5 lessons from Surah Yusuf

As part of our Quran Challenge, my friends and I completed the recitation of Surah Yusuf today. It’s been lovely, as we’ve been talking about the surah a lot and expressing our love for it. There are innumerable lessons in this surah, these are some of the ones that stuck out for me. Implementing these in our selves and teaching our children these valuable lessons can help us in shaping our taqwa and awareness of Allah.

1) Something miserable is better than disobeying Allah:

“O my Lord! Prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one of the ignorants.” (12:33)

2) Don’t be jealous:

Yaqub (as) said:

“O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Shaitan (Satan) is to man an open enemy! (12:5)

3) Never give up hope in Allah:

“O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yusuf and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” (12:87)

4) Patience is beautiful, so be patient at all times:

This whole surah gives one example after an other of how Prophet Yusuf (as) showed patience. He was patient;

• while awaiting the fulfillment of his dream
• when his brothers abandoned him in the well
• when he was sold as a slave
• when the king’s wife accused him of seduction
• he continued to be patient when he was put in jail
• when his fellow inmate was released and forgot about him
• as the king of Egypt, he continued to be patient with his brothers’ slander.

5) Forgive:

Instead of being bitter and angry, Yusuf (as) chose to forgive. With all his power as a leader, he was in a position to take revenge, make life miserable for those that had brought misery into his. But he chose the sweetness of forgiveness instead.

He responded to his brothers with the following beautiful words:

“No reproach on you this day, may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy! (12:92)