In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The story of Yusuf (peace be upon him) and the wife of al-'Aziz.
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
In explaining the story of Yusuf.
Allah has gathered several important themes in a single verse.
For He, the Almighty, says:
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
"Perhaps it will benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son."
"And thus We established Yusuf in the land."
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
"But most of the people do not know."
This verse encompasses:
The instruction of al-'Aziz to his wife to treat Yusuf honorably.
The establishment of Yusuf in the land.
And the teaching of Yusuf the interpretation of hadiths.
Then Allah, the Almighty, concluded these themes by saying:
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
"But most of the people do not know."
There is no strangeness in gathering such themes in one verse.
For Allah, the Almighty, opened the Surah by saying:
"Alif-Lam-Ra."
"These are the verses of the clear Book."
“Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may understand.” (12:2)
Whoever contemplates the story of Yusuf (peace be upon him),
finds that the details of its events are never devoid of the theme of plotting and scheming.
Either by explicitly mentioning them,
or by what indicates them.
Such as His saying, the Almighty:
“He said: O my dear son! Tell not thy brethren of thy vision, lest they plot a plot against thee. Lo! Satan is for man an open foe.” (12:5)
“He said: O my dear son! Tell not thy brethren of thy vision, lest they plot a plot against thee. Lo! Satan is for man an open foe.” (12:5)
And He, the Almighty, says:
“So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said: Lo! this is of the guile of you women. Lo! the guile of you is very great.” (12:28)
"Indeed, your plot is great."
And He, the Almighty, says:
“He said: O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me, and if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish.” (12:33)
“He said: O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me, and if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish.” (12:33)
And He, the Almighty, says:
“And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them and prepared for them a cushioned couch (to lie on at the feast) and gave to every one of them a knife and said (to Joseph): Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless! This is no a human being. This is not other than some gracious angel.” (12:31)
“And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them and prepared for them a cushioned couch (to lie on at the feast) and gave to every one of them a knife and said (to Joseph): Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless! This is no a human being. This is not other than some gracious angel.” (12:31)
And He says: "Come out before them."
"And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands."
"And said, 'Exalted is Allah! This is not a man.'"
“And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them and prepared for them a cushioned couch (to lie on at the feast) and gave to every one of them a knife and said (to Joseph): Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless! This is no a human being. This is not other than some gracious angel.” (12:31)
And He, the Almighty, says:
“So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He is Hearer, Knower.” (12:34)
"Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
And He, the Almighty, says:
"And the King said, 'Bring him to me.'"
“And the king said: Bring him unto me. And when the messenger came unto him, he (Joseph) said: Return unto thy lord and ask him what was the case of the women who cut their hands. Lo! my Lord knoweth their guile.” (12:50)
"So ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands."
“And the king said: Bring him unto me. And when the messenger came unto him, he (Joseph) said: Return unto thy lord and ask him what was the case of the women who cut their hands. Lo! my Lord knoweth their guile.” (12:50)
And He, the Almighty, says:
“(Then Joseph said: I asked for) this, that he (my lord) may know that I betrayed him not in secret, and that surely Allah guideth not the snare of the betrayers.” (12:52)
“(Then Joseph said: I asked for) this, that he (my lord) may know that I betrayed him not in secret, and that surely Allah guideth not the snare of the betrayers.” (12:52)
And He, the Almighty, says:
"That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you."
“This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they were scheming.” (12:102)
Despite all these verses and others in the story of Yusuf,
which indicate the plotting and scheming against Yusuf,
Allah, the Almighty, gave us glad tidings at the beginning of the story,
and with the very first of its events, by saying:
"And thus We established Yusuf in the land."
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
"But most of the people do not know."
He, the Almighty, gave us glad tidings of the establishment of Yusuf in the land,
and reassured our hearts that there is no one who can overcome His command.
Meaning, if He wills something, it cannot be turned back, prevented, or opposed.
Rather, He is the Overcomer of all else.
“And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.” (12:21)
His command is effective; no one can invalidate it, and no one can overcome it.
Ya'qub (peace be upon him) wanted to hide the matter of the vision that Yusuf saw,
so that his brothers would not know of it, lest they plot against him.
But Allah is predominant over His command.
So they learned of it and plotted against him.
Yusuf’s brothers wanted to remove Yusuf from their father’s sight,
to monopolize his heart.
But Allah is predominant over His command.
So Ya'qub’s attachment to Yusuf (peace be upon them both) only increased.
Yusuf’s brothers wanted to hide his affair by casting him into the well,
but Allah is predominant over His command.
So he was raised until he became the 'Aziz of Egypt.
The wife of al-'Aziz wanted to lure Yusuf into temptation,
so she prepared the means and locked the doors.
But Allah is predominant over His command.
So He protected Yusuf and shielded him from falling into the temptation.
The wife of al-'Aziz wanted to deflect the accusation from herself,
so she hastened to accuse Yusuf.
But Allah is predominant over His command.
A witness from her own family testified to Yusuf’s innocence,
and the accusation was proven against her.
Thus, the events in the story of Yusuf unfold:
They scheme and plot against him,
but Allah is predominant over His command.
Plotting and scheming in this era are of two types:
One type relates to the laws of Islam,
and one type relates to the carriers of this religion,
those who convey the message from the Lord of the worlds,
from among the scholars, callers, and reformers.
As for the plotting against the laws of Islam,
it is through raising doubts,
attacking the fundamentals of the religion,
stirring up controversial issues,
and casting doubt on everything that is necessarily known of the religion.
It is also by making people doubt their acts of worship and distracting them from the obedience of their Lord.
They only do this to extinguish the light of Islam.
Allah, the Exalted in His highness, has exposed them in His Book, saying:
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught) save that He shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse.” (9:32)
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught) save that He shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse.” (9:32)
"It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth,"
"to manifest it over all religion, although the polytheists dislike it."
And He, the Almighty, says:
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.” (61:8)
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.” (61:8)
"It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth,"
"to manifest it over all religion, although the polytheists dislike it."
For Allah, the Exalted in His highness,
did not send His Messenger (peace be upon him) with this great religion,
except to manifest it over all religion.
So no matter how hard the haters work to extinguish the light of this religion,
they will not be able to, and they will not succeed.
Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"Allah, the Almighty, says,"
"these disbelievers from among the polytheists and the People of the Book desire,"
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught) save that He shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse.” (9:32)
"meaning what His Messenger (peace be upon him) was sent with,"
"of guidance and the religion of truth,"
"merely by their arguing and their fabrications."
Their likeness in that,
is like someone who wants to extinguish the rays of the sun,
or the light of the moon by blowing at it.
There is no way to achieve this.
Likewise, that which His Messenger (peace be upon him) was sent with,
must be completed and manifested.
Therefore, He, the Almighty, said, countering them in what they sought and desired:
“Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah disdaineth (aught) save that He shall perfect His light, however much the disbelievers are averse.” (9:32)
We should not be overcome by sadness and fear for this religion,
when we see such scheming and plotting against Islam and its people,
and when we see such a fierce attack,
on the fundamentals of Islam,
and its great laws.
For this plot will turn back upon them, sooner or later.
The Almighty says:
“(Shown in their) behaving arrogantly in the land and plotting evil; and the evil plot encloseth but the men who make it. Then, can they expect aught save the treatment of the folk of old? Thou wilt not find for Allah's way of treatment any substitute, nor wilt thou find for Allah's way of treatment aught of power to change.” (35:43)
“(Shown in their) behaving arrogantly in the land and plotting evil; and the evil plot encloseth but the men who make it. Then, can they expect aught save the treatment of the folk of old? Thou wilt not find for Allah's way of treatment any substitute, nor wilt thou find for Allah's way of treatment aught of power to change.” (35:43)
"So do they await except the way of the former peoples?"
"For you will not find in the way of Allah any change,"
"and you will not find in the way of Allah any alteration."
"Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them?"
“Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them, and they were mightier than these in power? Allah is not such that aught in the heavens or in the earth escapeth Him. Lo! He is the Wise, the Mighty.” (35:44)
“Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them, and they were mightier than these in power? Allah is not such that aught in the heavens or in the earth escapeth Him. Lo! He is the Wise, the Mighty.” (35:44)
“Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them, and they were mightier than these in power? Allah is not such that aught in the heavens or in the earth escapeth Him. Lo! He is the Wise, the Mighty.” (35:44)
Allah, the Almighty, declares His decree for the manifestation of the religion of truth,
with which He sent His Messenger, over all religion.
With this comprehensive and general meaning,
sovereignty will belong to Allah alone,
and the manifestation will be for the methodology in which sovereignty for Allah alone is embodied.
This was realized once at the hands of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
and his successors, and those who came after them for a long period of time.
The religion of truth was the most manifest and the most dominant,
and the religions in which sovereignty was not purely for Allah were fearful and trembling.
Then the followers of the religion of truth abandoned it step by step,
due to factors inherent in the structure of Islamic societies on one hand,
and due to the long-term, multi-method war,
which its enemies—from among the polytheists and the People of the Book alike—declared against it.
But this is not the end of the journey.
The promise of Allah stands,
awaiting the Muslim group,
that carries the banner and moves forward,
starting from the starting point,
from which the steps of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) began,
as he carried the religion of truth and moved by the light of Allah.
What is required of us is to work for the victory of His religion by all possible means.
And whoever supports the religion of Allah,
Allah will support him and keep him firm upon this religion.
The Almighty says:
"O you who have believed,"
“O ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He will help you and will make your foothold firm.” (47:7)
"And those who disbelieved—so misery will be for them, and He will lead them astray from their deeds."
“That is because they are averse to that which Allah hath revealed, therefor maketh He their actions fruitless.” (47:9)
"So He rendered their deeds worthless."
"Have they not traveled through the land,"
"and observed how was the end of those before them?"
"Allah destroyed them,"
"and for the disbelievers is something like it."
“That is because Allah is patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.” (47:11)
“That is because Allah is patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.” (47:11)
As for the second type of plotting and scheming in this era,
it is the plotting against the carriers of this religion who defend it,
from among the scholars, callers, and reformers.
The goal of this plotting and scheming,
is to distance the scholars from influencing societies,
and from clarifying the truth and refuting falsehood,
so that people may live in heedlessness regarding their religion.
Thus, it becomes easy for those who hate this religion,
from among those with diseased hearts and those who follow their desires,
to achieve their goals in corrupting societies and turning people away from the religion of Allah.
The Almighty says:
“And Allah would turn to you in mercy; but those who follow vain desires would have you go tremendously astray.” (4:27)
“And Allah would turn to you in mercy; but those who follow vain desires would have you go tremendously astray.” (4:27)
In the story of Yusuf with the wife of al-'Aziz, there is a lesson for those who take heed.
For whoever follows the path of the prophets,
will not be free from exposure to trials.
And trials are the beginning of establishment in the land.
The enemies of the religion and the followers of desires will continue,
to plot against the reformers in the land.
But Allah is predominant over His command.
He has promised victory to the believers who defend this religion,
who enjoin good and forbid evil.
But people are impatient.
The Almighty says:
“Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate.” (22:38)
“Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate.” (22:38)
So, has it become clear to us who the enemies of the religion are in this era?
And who is it that wants to extinguish the light of Allah which He sent down upon His Prophet?
And who are the followers of desires who want to spread immorality among the people?
The discussion continues.
We will complete it in a future meeting, if Allah wills.