The Story of Prophet Yusuf A.S

1. The Story of Prophet Yusuf A.S We relate to you the best of stories… Lessons | Reminders | Guidance

2. 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 ibnkareemibnkareemibnkareem

3. Lessons and Topics

4. الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِAlif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book. إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَIndeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. Discussion points: • Why is the Quran in Arabic?

5. نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَاالْقُرْآنَWe relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَalthough you were, before it, among the unaware. Discussion Points: • Why is the story of Yusuf called the best of stories?

6. The “Best of Stories” – Why?

7. إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ[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

8. قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًاHe said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan.إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌIndeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy. • Discussion Point: • Yaqub A.S’s warning – backbiting?

9. وَكَذَٰلِكَيَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌAnd 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

10. Reality of dreams

11. لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِّلسَّائِلِينَCertainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, • Discussion Points: • Narrative-based learning in the Quran

12. إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ8. 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

13. 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

14. اقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ 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

15. 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!

16. What is the most effective way of winning hearts?

17. قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ السَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ10. 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

18. قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَنَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَنَاصِحُونَ 11. They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors? أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ12. 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

19. قَالَ إِنِّي لَيَحْزُنُنِي أَن تَذْهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَافِلُونَ13. [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."

20. قَالُوا لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّخَاسِرُونَ 14. They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."

21. فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُوا أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ15. 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]."

22. وَجَاءُوا أَبَاهُمْ عِشَاءً يَبْكُونَ16. And they came to their father at night, weeping. قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَاعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَادِقِينَ17. “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."

23. وَجَاءُوا عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا 18. And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something…

24. فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُون18. (contd.) …so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe." • Discussion Points: • SabrunJameel

25. Three meanings of sabr according to Ali R.A