1. SURA YUSUF [VERSES 38-42]
Class 8 – Lesson 10

2. Starter Activity
Who named the religion we follow Islam?
Which verse in the Holy Qur’an gives you the answer
It’s at the beginning of Sura Maidah (Sura no.5)
…الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا…
… This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion…

3. Verses
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
[12:38] And I follow the creed of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It is not for us to ascribe any partner to Allah. This is by virtue of Allah’s Grace upon us and upon all mankind, but most people do not give thanks.
يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
[12:39] O my two prison mates! Are different masters better, or Allah, the One, the All- paramount?
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
[12:40] You do not worship besides Him but [mere] names that you and your fathers have coined, for which Allah has not sent down any authority. Sovereignty belongs only to Allah. He has commanded you to worship none except Him. This is the upright religion, but most people do not know.

4. Verses
يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَمَّا أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِي رَبَّهُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ الطَّيْرُ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ ۚ قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ 
[12:41] O my two prison mates! As for one of you, he will serve wine to his master, and as for the other, he will be crucified, and vultures will eat from his head. The matter about which you inquire has been decided.
وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنْسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
[12:42] And he said to the one who knew would be delivered from among the two: ‘Mention me to your master.’ But Satan caused him to forget mentioning [it] to his master. So he remained in the prison for several years.

5. Explaination of verses 38-42
According to Tafseer, this is the first time Prophet Yusuf (A) tells his fellow prisoners about his lineage that he is a descendant of Prophets Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub.
Prophet Yusuf (A) spent his time in prison wisely:
He preached about Monotheism to his fellow prisoners,
comforted those who were suffering
and helped those who were sick.
Prophet Yusuf (A) thought that it would be better for him to get out of prison so he could be more useful to the people.
Therefore, he told the cup-bearer that he saw 3 bunches of grapes in his dream, meant that he’ll be imprisoned for 3 days and then would be released.
When he was free to go Prophet Yusuf (A) asked him to mention about him to his King that he has imprisoned him wrongly.
When he was released, Shaitan made him forget that he was given the message to tell the Pharaoh.
How would faith in God help both these prisoners and others around them?

6. Narrations of our 6th Imam:
Jibraeel came to Prophet Yusuf (A) and said:
O Yusuf! Who has made you the best of man? He said: My Lord.
Who endeared you to your father to the exclusion of your brothers? He said: My Lord.
Who steered the caravan towards you? He said: My Lord.
Who diverted stones away from you? He said: My Lord.
Who saved you from the well? He said: My Lord.
Who turned away from you the schemes of women? He said: My Lord.
Surely your Lord is saying: Is not your prayer that your need should descend from creation aside from Me? Remain in prison a number of years for that which you have said.
Upon hearing these words, Yusuf (A) cried for an entire day so intensely that other inmates were disturbed by his crying.

7. Narrations of our 6th Imam:
No one has cried (like) the crying of three : Adam , Yusuf and Dawood. I said : What has been conveyed about their crying? He said: Regarding Adam, he cried when he was removed from paradise. His head was on one of the gates of the heaven. He cried until he annoyed the inhabitants of heaven. They complained about that to Allah, then he was sent down from his established (place). Regarding Dawood, he cried until grass sprouted up from his tears. He sighed a (great) sigh, then whatever had grown by his tears was burned. Regarding Yusuf, he cried about his father Yaqub while he was in prison. Then, he annoyed the inmates of prison with it..."
Jibraeel (A) taught Yusuf the following prayer commanding him to say it following every obligatory prayer: "O God! make for me relief (from suffering) and an escape. Grant me sustenance in as much as I may reckon it and in as much as I may not reckon it."

8. Was it okay for Prophet Yusuf (A) to seek assistance from someone else?
Allama Tibrisi says that it is allowed just like the Holy Prophet (S) had asked the Ansar and Muhajireen for help with his mission.
So why was Prophet Yusuf (A) reprimanded?
The reason why Prophet Yusuf (A) was reprimanded was because of his position he wasn’t patient and didn’t rely totally on Allah in times of need.
How was Prophet Yusuf (A) reprimanded?
By staying in prison longer.
Prophet Yusuf (A) underwent many tests during his lifetime.

9. 1) Having a strong faith and rely only on Allah.
IMPORTANT LESSONS
1) Having a strong faith and rely only on Allah.
2) Have patience when facing difficulties.
3) Remember your ultimate goal