Thursday 2 June 2011

Thirty-Three Lessons From Surah Yusuf

Thirty-Three Lessons From Surah Yusuf


http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=617



As-Shaykh Abdurahmaan Ibn Naasir As-Sa’dee states in his tafseer “Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan” (pg. 408 - 412) regarding the last ayah of surah Yusuf wherein Allah subhaanahu wa ta’la says, “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding.”

This story is from the best of stories because of what it relates from the varying phases of life; from trial to tribulation, from being tested to being blessed, from humiliation to grandeur, from slavery to kingship, from division to unity, from grief to joy, from superfluity to famine, from famine to glut, from hardship to ease, and from denial to affirmation. So blessed be the One who revealed it in the best manner possible.

From amongst the lessons derived from this surah are:

  1. The knowledge of interpreting dreams is a very important branch of knowledge that Allah gives to whom he pleases from His servants. And most of them (dreams) are based on symbols that are ambiguous in meaning and in description. For indeed the significance of the sun, the moon and twelve stars bowing to Yusuf, is that these lights are the beauty of the sky, and from them emanates benefit. Likewise the prophets and the scholars are the beauty of this earth, and by them mankind is guided through darkness just as they do by the light of the stars, the sun and the moon. Moreover, since the source of this light is his mother and father, hence it is very befitting that the moon and the sun symbolize his parents, for from them emanate the greatest light from which he and his brothers are off-springs. Thus, the sun, which is a feminine noun, symbolizes his mother and the moon, which is a masculine noun, symbolizes his father, and the stars symbolize his brothers.
  2. The significance of the dream of his fellow prison mate who saw himself pressing wine, is that the one who does such work is usually the servant of someone else. Thus he interpreted it to mean that this prison mate would be a servant for the king, and this would guarantee his freedom from prison. Regarding the significance of the dream of the one who saw birds eating bread from the top of his head, Yusuf interpreted this dream as a indication that he will be crucified because the skull protects the brains and once a person is crucified and left in the open, the brains will become exposed, thus the bird will eat it.
  3. Therein are evidences of the truthfulness of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), for he narrated to his people this long story and he never read the previous books nor learned from any one.
  4. One should distance oneself as much as possible from situations that can lead to an evil outcome. Also the permissibility of not disclosing what one fears might harm them based on the statement of Ya'qûb to Yusuf, “He (the father) said: "O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you.”
  5. The permissibility of a person mentioning to someone else, as a means of sincere advice, a matter that is disliked based on the ayah, “Lest they arrange a plot against you.”
  6. The blessing that Allah bestows upon the servant is not simply restricted to that particular individual, rather it is a blessing that encompasses him, his family and his friends. And whatever good is obtained is because of that person based on the statement of Allah, "Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams (and other things) and perfect His Favour on you and on the offspring of Ya'qûb (Jacob), as He perfected it on your fathers, Ibrahîm (Abraham) and Ishâque (Isaac) aforetime. Verily, your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
  7. The importance of being cautious of the evil results of sins, because one sin often leads to many others. For the brothers of Yusuf tried varying plots when they wanted to separate him from his father; they lied many times, they falsified the blood on the shirt, they came at night pretending to cry, and all of this is as a result of one sin, one thing leading to a next.
  8. The matter that really counts in the life of the servant is the successful ending and not the deficient beginning. For the children of Yacub did what they did in the beginning which was a very reprehensible act, then their affair ended in sincere repentance, complete forgiveness from Yusuf and their father, and du’a was made for them to be forgiven and have mercy upon.
  9. Some evil are lesser then others and committing the least or lesser evil is always better. For when the brothers of Yusuf agreed to kill him or throw him in the well, one of them said, “Kill not Yûsuf (Joseph), but if you must do something, throw him down to the bottom of a well.” Thus his suggestion was better in comparison with those of his brothers (in spite of it still being an evil one) and because of this he lessened the greatness of the sin they committed.
  10. There is no sin on a person that buys, sells, or uses anything that is considered as merchandise according to prevailing business practices. Nor is the one who is not aware how this merchandise was obtained guilty of any sin. For the brothers of Yusuf sold him, which was a haraam, impermissible transaction, then he was found by a caravan of people who took him to Egypt and sold him there as a slave, and in spite of all this Allah referred to him as ”merchandise.”
  11. One should be careful to avoid being secluded with women whom may be a cause of fitnah, and one should also be cautious of the love for someone that may be harmful. For the wife of the king did what she did because of her infatuation with Yusuf that lead her to try to seduce him, tell lies about him and cause him to be imprisoned for a long time.
  12. The inclination that Yusuf would have had for the woman, but resisted it for Allah’s sake is what actually brings him closer to Allah. Because this type of inclination is from amongst the soul’s evil suggestion and it is something that happens naturally to most of mankind. However, the love and fear of Allah overpowered the call of fulfilling desires. Thus, he is from amongst those “who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires, and lusts.” And also from amongst the “seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: ‘I fear Allaah.”
  13. Whenever eemaan enters the heart and one makes his whole affair sincerely for Allah sake, Allah will indeed repel and defend one from all types of evil and vulgarity because of one’s eemaan and sincerity due to Allah’s statement, “Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our sincere slaves.”
  14. Whenever the servant sees a situation that might be one of fitnah or cause of sin, he should flee as far as possible from it to save himself from sin.
  15. 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 while proclaiming, “How perfect is Allâh (or Allâh forbid)! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!" His internal beauty was because of his great chastity and self-restraint in spite the many enticement there were to commit sin. This is why the king’s wife said, “I did seek to seduce him, but he refused.”
  16. When there is a atmosphere for sin, the servant should always return unto Allah and distance himself from his own strength and power based on the statement of Yusuf, “Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame) of the ignorants.”
  17. Knowledge and intelligence leads one who possesses it to do good acts and prevents him from evil. Ignorance on the other hand, calls the one who is ignorant to conform to his desires, even if it is harmful to him.
  18. Just as the servant worships Allah during times of ease, similarly he should also worship him during times of hardship. For Yusuf (peace be upon him) was constantly calling to Allah, thus when he entered the prison he continued to make dawah. He called the two young men to at-tawheed and he warned them against as-shirk. Hence, from his quick-wittedness he saw that they were responsive to his dawah, whereby they said to him, “We think you are one of the Muhsinun (doers of good).” So this was a golden opportunity for dawah that he seized by calling them to Allah before interpreting their dreams so his goal (of calling them to Islaam) would be more fruitful. Thus, firstly he made it clear to them that what they notice of him from his noble character and in-depth knowledge is all a result belief in Allah and singling him out for worship (tawheed), and he abandoned the path of those who do not believe in Allah and the last day. So he first gave them dawah through his actions, then he gave them dawah by his speech illustrating to them the corruption of shirk and the reality of at-tahwheed.
  19. The importance of priorities. For when he was asked by the two young men to interpret their dreams, there were other matters of importance that they were in greater need of knowing before their questions were to be answered. This is a sign of a teacher possessing great intelligence, and the ability to correctly guide and teach, for when Yusuf was asked by the two young men about their dreams, he first called them to Allah before interpreting their dreams.
  20. It is not considered depending on others (instead of Allah), if one happens to get into a difficult situation and one seeks the assistance of someone whom he thinks can alleviate his situation, for this person there is no blame on him if he does this. This is because it has always been the custom of people to seek each other assistance in such matters. Hence, Yusuf said to the one whom he knew would be saved, "Mention me to your lord (i.e. your king, so as to get me out of the prison)."
  21. The one who teaches should always try to have complete sincerity when he teaches, and he should not use his position as a means to obtain wealth, status or personal benefit. Furthermore, he should not withhold from spreading knowledge or giving advice even if the one whom he taught or advised did not do what he (the teacher) requested. For indeed Yusuf (peace be upon him) advised one of the young men to mention his situation to the king, but he forgot and did not mention him. However, when the time came when he was in need of him, he sent someone to get Yusuf. In spite of this, Yusuf did not chastise him for forgetting to mention his situation to the king, rather he gave him a complete answer to his question.
  22. There is no blame on a person for defending himself against a false accusation. Rather this is something praiseworthy. As Yusuf refused to leave the prison until his innocence was proven.
  23. Dream interpretation is a branch of the Islamic sciences, and a person is rewarded for studying and teaching it. Dream interpretation also comes under category of giving fataawa, for he said to the two young men, “Thus is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire.” (tas’taftiyaan - sought a fatwa) The king said, “Explain (aftoonee – give me a fatwa) of my dream”, and the young man said to Yusuf, “Explain to us (aftinaa – give us a fatwa) regarding (the dream) of seven fat cows.” Thus, it is not permissible interpret dream except with (shari’ah) knowledge.
  24. As long as a person is not pretentious or dishonest, he should not be criticized if one informs others about his praiseworthy qualities, if he intends by this to bring about a general benefit based on the statement of Yusuf, "Set me over the storehouses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge." Likewise, leadership is not something that is blameworthy if the one who is in charge fulfils the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants to the best of his ability.
  25. Allah is very generous to his servants by giving them the best of this life and the next. The means of achieving the best of the next life is by having eemaan and taqwa. The servant should always ask Allah for his rewards and bounties and he should not be disappointed whenever he sees the people enjoying the pleasures of this world whereby he is unable to partake. Rather he should ask Allah for His great reward and bounties in the next life based on His statement, “And verily, the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and used to fear Allah and keep their duty to Him.”
  26. It is from the “sunnah” of the prophets to host guest and treat them honorably based on the statement of Yusuf, “See you not that I give full measure, and that I am the best of the hosts?”
  27. Having negative thoughts about someone is not something that is always prohibited if there are accompanying evidences to support this suspicion. For verily, Ya'qûb said to his sons after they came to him claiming that a wolf ate Yusuf, “Nay, but your own selves have made up a tale.” And he said regarding their next brother, "Can I entrust him to you except as I entrusted his brother (Yusuf) to you aforetime?”
  28. If one does not want another person to be aware of something one has or something one intends to do, one should use a subtle means of distraction that does not contain any lies. As Yusuf did when he put the golden bowl into his brother’s bag, and he then took the golden bowl out of his brother’s bag leading them think that their brother is the one who stole it. After which he said, "Allah forbid, that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property.” Notice he did not say, “We found our property with him”, or “He stole our property.” Rather, he made a general statement that can apply to this situation as well as others, and there is not wrong with what he did. For all he did was made them think that their brother stole the golden bowl, so that his youngest brother can remain with him, as was objective.
  29. It is not permissible for a person to bear witness except to that which he has sure knowledge of. He acquires this knowledge either by witnessing it himself or by being informed by a trustworthy person based on the statement of the Yusuf’s brothers, “We testify not except according to what we know.”
  30. The permissibility of informing others of the difficulties one is enduring, as long as this is not done in a manner that indicates one is annoyed with the decree of Allah, for the brothers of Yusuf complained, “O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit us and our family,” and Yusuf did not object to their statement.
  31. The merits of taqwah and sabr (patience), for every good in this life and the next is as result of taqwah and sabr based on the statement of Allah, “Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinun (good-doers) to be lost."
  32. The one whom Allah has blessed after being in a state of poverty or distress should acknowledge the bounties of Allah upon him by constantly remembering his previous condition. Thus he would be able to thank Allah every time he remembers his previous condition, as Yusuf (peace be upon him) said, “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 had sown enmity between me and my brothers.”
  33. The servant should always exalt Allah for making him remain steadfast upon eemaan by constantly doing those deeds that causes one’s eemaan to remain firm. Also one should always ask Allah to have successful ending by perfecting His Favor upon one based on the du’a of Yusuf (peace be upon him), “My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The 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, and join me with the righteous."

This is by the will of Allah, this is what He has made possible for me to mention regarding the benefits and lessons obtained from this blessed story, however for the one contemplates, he is guaranteed to find other benefits from the surah than those mentioned. So we ask Allah the most high, to bless us with beneficial knowledge and actions that are acceptable to Him, indeed He is the most generous, the most gracious.


http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=617

Read Quran : Surah Yusuf listen to an audio

http://www.kalamullah.com/hesham-alawadi.html

audio


http://www.halaltube.com/hesham-al-awadi-yusuf-exploring-the-chapter-of-joseph-in-the-holy-quran


Hesham Al-Awadi – Yusuf: Exploring the Chapter of Joseph in the Holy Quran



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Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 01Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 02Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 03Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 04Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 05Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 06Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 07Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 08Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 09Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 10Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 11Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 12Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 13Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 14Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload
Tafseer of Surah Yusuf - Part 15Yasir QadhiEnglishDownload






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another surah yusuf from




Kuliah Dr Fatma Zahra @ Masjid Taman TAR, 12 Nov 2009

Tafsir Surah Yusuf: Ayat 65-111

Pengajaran dari surah tersebut, hasad dengki telah ada sejak dahulu lagi.
Apabila orang memuji kita, hendaklah menyebut - "lahaulawala kuwwata illa billah" – tiada daya kuasaku melainkan dengan kehendak Allah
Nabi Yakub meminta anak-anaknya masuk kota mesir dari pintu berlainan kerana anak-anaknya ada seramai 12 orang yang mana semuanya lelaki, tujuannya untuk mengelakkan hasad manusia
Jika mengalami kesukaran, masalah jadikan ayat 86 yang bermula dengan "Innama…" sebagai zikir.
Jangan sekali-kali berputus asa dengan rahmat Allah, never give-up, Allah can do anything.
Maafkan kesalahan orang lain terhadap kita walaupun kita berada dalam kekuasaan (seperti pangkat, darjat) untuk menghukum atau membalas
Sabarlah & bertaqwa dengan apa pun yang mendatang, kerana Allah tidak akan mensia-siakan pahala orang-orang yang berbuat baik (yakni sabar & taqwa)
Terdapat juga dalam surah ini ayat yang dikatakan mampu menguatkan penglihatan
Ayat 101 merupakan doa Nabi Yusuf.

Wallahu'alam.




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http://hajar2501.blogspot.com/2009/11/kuliah-dr-fatma-zahra-tafsir-surah.html

Kuliah Dr Fatma Zahra @ Masjid Taman TAR, 12 Nov 2009

Tafsir Surah Yusuf: Ayat 65-111

  • Pengajaran dari surah tersebut, hasad dengki telah ada sejak dahulu lagi.
  • Apabila orang memuji kita, hendaklah menyebut - "lahaulawala kuwwata illa billah" – tiada daya kuasaku melainkan dengan kehendak Allah
  • Nabi Yakub meminta anak-anaknya masuk kota mesir dari pintu berlainan kerana anak-anaknya ada seramai 12 orang yang mana semuanya lelaki, tujuannya untuk mengelakkan hasad manusia
  • Jika mengalami kesukaran, masalah jadikan ayat 86 yang bermula dengan "Innama…" sebagai zikir.
  • Jangan sekali-kali berputus asa dengan rahmat Allah, never give-up, Allah can do anything.
  • Maafkan kesalahan orang lain terhadap kita walaupun kita berada dalam kekuasaan (seperti pangkat, darjat) untuk menghukum atau membalas
  • Sabarlah & bertaqwa dengan apa pun yang mendatang, kerana Allah tidak akan mensia-siakan pahala orang-orang yang berbuat baik (yakni sabar & taqwa)
  • Terdapat juga dalam surah ini ayat yang dikatakan mampu menguatkan penglihatan
  • Ayat 101 merupakan doa Nabi Yusuf.
Wallahu'alam.

===


http://muslimmatters.org/2010/01/04/lessons-from-surah-yusuf-%E2%80%93-part-1-sibling-rivalry/


The unique quality about the story of Prophet Yusuf [علیہ السلام] is that it has been narrated in one go in the Quran, and it has been described by Allah as “Ahsan Al-Qasas” - the most beautiful of stories. This is because it has a beautiful example of human nature that can guarantee us success should we choose to adopt and follow it in our personal lives.

The way it has been narrated, providing dialogue and details of what happened to Prophet Yusuf at the different phases of his life, throws light on the ways people dealt with him throughout his young years, and how his consistently good reactions to their actions ultimately worked in his favor and led to his success.

Yusuf was one of twelve sons of Prophet Yaqoub [علیہ السلام]. His ten older brothers felt envious of the love and affection felt for him and his younger brother by their father.

إِذْ قَالُواْ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَى أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلاَلٍ مُّبِينٍ

Now [Yusuf's brothers] spoke [thus to one another:] “Truly, Yusuf and his brother [Ben Yamin] are dearer to our father than we, even though we are so many. Behold, our father is surely suffering from a clear misguidance!” [12:8]

A few points to consider when evaluating the cause of this situation: It could be that Prophet Yaqoub actually did express more love and affection for his youngest two sons. However, given that he was a Prophet of Allah, this is highly unlikely. First, he already had 8 older sons – so why would he feel especially inclined towards the youngest 2? Second, why would he display open affection for Yusuf and Bin Yamin, when he was well aware of his older sons’ nature? This knowledge of his is obvious when he replies to Yusuf about the latter’s dream of future success and high worldly status (including becoming a Prophet):

قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لاَ تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَى إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُواْ لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

[Yaqoub] replied: “O my dear son! Do not relate your dream to your brothers lest [out of envy] they devise an evil scheme against you; verily, Satan is man’s open foe! [12:5]

The sons of Prophet Yaqoub were in the habit of thinking negatively, and prone to envy. It is clearly observed among people that some may possess stronger emotions than others, or a negative trait that another may not have at all. For example, some people are more short-tempered – easily flying into a rage at trivial matters. Others are impatient; they cannot stand waiting for what they want; they desire immediate gratification. Still others are extremely emotional – they jump to conclusions about things and get depressed, euphoric, despondent, or grief-stricken at the drop of a hat. It is highly likely that, having raised his older sons, Prophet Yaqoub had identified their envious nature.

Not only that, but as Yusuf flowered into a handsome, talented youth, Prophet Yaqoub recognized his imminent prospects of success: wisdom, knowledge, lofty manners, gracious conduct when dealing with others, and last but not least, physical beauty. It is also probable that, even before hearing the account of Yusuf’s dream, he had a strong inkling that Yusuf would be chosen as a Prophet. His intuition was confirmed when his beautiful son confided his dream to him.

As a parent to young children, I can testify to the fact that a person’s future personality, comprising positive as well as negative traits, which they will display as an adult, is apparent to his or her parent from a very young age. For example, qualities such as neatness and organization, pro-activeness in accepting and discharging responsibilities, eloquence and effectiveness of verbal expression, empathy and compassion for the lesser privileged, whole-hearted, unprompted sharing and giving, and eagerness to obey elders – these and other positive traits are apparent as early as age 2.

Therefore, we can conclude that it was not that Yusuf tried to outshine his older brothers. He just did, because he had been blessed with numerous positive qualities from his Creator. This was something that his father recognized very early on.

Lastly, sibling envy/rivalry is an innate human emotion and weakness, especially when it involves competing for the attention, love or approval of a parent. Throughout my teen years, I have had friends who had issues with siblings. Being one of two children myself, there were times when I too, flew into a rage when my brother got something that I did not have. Even if I knew that he had taken our mother out for errands and they had lunch at some fancy place, I felt a pang of envy. I’d also half-jokingly tell Mum that she owed me a lunch at the same place with her, too. :)

Sisters might sometimes secretly rival each other over good looks, clothes, accessories and popularity in school. Sadly, I have also had the very painful experience of watching two sisters, who had been otherwise extremely close (akin to bosom buddies), grow apart to the point of not speaking a word to each other, over a guy in their college. I also personally know of two other sisters belonging to the previous generation, the younger and prettier one of whom got involved with, and eventually married, the fiancé of the older one. They did not speak for years.

Therefore, everyone can vouch for the fact that when siblings fight, they mostly do because one is covetous/envious of the other’s possessions – this starts from a very young age. It is the reason why, a 2-year-old will try to pinch, hit, or bite the newborn sibling that has just arrived, because he or she has never seen his or her mother loving, feeding and carrying around anyone younger than himself. Similarly, that is why a girl in her early twenties will forbid her prettier younger sister from appearing before a family visiting their house to negotiate a prospective marriage proposal. And, that is why, a young guy will sulk in a corner when his older brother graduates summa cum laude from the prestigious institution of his dreams, into which he did not qualify enough to gain admission.

Envy blinded Yusuf’s brothers’ sense and judgment, until they devised a plan to eliminate – yes, eliminate – him from their lives. It is obvious throughout the narration of Surah Yusuf that they had not inherited their father’s intrinsically pure, good Prophetic nature, relentless fortitude and positive thinking. How could anyone plot to kill off another, no matter how much envy he feels? However, a little reflection reveals that the first ever murder of mankind was also committed by one of two blood brothers, and its basis was one’s envy at the acceptance of his brother’s sacrifice by Allah, combined with rage at having his own sacrifice rejected [reference- 5:27].

Therefore, the potential harm of sibling envy or rivalry cannot be undermined. The motive Yusuf’s brothers hoped to achieve by his murder was having their father’s exclusive attention and love (“wajh”), which they felt was more inclined towards Yusuf than them:

اقْتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُواْ مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ

[Said one of them:] “Kill Yusuf, or else drive him away to some [faraway] land, so that your father’s regard may be for you alone: and after this is done, you will be [free to repent and to live once again as] righteous people!” [12:9]

However, as most negative thoughts deplete a person of rationality or wisdom, they did not pause to think that adopting the beautiful character, manners and conduct that Yusuf embodied would have been the recommended and praiseworthy route to achieving the same objective. Rather, Satan suggested the negative and destructive route to them, and they fell into his trap:

مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي

[Yusuf said]… “after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers.” [12:100]

The lesson for us in this incident is that envy – particularly that which is felt towards a sibling who is more talented, morally upright and physically beautiful – is a negative and destructive trait that can cause us to commit a major sin if not curbed in time.

The most effective way of curbing envy and repelling the negative thoughts that it causes, is to (i) focus on our own strengths, instead of comparing ourselves with our sibling/object of envy, and (ii) proactively work hard to polish our talents to achieve success in the niche that Allah made us to naturally excel in. Allah’s help descended for Yusuf when one of the plotting brothers themselves, who was an active part of their murderous scheming, suggested that Yusuf not be killed, but thrown into a well and picked up by passing caravans.

The important lessons we can glean from the initial portion of Surah Yusuf are thus:

- Envy is an extremely destructive emotion, which can rip apart even close, familial relationships within a home. The worst harm it inflicts is on the envier himself, who is prevented from personal improvement and professional advancement because of constantly monitoring, observing, and plotting and planning against the object of his envy.

- Parents need to be very careful when expressing their love towards their children. If they praise one, they should express some form of love or praise for the other children present, within the same time-frame and physical setting, in order to prevent envy from being born in their hearts.

- The same can be said about favoring some children over others whilst giving gifts. Prophet Muhammad [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم] forbade giving a gift to one child/adult offspring without giving the same to the others:

Nu’maan ibn Basheer said: “My father gave me a gift of some of his wealth, but my mother, ‘Amrah bint Rawaahah, said, ‘I will not approve of it until you ask the Messenger of Allah [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم] to bear witness to it.’ So my father went to the Prophet to ask him to bear witness to the gift. The Messenger of Allah [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم] said to him, ‘Have you done the same for all of your children?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Fear Allah and treat your children justly.’ So my father came back and took back that gift.”

[Sahih Al Bukhari, Muslim]

How often we see parents deliberately choose to give the best clothes and jewelry (usually the precious family heirlooms) to their eldest (or most beloved) daughter, if they have only girls (of course it is anybody’s guess who will get the family heirloom if they have a son!). Or, when they choose the most well-qualified, well-placed, highest-earning son to bequeath their house to after all their children are married off, so that they can dwell therein with him in their old age, as his job has the best medical plan for dependents? Or the most common scenario (at least here in the Asian and IndoPak region:) when parents choose their son to get the family business as a bequest, while the daughters get just a few appliances, jewelry, clothes and furniture at their weddings as compensation/consolation? In some Muslim families, its common to see the son get the more pricey education (as an investment), whilst daughters are made to sit at home beyond high school or Intermediate, waiting to get married, even if they are more talented or if they want to pursue higher education.

How often parents ‘pick and choose’ which of their children to give which blessing/asset to, solely out of selfish motives geared towards safeguarding their own future interest? Is it not a grave error, one which they should fear Allah about? Will they not stand before Him one day, answerable about why they chose to give one child something better than the other children?

Parents should, therefore, fear Allah regarding their children, in order to not just obey Prophet Muhammad’s command, but also to prevent any deep-rooted, psychological impact on their children’s psyche caused by envy and malice, and not give preference or more love to any offspring more than his or her siblings, as a personal “future investment”.

- If you are talented, religiously practicing, gifted, physically very good-looking, charismatic in nature, and enigmatic in persona, you are bound to be the object of others’ envy throughout your life. Very few people can tolerate someone who “has it all” – the love of people, worldly success, all-around popularity, a picture-perfect family, a charming and attractive personality, multi-faceted talents, superfluous wealth, spotless character and reputation, unflinching guidance towards the Haqq, and Islamic deeds that are at par with the scholars of the era. For such people, facing the sometimes illogical and unexpected antagonism of close relatives and old “friends” gives a great blow to their psyche and confidence, because they do not expect their own kith and kin to turn against them. However, it happens.

Whenever it does, the example of the young Yusuf should be brought to mind, who was mercilessly tossed into a well by ten of his own blood brothers! Nay, before that they even considered murdering him, proceeding to plot how to go about it. In front of his calamity, our own circumstances automatically pale in comparison.

- Further, Yusuf’s case should strengthen our trust in Allah, that even if a group plots against us, Allah can inspire any one of them to avert a bad end for us, just the way one of the ten brothers himself suggested that instead of murder, kidnapping should be carried out. Allah says in the Quran:

قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مَّنْهُمْ لاَ تَقْتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِي غَيَابَةِ الْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ السَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ

Another of them said: “Do not slay Yusuf, but rather – if you must do something – cast him into the dark depths of this well, [whence] some caravan may pick him up.” [12:10]

Last but not least, this portion of Surah Yusuf teaches us about staunch, unending positivism – the strategy of turning your ardent enemy into a best friend. This strategy is seen in the reactionary demeanor of Prophet Yaqoub, when his sons did what he had feared – they eliminated Yusuf from their lives. He said:

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌجَمِيلٌ وَاللّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ

[But Yaqoub] exclaimed: “Nay, but it is your [own] minds that have made [so terrible] a happening seem a matter of little account to you! But [as for myself] patience in adversity is most goodly [in the sight of Allah]; and it is to Allah [alone] that I pray to give me strength to bear the misfortune which you have described to me.” [12:18]

He did not stoop to their level of deception and crime. Instead, He turned to ask Allah for help, whom he knew to be the real caretaker of Yusuf’s and his affairs.

In the next post, in particular, we will see how Yusuf was further tested and how Allah planned for him to be rescued from the well, insha’Allah.

===

Lessons From Surah Yusuf – Part 2: Trials and Temptation

http://muslimmatters.org/2010/02/01/lessons-from-surah-yusuf-%E2%80%93-part-2-trials-and-temptation/


After the brothers of Yusuf [علیہ السلام] threw him into a well, the trial of both Prophet Yaqoub [علیہ السلام] and his would-be Prophet son commenced. What the young Yusuf must have felt as he clung to the walls of the well for his life, we can only imagine, as I am sure none of us have had our siblings do such a thing to us. However, Allah was fully in control of his affair, even though it looked like his brothers – the apparent “bad” guys – had gotten away with their ill-intentioned treachery. The incident of the well turned out to be good for Yusuf in the long term as Allah, the All-Knower had intended.

The lesson for us at this point is to remember that even if someone close to us intentionally harms us, and it looks like we are the losers and that they have gotten away with it, we should strive to remain patient. The hope that the undesirable event might turn out to be good for us in the long term, and trust in Allah, should see us through such a trial. More often than not, this is exactly what happens. We might have heard the adage: ‘what goes around comes around’. People who intentionally wrong others eventually suffer the “evil karma” of their deeds even in this world, and sometimes, it so happens that the one they oppressed eventually has the upper hand or a more powerful position than them, a few years down the road.

Image courtesy: bbc.co.uk

photo courtesy: bbc.co.uk

Allah planned to save Yusuf’s life. He sent a caravan that way, which sent a water-drawer to dole out water from the well. Slavery being rampant at that time, the caravan-travelers were thrilled to find a young lad floundering in the well – because of the possibility of selling him off for a quick buck in the slave market.

وَجَاءتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَأَرْسَلُواْ وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَى دَلْوَهُ قَالَ يَا بُشْرَى هَـذَا غُلاَمٌ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَاعَةً وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ

Some travellers came that way and then dispatched their water-drawer who let his bucket down. He said, “Good news for me, I’ve found a boy!” They then hid him away among their goods. Allah knew very well what they were doing. [12:19]

Little did they know how precious Yusuf was! Would they have decided to sell him off had they known they had a future ruler in their possession; one who could foretell futuristic dream interpretations and judge between people with justice? No! Allah deliberately blinded them and made them oblivious to his as-yet-latent talents and knowledge, so that they would sell him for a few measly dirhams.

وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ

They sold him for a pittance, a few small coins, considering him to be of little worth. [12:20]

This was all part of Allah’s plan to dwell Yusuf in a well-off, respectable house in Egypt. This would not have been possible had he roamed around with the caravan as a slave or servant. His sale to a wealthy, well-established man in Egypt was Allah’s decree, because He planned for Yusuf to eventually rise in worldly ranks therein.

The lesson in this part of Yusuf’s life is that if people – family, schoolmates, friends or colleagues – undermine your talents, abilities, skills or knowledge where you live or work, do not let it lower your self-confidence or self-esteem. Imagine a young lad, a future Prophet to be appointed by Allah, a future ruler of the land, who had dreamt of the sun, moon and stars prostrating to him, standing dirty and bedraggled among other slaves, with shackles around their ankles, possibly herded inside cages like animals, on sale for a few dirhams to the elite upper crust of Egyptian society? How must he have felt to be separated from his family and to have become a vagabond this way?

However, whatever happened to him was a part of Allah’s plan, and did not in the least affect the good that he already possessed, or the further blessings that were to come his way a few years later. In this trial and hardship, he was actually being trained for his future role.

وَكَذَلِكَ مَكَّنِّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الأَحَادِيثِ وَاللّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ

And thus We established Yusuf in the land, to teach him the true meaning of events. Allah was in control of His affair. However, most of mankind do not know. [12:21]

Allah wanted to teach him “Ta’weel al Ahadith” - how to get to the depth of matters, and all the adverse events that he went through were somehow a crash course in achieving that objective. We must also remember that those individuals who are born with silver spoons in their mouths, so to speak, or who have all luxuries of life, in addition to fame and fortune at a very young age, have to make an extra effort to learn life’s valuable lessons and the true worth of hard-earned money. They have a high chance of growing up to become “spoiled brats”, viz. pampered, unproductive adults, unless their guardians go the extra mile to train them in values of discipline, working to earn money, and giving in charity, despite having everything.

On the other hand, facing extreme poverty and impoverished circumstances during childhood and adolescence mostly brings out a youth’s best talents and makes him or her strong, hard working, humble and productive. Such an individual rises up from rock bottom and experiences poverty and hunger firsthand on his way up. When they resort to honest hard work, relying on the talents that their Creator has gifted them with, they rise to the top, because Allah grants them success as compensation even in this world.

An example of one such “icon” of the current age, who grew up in poverty and suffered partial separation from her parent(s), is a famous African American talk-show host and media maven; today, she is one of the most influential women in the world. Forbes.com says about her:

“Born in rural Mississippi, she spent her early years living in poverty on her grandmother’s farm. Wanting a way out, she moved to Wisconsin to be with her mother, but was sexually molested by her male relatives. At age 14, she reportedly gave birth to a premature baby who died. Only after moving to Nashville to be with her father did her luck finally start to turn.”

Every “self-made” person viz. who was not born into royalty or a wealthy family but who is successful today in worldly terms, inevitably faced tough times at some point during their lives, and lived through moments of dejection in which they doubted their talents, skills and abilities.

Therefore, the point I am trying to make is, that having a difficult, impoverished and deprived childhood or adolescence sometimes teaches valuable lessons, and imparts ”training for success” in life to a young individual. Such a person usually goes on to become self-sufficient, independent, humble, hardworking and a humanitarian as an adult, giving back from his resources to the under-privileged of society and actively reaching out to improve their lot.

The Aggressive Older Woman’s Call

When Aziz bought Yusuf, his heart was filled with care and love for the latter. He liked him so much, that he asked his wife to honor the boy and expressed his desire to eventually adopt him as their son.

وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا

The Egyptian who had bought him told his wife, “Look after him with honour and respect. It’s possible he will be of use to us or perhaps we might adopt him as a son.” [12:21]

Actually, just as Pharaoh and his wife fell in love with a cute baby boy (Musa [علیہ السلام]) floating down a stream and took him in to raise as their son, Aziz’s affection for Yusuf, too, was again Allah’s Divine decree at work.

The lesson for us in this is that when Allah wants to dwell a person with honor and abundant provision in a comfortable place, he turns people’s hearts towards him, making them take them in with warmth and love. This happened with Prophet Musa [علیہ السلام] too, first when he was floating on a stream as a baby, and later when he fled Egypt and reached the watering place where two sisters were waiting. Their father, too, took him in as an employee under contract and immediately expressed his desire to make him his son-in-law in the future. Also, when Allah doesn’t will for a person to live in a certain environment (viz. the caravan that found Yusuf), he makes their hearts disinterested in him. Thus, he makes means for that person to move elsewhere. Such was what also happened to Prophet Musa [علیہ السلام], when he had to flee Egypt due to his having killed one of the Copts by mistake.

The fact that Aziz suggested to his wife that they eventually adopt Yusuf as their son, suggests one significant thing that becomes particularly relevant when we consider the events that would take place a few years down the road. It shows that there was a considerable age difference between Aziz’s wife and Yusuf. Perhaps she and Aziz were childless, or barren.

The word used to describe Yusuf when he was found from the well, is غلام (“ghulaam“), which, according to the rules of the Arabic language, is used for ”a young boy whose moustache is growing forth” i.e. a boy ranging in age from 12 to 17. We can thus conclude that Aziz’s wife was, therefore, some years older than him at the time she and her husband purchased him.

He lived with his ‘owners’ or foster parents until he reached his adulthood, whence Allah blessed him with wisdom and knowledge. His physical beauty, too, reached its peak.

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ

And then when he became a full-grown man, We gave him knowledge and right judgement too. That is how We reward all doers of good. [12:22]

It is difficult to ascertain the cause behind what happened next. But it so happened that the woman in whose house he spent his adolescent years, growing up and maturing, who undoubtedly held a more dominant, authoritative and stronger position than him in the housheold, tried to get him to commit adultery with her.

وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّهِ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلا أَن رَّأَى بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ كَذَلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاء إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ

وَاسُتَبَقَا الْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَى الْبَابِ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَاء مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوَءًا إِلاَّ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

The woman whose house it was wanted to seduce him. She barred the doors and said, “Come over here!” He said, “Allah is my refuge! He is my Lord and has been good to me with where I live. Those who do wrong will surely not succeed.” She wanted him and he would have wanted her, had he not seen the clear proof of his Lord. That happened so We might avert from him all evil and lust. He was Our chosen servant.
They raced to the door. She tore his shirt at the back. They met her husband by the door. She said, “How should a man whose intention was to harm your family be punished for what he did except with prison or painful punishment?”
[12: 23-25]

Was it only lust that drove her to aggressively desire him? Was it her power and authority over him that made her so zealous in his pursuit that she tore his shirt even after he turned her down and tried to escape? Or was she just aggressive by nature, not accustomed to having her orders defied? Was it her being much older in age than him, and holding an influential status in Egyptian society?

Perhaps a little of all.

Yusuf lived in the house with her and the other domestic staff whilst her husband was away at work, and it is probable that his youth and handsomeness being at a pinnacle caught her gaze. We know that the gaze is the starting point of zina or adultery, if left unchecked. In addition, “khulwah” or being alone with a person of the opposite gender who is not a mahrum, also becomes an invitation for Satan to call the shots towards adultery.

Another point to consider is the polarization of their intrinsic nature that could have caused this. She was quite obviously lacking in piety – as not only did she try to seduce a man while being married to another (within the walls of the latter’s house), but also resorted to slander when caught red-handed. Yusuf, on the other hand, was pious and benign, obedient to Aziz and loyal to the house. Therefore, it is possible that his good character encouraged her to think that she could get away with anything as far as he was concerned. It is not uncommon for people to take advantage of someone’s piety, honesty, and good conduct; for example, the woman who threw trash over Prophet Muhammad [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم]; knowing that he’d never retaliate with an action at the same low level of evil probably gave her the guts to go on doing it.

Regardless of the motive behind her aggression, we should note the reason Yusuf gave for his refusal – he mentioned Allah and how well He had kept him in that house – and that committing this act would thus be a great wrong; a severe ingratitude of Allah’s blessings on Yusuf. Another interpretation of this statement made by Yusuf is that by saying, ”He is my Lord”, he meant Aziz (his “master”, who bought him as a slave), viz. that Aziz had given him shelter in his house and kept him there very well, and sleeping with his wife behind his back would thus be the greatest wrong Yusuf could do to him in return. Either way, Yusuf’s lofty morals, alert conscience towards sin, and inner strength in face of temptation is apparent here.

It was when he took this stand towards his oppressor that Allah turned away from him evil and adultery by making him see a “burhaan” – “clear proof”. Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains what this clear proof, or evidence, could have been:

As for the evidence that Yusuf saw at that moment, there are conflicting opinions to what it was. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari said, “The correct opinion is that we should say that he saw an ayah from among Allah’s ayaat that repelled the thought that crossed his mind. This ‘evidence’ might have been the image of Yaqoub, or the image of an angel, or a divine statement that forbade him from doing that evil sin, etc. There are no clear proofs to support any of these statements in specific, so it should be left vague, as Allah left it.”

The lesson for us in this event is that we cannot place the blame for being weak in the face of temptation on anyone except ourselves. We cannot say, “Allah knows how difficult it is for me not to give in, with such temptation around me. He will not call me to account for such a trial.” Yusuf was young and unmarried; trapped inside a locked room with a woman calling him to herself – a woman dominant to him in social standing. Yet, not only did he openly refuse her, but ran when she persisted. It was when he refused outright that Allah’s help came to him, and he saw a clear proof that prevented him from wanting her too. Allah’s help comes when we take the first step to remove the temptation and avert it from ourselves.

Despite being caught by Aziz at the door, and being slandered by his wife; Yusuf spoke the truth in face of his oppressor:

قَالَ هِيَ رَاوَدَتْنِي عَن نَّفْسِي وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الكَاذِبِينَ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِن الصَّادِقِينَ

He said, “It was she who tried to seduce me.” A witness from the household then declared, “If his shirt is torn in front, she speaks the truth and he has clearly told a shameless lie. If his shirt is torn at the back, then she has lied and he has clearly told the simple truth.” [12:26-27]

Thus, Yusuf’s innocence was publicly proven. Someone from among the household’s witnesses spoke up in his favor, turning everyone’s attention to his shirt’s torn part as the proof. Aziz believed his version of the event, and told him to turn away from the deeds of his wife.

فَلَمَّا رَأَى قَمِيصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قَالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ
يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَا وَاسْتَغْفِرِي لِذَنبِكِ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَاطِئِينَ

He saw the shirt torn at the back and said, “The source of this is women’s deviousness. Without a doubt your guile is very great. Yusuf, ignore all this, and you, my wife, should ask forgiveness for your evil act. There is no doubt that you are in the wrong.” [12: 28-29]

Aziz’s good character again comes to light. He had always been good to Yusuf, and now he pardons his wife, telling her to repent for her deed, after her advances towards his slave had been publicly proved to him! It takes a man of great strength and character to let such an incident go and not see red. As the events that occurred thereafter prove, Yusuf continued to live in the house even after this, and the incident was most likely hushed up or covered.

However, Aziz’s wife was far from thwarted. When the local grapevine caught wind of this incident, the gossiping women mocked her pursuit of her slave-boy (since her guilt had been publicly proven by the shirt torn from the back). Incensed, she devised a plot to prove to them why she pursued Yusuf, and convened a “dinner party” for them, where she ordered Yusuf to enter upon them. (So much for letting the whole thing go as her husband had said!) Notice how Yusuf complied – obviously he was still upholding the high virtuous conduct that was in his nature.

This conduct should be a beacon for young Muslim men nowadays. The first thing a guy usually does when a member of the opposite sex expresses her interest in him, is to boast of his “conquest” to his circle at his school/college/office. The more exploitative of such men go ahead and ‘have a good time’ with the lady in question, even if they are not interested in her. As for Yusuf, not only did he forgive Aziz’s wife and overlook what she did to him (seduction plus slandering his chastity), but also continued to obey her as mistress of the house thereafter. This is what really “being a man” is! Forgiving women who are outright liars and slanderers, upholding virtuous behavior no matter what, and going on as if nothing ever happened.

As for the sense of “manhood” and “honor” that the world today associates with Muslim men, it usually involves an axe or a knife that is used to hack up or slaughter a “philandering” wife, daughter or sister, without possessing any proof of her supposed “infidelity” – a far, far cry from pardoning her even after her guilt is proven! We can contrast the lessons the Quran gives us about morailty to the present-day conduct of supposedly ”modern and educated” Muslim men towards their women. If they or their sons take girlfriends, it’s because “men will be men”, but if an unproven report of any of “their women” being involved with a man reaches them, they rush to get their axe or rifle for the hot pursuit and barbaric murder to restore their “honor”! Our Prophet Muhammad [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم] turned away and ignored the woman who came to him with an open confession of having committed zina, requesting to have herself stoned for the act. He kept turning away from her until her persistence made it clear that she would not relent in her request!

When Yusuf entered upon the party of gathered city women, being the benign server that he was, not suspecting the true intention behind his being sent in their midst, they were flabbergasted at his beauty.

فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلّهِ مَا هَـذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـذَا إِلاَّ مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
When they saw him, they were amazed by him and cut their hands. They said, “Allah preserve us! This is no man. What can this be but a noble angel here!” [12:31]

Aziz’s wife then made her grand entrance with a gloating, “I-told-you-so” declaration:

قَالَتْ فَذَلِكُنَّ الَّذِي لُمْتُنَّنِي فِيهِ وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ فَاسَتَعْصَمَ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَا آمُرُهُ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ

She said, “You see! It’s him you blamed me for. I tried seducing him but he refused. If he does not do what I order him, he will be put in prison and brought low.” [12:32]

Yusuf suddenly realized that she was still in his pursuit, now armed with a vengeance to get back at him for having rejected her advances, and through the dinner party, she was taking the women in her social circle into her confidence as accomplices in her scheme for his entrapment. He realized their power over him (his status in society still being that of a slave) and that Aziz might be unable to save him from them this time. He hence did what only a morally strong person and a sincere slave of Allah can do – he opted for the prison cell:

قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ وَإِلاَّ تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ

فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

He said, “My Lord, the prison is preferable to me than what they call on me to do. Unless You turn their guile away from me, it may well be that I will fall for them and so become a man of ignorance.” His Lord replied to him and turned away from him their guile and deviousness. He is the One Who Hears, the One Who Knows. [12:33-34]

Allah again responds to Yusuf’s sincere plea, and notice how He calls Yusuf’s going to prison as “turning (the women’s) guile and deviousness away from him”. In this, there is a great lesson for us: that sometimes, adverse events are a blessing in disguise – Allah saves us from major trials and sins by making us endure unfavorable circumstances, such as living in a threadbare condition. We should try to be happy with Allah’s decree, with the faith that what He decrees is better for us, even if we are not sure how it is better. Older people usually reflect on their past lives and acknowledge how certain bad events were better for them in the long term, although when they were living through them, they were mostly complaining because their wisdom and insight was not enough to make them see the big picture.

The second is that, in order to save our faith from corruption and our selves from falling into sin, we should be willing to relinquish comfortable environments to go to places that might be adverse for living, but better for safeguarding our Deen and chastity.

The third lesson for us is that we have to take the proactive step first, and ask Allah to help us in protecting ourselves from the evil of people; only then does Allah’s help come. We cannot be weak and lazy in our actions, and then claim that, “Why does Allah not guide me?” Yusuf could have given in to the plot of the women, in order to go on living in Aziz’s comfortable and well-provided-for residence. However, he ‘took the high road ‘to avoid disobeying Allah. Apparently, he lost out - he didn’t lie, he didn’t succumb to his mistress’ advances, and he didn’t seek to take revenge on her. He forgave her, and thus she got the chance to try to trap him again. He was thus thrown into prison for no crime, except his “ihsan” - lofty moral conduct. Being the good guy, he “lost”. However, this “loss” was only short-term, as we will find out later.

I thought about the Companions of the Cave – Ashaab Al Kahf – as I reflected upon Yusuf’s plea to Allah. They too, were young men who withdrew willingly into a cave to save themselves from the vices rampant in their society. Prophet Muhammad [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم] too, withdrew into the cave of Hira to ponder on the purpose of life, when the ignorance and polytheism in Arabian society turned him off. It seems then, that withdrawing into a cave, prison, or secluded spot to save themselves from the evil of people, has been the way of many of our pious predecessors, as a means to protect themselves from corruption.

In the next post about Surah Yusuf, we will try to garner more lessons for ourselves as we see Yusuf’s life finally take a turn for the better, insha’Allah.


===


http://muslimmatters.org/2010/02/17/lessons-from-surah-yusuf-part-3-dawah-behind-bars/



For the second time in his young life, Prophet Yusuf [عليه السلام] found himself treated unjustly, oppressed and punished for committing absolutely no crime or offence. It is interesting how he appealed to Allah that living in a prison cell would be better for him than what the women of the city were calling him towards, and it was through his life in the cell that Allah decreed for him to have future honor and respect. Despite his innocence being publicly proven and acknowledged by onlookers and witnesses, he was imprisoned.

Through this event we derive important lessons. First, it proves that oppressors in this world can get away with the wrong that they intentionally do to sincere believers, especially if they have worldly power and authority over the oppressed righteous individuals. Just as his brothers had thrown him into the well, the power and social influence wielded by Aziz’s wife facilitated her oppression of Yusuf, and even Aziz – who liked Yusuf – let her get her way. A sincere believer in Allah might suffer the same fate today, with oppressors getting him thrown out of a job, slandered, or deported from somewhere, as those who know of his innocence stand by and let it happen. This, by no means, should lead a believer to despair of Allah being by his side, but rather, as mentioned in the previous posts of this series, he should focus on accepting the decree of Allah and convincing himself that if Allah has willed this for him, it must be good for him in some way. Besides, Yusuf already opted for the prison to escape the shenanigans of Aziz’s wife and her circle.

وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ السِّجْنَ فَتَيَانَ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا وَقَالَ الآخَرُ إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِي خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ الطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Two young men happened to go to prison at the same time as Yusuf. One of them said: “Behold, I saw myself [in a dream] pressing wine.” And the other said: “Behold, I saw myself [in a dream] carrying bread on my head, and birds were eating thereof.” [And both entreated Yusuf:] “Let us know the real meaning of this! Verily, we see that you are one of those who do well.” [12:36]

Yusuf’s good conduct and special, Allah-given expertise of dream interpretation soon attracted his first two “students” or “clients”. These two were youths who had been sent to prison at the same time as he, as the verse above states. This means that they too, were probably intimidated at first by the prison environs, and sought his company when they observed him to be righteous and agreeable in nature.

There are important lessons for us in this as well. First, each and every human being is granted some talent, skill or natural aptitude at something with which he or she can be of benefit to others or earn their livelihood. That talent just needs to be nurtured or polished through observation, practice or an environment conducive to foster progress in its early stages. Children who are still very young show natural affinity or aptitude for certain vocations, hobbies and occupations. Thus Allah grants a person his or her “key” to success in this life.

The other important lesson in this verse, especially for da’ees or callers towards Islam, is that proactively inviting others to their faith is albeit very important, but just one aspect of da’wah. By consistent good actions and conduct, a person portrays the practical picture of what it is like to be a sincere believer, and onlookers learn about Islam from him just by observation. There are very small gestures that we, as Muslims, can do in public that would invite others towards Islam e.g. giving up our seat on the tube to an elderly person who has just come on board, or offering our snack to the person sitting next to us on the bus/in a public waiting lounge, before eating from it. These small gestures paint a very positive picture of our faith, and undoubtedly it was this ‘silent’ da’wah by Yusuf that earned him not just the respect, but also the confidence, of his two prison mates.

It was after they approached him with their queries that he called them towards monotheism. A da’ee must therefore, first win the trust of people before he or she starts to proclaim/convey the message of Islam to them. Once the audience is keenly listening in, it is important to remember what to talk about first and which issues should be given priority. No doubt, a person’s basic belief or aqeedah is the first thing that needs to be checked and rectified. Therefore, after assuring his two listeners that he would be able to tell them their dream interpretations in a jiffy, he spoke about himself thus:

  • That his ability to interpret dreams was taught to him by Allah ذَلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي
  • He had left the way of a nation/people who did not believe in Allah, and who denied the Hereafter:
    إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لاَّ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَهُم بِالآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ
  • He instead followed the monotheistic message brought by his forefathers, Prophets Ibrahim, Ishaaq and Yaqoub [عليهم السلام]:

وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَآئِـي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ

  • These Prophets did not commit polytheism, which was a great favor of Allah upon them and mankind, but most of mankind was ungrateful about this:

مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ذَلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَشْكُرُونَ

Yusuf then addressed his two cell mates in an endearing manner, before asking them a question aimed at establishing the proof of tauheed/oneness of Allah:

يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ

“O my prison companions! Are different gods better, or Allah, The One, The Almighty?”

To sum it up, Yusuf waited to ‘strike when the iron was hot’, so to speak. He waited for the right, most appropriate moment to preach to them the oneness of Allah, when he had their full attention, just before telling them the interpretations of their respective dreams.

The lesson for us in this as da’ees is to focus on our own conduct (akhlaq) with others first, befriending them and making them feel at ease, and thereby earning us their trust. When we have their attention, we should make concise but powerful, logical arguments based on tauheeed, the oneness of Allah, and address our listeners in an endearing, affectionate manner. Even in other places in the Quran, the Prophets have addressed their sinning/erring nations as “O my people!”: a manner of address that establishes a link between the speaker and the audience.

Eventually, Yusuf told both of them their respective dream interpretations. One of them was soon to be released from prison and destined to become the ruling King’s cupbearer. When his release was imminent, Yusuf requested him to mention him positively to the King; however, Iblis made the released prisoner forget to do that. As a result, Yusuf stayed in the prison for several more years.

Several more years!

The thing with Allah’s decree is that it cannot be changed by Shaitan or anyone else. Had Allah willed, Yusuf would have been able to get out of prison immediately. But Allah had decreed for him to stay there longer, among a diverse population of convicts and criminals, for a purpose which only He knows best. Isolation and social debasement probably comprised a stringent “training program”, specially designed by Allah, for the talented future leader of Egypt. It does seem “harsh”, at first glance, that Allah would make a future Prophet spend several years of his youth in confinement, with limited, low-quality food for nourishment, and only the bare necessities of living met in a decrepit shelter, with only criminals and convicts for companions. Our lives seem so luxurious in comparison, don’t they?

Although I admit it is not a fair analogy, but whilst reflecting upon the situation of Yusuf, I was reminded of the many times I have counselled young girls and women in my social and da’wah circle, who suffer from the feeling of “isolation” after marriage. Most of them go through some bouts of depression, especially if/when they’re pregnant due to being away from their biological family, friends, and relatives. Cut off from their pre-marriage career, da’wah and social activities, they sometimes ask themselves if marriage is really “worth the sacrifice” they are making, viz. giving up their “whole life” to live with a man who is still relatively a stranger, and his family, around whom they have to be careful not to complain or show sorrow. With their husband away for most of the day, spending their time in a small apartment, in a country foreign to them, their old friends and relatives thousands of miles away, they soon become very depressed. For those living with in-laws, it is somewhat better, as they have company. Nevertheless, it can be a challenge to live away from familiar people with whom they can be frank and no-holds-barred, as opposed to ‘walking on eggshells,’ so to speak. Fortunate are those who do not experience such adjustment woes.

Mischief-seeking gossipers make matters no better, when they say things like, “What a talented, lovely, educated girl; and look how she is living! Since she got married, all she does is stay at home with the baby. Do they make her bake bread? She deserves to live in a palace like a princess, with servants doing all the work for her!” The girl’s mother nods tearfully in melancholy acquiescence. Hearsay reaches the bride in question, and she promptly descends another notch in her negative perception of life after marriage: “Am I really so unworthy that I have to spend my life in a small room that doesn’t even have an attached bath?!”

To all such girls out there, I’d say, reflect upon what happened to Yusuf. He was young, talented, righteous in behavior, and super-handsome in appearance. Yet, Allah made him dwell in a prison for years. He had committed no crime; he had always been good to others, but after suffering misery at the hands of his envious brothers, he was slandered and thrown into prison by female oppressors. He lived for years with only basic amenities, amid convicts. Yet, he endeavored to convey his religion to those around him, and accepted Allah’s decree. No doubt, this imprisonment was to be good for his future role.

Further, we can look at some more examples of righteous people living a threadbare and/or isolated existence e.g. Prophet Muhammad [صلّى اللّهُ عليه و سلّم] living in self-imposed, semi-exile in the cave of Hira before he received his first revelation; his daughter Fatimah living a life of poverty and hardship, and dying very young, after giving birth to future leaders; Maryam [عليها السلام] living in isolation in the mihraab, spending her time in worship and remembrance of Allah; Prophet Yunus [عليه السلام] being swallowed by a whale, in which he dwelled until he repented. Ponder on the lives of the Prophets and righteous people who have gone before you, and thank Allah for the isolation that you are temporarily going through. This time will surely pass, and some day you will be powerful and independent. But for now, reap the tremendous personal benefits of isolation, because it surely brings about self-actualization. Its greatest benefit is that it allows you to reconnect with Allah without distractions, remember him exclusively, and worship him with sincerity. Isolation also allows a person to explore their inner strengths, analayze their goals for the future i.e. what they want out of life, polish their personal talents and abilities without the interference of others, and keep away from negative social company, burdensome events and useless pastimes. Many successful people impose isolation upon themselves to relax, read, do research, and generate ideas for future projects.

When Yusuf had reached the requisite level of self-actualization, Allah caused the King of Egypt to have a dream that none of his courtiers could interpret. It was at this time that his cupbearer finally remembered Yusuf’s dream-interpreting talent from his prison days. This was not just a mere coincidence, but Allah’s decree at work. It was finally the time for Yusuf to come out and benefit society with his knowledge and talents.

When his ex-cellmate came to him after many years to ask him about the King’s dream, Yusuf was once more the epitome of the easy-going “nice guy”: he neither rebuked nor chastised him for forgetting to mention his dream-interpreting talent to the King upon his release from prison, nor did he refuse to tell him the dream interpretation as revenge.

Rather, his main concern, even as the King ordered his release, was the threat to his chastity that still existed outside the prison walls – the “cougars”:

فَلَمَّا جَاءهُ الرَّسُولُ قَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ اللاَّتِي قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ إِنَّ رَبِّي بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ

And when the messenger came unto him, he (Yusuf) said: “Return to your lord and ask him what was the case of the women who cut their hands. Lo! My lord knows their guile.” [12:50]

Yusuf knew that he had been sent to prison because the women had threatened him to either do as they wished, or be imprisoned. He knew that they were still out there, and that majority of the town’s people might still be in the dark about who actually was guilty of betraying Aziz.

قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَاوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِ قُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوءٍ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ الْعَزِيزِ الآنَ حَصْحَصَ الْحَقُّ أَنَاْ رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

He (the king) (then sent for those women and) said: What happened when you asked an evil act of Yusuf? They answered: “Allah preserve us! We know no evil of him.” Said the wife of Aziz: “Now the truth is out. I asked of him an evil act, and he is surely of the truthful ones.” [12:51]

At long last, the truth surfaced. Aziz’s wife confessed and proclaimed Yusuf’s innocence and righteousness before all. Thus, Allah publicly cleared Yusuf of the false charges/rumors against him, and he was honorably discharged from prison. What he said then is a lesson in humility and wisdom for all time to come:

ذَلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّي لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِالْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَهْدِي كَيْدَ الْخَائِنِينَ وَمَا أُبَرِّىءُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Then (Yusuf) said: “(I asked for) this, that he (Aziz) may know that I did not betray him in secret, and that surely Allah guides not the snare of the betrayers. I do not absolve myself of blame. Indeed, the (human) soul enjoins unto evil, except the one on whom my Lord has mercy. My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” [12:52-53]

Despite being a Prophet of Allah and having opted for prison to escape from the women’s invitation towards adultery, he didn’t preach his “holier-than-thou-ness” or act self-righteously before everyone, after the confession was made by the Aziz’s wife. He didn’t absolve himself from evil, making it clear to the public that the human self is naturally prone to evil desires, and it is only Allah’s mercy that saves anyone – anyone – from becoming a slave to them. This statement of his could also have been directed as a measure to save Aziz’s wife from being condemned by society for her action, for which she had clearly repented. Otherwise, her confession could have triggered her public humiliation and ostracization, had Yusuf not testified to the fact that every human being is prone to evil, so no one should consider himself above it or protected from it.

This was his ultimate “moment of truth”. He could have said something tinted with disdain or arrogance to his former oppressor, as her guile and his innocence became public. But he stuck to the same nature of action of his, which is apparent throughout Surah Yusuf – that of being a “muhsin” – a doer of good. No matter what anyone did to him, he returned their actions with good. No wonder Allah calls this surah of the Quran احسن القصص ["Ahsan Al-Qasas"]: the most beautiful of stories!



No wonder Allah calls this surah of the Quran احسن القصص ["Ahsan Al-Qasas"]: the most beautiful of stories!



Read Quran Surah Al Mumenoon 23:115 "Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), n that you would not be brought back to Us?

Al-Mumenoon
"Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?" (115) So Exalted is Allâh, the True King, Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne! (116)












“We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play”

[al-Anbiya’ 21:16]

“And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play.

39. We created them not except with truth (i.e. to examine and test those who are obedient and those who are disobedient and then reward the obedient ones and punish the disobedient ones), but most of them know not”

[al-Dukhaan 44:38]

“Haa‑Meem.

[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’aan, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]

2. The revelation of the Book (this Qur’aan) is from Allaah, the All‑Mighty, the All‑Wise.

3. We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve, turn away from that whereof they are warned”

[al-Ahqaaf 46:1-3]

Just as it is proven that there is wisdom behind the creation of man from the standpoint of sharee’ah, it is also proven from the standpoint of reason. The wise man cannot but accept that things have been created for a reason, and the wise man regards himself as being above doing things in his own life for no reason, so how about Allaah, the Wisest of the wise?

Hence the wise believers affirm that there is wisdom in Allaah’s creation, and the kuffaar deny that. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.

191. Those who remember Allaah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted are You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:190, 191]


==========



“And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islamic Monotheism) from the Fire!”

[Saad 38:27]

“Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds as Mufsidoon (those who associate partners in worship with Allaah and commit crimes) on earth? Or shall We treat the Muttaqoon (the pious) as the Fujjaar (criminals, disbelievers, the wicked)?”

[Saad 38:28]

Monday 30 May 2011

Qur'an Surah 61:4 "Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure,"

As-Saff


Sesungguhnya Allah mengasihi orang-orang yang berperang untuk membela agamaNya, dalam barisan yang teratur rapi, seolah-olah mereka sebuah bangunan yang tersusun kukuh. (4)



The Qur'an is considered by Muslims to be the most important authority in all of Islam. The Qur'an clearly teaches and encourages Holy War, or Jihad.


As-Saff

Surah 61:4 "Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure,"



Al-Baqara

And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allâh) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allâh (Alone).[] But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zâlimûn (the polytheists, and wrong-doers.) (193)


Surah 2:190-193 "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress limits...And slay them wherever ye catch them. And turn them out from where they have turned you out; for persecution is worse than slaughter; But fight them not at the sacred Mosque unless they first fight you there; But if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more persecution. And the religion becomes Allah's. But if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression"


Al-Tawba

O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allâh (i.e. Jihâd) you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared to the Hereafter.[] (38) If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people, and you cannot harm Him at all, and Allâh is Able to do all things (39)

Surah 9:38-39 "O ye who believe! What is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things. Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things,"



Surah 8:59-70 "Their state is like that of the people of Pharaoh, and of those before them who treated their Lord's signs as lies. We therefore destroy them in their sins, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh; for they were all doers of wrong. The worst beasts truly in the sight of God are the thankless who will not believe; They with whom thou hast leagued, and who are ever breaking their league, and who fear not God! If thou take them in war, then, by the example of their fate, scatter those who shall follow them - that they may be warned: Or if thou fear treachery from any people, throw back their treaty to them as thou fairly mayest, for God loveth not the treacherous. And think not that the infidels shall escape Us! The shall not weaken God....O Prophet! stir up the faithful to the fight. Twenty of you who stand firm shall vanquish two hundred: and if there be an hundred of you they shall vanquish a thousand of the infidels, for they are a people devoid of understanding....No prophet hath been enabled to take captives until he had made great slaughter in the earth. Ye desire the passing fruitions of this world, but God desireth the next life for you. And God is mighty and wise.


Al-Tawba

Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[] (5)



Sura 9:5 "And when the sacred months are passed, kill those who join other gods with God wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush: but if they shall convert, and observe prayer, and pay the obligatory alms, then let them go their way, for God is gracious, merciful.



Sura 9:12 "But if, after alliance made, they break their oaths and revile your religion, then do battle with the ring-leaders of infidelity - for no oaths are binding with them - that they may desist. What! will ye not fight against those Meccans who have broken their oaths and aimed to expel your Apostle, and attacked you first? Will ye dread them? God is more worthy of your fear, if ye are believers! So make war on them: By your hands will God chastise them, and will put them to shame, and will give you victory over them, and will heal the bosoms of a people who believe;"



Sura 9:30 "Make war upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in God, or in the Last Day, and who forbid not that which God and His Apostle have forbidden, and who profess not the profession of the truth, until they pay tribute out of hand, and they be humbled. The Jews say, "Ezra is a son of God"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is a son of God." Such the sayings in their mouths! They resemble the saying of the infidels of old! God do battle with them! How are they misguided? They take their teachers, and their monks, and the Messiah, son of Mary, for lords besides God, though bidden to worship one God only. There is no God but He! Far from His glory be what they associate with Him! Fain would they put out God's light with their mouths: but God only desireth to perfect His light, albeit the infidels abhor it. He it is who hath sent His Apostle with the guidance and a religion of the truth, that He may make it victorious over every other religion, albeit they who assign partners to God be averse from it.




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let's watch a movie



Valley Of The Wolves Palestine 2011 (English Subs)








Remember that only Islam and faith in God can achieve victory. We must first leave behind the pride we have for ourselves as a race, colour, people of a country or tribe. All this will never achieve anything against any oppressor. Only your faith in Islam under the banner of Islam can bring victory.

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