Prophet Yusuf

Little Joseph dreamed of eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing down to him. Ya'qub asked him to keep the dream a secret from his brothers. But envy had grown: the brothers felt that their father loved Joseph more, so they agreed to throw him at the bottom of the well and come home carrying false tears and clothes stained with lying blood.

A caravan drawing water found Yusuf and sold him to Egypt for a cheap price, just a few dirhams. Al-Aziz, an Egyptian official, bought it and glorified it. When Joseph reached maturity, Allah granted him wisdom and knowledge — "thus do We reward those who do good."

Al-Aziz's wife seduced him behind locked doors. Yusuf replied, "I seek refuge in Allah!" He ran for the door until his shirt was torn from the back — evidence that proved the truth. When the town women gossiped, they were so fascinated that they cut their own hands. Threatened with prison if he refused, Yusuf prayed, "O my Lord, I prefer prison to fulfilling their invitation." He was imprisoned even though he was proven innocent.

In prison, Yusuf preached monotheism and interpreted the dreams of two young servants of the king. Many years later, the king dreamed that seven fat cows were eaten by seven thin cows. Yusuf interpreted it: seven fertile years for planting and saving, seven lean years, then years of help. He refused to leave prison until his name was cleared — and the women acknowledged his chastity before the king.

The king made Joseph a confidant, and Joseph asked for trust in the state warehouses: "Indeed, I am good at guarding and knowledgeable." When famine struck, his brothers came to buy wheat without recognizing him. Through a neatly arranged series of events — detaining Benjamin, then revealing his identity — Yusuf said, "There is no slander against you today; Allah forgives you." The whole family was brought to Egypt, and eleven brothers and their father and mother bowed down: the interpretation of his childhood dream.

Yusuf closed his story with a prayer of gratitude and hope: "O my God, you have granted me part of the kingdom and taught me the interpretation of dreams... leave me as a Muslim and join me with the pious people." Allah calls this story ahsanul qashash — the best story: about iffah (maintaining purity), total forgiveness without revenge, trustworthy professionalism, and the promise that a good ending belongs to the pious.

Little Joseph dreamed of seeing eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing down to him. His father, the Prophet Ya'qub, understood that dreams were a sign of prophecy and glory, and said, "O my son, do not tell your dreams to your brothers, or they will plot to destroy you; indeed Satan is a real enemy for humans." Ya'qub knew how much his affection for Yusuf would cause hatred.

Joseph's brothers agreed to get rid of him because they were jealous of their father's affection. Under the pretext of inviting him to play, they took him away, then threw him at the bottom of the well. That night they came home crying and saying that Yusuf had been eaten by wolves, while carrying his robe that was stained with fake blood. Ya'qub did not believe it and said, "Then that is good patience (my patience); and only to Allah do I ask for help for what you tell me."

A caravan passed by and unloaded its bucket; how happy they were to find a child in the well. Yusuf was made into merchandise and sold at a cheap price, a few dirhams. He was bought by an Egyptian official (Al-'Aziz) who told his wife to ennoble the place where he lived. Thus Allah confirmed Yusuf's position on earth and taught him the interpretation of dreams — "and Allah has authority over His affairs, but most people do not know."

After Yusuf grew up, Al-'Aziz's wife teased him and locked all the doors. Yusuf refused, "I seek refuge in Allah." The two of them raced towards the door and tore Yusuf's robe from behind. A witness from the woman's family weighs the evidence: if the robe is torn in the front, Yusuf is guilty; if it is torn in the back, it is the woman who is lying. It turned out to be torn in the back - so it was clear that Joseph was right. This is proof that Allah turns away evil from His sincere servants.

The news spread; the women of the town denounced Al-'Aziz's wife. He then invited them in, gave each a knife, and sent Yusuf out. When they saw it, they were so amazed that they cut their own fingers without realizing it and said, "Most perfect is Allah, this is not a human being; this is truly a noble angel." Yusuf chose prison rather than fulfill their invitation, "O my Lord, I prefer prison than fulfilling their invitation."

In prison, two young men asked Yusuf to interpret their dreams. Before answering, he preached: "Are various gods better, or is Allah the Almighty, the Almighty? You worship nothing but Him but the names you make up for yourself." He predicted that one would pour wine for his master and the other would be crucified. The incident happened exactly as per the takwil.

The king dreamed that seven fat cows were eaten by seven thin cows, and seven green ears and seven dry ears. No one was able to interpret it except Joseph: seven fertile years followed by seven lean years, so they should store grain during the fertile period. Yusuf did not want to leave until his name was cleared; the women confessed, "Now the truth is clear, I was the one who seduced him, and indeed he is one of the righteous."

The king summoned Yusuf and made him a confidant. Yusuf said, "Make me a state treasurer; indeed I am a person who is good at guarding and knowledgeable." Thus Allah gave Joseph a position in the land of Egypt, he had full authority wherever he wanted - "We bestow Our mercy on whom We will, and We do not waste the reward of those who do good."

When famine struck, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to buy food. Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. He ordered that their exchange items be returned secretly in the sacks, and asked them to bring their half-brother (Bunyamin) on their next arrival. Ya'qub let Binyamin go after they swore, while ordering them to enter the city from different doors.

Yusuf placed the king's cup in Benjamin's sack and then "found" it so he could hold his brother in the way God permitted. When the brothers begged, Yusuf finally revealed his true identity, "I am Yusuf, and this is my brother; indeed Allah has bestowed grace on us. Whoever is devout and patient, Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good." He said without rancor, "There is no reproach against you today; may Allah forgive you."

Yusuf sent his robe to be wiped on the face of his father, who had become blind from years of crying and longing. When the caravan had not arrived, Ya'qub said, "Indeed I smell the smell of Yusuf." As soon as the robe was wiped off, his vision returned. The whole family emigrated to Egypt; both parents were elevated to the throne, and eleven brothers bowed down in reverence to Joseph — his childhood dream came true.

Yusuf's story is the culmination of patience with family injustice, temptation, slander, and prison - all of which ended in glory because of piety. He closed his story with a prayer that taught monotheism until the end, "O my God, you have granted me some powers and taught me the interpretation of dreams... leave me in the state of Islam and join me with the pious people." The lesson: human plots do not defeat God's destiny, and forgiveness of those who wrong them is the morals of the prophets.