No one can narrate a story like Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.

He has exclusive access to the most concealed parts of His slaves -whether it’s our conscious and unconscious thoughts, our quickening heart rate, or the butterflies in our stomachs.

Allah has an intimate 360-degree vantage point of each person’s life, where they started, how they are at every stage, and the nature of their end, and it all unfolds in the most beautiful, suspenseful, and intricate pattern that brings endless benefit to those who contemplate.

Allah Himself dignifies the story of Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام by calling it the best of stories:

“We relate to you ˹O Prophet˺ the best of stories through Our revelation of this Qur’an, though before this you were totally unaware ˹of them˺.”

[Surah Yusuf: 03]

Its rich multitude of themes, from toxic relationships involving shocking psychological manipulation and a study of forensic evidence to seduction, scandal, and political intrigue, is enough to suck in even the most unenthusiastic listener. However, the Words of Allah serve a much greater purpose than entertaining us.

Every single word and letter in the Qur’an is there for a reason and serves as guidance for us. Therefore, we need to read between the lines with the attitude, “What is Allah teaching me through this? How can this transform my life for the better?”

In a world where we’re fed so much of our thoughts, opinions, and values by deceptive social media channels and influencers who don’t follow Allah’s guidelines, it’s essential to take a step back and reflect on whether our self-centred consumerist worldview is barricading us from seeing and living the Truth.

Here’s how the painful and beautiful journey of Yusuf عليه السلام from the loving arms of his father عليه السلام to being abandoned, enslaved, and imprisoned, can teach us how to worship Allah in the best of ways.

Ikhlas: Breaking the Shackles of Slavery

All human beings, whether they admit it or not, are slaves to something.

It is our nature to be weak, needy, vulnerable, and overpowered, whether by internal struggles or external influences.

But there is only honour, dignity, and benefit in being a humble slave of Allah, sincere and submissive to Him alone, because that is the only way we can escape from the shackles of this Dunya- namely, our base desires and the lowly desires of others.

While it’s hard for us to imagine a Prophet of Allah عليه السلام being bought and sold as a commodity in the slave market, I would argue that Yusuf عليه السلام was the freest of them all.

My brothers and sisters, even though Yusuf عليه السلام was exceptionally handsome, of the noblest lineage, and he found himself living in a palace, he was treated as nothing but a useful object; his master did not fear to disclose political secrets before him and the mistress of the house did not hesitate in trying to force him to fulfill her desire.

This shows us that our worldly attributes and possessions can be used both for good and for evil. But our love, fear, and hope in Our Lord can never fail us; it can never cause us to fall or go astray.  

Yusuf عليه السلام was not a slave in the truest sense, because of his sincerity to His Lord- Allah saved him from humiliation and made him rise to the highest of worldly and spiritual ranks (as we will see) because his heart was uncompromised by evil desires and his limbs only acted in obedience to Allah.

While those around him were driven to unspeakable extremes due to being shackled to their desires; whether it was his brothers who left him to die in a well due to their jealousy, the men who sold a young boy instead of returning him home, or the unfaithful wife who tried to seduce her young slave.

Even the minister, who had shown him kindness, ultimately betrayed him when his political career became threatened by the inappropriate actions of his wife around Yusuf عليه السلام.

However, this noble Prophet of Allah never responded with anything but goodness, gratitude, and grace, as we will soon see.

First, let’s pause here and consider this; how sincere are we to Allah?

How well do we worship Allah when things are not going our way?

Because, to the unobservant onlooker, Yusuf عليه السلام ‘s life was nothing but severe trials and adversity.

However, what’s amazing is that he did not allow his outside circumstances to define Who Allah was to him. His attitude was: “Allah is always the best to me.”

He knew that whatever he was going through, whatever he had suffered was because Allah had decreed it with Perfect Wisdom and Infinite Mercy.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, it’s time for us to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and worshipping Allah properly only if He pleases us with His Decree.

Let’s not get caught up in the shallow and superficial metrics of success that the ‘elite’ of this world feed us. Too many people are blindly following them already; may Allah safeguard us.

As long as Allah is pleased with us, we have everything.

But those who don’t consider Allah’s pleasure and run after their desires, doing whatever wrongs to attain them, then they are never going to attain the happiness, contentment, or fulfilment they are looking for.

Imaan: Seeing Beyond Temptation

“Do people think once they say, “We believe,” that they will be left without being put to the test?” [Al- ‘Ankabut: 2]

Allah knows which of us are sincere to Him but in His complete justice, He still establishes evidence so no one can deny their truth on the Day of Recompense.

“We certainly tested those before them. And ˹in this way˺ Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars. [Al-‘Ankabut:3]

Whether it’s trials, blessings, or temptations, in every chapter of our lives there is some type of test, and as believers, it should be our dearest ambition to pass all of them with flying colours.

Let’s gain some insights from the beautiful story of Yusuf عليه السلام.

The wife of the Aziz of Egypt was beautiful, as well as incredibly wealthy, and of noble birth.

One day, unable to control her yearning for Yusuf عليه السلام, who was a young man by this time, she entrapped him in a room with locked doors and called him explicitly to commit Zina (adultery).

She knew her husband was way away, and no one else would dare question her. She also regarded Yusuf عليه السلام as a slave, who had always done her bidding, and if he did not, he was liable to be punished.

But, as you can imagine, Yusuf عليه السلام would do no such thing.

However, Allah gives us a glimpse into the inner workings of their minds and hearts in this instance.

For instance, if we look at the use of Arabic (see references) that describes what they felt at that moment, we will derive that the intensity of the woman’s desire was all-consuming. However, even if Yusuf عليه السلام found her beautiful, something else was much stronger than any pull towards her, and that was a Sign from his Lord.

It became unmistakably clear to him, in the light of his Imaan, that what he was called to was evil and immoral, and so he turned away immediately. He knew that even if something looks beautiful and compelling on the outside, if Allah forbids it, then it is rotten and disgusting on the inside.

My brothers and sisters, striving to be good and do good deeds in all situations is a result and proof of Imaan. Good character and beautiful conduct is true dignity, not flashy possessions or worldly attainments.

So, let us renew our intentions, muster up our courage, and leave everything that Allah dislikes; running instead towards the deeds that Allah loves – the deeds that will bring us lasting happiness and not temporary pleasure that ends only in deep regret.

In Shaa Allah, in our next installment, we shall explore how the attitude of Ihsan (doing good with excellence) frees the heart from those who attempt to crush it.  

May Allah guide us to ponder, reflect, and act upon every facet of His Book, all of which He revealed as a Mercy from Himself to guide us to the best and most upright of ways.  

Allahumma Aameen!