WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:09.089 The story of Yusuf, peace be upon him, and the wife of al-'Aziz. 00:00:09.089 --> 00:00:11.470 Introduction. 00:00:11.470 --> 00:00:15.140 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 00:00:15.140 --> 00:00:19.140 And may peace and blessings be upon the most noble of prophets and messengers, 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:21.140 Our Prophet Muhammad, 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:24.140 And upon all his family and companions. 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:26.210 To proceed: 00:00:26.210 --> 00:00:28.210 The story of Yusuf 00:00:28.210 --> 00:00:33.210 Is among the best of stories that Allah has related to us in the Noble Qur'an, 00:00:33.210 --> 00:00:36.210 Concerning which He said at its beginning: 00:00:36.210 --> 00:00:42.210 “We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” (12:3) 00:00:42.210 --> 00:00:46.460 Al-Tahir Ibn 'Ashur, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:49.460 "He made this narrative the best of stories," 00:00:49.460 --> 00:00:54.460 Because no story is devoid of a certain beauty that brings comfort to the soul, 00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:57.460 Yet the stories of the Qur'an are better than any others, 00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:00.460 In terms of the beauty of their composition and the inimitability of their style, 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:04.459 And in the lessons and wisdom they contain. 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:06.459 Thus, every story in the Qur'an 00:01:06.459 --> 00:01:09.459 Is the best of stories in its category, 00:01:09.459 --> 00:01:11.459 And every story in the Qur'an 00:01:11.459 --> 00:01:16.459 Is better than anything a storyteller could relate outside the Qur'an. 00:01:16.459 --> 00:01:19.459 It is not intended that it is the best of the Qur'an's stories, 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:23.459 Such that the story of Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:26.459 Would be better than the rest of the Qur'anic stories, 00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:28.459 As indicated by His saying: 00:01:28.459 --> 00:01:32.459 “We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.” (12:3) 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.459 And the 'ba' in "by what We have revealed to you" 00:01:35.459 --> 00:01:39.459 Is for causality, relating to the narrative. 00:01:39.459 --> 00:01:43.459 For the narrative contained in the Qur'an is the best, 00:01:43.459 --> 00:01:46.459 Because it comes from the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. 00:01:46.459 --> 00:01:51.459 He reveals what He knows to be most beneficial for the listeners, 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:54.459 In the most sublime wording and structure, 00:01:54.459 --> 00:01:57.459 Providing nourishment for the intellect and the soul, 00:01:57.459 --> 00:01:59.459 And delight for the spirit and the refined taste, 00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:03.459 In a way that human intellects could never replicate. 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:07.560 The story of Yusuf covers several scenes: 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:11.560 Some relating to Yusuf and his father, 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:14.560 Some relating to Yusuf and his brothers, 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:19.560 And some relating to Yusuf and the wife of al-'Aziz. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:21.659 In this series, 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:27.659 I will address, by the permission of Allah, the scenes relating to Yusuf and the wife of al-'Aziz, 00:02:27.659 --> 00:02:31.659 Which the Qur'an covers in three scenes: 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:36.689 First, the seduction of Yusuf by the wife of al-'Aziz; 00:02:36.689 --> 00:02:41.750 Second, the plotting of the wife of al-'Aziz against the women of the city; 00:02:41.750 --> 00:02:46.849 Third, the confession of the wife of al-'Aziz regarding her error. 00:02:46.849 --> 00:02:50.849 The goal of reviewing the story of Yusuf with the wife of al-'Aziz 00:02:50.849 --> 00:02:53.849 Is to derive lessons from its events 00:02:53.849 --> 00:02:56.849 And to apply them to our contemporary lives, 00:02:56.849 --> 00:03:00.849 As He, the Exalted, said at the end of the Surah: 00:03:00.849 --> 00:03:07.069 “In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111) 00:03:07.069 --> 00:03:17.069 “In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111) 00:03:17.069 --> 00:03:26.069 And a detailed explanation of all things, and guidance and mercy, 00:03:26.069 --> 00:03:32.069 And guidance and mercy for a people who believe. 00:03:32.069 --> 00:03:37.990 Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:03:37.990 --> 00:03:41.990 "The Qur'an is neither a history book nor a collection of tales; 00:03:41.990 --> 00:03:44.990 Rather, it is guidance and admonition. 00:03:44.990 --> 00:03:48.990 It does not mention a story to detail the history of its occurrence, 00:03:48.990 --> 00:03:53.990 Nor for the sake of entertainment or to provide exhaustive details, 00:03:53.990 --> 00:03:57.990 But it mentions what it mentions for the sake of the lesson," 00:03:57.990 --> 00:04:03.990 As the Almighty said: "There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding." 00:04:03.990 --> 00:04:06.990 And to explain the laws of social development, 00:04:06.990 --> 00:04:10.990 As He said: "Similar situations have passed on before you, 00:04:10.990 --> 00:04:16.990 So proceed throughout the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers." 00:04:16.990 --> 00:04:22.990 “But their faith could not avail them when they saw Our doom. This is Allah's law which hath ever taken course for His bondmen. And then the disbelievers will be ruined.” (40:85) 00:04:22.990 --> 00:04:25.990 And other such verses. 00:04:25.990 --> 00:04:28.149 Deriving lessons from the story 00:04:28.149 --> 00:04:33.149 Keeps us from becoming preoccupied with details that Allah did not mention to us, 00:04:33.149 --> 00:04:38.149 Because if there were a lesson for us in them, Allah would have informed us of them. 00:04:38.149 --> 00:04:42.220 Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:04:42.220 --> 00:04:46.279 "Regarding the aforementioned events, some are well-known, 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:51.279 And Allah, the Exalted, mentions from this and that what He wills to mention, 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:54.279 For the sake of the lesson and the admonition. 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:59.279 He suffices in the story with the point of the lesson and the place of benefit, 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:04.279 And does not present it in detail with trivialities that add nothing to the lesson, 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:07.279 But which might, in fact, distract from it." 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:10.410 The way writers compose stories today 00:05:10.410 --> 00:05:14.410 Differs from the Qur'anic style of relating stories. 00:05:14.410 --> 00:05:20.439 Writers may be keen to mention very minute details in a story 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:22.439 For the sake of attracting the reader, 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:27.540 But the Qur'an mentions the points of the lesson from the story 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:33.540 In a magnificent style that no writer or storyteller can approach. 00:05:33.540 --> 00:05:36.540 Abu Zahra, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:40.540 "The purpose of the stories of the Qur'an is the lesson and the reflection, 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:45.540 Not the narration of events and the entertainment of people through their details." 00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:48.540 A lesson for those of understanding. 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:53.540 Therefore, the Generous Lord intends the place of the lesson and illuminates it, 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:57.540 And the place of insight, and clarifies it. 00:05:57.540 --> 00:05:59.540 And that is the most upright of paths. 00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:04.540 Education through history and enlightenment through the conditions of those who came before. 00:06:05.540 --> 00:06:08.699 The wise person takes heed of this lesson 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:12.699 In knowing the consequences of his actions or the actions of others, 00:06:12.699 --> 00:06:15.699 So that he may correct the path of his life, 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:19.699 And advise others among his loved ones and companions. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:22.699 Al-Sa'di, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:06:22.699 --> 00:06:24.730 “In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111) 00:06:24.730 --> 00:06:28.730 Meaning the stories of the prophets and messengers with their people 00:06:28.730 --> 00:06:30.730 Are a lesson for those of understanding, 00:06:30.730 --> 00:06:34.730 That the people of good and the people of evil may take heed from them, 00:06:34.730 --> 00:06:37.730 And that whoever does as they did 00:06:37.730 --> 00:06:41.730 Will receive what they received of honor or humiliation. 00:06:41.730 --> 00:06:43.730 They also take heed from them 00:06:43.730 --> 00:06:47.730 Regarding what Allah possesses of attributes of perfection and great wisdom, 00:06:47.730 --> 00:06:49.730 And that He is Allah, 00:06:49.730 --> 00:06:54.730 To whom worship is not appropriate except for Him alone, with no partner. 00:06:54.730 --> 00:06:58.790 And Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:06:58.790 --> 00:07:02.790 "Attempting to make the stories of the Qur'an like history books, 00:07:02.790 --> 00:07:07.790 By inserting what they see therein as if it were an explanation of them, 00:07:07.790 --> 00:07:09.790 Is a violation of His Sunnah, 00:07:09.790 --> 00:07:12.790 A turning of hearts away from His admonition, 00:07:12.790 --> 00:07:15.790 And a waste of His purpose and wisdom." 00:07:15.790 --> 00:07:18.790 The duty is to understand what is in it, 00:07:18.790 --> 00:07:22.790 To exert our minds in extracting the lessons from it, 00:07:22.790 --> 00:07:26.790 To distance our souls from what He has condemned and deemed ugly, 00:07:26.790 --> 00:07:30.790 And to urge them to adorn themselves with what He has deemed good and praised. 00:07:30.790 --> 00:07:35.889 So, what are the lessons to be derived from the story of Yusuf with the wife of al-'Aziz? 00:07:35.889 --> 00:07:41.920 This is what we will address, if Allah wills, in the coming articles. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:47.009 The story of Yusuf with the wife of al-'Aziz.