, when he spoke to him, he said: ‘Verily, this day, you are with us high in rank and fully trusted.” (Yusuf: 54)
The King was so impressed with Yusuf (AS)’s character and wisdom that he asked Yusuf (AS) to work for him. Yusuf (AS) agreed and asked to be put in charge of the food storehouses in Egypt so that he could prepare the land for the seven years of famine, which would follow the seven years of plenty.
The famine and Yusuf (AS)’s brothers
During the first seven years of plenty, Yusuf (AS) harvested and carefully stored crops and food. When the seven years of famine followed, through Allah’s mercy Yusuf (AS) had stored enough food to make sure that the people did not starve.
The famine spread throughout the land, including to Palestine where the family of Yusuf (AS) also suffered. Yusuf (AS)’s brothers knew that in Egypt, there were stores of food that were being given to the people. Eventually, Yusuf (AS)’s brothers decided to travel from Palestine to Egypt to ask for food.
When the group of men arrived in Egypt, Yusuf (AS) immediately recognized his brothers. But many years had passed and the brothers did not recognize the powerful man before them as their youngest brother, Yusuf (AS). Yusuf (AS) noticed that his youngest brother, Binyamin was not with the others. He gave each of the brothers food and told them to come back again, this time with Binyamin so that he may give them more food.
Back in Palestine, the brothers convinced their father to let Binyamin travel with them to Egypt. Yaqub (AS) w(AS) hesitant at first, remembering what had happened to Yusuf (AS) so many years before; but after some time he agreed. The brothers returned to Egypt with Binyamin.
Yusuf (AS) was happy to see Binyamin. He spoke to Binyamin alone and told him who he really was. Yusuf (AS) then acted out a plan to ensure that his brother Binyamin would stay with him and not return to Palestine with the other brothers.
Yusuf (AS) placed one of the King’s drinking cups in Binyamin’s food bag. When Binyamin’s bag was searched, and the drinking cup was found, it seemed as if Binyamin had tried to steal it. As part of his plan, Yusuf (AS) commanded Binyamin to remain in Egypt as punishment. Remembering their promise to Yaqub (AS) that Binyamin would return to Palestine safely, the brothers pleaded with Yusuf (AS) to let Binyamin leave with them, but Yusuf (AS) refused.
The brothers returned home to Palestine and told their father what had happened. Yaqub (AS) remained patient, even though he had become blind from the sorrow of losing Yusuf (AS) many years before and had now lost a second son.
Finally, the brothers had to make a third trip to Egypt for more food. They were now very poor and had only a few things to trade. The brothers begged Yusuf (AS) to have mercy on them. When Yusuf (AS) saw the desperate state his brothers were in, he asked them one simple question. “Do you now realize what you did to Yusuf?” Stunned by the question, the brothers realized that the powerful man before them had to be their brother Yusuf; because, besides the brothers, Yusuf (AS) was the only one who knew about that day so many years ago when they had left their brother in a well.
Even though Yusuf (AS) had been through so much hardship because of what his brothers had done to him, he did not get upset. Instead, Yusuf (AS) prayed for his brothers and asked them to do two things: First, to take his shirt and lay it over their father’s face. Second Yusuf (AS) asked his brothers to bring their entire family back to Egypt.
When the brothers returned home they placed Yusuf (AS)’s shirt over their father’s face. Through Allah’s mercy Yaqub (AS)’s sight returned and he was able to see again.
Yaqub (AS), his sons and their families travelled from Palestine to Egypt. Yaqub (AS) was overjoyed to meet his beloved son again. In respect, Yusuf (AS)’s father, mother and eleven brothers bowed before Yusuf (AS). Seeing this, Yusuf (AS) realized that the dream he saw as a child had become a reality: the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowing to him.
Through constant patience and remembrance of Allah, Yusuf (AS) was successful in all of life’s tests and was richly rewarded for his patience.
In spite of the immense tests he had faced, Allah (swt) did not allow the patience of Yusuf (AS) to be lost in vain and instead rewarded Yusuf (AS) with greatness, victory and authority. According to Mujahid, a great early mufassir from the tabi’een, the king of Egypt became Muslim at the hands of Yusuf (AS). This prophet of Allah, Yusuf (AS), thus ruled Egypt by the laws of Allah (swt). May Allah’s peace be upon him.
———————————————————————————————————
Resources and References:
Imam Ibn Kathir – Stories of the Prophets
Mufti Menk – Lessons from the Stories of the Prophets in the Qur’an (https://muslimahlifestyle.com/lessons-stories-prophets-quraan-mufti-menk-creation-of-aadam-as/)
Anwar Al-Awlaki – The Lives of the Prophets (https://www.kalamullah.com/anwar-alawlaki.html)
Aisha Stacey – The Religion of Islam (islamreligion.com)
