In the Holy Quran, Allah has mentioned the stories of many prophets including Hazrat Adam (AS), Hazrat Musa (AS), Hazrat Yaqoob (AS), Hazrat Isa (AS) and many more. There are many reasons for mentioning these stories in the Quran. As Allah says in the Holy Quran that,There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding – Surah Yusuf, verse 111. And indeed there are lessons from surah Yusuf as well that one can learn.
Among other, Allah has told Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) one of the best stories, the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha in Surah Yusuf.
We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Quran although you were, before it, among the unaware – Surah Yusuf, verse 3
Misconception About Surah Yusuf
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Due to the lack of knowledge, we just focus on the love affair of the wife of Pharoah (every ruler of Egypt were titles as Pharoah, nobody knows his original name) and Hazrat Yusuf from Surah Yusuf and completely ignore the other parts of the story. It is said that reciting surah Yusuf for beauty is very useful as it makes your face attractive. Allah has titled this surah as “one of the best one” which means it should have something unique. If you read Surah Yusuf with translation, it gives you a number of moral lessons about the story of Yusuf. You will get to know that it has covered a wide range of topics including the responsibilities and duties of children towards parents, how to deal with jealousy, how to keep patience, how to control your desires and much more.
Let’s reflect upon the lessons we get from Surah Yusuf is detail.
1. Avoid Jealousy
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There are many lessons from surah Yusuf that we must learn to make this world a better place. Jealousy divides the communities and breaks up the families. The same thing happened when the brothers of Hazrat Yusuf started believing that their father Hazrat Yaqoob loved Yusuf more than any other son. This is the reason why Yaqoob forbade Yusuf from revealing his dream to brothers. It was the jealousy which forced these brothers to became an irrational gang and abandoned Yusuf into the well. As Quran mentions,
He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy. – Surah Yusuf, verse 5
It teaches us that how jealousy could make the simple lives miserable. So, whenever you see someone else’s wealth, just say MashaAllah instead of being jealous.
2. Be Patient And Keep Faith In Allah
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Hazrat Yusuf suffered a series of incidents right after the incident of well but he remained faithful to Allah. When he was sold out in Egypt, when the wife of Pharoah put false allegations on him, when he was imprisoned for no reason, Yusuf kept calm and patient. He summarised all the miseries in a sentence,
He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from Bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. – Surah Yusuf, verse 100
3. It Is Better To Face Hardships Than Disobeying Allah
Source: The Nation
Hazrat Yusuf preferred living in a prison because he didn’t want to fulfill the desires of the wife of Pharoah.
He said, “My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant.” – Surah Yusuf, verse 33
4. Forgive. Allah Likes The Forgiveness
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When Hazrat Yusuf became the King of Egypt and his brothers confronted, he forgave them all without saying a single word! This a beautiful lesson from surah Yusuf.
He said, “No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” – Surah Yusuf, verse 92
5. Save Yourself From The Sin With Your Own Strength
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Yusuf was beautiful both externally and internally. As for his external beauty, it made the king’s wife did what she did, and it made the other women cut their hands. His internal beauty was because of his great chastity in spite of the many enticements there were to commit sin. This is why the wife of Pharaoh said, “I did seek to seduce him, but he refused”. His refusal shows his strength and believes in Allah
She closed the doors and said, “Come, you.” He said, “[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.” – Surah Yusuf, verse 23
May Allah grant us the ability to read and understand the Holy Quran, Ameen.
Read Also: 11 Surahs That Will Earn You Maximum Sawaab!
