The following are the notes of the tafseer explained by Nouman Ali Khan on Surah Yusuf, the chapter 12 of the Quraan.
- Given to the Prophet (s.a.w) in the year of sorrow (more aggression towards him, no family support).
- In Arabic, the word ‘Yusuf’ is derived from ‘Asaf’, which means sadness. The Surah was given to the prophet in the Year of sorrow. Yusuf (Hebrew Name) therefore we should consider its meaning as well.
- Islam: religion of Ibrahim (a.s). Seerah: fulfilling the legacy of his father (Ibrahim(a.s.)).
- Role model of the prophet (s.a.w) is Ibrahim (a.s). Allah instructs the prophet (s.a.w) to follow the religion of Ibrahim.
- Ibrahim (a.s): Allah (s.w.t) made him the leader of humanity when he passed all the tests, but he was worried about his kids. Allah (s.w.t) replied to him “Leadership is not guaranteed to wrongdoers”.
- Yusuf (a.s) is the great grandson of Ibrahim (a.s).
- In the Bible, God promises Abraham that his children will be as numerous as stars. He is promised a promised land. Israelites believe that they have been promised a land because of the conversation between God and Abaraham.
- Quraan paints a different picture, leadership will be there so long as they don’t do wrong. No guarantee of land. Allah says the land is vast, worship only me. Land belongs to Allah (s.w.t). Abaraham himself is not interested in having a homeland for his descendants, but he is interested in their coming to Allah’s House. BIG CONTRAST BETWEEN THE PROMISE OF ABRAHAM IN QURAAN AND BIBLE.
- Implications: Jewish people: religious identity is affected by this promise. They believe that the land was promised to them from Ibrahim (a.s).
- More preference is given to the Israelites compared to any other nation (by Allah (s.w.t)): more prophets, more miracles, most prophets mentioned in the Quraan are from the Israelites.
- From a historical point of view, you can’t understand Musa(a.s) without understanding Yusuf (a.s).
- Yusuf (a.s) gains power and his brother’s children multiply and they are seen as an external threat by the Egyptians, who make them slaves and then the story of Musa (a.s) starts.
- So people before us look at it from a historical importance, and the birth of a nation/ civilization and political importance. The Quraan acknowledges passively, but the Quraan is far more concerned with the personal story of Yusuf (a.s), Yaqoob (a.s) : (Personalised surah of the Quraan).
- Ibrah: translated as lesson, however, it also means that ‘it will move you to tears’.
- Paul presented the idea that Jesus didn’t come for the Israelities but he came for all of humanity. However, this poses a problem because the bible says that I have come for the lost sheep of the sons of Israel. And In Quraan also, he says that ya Bani Israel, I am a messenger to you. This makes it clear that Jesus was in fact the last messenger that came specifically for the sons of Israelites and that’s why they had a problem with Rasoolullah (s.a.w) because he did not come from the Israelites. Christian wanted to believe in a doctrine that internationalizes christianity. However, to justify this conclusion you have to go back to the stories of the Prophets. First target would be Yusuf(a.s.) as he moved from Canaan to Egypt in order to help the people.Therefore, it must be international aid and help. Everything (legacy, lessons) is set aside just to cherry pick verse to validate the conclusion already made by the people.
- PROBLEM: Revelation speaks for itself, when you try to dig into revelation to try to justify the conclusion you’ve already made. Then there is a problem that your conclusion is higher and revelation is lower and you want to use revelation to only strengthen one point. Your conclusion should come second and your humility to revelation should come first. Not specific to christians but muslims and jews do this, which is a wrong approach to revelation.
- Qasas: Narrative. Pharoah said to Musa(a.s) this is magic made up, and second, we have never heard of god, messenger etc. since our ancestors (This is a lie as Yusuf(a.s) was an important person). However, this triggered a question that there has to be a connection between Musa(a.s) and Yusuf(a.s).
- The Surat-al-Yusuf talks about Qasas: Narrative and Surah-al-Qasas talks about Musa(a.s). I thought that there has to be a connection between Musa (a.s) and Yusuf (a.s). This got clarified when I reached Surah-al-Ghafir (1.) (40:34) or Surah Mumin (the believer) which contains a very long speech given by a friend of Musa (a.s) who helped him escape. So he gives his speech (2.) when Firoun is ready to kill Musa (a.s) after Musa comes back and shows the signs. So Pharaohs were discussing the execution of Musa (a.s) and the friend (3.) was hiding his faith, but he laid it out saying why do you want to kill a man who calls to worshiping of one god? Yusuf (a.s) had definitely come to you, remember. When Yusuf (a.s) died you people had the audacity to say that Allah (s.a.w) will never send a messenger after this it is in Egyptian record.
- My personal view: Yusuf (a.s) would have reminded the egyptians about this messenger that was to come and he warned them, but they were confident enough to reject him. In other words, Musa (a.s)’s legacy is so intimately tied to the legacy of Yusuf(a.s) that the worst of the believers. The pharaoh recognized him.
- Quran’s way of narrating or saying is that of connecting while saying or narrating, so you don’t study things in isolation.
- Goal of Ramadan: is not to memorize the whole Quraan which is awesome, but atleast have a deeper connection with some sections that you are able to read and cry in Salaat.
(1.) Yusuf (a.s) certainly brought you clear proof and signs much before.
(2.) Speech so powerful that it became part of the Quran. Rarely do we find this length of speech from a single prophet.
(3.) He was educated in their schools. Referring to what they already know, what you mean you’ve never heard of this?
(3.) He was educated in their schools. Referring to what they already know, what you mean you’ve never heard of this?
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