WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:07.089 The story of Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:00:07.089 --> 00:00:09.089 with the wife of al-'Aziz. 00:00:09.089 --> 00:00:14.560 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:19.559 The wife of al-'Aziz continued to clarify the truth of what happened to her with Yusuf. 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:21.559 She said: 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:23.559 "And I do not acquit myself." 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:27.559 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:29.559 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:32.560 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:35.659 She says this after having previously said: 00:00:35.659 --> 00:00:39.659 “(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) 00:00:39.659 --> 00:00:43.659 “(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) 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:48.780 Which might be understood as her justifying and praising herself. 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:50.780 So she said: 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:52.780 "And I do not acquit myself." 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:56.780 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:58.780 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:01.780 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:04.780 She acknowledges her error. 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:07.780 And she admits that her soul prompted her to evil. 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:10.780 But she repents from that. 00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:13.780 And she hopes for the mercy of the Forgiving, the Merciful, glory be to Him. 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:15.849 That the occurrence of error, 00:01:15.849 --> 00:01:17.849 and falling into sin, 00:01:17.849 --> 00:01:19.849 is something that can happen to any human being, 00:01:19.849 --> 00:01:21.849 no matter how high their status, 00:01:21.849 --> 00:01:24.849 and no matter how advanced their age or knowledge. 00:01:24.849 --> 00:01:28.849 It does not benefit a person to be arrogant or to justify their soul, 00:01:28.849 --> 00:01:32.849 or to claim that they are always in the right. 00:01:32.849 --> 00:01:38.879 For no one does this except one who is ignorant of the reality of their own soul and is deluded by it. 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:40.879 The wife of al-'Aziz became certain 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:45.879 that there was no escape from stating the truth and confessing it, 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:47.879 because deception does not last, 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:49.879 and plotting does not endure, 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:53.879 and evil schemes only recoil upon those who devise them. 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:56.879 So she returned to the truth and confessed her sin. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:01.010 This is the first step for every young woman 00:02:01.010 --> 00:02:05.010 who has fallen into love with a man before marriage and become attached to him, 00:02:05.010 --> 00:02:09.009 and whose actions have led her to what incurs the wrath of Allah upon her. 00:02:09.009 --> 00:02:14.229 The first step in treating this passion and these sins 00:02:14.229 --> 00:02:17.229 is to admit the error of one's soul, 00:02:17.229 --> 00:02:20.229 and that what she has done is an act of disobedience to Allah. 00:02:20.229 --> 00:02:23.229 This step cannot be achieved 00:02:23.229 --> 00:02:26.229 unless the young woman acknowledges that this relationship 00:02:26.229 --> 00:02:28.229 which binds her to this young man 00:02:28.229 --> 00:02:31.229 outside the bounds of marriage 00:02:31.229 --> 00:02:33.229 is a forbidden relationship. 00:02:33.229 --> 00:02:36.229 It is of no use for a young woman to justify herself 00:02:36.229 --> 00:02:40.229 with excuses that are acceptable neither by Sharia nor by reason, 00:02:40.229 --> 00:02:44.229 such as saying that she does not possess her own heart. 00:02:44.229 --> 00:02:46.229 And worse than that, 00:02:46.229 --> 00:02:50.229 is to fabricate lies against Allah and say: 00:02:50.229 --> 00:02:53.229 "It is Allah who cast into her heart 00:02:53.229 --> 00:02:55.229 the love for this young man," 00:02:55.229 --> 00:02:59.229 because Allah is the One who possesses the hearts of His servants. 00:02:59.229 --> 00:03:02.300 This is something that Satan casts into the hearts 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:05.300 of those who have fallen into forbidden passion. 00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:08.300 It is exactly what the polytheists argued 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:10.300 regarding their own heinous deeds. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:12.300 Allah the Almighty said concerning them: 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:19.300 “O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.” (7:27) 00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:22.300 "Let not Satan tempt you." 00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:34.300 “O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.” (7:27) 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:39.300 "Stripping them of their clothing 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:42.300 to show them their private parts." 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:46.300 “O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.” (7:27) 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:49.300 “O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.” (7:27) 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:54.300 “O Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you as he caused your (first) parents to go forth from the Garden and tore off from them their robe (of innocence) that he might manifest their shame to them. Lo! he seeth you, he and his tribe, from whence ye see him not. Lo! We have made the devils protecting friends for those who believe not.” (7:27) 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:57.300 "For those who do not believe." 00:03:57.300 --> 00:04:00.300 "And when they commit an immorality," 00:04:00.300 --> 00:04:06.300 “And when they do some lewdness they say: We found our fathers doing it and Allah hath enjoined it on us. Say: Allah, verily, enjoineth not lewdness. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?” (7:28) 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:09.300 "Allah has commanded us to do it." 00:04:09.300 --> 00:04:16.300 “And when they do some lewdness they say: We found our fathers doing it and Allah hath enjoined it on us. Say: Allah, verily, enjoineth not lewdness. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?” (7:28) 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:21.300 "Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?" 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:24.300 "Say, 'My Lord has ordered justice.'" 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:28.300 “Say: My Lord enjoineth justice. And set your faces upright (toward Him) at every place of worship and call upon Him, making religion pure for Him (only). As He brought you into being, so return ye (unto Him).” (7:29) 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:32.300 “Say: My Lord enjoineth justice. And set your faces upright (toward Him) at every place of worship and call upon Him, making religion pure for Him (only). As He brought you into being, so return ye (unto Him).” (7:29) 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:35.300 "As He began your creation, so you will return." 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:40.300 "A party He guided, and a party deserved to be in error," 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:45.300 “A party hath He led aright, while error hath just hold over (another) party, for lo! they choose the devils for protecting supporters instead of Allah and deem that they are rightly guided.” (7:30) 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:49.300 “A party hath He led aright, while error hath just hold over (another) party, for lo! they choose the devils for protecting supporters instead of Allah and deem that they are rightly guided.” (7:30) 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:54.300 "and they think that they are guided." 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:56.649 And He, glory be to Him, said: 00:04:56.649 --> 00:04:59.649 "Those who associated others with Allah will say," 00:04:59.649 --> 00:05:05.649 “They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.” (6:148) 00:05:05.649 --> 00:05:13.649 "nor our forefathers." 00:05:13.649 --> 00:05:17.649 “They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.” (6:148) 00:05:17.649 --> 00:05:21.649 "Likewise did those before them deny, 00:05:21.649 --> 00:05:24.649 until they tasted Our punishment." 00:05:24.649 --> 00:05:28.649 “They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.” (6:148) 00:05:28.649 --> 00:05:31.649 "And bring it out for us." 00:05:31.649 --> 00:05:35.649 “They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.” (6:148) 00:05:35.649 --> 00:05:39.649 “They who are idolaters will say: Had Allah willed, we had not ascribed (unto Him) partners neither had our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught. Thus did those who were before them give the lie (to Allah's messengers) till they tasted of the fear of Us. Say: Have ye any knowledge that ye can adduce for Us? Lo! ye follow naught but an opinion, Lo! ye do but guess.” (6:148) 00:05:39.649 --> 00:05:43.649 “Say - For Allah's is the final argument - Had He willed He could indeed have guided all of you.” (6:149) 00:05:43.649 --> 00:05:48.649 “Say - For Allah's is the final argument - Had He willed He could indeed have guided all of you.” (6:149) 00:05:48.649 --> 00:05:53.129 This belief is worse than the sin of passion itself. 00:05:53.129 --> 00:05:57.129 For the young woman in love who is aware of her sin, 00:05:57.129 --> 00:06:01.129 there is hope for her repentance and remorse one day. 00:06:01.129 --> 00:06:05.160 As for the one who justifies her situation to herself, 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:10.160 and attributes her evil deeds to the decrees of Allah for her, 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.160 she has spoken falsehood against Allah. 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:17.160 And one fears for the ultimate outcome of her affairs. 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:19.160 Allah the Almighty said: 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:24.160 “Say: My Lord forbiddeth only indecencies, such of them as are apparent and such as are within, and sin and wrongful oppression, and that ye associate with Allah that for which no warrant hath been revealed, and that ye tell concerning Allah that which ye know not.” (7:33) 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.160 "What is apparent of it and what is concealed," 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:31.160 "and sin and oppression without right," 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:34.160 "and sin and oppression without right," 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.160 "and that you associate with Allah," 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:40.160 "and that you associate with Allah," 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:44.160 "that for which He has not sent down authority," 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:47.160 "and that you say about Allah [that which you do not know]." 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:53.509 The second step indicated by the wife of al-'Aziz 00:06:53.509 --> 00:06:56.509 is knowing the reality of the soul, 00:06:56.509 --> 00:06:59.509 and that it prompts to evil and indecency, 00:06:59.509 --> 00:07:01.509 except that which Allah has mercy upon. 00:07:01.509 --> 00:07:04.509 Whoever knows their soul and what it prompts them to do, 00:07:04.509 --> 00:07:06.509 is able to treat it, 00:07:06.509 --> 00:07:10.509 and to take caution against it and what it calls them toward. 00:07:10.509 --> 00:07:13.509 As for the one who is ignorant of their soul, 00:07:13.509 --> 00:07:16.509 it will lead them according to its whims, 00:07:16.509 --> 00:07:20.509 and cause them to fall into what incurs the wrath of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic. 00:07:20.509 --> 00:07:25.610 As for the third step indicated by the wife of al-'Aziz, 00:07:25.610 --> 00:07:29.610 it is the great door of hope for all sinners, 00:07:29.610 --> 00:07:31.610 and it is in her saying: 00:07:31.610 --> 00:07:34.610 “I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (12:53) 00:07:34.610 --> 00:07:38.829 The realization by the young woman and the young man that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful 00:07:38.829 --> 00:07:43.829 protects them from falling into despair and hopelessness regarding the mercy of Allah, 00:07:44.829 --> 00:07:48.829 and drives them to seek forgiveness and mercy from Allah. 00:07:48.829 --> 00:07:51.829 And whoever among them does that, 00:07:51.829 --> 00:07:55.120 attains the forgiveness and mercy of Allah. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:57.120 With the end of this scene, 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:01.120 the story of Yusuf with the wife of al-'Aziz concludes. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:04.120 It ends with the honoring of Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:08.120 and his release from prison, cherished and honored. 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:12.250 The King said, "Bring him to me; 00:08:12.250 --> 00:08:15.250 I will appoint him exclusively for myself." 00:08:15.250 --> 00:08:19.250 And when he spoke to him, he said: 00:08:19.250 --> 00:08:24.250 “And the king said: Bring him unto me that I may attach him to my person. And when he had talked with him he said: Lo! thou art to-day in our presence established and trusted.” (12:54) 00:08:24.250 --> 00:08:30.250 He said, "Put me in charge of the storehouses of the land; 00:08:30.250 --> 00:08:34.340 indeed, I am a knowing guardian." 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:39.340 And thus We established Yusuf in the land. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:44.340 “Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where he pleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good.” (12:56) 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:50.340 “Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where he pleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good.” (12:56) 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:54.340 “Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where he pleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good.” (12:56) 00:08:54.340 --> 00:09:00.340 “And the reward of the Hereafter is better, for those who believe and ward off (evil).” (12:57) 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:03.340 And they were mindful of Allah. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:05.600 At the end of this scene, 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:10.600 in which the innocence of Yusuf appears before all witnesses, 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:13.600 by the confession of all parties to the crime, 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:16.600 and before the highest authority in the state, 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:18.600 Allah establishes Yusuf, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:22.600 and he attains the position befitting him. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.600 The end of this scene would not have been completed in this manner 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:29.600 had it not been for Yusuf's reliance upon Allah, 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:32.600 his sincerity to Him, and his preference for His obedience, 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:36.600 and prioritizing the love of Allah over the whims of his own soul, 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:40.600 even if the price for that was imprisonment for a few years. 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:47.600 That is the way of Allah for everyone who prefers the pleasure of Allah over their own whims and relies upon Him. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:50.629 In this, there is consolation for young men and women, 00:09:50.629 --> 00:09:56.629 to rise above the fever of desires and temptations offered everywhere. 00:09:56.629 --> 00:09:59.629 And let every young man and every young woman know 00:09:59.629 --> 00:10:02.629 that the moments of desire are fleeting, 00:10:02.629 --> 00:10:06.629 while the regrets of falling into them remain for all eternity. 00:10:06.629 --> 00:10:08.629 Whereas if they rely upon Allah, 00:10:08.629 --> 00:10:13.629 and remain chaste against them and against their own souls that prompt to evil, 00:10:13.629 --> 00:10:18.759 then Allah will replace it for them with the sweetness of chastity and the honor of obedience. 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.759 This scene ends, 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:26.759 to begin other chapters and scenes in the story of Yusuf with his brothers. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:29.889 And here this series concludes, 00:10:29.889 --> 00:10:36.889 with the hope of meeting you, if Allah wills, in another series in the coming days, 00:10:36.889 --> 00:10:39.889 if Allah grants life to me and to you. 00:10:39.889 --> 00:10:44.889 And our final prayer is that all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. 00:10:44.889 --> 00:10:50.399 The story of Yusuf with the wife of al-'Aziz.