Real-Life Lessons from the Story of Prophet Yusuf (5/5)

Real-Life Lesson # 20:

You learn two of the most principal lessons which any Muslim needs to be taught about his religion in Verses 79 and 80. The first lesson is that one must punish the one who commits the crime and not anybody who is willing to be punished in lieu of him.

And second, the importance of keeping your word, i.e., not breaking a promise. This lesson goes out to anybody in a position of authority anywhere in the Muslim nation. Please don't break your promise to your people by working for yourself instead of the people.

(81) "Return to your father and say, 'O our father! Verily, your son (Benjamin) has stolen, and we testify not except according to what we know, and we could not know the unseen!

(82) "And ask (the people of) the town where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned, and indeed we are telling the truth."

(83) He [Ya'qub (Jacob)] said: "Nay, but your ownselves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise."

Real-Life Lesson # 21:

Now Prophet Yaqub (Peace be upon him) has supposedly lost his second son. How does he deal with it, he deals with it with patience and complete and absolute trust in Allah that He will make things all right again. So whenever any injustice is done against you in life, you now know what to do to stay sane.

(84) And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf (Joseph)!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.

(85) They said: "By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf (Joseph) until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead."

(86) He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not.

Real-Life Lesson # 22:

In Verse no. 84 we learn that Prophet Yaqub (Peace be upon him) suppressed his sorrow of losing a son by keeping the anger inside of him.

What happened as a result? He became blind.

Don't keep your anger and your frustrations locked up inside.

So whom do I take this anger out on, my wife? My kids?

Well this is what Prophet Yaqub (Peace be upon him) did: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah."

Yes complain to Him, He will listen and He will reward. Until then be patient.

(87) "O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve."

Real-Life Lesson # 23:

There is a message not only for individuals here, but for us as a nation too. At the level of the individual, even if you find out that your wife has cancer, on the night you learn that you've been fired, you are not to lose hope in Allah's mercy.

At the level of the nation there is an unmistakable message of immense importance in here. Millions of Muslims worldwide are losing hope daily, millions are hungry and many more homeless, and yet Allah tells us not to despair of His mercy for those who do are 'people who disbelieve'. Remember the real test of Islam is not to believe in the seen, but the Unseen.

(88) Then, when they entered unto him [Yusuf (Joseph)], they said: "O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable."

(89) He said: "Do you know what you did with Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother, when you were ignorant?"

(90) They said: "Are you indeed Yusuf (Joseph)?" He said: "I am Yusuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinun (good-doers – see V.2:112) to be lost."

(91) They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners."

Real-Life Lesson # 24:

This is the universal and timeless truth that all Muslims need to be so badly aware of, yet are not- this truth is that Allah will always prefer the 'Muhsinun' to the evildoers. So don't despair, and don't be one of the many Muslims who stop practicing Islam because they think that Islam will make them unsuccessful in this life. As we are coming close to concluding the story, I hope you do realize that those who keep their faith in Allah will always succeed in the end.

(92) He said: "No reproach on you this day, may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!

Real-Life Lesson # 25:

Even after all that his brothers put him through, Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) forgave his brothers. So please forgive your friends, your relatives, and your neighbors, even at country levels, for nothing that they would have done could be worse than what happened to Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him).

(93) "Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all your family."

(94) And when the caravan departed, their father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf (Joseph), if only you think me not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."

(95) They said: "By Allah! Certainly, you are in your old error."

(96) Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'I know from Allah that which you know not.' "

(97) They said: "O our father! Ask forgiveness (from Allah) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners."

(98) He said: "I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

(99) Then, when they entered unto Yusuf (Joseph), he betook his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in security."

(100) And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaitan (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

(101)  "My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous."

(102) This is of the news of the Ghaib (unseen) which We reveal by Inspiration to you (O Muhammad). You were not (present) with them when they arranged their plan together, and (also, while) they were plotting.

Comment:

And finally the story ends, and the good guys did win in the end. But they were tested severely, and their faith was shaken several times. But they stood firm, remained patient and asked Allah for help. And that's how our life's story should also be, if we manage to continue on the straight path. It's important now that you read more of the translation of the Qur'an in an attempt to learn and understand the lessons present in it as these are a source of Mercy and Divine guidance for all of us.