1. The Story of Prophet Yusuf A.S Lessons | Reminders | Guidance We relate to you the best of stories…

2. Surah Yusuf – the Background Based in 1900 BC, about 4000 years from now Surah Yusuf – an example of education through story telling Highlighting points: – Sabr – Ihsan Honorable lineage: Kareem ibn kareem ibn kareem ibn kareem

3. Lessons and Topics Consequences of jealousy/hatred Detailed explanation of human psyche Solutions to social problems Downside of human self Allah’s help during difficult times

4. الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book. إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. Discussion points: Why is the Quran in Arabic?

5. نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ although you were, before it, among the unaware. Discussion Points: Why is the story of Yusuf called the best of stories?

6. The “Best of Stories” – Why? The whole story is narrated in one place Compare to a history book – has lessons for us without the dry irrelevant facts Contains a lot of moral lessons In depth analysis of human psyche

7. إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ [Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me." Discussion Points: – Communication with parents

8. قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy. Discussion Point: – Yaqub A.S’s warning – backbiting?

9. وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise." Discussion Points: – The reality of dreams

10. Reality of dreams Three kinds of dreams: Anxiety/worry (Hadith nafs) Shaitan’s nightmares True dream from Allah A part of the soul is extracted when we sleep – it travels through different realms and sometimes we experience that as dreams A good dream is from Allah; a bad one is from Shaitan When you see a good dream, tell only trusted wellwishers. When you see a bad dream, tell absolutely no one. When you have a bad dream, spit thrice to the left, seek refuge with Allah and turn over. Tell no one and do not make a bad interpretation. The dream cannot harm you then. A dream cannot be consulted for guiding between haq and batil or as proof of haq vs batil arguments A dream is not the means to know the future, even a dream after istikhara, and neither does istikhara guarantee a dream.

11. لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِّلسَّائِلِينَ Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, Discussion Points: Narrative-based learning in the Quran

12. إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ 8. When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error. Favoritism by Yaqub A.S? Words reflect character Attitude towards parents

13. Discussion from Ayah 8 Did Yaqub A.S really discriminate among his children? No! Parents can be naturally inclined towards one child because of obedience and gentleness – with these, a child can win over his parents’ heart. Attitude towards parents should be one of humility, not superiority

14. اقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ 9. Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people." Shaitan’s traps within family? Sibling Rivalry

15. Sibling rivalry They weren’t looking at their own faults. Sibling rivalry was caused by Shaitan What do we do when we dislike someone? Isolate, insult and degrade, create an unpleasant atmosphere Underlying reason – jealousy!

16. What is the most effective way of winning hearts? Humility, gentleness, patience, kindness, understanding Pride, plotting and planning, isolation, cutting off, spite, revenge

17. قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ السَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ 10. Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]." How Allah creates help

18. قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَنَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَنَاصِحُونَ 11. They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors? أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ 12. Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians. Discussion Points: – Emotional blackmail of parents

19. قَالَ إِنِّي لَيَحْزُنُنِي أَن تَذْهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَافِلُونَ 13. [Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware."

20. قَالُوا لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّخَاسِرُونَ 14. They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."

21. فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُوا أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ 15. So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well... But We inspired to him, "You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity]."

22. وَجَاءُوا أَبَاهُمْ عِشَاءً يَبْكُونَ 16. And they came to their father at night, weeping. قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَاعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَادِقِينَ 17. “They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."

23. وَجَاءُوا عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا 18. And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something…

24. فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُون 18. (contd.) …so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe." Discussion Points: – Sabrun Jameel

25. Three meanings of sabr according to Ali R.A Positive Sticking to good Thoughts, words, feelings, leading to actions Negative Staying away from bad Thoughts, words, feelings, leading to actions Acceptance Accepting Allah’s decree and ruling