Surah Yusuf #111

“Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for the possessors of intellect. It is not an invented tale, but a confirmation of what came before it, and a clear exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe.”

*Notice here* – 
this is the last verse of the sūrah – how beautifully the beginning and the end are linked together.  

What does Allāh ‘azza wa jall say in the very beginning of the sūrah?  

We are going to narrate to you the best of all stories.” Then the ending is: “Indeed in their stories…”  

The [third āyah] has the present tense and here is the past tense because now the story has finished, so Allāh is saying, 

“In their stories there was…” is like a type of past. In the beginning, Allāh is saying, 

Pay attention! You are about to hear some good stories.”  

Then it is concluding. Allāh is saying, 

“In these stories you just heard.”

This is *beautiful*.  

Human beings cannot construct such eloquence.  

This is a divine eloquence that only when you think about it you see it, 

otherwise if you tried to, you could not bring about such a beauty.

Another *beauty* here 

– and wallāhi this is just amazing; think about this 
– in the beginning Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla) says’

“In the story of Yūsuf and his brothers, there are āyāt for those who ask.”  

Here we are being told 

“In their stories there is ‘lesson for those of intelligence.”  

Now surely Allāh is doing this for a reason.  

Why is there who ask ( Verse 7)in the beginning and then ‘who understand in the end. Which one is a higher level? Uli’l-bāb.  

The one who thinks, the one who ponders.  

The one who is asking shows that he is interested and paying attention and has an open heart and open mind.  

If you have that attitude of wanting to benefit, 

you will find miracles, āyāt, points, but when you really think about the story, you will go beyond āyāt and will go to ‘ibrah – morals, wisdoms, lessons.

Notice

in the beginning Allāh mentions the lower level because it is human nature that the first reading is a cursory reading.  

You are paying attention and want to know the story, 
the plot, 
and the ending.  
In the beginning, Allāh ‘azza wa jall says just be interested, sā’il, and you will get a lot of benefit.  

In the very last āyah, Allāh says, 

“Now you have read the story. If you really want to benefit, you have to ponder over it āyah by āyah, verse by verse, and you will discover ‘ibrah.”  

Beautiful.  

In the beginning, you will benefit if you just pay attention.  

In the end, now that the story is over (in the past tense) Allāh is saying laqad kāna, meaning there was indeed and now that you have done it you should go back.  

There is an incentive being given now.  

There is a strong incentive being given.  

Now that you have finished the story, now is the time to go back and try to do ‘ibrah if you truly are a person of contemplative intelligence.

This is really the beauty of the ending here that it links up directly to he beginning and tells you,

“You haven’t come to the end. This is just the beginning. You need to now go back.”  

Notice Allāh says qaṣaṣihim, which is plural, because there are lots of stories.  

It is not just one story. We call it the story of Yūsuf, but the fact of the matter is it is composed of multiple stories all put together.  

Allāh ‘azza wa jall is telling you, this is just the beginning, and now the real journey begins to go back and find these ‘ibrah and to derive these benefits and wisdoms.

Now Allah conclude this by saying

“These stories are not fabricated fairy tales.”

When we hear a fairy tale, we listen to it from a very different perspective.  

When we hear a real story, psychologically and subconsciously we listen and hear with a different mind.  

SubḥānAllāh we all understand.  

When we watch a Hollywood movie versus a documentary, what is our attitude?  

Hollywood movie: entertainment. Documentary: it affects you, and you are seeing real images and this is not acting.  

Sorry for being so crude, but we understand now.

BENEFIT

In this last ayah of this beautiful Surah Allah tells us that in the stories of these messengers there is a lesson for people of understanding. 

There is a benefit in their stories. What is this benefit?

The benefit in these stories is that they bring us closer to our Lord. 

So Allah is telling us that in the stories of these messengers, 

like Yusuf (AS), there are lessons that we can take, and should we learn these lessons and then base our lives on that knowledge, 

then through this emulation, we can come closer to Allah (swt). 

So for example in this Surah, we saw Yusuf (AS) face several different situations. 

If we can behave just like Yusuf (AS) when such situations come before us, then we can come closer to Allah through that. 

Restraint at times of temptation. 

Patience at times of adversity. 

Steadfastness and courage in dawah. 

Gratitude at favors and bounties. These are just a few of the lessons that we have learned from this Surah so far. 

In all of these, we can emulate the noble prophet Yusuf (AS), and we can draw closer to our Lord through that emulation.

Conclusion

THIS surah contains messages for all.  

Many of you were able to identify yourself with Prophet Yusuf’s life. 

If you find yourself in place of Yusuf’s brothers in the story of your life, then I ask Allah to remove the jealousy from your heart and bless you with a sincere and content heart. 

If you find yourself in the place of Ya’qoob (AS), I ask Allah to reunite you with your loved ones and make them the coolness of your eyes. 

If you find yourself in the place of Zulaykha, I ask Allah to bless you with halal, so you have no need for haram. 

If you find yourself in the place of the king of Egypt, may Allah bless you with more honor and power with Allah’s pleasure. 

If you find yourself in the place of Aziz of Egypt, may Allah take care of all your needs. 

If you find yourself in the place of those wicked women of Egypt, I ask Allah to guide you and enable you to keep a watch on your tongue. 

If you find yourself in the place of Binyamin, I ask Allah to give you the love of a brother like Yusuf (AS). 

If you find yourself all over the place in this story then may Allah have mercy on you.

However, if you find yourself in place of Yusuf (AS), then I wish to meet you as Allah has honored you in an unimaginable way. 

There is no doubt that you are special to Allah and one of Allah’s righteous servants.

May Allah honor us and raise our status in this life and the next just like He (swt) did with Yusuf and those who emulated him.

Surah Yusuf #110

“Till when the messengers despaired and they (disbelievers) thought they had been told a lie, Our help came to them and We delivered whom We pleased. 
But Our punishment will not be averted from the guilty people.”

In this ayah, Allah reminds the Prophet (PBUH) and us as well how all of the prophets and messengers who came before us carried dawah. 

Not only did they carry dawah but they carried this dawah for years upon years. 

However many of them did not find any success in their dawah for a long time. 

They called their people to Allah for many years, but for many years their people did not respond. 

For a long time, they called on their people to give up sin.

The people thought that here is a man telling us that Allāh is going to punish us if we don’t believe, but we haven’t believed, so where is the punishment?  

He must be lying.  

The people thought that the prophets are telling lies.  

When the people thought that the prophet was telling lies, that was when Allāh’s safety came to save the people of the faith and punishment came for the disbelievers.

In the other qirā’a, 

“and they thought that their nations had rejected them.”  

The prophets came to the realization that their nations would not believe.

These are the two meanings.  

Who is the one doing the thinking and doing the assuming?  

If it is the people, then the people have assumed that the prophets are telling lies.  

If it is the prophets, then the prophets have realized that the people will not believe.

*SubḥānAllāh*, both of them are correct.  

One of the principles of Qur’ānic recitation is that all of them are equally valid and both of them are correct.  

When both have become exasperated, when the prophets are fed up of their people and the people are fed up of their prophets – basically it is a two-way street.  

They are allowed to preach until this exasperation is reached.  

What happens then?

*“*The prophets receive Our Aid. They are saved.”**

Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla) is saying that the people of the past when Allāh’s Command came, We saved them, and as for the ẓālimīn, they will get there punishment.  

Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that a time will come when We will save you and you will be saved from the clutches of them, and they shall be punished by the punishment of Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla).

POINT TO NOTE

However what is important for us to note is that these messengers did not give up on their dawah. 

Even though their situation became so desperate. 

Even though they even entertained these thoughts of despair, and they even thought to themselves that perhaps the promise of Allah would not be fulfilled, they still did not give up in their dawah. 
They kept going. 

This shows us that this thought was only a passing thought that occurred to them. 

But they did not act based on this thought. 

Rather when this thought came to them, they reminded themselves that the Promise of Allah is indeed true.

Then Allah says “Our Help came and We saved whom We pleased.” Just when the situation was most desperate, and the patience of these messengers had reached the limit, just at that moment that was when the Help of Allah came.

LESSON

1)The benefit that we can take from this part of the ayah is to see that the Help of Allah will eventually come. 

So we have to believe with utmost certainty that even if takes a long while, the Help of Allah will eventually come. 

We see from this ayah how long those who came before us had to wait, so we also must be prepared to wait. 

But while we wait, we must always have the certain knowledge that our wait will be over.

Allah also tells us in this part of the ayah that He (swt) saved whom He (swt) pleased. 
The Help of Allah finally came. 

The Messengers and the true believers were finally saved. 
The Promise was fulfilled. 

What happened to those who had turned away from their Creator? 

  1. In the next part of the ayah Allah tells us that His (swt)’s punishment was not averted from them.
  2. Do not give up on Allah. Always believe that He is there to help you.

Surah Verse #109

“And We did not send (apostles) before you but men from the people of the towns whom We did inspire with revelations. Have they not traveled in the earth and seen what was the end of those who came before them? And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are pious. Do you not understand?”

“There has never come before you prophets except that they have been men whom We have inspired from the towns/cities.”

The characteristics of the prophets are that they have been men that have been inspired from the cities.  

What does this mean?  

The point of saying this is to say the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) has all of the characteristics the previous prophets had as well.  

“You have the exact same characteristics. You are not alone.”

This is a message to the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to console him.  

Remember this sūrah was revealed at a relatively depressing point in the life of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam). 

He is being reminded:  

“You are not the only person that has suffered. Many are the prophets before you that We have sent.”  

SubḥānAllāh, it is human nature that when you find somebody who has suffered the same calamity as you, you feel a little bit of relief that you are not alone.  

Our Rasūl (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is being reminded, “You are not alone. There have been many prophets before you that have come.”

This also shows us some theological points.  

All prophets have been men.  

There have been no female prophets.  

We firmly believe this even though there is a small minority opinion that Maryam (‘alayhi’l-salām) was a prophet, but it doesn’t appear to be the case.  

Rather, she saw an angel, and angel communicated with her, but she did not receive waḥy.  

She did not receive a book from Allāh ‘azza wa jall.  

Angels can come to women and can appear in front of women, but this does not make them prophets.  

Prophets means you get a revelation from Allāh, waḥy, and the dominant opinion has always been [all prophets have been male], and it is quite clear from this verse.  

Of the characteristics of the prophets is that they come from cultures of the cities.  

They have manners, akhlāq and morals. The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came from the Quraysh, and the Quraysh were the most noble of all the Arabs.

*“Haven’t they traveled in the land and seen the fate of those who were before them?”*

We have so many signs and Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla) is asking, “Haven’t they seen these signs?  

SubḥānAllāh, it is the Sunnah of Allāh that every nation and society thinks that it is the pinnacle.  

Such was the case of the people of Pompeii.  

Such was the case of the people of Rome and the emperors of Persia.  

Such was the case of the pharaohs of Egypt.  

Every single civilization and society said, “We are the lasting legacy. We have achieved what no other society achieved.”

We still the same sentiment in our time as well, yet Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla) is telling the Quraysh and people around them you are not the first, and you are not going to be the last.  

Stop being so arrogant.  

Allāh ‘azza wa jall has created so many different societies and nations.  

Learns from the lessons of those before.  

Where are they now?  

Where is their power now?  

Where is their fame?  

Where is their might?  

All of it has now gone. You don’t even see except for the remnants you visit in museums and see one house out of thousands that used to stand.  

Don’t you learn that your civilization one day will also be the same?  

It will be a lesson for other societies, so take advantage and benefit before the end comes to you.

*“*Surely the house and the abode of the Hereafter is better. Don’t you think and understand this?”**

You are seeing the abodes of the people before and marveling at them.  

The pyramids, the people of Ṣāliḥ and Thamūd and the grand palaces of Petra.  

You marvel at that.

The meaning here is that after setting up the stage for the miracles of the prophets, 

the sincerity of the prophets that most of the people have rejected that the prophets have been preaching, 

all of these verses when you read them initially you think every verse is different, 

but when you actually study it, you see a beautiful message is in the background.  

You just need to understand it.  

What is that message?

“Ya Rasūlullāh, you are not the first prophet.  

You have a message, you have a methodology, you have miracles.  

Many people before you had the same miracles, and they were all rejected.”

Explanations

1. The prophets were human beings like other people in the fullest sense of the word and used to live among them. They were not angels, nor were they seeking after their own welfare.

2. All the prophets were men for the means of propagation and long arduous travel in its way can only be accomplished by men.

3. The knowledge of the prophets has been gained through revelation from the omniscience of Allah. Technically it has been ‘inspired’.

4. The polytheists, however, have nothing to gain from their opposition to the prophets. Even in this world they will be surrounded by punishment and pain. However, for the virtuous people in this world, the Hereafter would be much more than they could have imagined while being in this world.

5.Wisdom and meditation lead man directly towards the teachings of the prophets.

6. It is necessary, of course, to preserve historical relics and monuments for the experience and instruction of the future generations.

Lesson

The prophets are human beings and not angels. The knowledge of the Prophet is from Allah. The disbelievers are the losers in the hereafter because of their disbelief in the Prophet.

Surah Yusuf # 108

“Say (O’ Our Apostle): ‘This is my way. I invite to Allah with clear sight, I and whoever follows me; and glory be to Allah! And I am not (one) of the polytheists’.”

The way of the Prophet of Islam (S) is clear and transparent to all those who want to seek guidance, and true guidance comes from Allah, thus his way is a call to Allah, the only true Reality.

Verse says ;

Say: This is my path. I am calling to Allāh.”

The path of Islam is a path that links you to Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla).  

The path of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the job of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is to call people to this path.  

How does he do this call? ‘

Ala baṣīrah means upon a clear knowledge.  

“I’m not calling you based upon ignorance. I’m not jāhil. I know what I’m calling you to.”

Baṣīrah is from baṣarah, which is to see. Baṣīrah means it is crystal clear.  

The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in one ḥadīth, “I have left you upon the shining path. Its night is like its day. No one can deviate from this path except that he wishes destruction.”  

The path is clear.

I am doing this [calling upon baṣīrah] and those who truly follow me also call.”

This is a beautiful message here.  

Whoever claims to be a follower of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had better be calling to his path because this āyah demonstrates and characterizes the followers of Rasūlullāh (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as being of those who call to this path.

This shows us that on some level, calling others to Islam (da‘wah) is on some level farḍ ‘ayn.  

What s mean by ‘some level’?  

Throughout this story we have always been mentioning the number one stepping stone to da‘wah is manners.  

The number one stepping stone to people’s heart is: 

“We have seen you from the ṣāliḥīn.  
Tell us the interpretation of the dream.  
We think you to be a good man.”  

The king says this, the interpreter says this, everybody says this:  

“We see you to be a righteous person, help us out.”  

This is the primary way of da‘wah.  

Every one of us has to give da‘wah simply by being a good Muslim in our characteristics and manners.  

This is the best da‘wah and far better than intellectual debate and argumentation.

On some level, every Muslim has to call others to Islam ,
simply by humanizing yourself to your neighbors and to your coworkers and showing them that your life is the meaning of Islam.  

This is the best da‘wah.  

Your relationship with Allāh ‘azza wa jall, your religiosity, your akhlāq.  

And when you do so, you are opening up doors that arguments can never open up.

Also notice that Allāh ‘azza wa jall mentions the path to Allāh in the singular.  

The path to Allāh is one.  

Whatever opposes it is in the plural. “Don’t follow the paths because then you will be misguided from the one path.”  

Notice truth is one. Falsehood is many. This is a clear point in our religion.  

Truth is one. Allāh is the Truth. The way to Allāh ‘azza wa jall is one and is the ṣirāṭ and the sabīl.

Once the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sat down in the sand and drew a straight line and said, 

“This is the straight path of Allāh ‘azza wa jall and leads to Allāh.”  

Then he drew lines that go out in the sand. By the way, this shows us that it is of the Sunnah and the methodology of teaching to employ diagrams and charts.  

The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is the greatest teacher, and you can go into a tangent about how he used to teach.  

He would draw diagrams and charts.  

He is drawing diagrams and saying, “These are the paths that lead away from the one path.”  

The path to Allāh is a straight path and one path. All that opposes it are multiple paths.

I am upon a knowledge.”

This shows you that if you want to be a true follower of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), you have to have knowledge.  

IA true follower of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) knows his religion.

“I do this, and all those who follow me. And all exaltation is due to Allāh ‘azza wa jall, and I am not of the idol worshippers.”

In other words, “this is my path; I am calling to Allāh.” By saying, “subḥānAllāh,” it is as if he is saying, “And while I am on this path, I praise and glorify Allāh.”  

That is what it means here. “As I am on this path, and as I am calling to Allāh, I make it a ritual to praise Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla) as well, and I am never going to be of those who worship others besides Him.

Example

And those who believed and did good deeds shall be admitted to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, living there forever by the will of Allah . There they shall greet each other with “Salam”.

Have you not considered how Allah presents an example ( making) a good word like a good tree , whose root is firmly fixed and its branches ( high) in the sky?

It produce its fruit all the time , by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded.
(14/23/24/25)

LESSON

A prophet will always call people to Allah only. If we are the followers of the Prophet, we must also call people towards Allah with our actions. 

Preach to other by your good manners

Surah Yusuf #107

“Do they feel secure that a ghāshiyah will not come to them from the punishment of Allāh?”

What is ghāshiyah?  
Ghāshiyah is that which covers up and that which envelops.  Every single punishment is called ghāshiyah because you are enveloped in it. 

SubḥānAllāh we seek Allāh’s refuge from all of Allāh’s punishments.  

Look at what is happening now with the tsunami and earthquakes and what not.  This is a type of ghāshiyah because you are overwhelmed and everything is neglected other than this. Ghāshiyah means you are covered up in it and you cannot think of anything else.  

Look at these people now. May Allāh make the situation easy and protect us from any fitan. This is exactly what a ghāshiyah is.

Allāh is now threatening the Quraysh.  

“The signs are so clear, the truth of the Prophet is manifest, I’ve given you so many miracles. What is left? Do you not worry that a punishment from Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla) will come that will overwhelm you?”

“Or the Day of Judgment will come and you are not even expecting it.”

“If I don’t punish you in this world immediately, then the only other alternative is the Day of Judgment.”

Between these two there is no third alternative.  

Either you are going to get a punishment that will destroy you and immerse you in it, or you will have to face the wrath of Allāh ‘azza wa jall in the Day of Judgment.”

The Day of Judgment will come suddenly.  

The primary meaning is the real Day of Judgment.  

However, the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Death is the minor Day of Judgment.”  

It is the individual Day of Judgment. 

There is a reference here that: 

“If you don’t correct your act, I will either punish you with a punishment that will destroy you or you will die a death you weren’t prepared for and will have to face Me.  

Choose which one of these you want. Are you not worried?”  

Afa’ aminu means do you feel safe that Allāh is not going to harm you?

*TAQWA*:
O you who have believed,Fear Allah and be with those who are true.( 9/19)

Messenger of Allah ( PBUH) said Three follow a dead body

1) Member of his family
2) His Possesion
3) His Deeds

Two of them return and one remain with him.

His family and His possession return

His deeds remain with him

The prophet (SAW) said 
Do you know what is better than Charity, Fasting, and Prayer?
It is keeping PEACE  & GOOD RELATIONS Among PEOPLE
– Muslim / Bukhari

How we can earn good deeds

Narrated by Ubada ibn As Samir 

Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wassallam said
“Whoever asks for forgiveness for the believing man and believing woman Allah will write for him a Hasanah ( good deeds) for every male and female believer. ( #602 in Sahih Al-Jami)
Al-Albani

“My Allah grant pardon to me, and to my parents, and to everyone who enters my home as a believer , and to all the believing men and believing women, ( 71 /28

Lesson

The Day of Judgment will come without warning , the earth and the people will be in total confusion