HAZRAT YOUSUF allehe salam

Story of Prophet Yusuf

1. Introduction

Prophet Yusuf (AS) was the son of Prophet Ya'qub (AS). In the Bible he is referred to as Joseph son of Jacob. The Holy Qur'an has mentioned his story in a beautiful chapter entitled "Surah Yusuf". Prophet Yusuf (AS) had 11 brothers. He was one of the youngest and possessed excellent character and manners. His father loved him dearly.

Prophet Yusuf (AS) once dreamt that eleven stars and the sun and moon were prostrating to him. He related the dream to his father. Prophet Ya'qub (AS) realised that the dream outlined his son's destiny and greatness and cautioned him not to tell his brothers about the dream.

His brothers were jealous of the favour that he enjoyed in their father's eyes and planned to somehow get rid of him. Whenever they took their goats out for grazing they would ask their father if Yusuf (AS) could accompany them. Prophet Ya'qub (AS) always refused, saying that the boy was too young. When Prophet Yusuf (AS) reached the age of 16, his brothers insisted that he was now old enough to accompany them. With reluctance, their father agreed to let them take him with them.

As soon as they were far enough from home, they began to plot about how to dispose of Prophet Yusuf (AS). Then, they came across a dry well. They removed Prophet Yusuf's (AS) shirt, and threw him into the well. Ignoring their young brother's pleas, they heartlessly left him to die of hunger.

On the way back, they slaughtered a goat and stained Prophet Yusuf's (AS) shirt with its blood. They arrived home weeping and told their father that while they were grazing their sheep, a wolf came and ate their brother. He did not believe their story and could do nothing but remain patient and wait for Allah to reunite him with his beloved son.
Meanwhile a caravan of traders passing by the well stopped to draw some water. They were surprised to see Prophet Yusuf (AS) come up holding the bucket. They hid him with their merchandise and sold him to some slave traders for a few pieces of silver.

2. Prophet Yusuf (AS) in Egypt

Thus, Prophet Yusuf (AS) arrived in Egypt. At the slave market the buyers were all attracted by him, because he was a very handsome young man. News of this remarkable youth swept through the city. The Aziz (Governor of Egypt and Chief Officer of the King), whose name was Fotifaar, offered a price that none could match. He brought Prophet Yusuf (AS) home and told his wife Zuleikha that they would adopt him as their son.

Zuleikha, however, was so taken by Prophet Yusuf's (AS) beauty that she sought to have an illegal association with him. A Prophet of Allah could never be part of such an evil deed and Prophet Yusuf (AS) backed away from the advances of Zuleikha. As he raced for the door she ripped his shirt from behind. At the door they met the Aziz. On seeing her husband, Zuleikha tried to blame Yusuf (AS) by claiming that he had tried to lay a hand on her. Before the Aziz could vent his fury on Prophet Yusuf (AS), a baby spoke up from the cradle, and the Holy Qur'an says:

And a witness from her own household testified, "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she speaks the truth and he is of the liars. And if his shirt is torn from behind, then she lies and he is of the truthful ones.
Surah Yusuf, 12:26,27

The shirt was, of course, torn from behind, and the Aziz was extremely angry with his wife for attempting such an act of indecency. The women of the city heard about Zuleikha's actions and began to gossip and make fun of her. To explain her attraction she decided to let them see Prophet Yusuf (AS) themselves.

She called forty of them to the palace for a meal. As soon as they all had a knife to cut some fruit, she called Prophet Yusuf (AS) into the room on some excuse. So dazzled were they by his beauty and presence, that they cut their fingers in their distraction and exclaimed, "This is not a human being - he must be an angel!"
Zuleikha was furious with Prophet Yusuf (AS) because he had caused her to be ridiculed. In her anger and frustration, she caused him to be imprisoned on false charges of assault.

1. Prophet Yusuf (AS) in Prison

Due to continued pressure from his wife Zuleikha, the Aziz of Egypt decided to imprison Prophet Yusuf (AS), despite his innocence. The reason he gave was that people would forget the actions of his wife while Prophet Yusuf (AS) lay in prison, and her dignity would be restored.

On the same day that Prophet Yusuf (AS) was put into prison, two other men were also imprisoned. One used to serve the king wine, while the other was the royal cook. Both men had been accused of trying to poison the king. On the following day, the wine-server said to Prophet Yusuf (AS), "I saw in a dream that I was crushing grapes to make wine for the king". The cook said, "I dreamt that I was carrying some bread in a basket on my head and birds were pecking at the bread".

Both men saw that Prophet Yusuf (AS) was a noble and pious person and asked him if he could interpret their dreams. Prophet Yusuf (AS) took this opportunity to preach the religion of Allah to his prison-mates. He promised to tell them the meaning of their dreams and informed them that this was a special power given to him by Allah Before he did so, however, he explained to them how senseless it was to believe in various gods and explained to them about the Oneness of Allah and the Day of Resurrection.

Finally he said, "O my prison-mates! The man who dreamt that he was crushing grapes will soon be released from here and will go back to his previous post. The second one, who carried the bread on his head in the dream, will be executed and the birds will start to eat his brain." Prophet Yusuf (AS) thought of getting himself released from prison through the wine-server, and told him to remind the king of his innocence when he saw him. The dreams of both men came true just as he had foretold. One of the captives was released while the other was hanged. Unfortunately, the wine-server forgot all that Prophet Yusuf (AS) had told him to convey to the king.

2. Prophet Yusuf's (AS) Release From Prison

The Holy Qur'an says:
The king dreamt that seven lean cows were eating seven fat ones and that there were seven green ears of corn and seven dry ones. He asked the nobles to tell him the meaning of his dream if they were able to. They replied, "It is a confused dream and we do not know the meaning of such dreams."
Surah Yusuf, 12:43,44

The king was very concerned about the meaning of his dream and even though his wise men thought over it seriously, they could not make sense of it. The king's dream became a means of the liberation of Prophet Yusuf (AS) from prison. As soon as the wine-server heard about the dream he was reminded of his time in prison and remembered the powers of his cell-mate. He also remembered that Prophet Yusuf (AS) had asked him to tell the king of his innocence. He approached the king and got his permission to see Prophet Yusuf (AS).

Prophet Yusuf (AS) interpreted the dream by the power given to him by Allah . He said, "For seven years the crops will yield abundant food-grain for the people of Egypt. After that there will be a famine for seven years during which all the food-grain lying in the storehouses will be finished and people will starve. Therefore, the people should try to grow as much extra grain as possible so that it would stand them in good stead during the time of famine".

On hearing this very reasonable and sensible interpretation of his dream from the wine-server, the king was delighted. He ordered that Prophet Yusuf (AS) be brought before him so he could make good use of his wisdom in solving his problems.
Although he had been in the dark dungeon for so long, Prophet Yusuf (AS) refused to leave the prison until he proved his innocence. He said to the courtiers, "I will not come out of the prison until the king makes enquiries about my case. Tell the king to ask the wives of the noble men about the time when they cut their fingers on seeing me".

The courtiers passed on this message to the king who called the concerned women to him for an explanation. They all confessed the truth and Zuleikha, the wife of the Aziz, also testified that Prophet Yusuf (AS) was innocent of any guilt. Thus, Prophet Yusuf (AS) was released from the prison with his dignity and honour restored.

1. Prophet Yusuf (AS) in the Royal Court

The Holy Qur'an says:
The king ordered his men to bring Yusuf before him; he wanted to grant him a high office. The king said to him, "From now on you will be an honoured and trusted person amongst us." Yusuf said, "Put me in charge of the treasuries of the land, I know how to manage them."
Surah Yusuf, 12:54,55

When the king met Prophet Yusuf (AS), he found him to be a wise and broad-minded man. In response to the request of Prophet Yusuf (AS) as related in the verse above, the king made him in charge of finance and food and ordered his ministers and officials to treat Prophet Yusuf's (AS) commands as his own.

Prophet Yusuf (AS) thus became the Aziz of Egypt and began his new duties without delay. He was determined that when the famine arrived, nobody should starve.
The river Nile flooded its banks regularly to provide fertile soil for the growth of food grain and Prophet Yusuf (AS) was aware that the famine would be caused by the decrease of the water in this river. He decided to make a brief tour of Egypt to assess the best locations where intensive cultivation could be carried out.

He allocated extra money to the farmers in the most fertile areas of the Nile, so that they would be able to grow the maximum amount of grain. He also ordered the construction of huge storehouses (granaries), capable of storing several hundred tons of the surplus grain.
During the first seven years, he supplied grain to the people according to their minimum needs, and stored the rest in the newly-built granaries. By the time the seven years were over, the granaries were full. The water level of the Nile fell tremendously and the country was hit by a severe drought. However, due to his foresight and planning, the country did not face a shortage of food.

The famine also extended to the lands of Palestine and Kanaan where Prophet Ya'qub (AS) lived with his sons. One day he called them and said, "My sons! We are in great distress due to the famine. You may go to the Aziz of Egypt whose reputation as a kind and just person has spread everywhere in the country. Leave Binyameen with me for company so that I may not be lonely." As commanded by their father, the brothers of Prophet Yusuf (AS) set off for Egypt to purchase grain and bring it back to Kanaan.

2. Prophet Yusuf's (AS) Brothers in Egypt

When his brothers arrived in Egypt, Prophet Yusuf (AS) was very pleased to see them. They did not recognise him at all, never expecting that he was alive. Prophet Yusuf (AS) was disappointed not to see his full brother, Binyameen, and asked his brothers to tell him about themselves.

They introduced themselves and told him about their father and mother. Prophet Yusuf (AS) was relieved to hear that Prophet Ya'qub (AS) was alive, and he welcomed his brothers sincerely. He provided them with enough wheat for their needs and had their money put back in their bags secretly. He also asked them to bring their other brother the next time as proof that they were speaking the truth about their family. The Holy Qur'an narrates this episode in the following words:

Yusuf's brothers came to him and when they entered his court, he recognised them. They did not know him. And when he gave them the provisions, he said, "Next time, bring me your other brother from your father. As you can see, I give each of you a certain amount of grain, I am a polite host. If you do not bring him, do not come to us for we shall not give you any more grain.
Surah Yusuf, 12:58- 60

On their return home, the brothers related their experiences to their father, praising the generosity and hospitality of Prophet Yusuf (AS). When they opened their bags they were delighted to see that their money had been returned. Soon they were out of grain and were impatient to go back to Egypt to get more. However, they could not go back without Binyameen, so they tried to convince their father to let him come with them. Prophet Ya'qub (AS) refused to let them take Binyameen, saying that they would do the same thing with him as they did with Prophet Yusuf (AS).

After repeated promises the brothers finally convinced him that they would sincerely look after Binyameen, so he let him accompany them to Egypt.
When they reached Egypt, the brothers proceeded to the court of Prophet Yusuf (AS) and presented their brother Binyameen to him. Prophet Yusuf (AS) was extremely happy to see his younger brother and invited all of them to dine with him. Later he gave them all accommodation at his own house, and asked Binyameen to sleep in his room. During the night, Prophet Yusuf (AS) revealed his identity to Binyameen.

He explained how he had been raised from a lowly slave to a position of great power by the Grace of Allah. However, he asked Binyameen not to tell their brothers anything of their conversation.

1. Prophet Yusuf's (AS) Plan to Detain Binyameen

After they had received their requirement of wheat, the brothers of Prophet Yusuf (AS) began to prepare for their journey home. Meanwhile, according to the command of Allah, Prophet Yusuf (AS) put into action a plan to detain his full brother Binyameen. He ordered his men to put a gold cup belonging to the king in Binyameen's baggage. The Holy Qur'an describes the incident in the following words:

When he (Yusuf) had furnished them with provisions, (someone) placed the (king's) drinking cup in his brother's baggage. Then someone shouted, "People of the caravan, you are most surely thieves."
Surah Yusuf, 12:70

The brothers of Prophet Yusuf (AS) had not gone very far when they were stopped and accused of stealing. They denied this, and said that if anyone of them was found guilty of theft, he could be held as a slave by Prophet Yusuf (AS). The caravan was searched, and the cup was found in the bag of Binyameen.

When the brothers were brought before Prophet Yusuf (AS), he said, "According to your own words, we will now detain Binyameen with us." They replied, "O Aziz of Egypt! Our father is old and weak. You may detain any of us, but not Binyameen." However, Prophet Yusuf (AS) said that he could not detain anyone who was not guilty. The brothers had no choice but to leave for Kanaan. The eldest brother, Yahuda, refused to return without Binyameen. He remained behind in Egypt, rather than face his father.

2. The Reunion of the family of Prophet Ya'qub (AS)

When the brothers returned to Kanaan and told Prophet Ya'qub (AS) what had happened, he was heartbroken.
He had already lost his eyesight crying for his beloved son Prophet Yusuf (AS), and this second loss was almost too much for him to bear. He now recalled the memory of his lost sons and wept.

He asked his sons to immediately return to Egypt to look for both Prophet Yusuf (AS) and Binyameen. According to their father's instructions, the brothers came to the Aziz of Egypt for the third time, and pleaded for the release of Binyameen as well as some grain for food.

Prophet Yusuf (AS) reminded them of how badly they had treated their brother Yusuf, and caused separation between him and his father. The brothers were amazed to hear their secret from the Aziz, who now spoke in the language of the people of Kanaan. They asked him, "Are you Yusuf?"

He replied, "Yes, I am Yusuf, and this is my brother. Allah has been gracious to me. One who is pious and patient against hardships is always rewarded by Allah for his virtues." On hearing this, the brothers hung their heads in shame and asked him for his forgiveness. He said, "You need not be frightened of me. Allah may forgive you your sins. Now take my shirt and cover my father's face with it, so that he may regain his lost sight. Then return to me with all your family."

The Holy Qur'an says:
When the caravan had left the town (from Egypt), their father (in Kanaan) said, "I smell Yusuf's fragrance. I hope you will not think that I am weak in judgement (due to my love for him). They said, "By Allah ! You are still making the same old error. When someone brought him the glad news, Yusuf's shirt was placed on his face and his eyesight was restored. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know about Allah that which you do not know?"
Surah Yusuf, 12:94-96

After getting his eyesight back and hearing the good news of his son, Prophet Ya'qub (AS) decided to proceed to Egypt immediately. Prophet Yusuf (AS) was delighted to meet them and embraced his father and mother.
As a token of their gratitude to Allah at this reunion, his parents and brothers prostrated themselves on the ground.

Thus Allah made true the dream of Prophet Yusuf (AS), when he had seen eleven stars and the sun and the moon in prostration in front of him. After many trials, Allah raised him from the position of a slave to the highest rank in the land.
At the request of his son, Prophet Ya'qub (AS) settled in Egypt with his family, and their clan came to be known as the Bani Israa'il.

Prophet Ya'qub (AS) lived in Egypt for 17 years and died at the age of 147. Prophet Yusuf (AS) breathed his last some years later at the age of 110 years, and his kingdom passed into the hands of rulers whose titles were Fir'aun.

Moral Lessons from the Story of Prophet Yusuf (AS)

Allah says the following about the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) in the Holy Qur'an:
We narrate unto you (O Muhammad) the most excellent of the stories (by which) We have revealed unto you this Qur'an; though before this you were of the unaware ones (of its details).
Surah Yusuf, 12:3

Indeed, the adventures and experiences of Prophet Yusuf (AS), and his conduct throughout his life, provide us with a wealth of lessons and morals. Some things we may learn from his life are:

1. The belief in the presence of Allah makes a man's troubles easier for him to bear, and as long as he keeps himself away from sins despite temptations, he will ultimately be successful. Prophet Yusuf (AS) taught us this by his cheerful conduct throughout his enslavement and imprisonment.

2. In all difficulties and hardships one should seek only Allah's protection. Prophet Yusuf (AS) showed his faith by seeking refuge from Allah when faced with the evil intentions of Zuleikha. He was thus saved from committing a terrible sin.

3. One should always remain attached to religion and should take every opportunity to persuade others towards the right path. Prophet Yusuf (AS) did not forsake his duty even when in the prison, where he preached against idol worship before interpreting the dreams of his cell-mates.

4. Patience in the face of hardship is the best of qualities and results in reward from Allah in this life and the hereafter. Prophet Yusuf (AS) remained calm and resigned to the Will of Allah, despite being abandoned in the well by his brothers.
He also bore the shame of being sold as a slave patiently.
He also accepted his false imprisonment. In return for his forbearance, Allah raised his position till it was the highest in Egypt.

5. It is important to act in such a manner as to preserve your honour and dignity, and these qualities must always be safeguarded. Prophet Yusuf (AS) taught us this valuable lesson when he refused to accept his freedom from prison until his innocence was proved to the people.
Thus when he was finally released, he knew he could come in front of the people with his head held high and without any blemish on his record.

6. Above all, this story teaches us that we should forgive and forget the past. When Prophet Yusuf's (AS) brothers came to him in Egypt, they were in a pitiable condition and would have been helpless against his great power. If he had wished, Prophet Yusuf (AS) could have severely punished them for the heartless treatment they had given him. Instead he forgave their errors and treated them well.

We have listed only a few lessons above, and there is a lot more that one can learn and understand from the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS).

Prophet Ibrahim was a hundred years old. His wife was ninety years old. He was an old man, and she was an old woman. They bad no children.

Ismael, Ibrahim's son, was fourteen years of age. He lived in Makkah. Ibrahim visited him from year to year.

Dear ones, in the story of Prophet Lot, you have read that three guests came to save Lot from the people who did bad deeds.

You have also read that the guests visited Prophet Ibrahim first. Prophet Ibrahim was sad for the people of Lot. He expected that they would face a severe punishment because of their ugly deeds.

Allah, our Lord, wanted to make Ibrahim glad. So He gave him good news of a son from Sarah. The boy's name was Ishaq. He would be of the Prophets. Ishaq would also have a son. The son would be of the Prophets.

Sarah heard the good news. She was astonished at it. So she said: "How will I bear a son? This husband of mine is an old man. Most surely this is a wonderful thing."

The angels said to her: "Do not wonder at Allah's order. Surely Allah has power over all things."

The miracle took place in this way.

The old woman, who was ninety years old, gave birth to a boy. The boy's name was Ishaq. Ishaq was a generous Prophet.

Prophet Ibrahim rejoiced at Ishaq's birth. For many Prophets would be among the children of Ishaq. They would convey the message of oneness and light to all people.

Ishaq grew up. He conveyed the inheritance of Ibrahim. He conveyed the message of Allah. He was faithful in propagating it. He did as the other Prophets did.

The glad news of the angels was true. Allah gave Ishaq a son. The son's name was Ya'qub.

Allah, the Glorified, blessed the family of Ibrahim. Ya'qub became a Prophet. Then be undertook the message.

Prophet Ya'qub married. Allah gave him ten sons. The sons' names are Sham'on, Lawi, Rawbin, Yahudha, Yasakir, Zobolon, Dan, Naftali, Jadu, and Asbir.

Then Prophet Ya'qub married his cousin, Rahil, and she bore him Yousif and Benyamin.

Prophet Ya'qub had twelve sons.

Ibrahim's family lived in the land of Palestine. That land was good. It was full of meadows, pastures and olive trees.

Prophet Ya'qub, like his father Ishaq and his grandfather the Friend of the Merciful (Allah), was generous. He helped the poor. He entertained guests and strangers.

For this reason Prophet Ya'qub salughtered a ram every day. He divided some of the ram's meat among the poor. He and his family ate the rest.

There was a good person called Damyal. Damyal was poor. One day he was fasting. He had no food to break his fast. He thought that Ya'qub would send him some meat.

As usual, Ya'qub butchered a ram. He divided the ram's meat among the poor. He and his family ate the rest. They spent that night full.

As for Damyal, the poor person, he spent that night hungry. He intended to fast on the following day also.

Damyal was fasting on that day. The pain of hunger doubled. He had nothing to break his fast in the evening. He slept hungry. He bore the pain of hunger and slept.

The Dream

That night the exciting events of the story which took place thousands of years before started.

Yousif was nine years old. He was a handsome boy. Light shone from his eyes. His heart was full of purity.

His handsomeness glittered in his face and his eyes which shined with purity.

For this reason his father loved him very much.

Prophet Ya'qub thought that Yousif would be a Prophet. He firmly believed that Allah would choose Yousif a Prophet after him.

Yousif was not only handsome in his face but also in his soul, morals, and qualities.

When someone saw Yousif, he felt that he was before the angel who came down from the sky. So all the people loved him.

His father Ya'qub loved him more than anybody. Yousif was as pure as dew drops. His eyes were as clear as the sky. His face was as bright as the stars.

For this reason his ten brothers envied him. First they envied him, and then they bore malice against him. Then they wished death on him. Perhaps they planned to get rid of him.

That night Yousif closed his eyes. He was heedless of his brothers plots.

Yousif'saw a wonderful dream. He saw eleven stars. He saw the sun and the moon. He saw them all prostrating to him.

The sight was wonderful. It astonished the onlooker. Yousif thought that those stars and the sun and the moon had feelings, so they came to prostrate to him.

The matter was wonderful. Yousif was astonished. He thought that those heavenly bodies smiled at him and glorified him.

The dream enlightened his heart. It shook his feelings. He woke. However, the dream was still controlling his feelings.

His heart, chest, and entity were full of that dream. The pictures of the stars, the sun, and the moon were still in his mind, as if they were before his eyes.

The dream shook his feelings, for he did not know how to explain it. He was bewildered, not knowing how to explain it. Thus, he came to his father and said: "O my father, surely I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon. I saw them prostrating to me."

"Father, I saw them coming together, and then they prostrated to me. I felt that the stars understood what they did. I felt that they smiled at me, and then they prostrated to me humbly."

Prophet Ya'qub listened carefully to Yousif's dream. He understood that Yousif would be of great importance in the future.

Thus, he said to his son kindly: "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brother, lest they plot against you. Surely Satan is an open enemy to man."

He added: "My little son, don't tell your brother about this wonderful dream; they'll envy you. Perhaps Satan whispers in their ears.

"Yousif, Allah, the Glorified, will choose you to announce His message. My son, Allah will bless you as He had your grandfathers before. He will bless you as he had blessed Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub's family."

The Plot

Envy doubled in the souls of Yousif's ten brothers. Their malice against him increased. Perhaps, they heard about the dream. Perhaps they knew that their father loved Yousif more than them.

Yousif's brothers went to the pastures every day to graze their cattle. They asked each other: "How can we get rid of Yousif"?

Satan whispered evil to them: "Take Yousif to the pastures and get rid of him."

The plot was carried out in this way.

Days passed. They showed love towards Yousif They smiled at him. They tempted him to go to play in those beautiful pastures.

Yousif was innocent and good. He was as pure as his white shirt.

So he believed his brothers. He believed in their false love. Thus, he wanted to go with them to those pretty meadows.

However, Prophet Ya'qub feared for the safety of his son. He was afraid that his brothers would kill him. So he did not allow him to go with them.

One day the ten brothers came back from the pastures. They smiled at Yousif and said to him. "How beautiful those pastures and meadows are! Yousif, why don't you come with us"?

Yousif liked going with his brothers. Meanwhile he obeyed his father. He did not do anything without his father's permission.

Yousif's ten brothers said: "We'll speak to our father to let you go with us."

Yousif rejoiced at that.

They all sat to eat their dinner silently. Only the ten brothers exchanged meaningful looks.

They spun an ugly plot as spiders spin their fearful webs.

First they smiled at Yousif and showed love towards him, and then they asked their father: "O our father, why you do not trust us with respect to Yousif? Most surely, we are sincere to him."

"Father, we love Yousif. We love him very much."

"Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and excersie sport, and surely we will guard him well."

"Father, let him go with us tomorrow to play in the pastures. We'll guard him well and return him safely."

Ya'qub did not want Yousif to go with his brothers. He firmly believed that they would envy him, and that Satan would deceive them.

For this reason Ya'qub said to them with sadness: "Surely it grieves me that you should take him off, and I fear lest the wolf devour him while you are heedless of him."

"My children, I love Yousif He's still young. Perhaps you're heedless of him. There are many wolves. I'm afraid that a wolf will eat him."

His ten sons said: "We're ten persons. How will the wolf eat Yousif? We're strong men, so we'll guard him well. 'Surely if the wolf should devour him not withstanding that we are a (strong) company, we should then certainly be losers.'"

The ten brothers swore that they would guard Yousif well till they returned him safely.

Ya'qub (AS) kept silent. He said nothing. All his sons understood that he was satisfied with Allah's decree.

Persons like Wolves

Dawn broke. The ten brothers got ready to go to the distant meadows and pastures.

Yousif was glad to go with them.

They smiled at Yousif. Thus Yousif loved them very much. He was like an angel. There was nothing in his heart except love, mercy, and good.

All the brothers took their cattle and went away.

They arrived at the pastures. They were unable to see their tents. So that smile disappeared. It melted as salt melts in water.

Yahudha came. He hit Yousif hard and shouted at him: "Rahil's son, hurry up!"

Yousif was astonished at this act. He looked at his brother with astonishment. He thought that his brother was joking with him. However, his brother was not joking. His eyes were flashing with wickedness. His teeth appeared. They were like those of a wild wolf.

Yousif was afraid of his brothers. He walked quickly. Suddenly another brother hit him. He fell on his face. Then he looked at the brother who hit him. It was Sham'on who hit him.

Yousif'said with pain: "Sham'on, why've you hit me? I'm your brother. I'm Ya'qub's son."

Rawbin shouted at Yousif. "Be silent! Don't say anything! You're Rahil's son!"

Yousif wept. He burst into tears. He said to his brother: "I'm your brother! I'm Yousif!"

His brothers gathered about him and shouted at him: "You're our enemy! You've controlled Ya'qub's heart!"

However, their eyes flashed with wickedness. One of them drew his dagger to kill Yousif. Yousif ran, not knowing where to go.

They chased and caught him. They began hitting him. Yousif's nose bled.

The ten brothers exchanged looks.

One of them said: "What're you waiting for? This is a good opportunity to get rid of Yousif"

Another brother said: "Let's take him a distant place. There the wolves will eat him."

One of them opposed this view, saying: "Perhaps he's able to return. So he'll expose us before our father."

Sham'on said: "Listen to me. Let's take him to the way of passengers. There's a deep well. We'll throw him into the well. He'll die in the well. If he won't die, passengers will take him out of the well. They'll sell him as a slave."

All the brothers listened carefully to Sbam'on's plan. They all agreed on that low plot.

The ten brothers were as wild as wolves. They knew nothing except treason. Yousif looked at his brothers with astonishment. He thought that he saw a dream. Then he said to himself: "No, it's not a dream. It's the truth. My brothers have plotted against me for a long time."

Then the ten brothers were able to achieve their aim. They took him to the desert. They did not want anyone to see them or to know their act towards Yousif.

Yousif looked at the sky. Then he said to himself. "Don't my brothers know that Allah sees them all and knows their secret intentions"?

Yousif heard them say: "We'll turn to Allah in repentance. We'll be good people."

In the Deep Well

Till that moment Yousif did not believe that his brothers would betray him.

However, he found himself at the edge of the well. So he knew that Satan had controlled his brothers. His brothers were like wolves. They were merciless.

They took his beautiful white shirt, which his father had given him.

Yousif'shouted aloud: "I'm your brother! I want to return to my father and mother and my tent! Brothers, I love you! Sham'on, Rawbin, Yahudha, why are going to throw me into this dark well?"

Yousif called his brothers by their names. However, no one of them showed mercy towards his brother.

One of them began hitting Yousif. Yousif was unstable on the edge of the well, so he fell into the deep well. The air in the well was wet. The space in it was dark. Yousif looked at the opening of the well, and then he looked at the clear blue sky.

Yousif felt that his heart was full of light. An angel said to him: "Yousif, be patient. You'll get out of the well. You'll blame your brothers for their act towards you."

Yousif became calm, for he believed in Allah. He was confident that Allah wanted to test him. For this reason he became patient. He waited for the final result.

Silence covered the place. Yousif was in the well now. He sat on the rock from which water came out. He looked at the sky. It got dark. He thought that his brothers would go home. He wept for his father, and then he slept.

The Long Sadness

The sun set. The ten brothers were still thinking of an acceptable excuse to give to their father.

One of them said: "The land's full of wolves. We say to him that we went to play and left our food and water near Yousif. A wolf came and ate him. We must stain Yousif's shirt with blood and give it to our father."

On that day a sheep gave birth to a little lamb. They slaughtered the lamb without mercy before it's mother. They stained Yousif's shirt with the lamb's blood.

Then they went home.

The dark covered the land. They wanted to go home during the dark so that their father would not see the marks of lying on their faces.

Prophet Ya'qub stood at the tents waiting for the return of his children. In the distance, he beard his sheep bleating and his sons weeping.

Little by little, his sons appeared. Yousif was not with them. They all came except Yousif,

Ya'qub heard them weep loudly without tears.

Ya'qub asked his sons: "Where's your brother?"

They continued weeping. Sbam'on gave him Yousif's shirt stained with blood. Then he said to his father: "We went to play and left our food and water near Yousif. A wolf came and ate Yousif. We found his shirt stained with blood. Father, the wolf ate Yousif when we were heedless of him."

Ya'qub looked at the shirt. The shirt was sound. There was no tear in it. Ya'qub understood that his sons were liars.

He wept and said: "The wolf was kind to my son. It ate my dear Yousif but it did not tear his shirt.

The ten brothers looked at each other. They said to themselves: "How stupid we are! Why were we heedless of this matter'? If we had torn Yousif's shirt, our father would have believed us."

They did not admit their crime. Rather, they said: "Father, why don't you believe us'? You know that we never tell lies. The wolf ate Yousif. This is Yousif's shirt stained with blood."

Ya'qub wept. Tears began to flow from his eyes. Then he said: "No, your souls have made the matter light for you, but patience is good and Allah is He whose help is sought for against what you describe."

Ya'qub said: "I'll be patient. I'll endure. I know that your souls whispered evil to you."

On that night, Prophet Ya'qub (lid not sleep. He asked himself: "Where's Yousif? Where's my obedient son?" Ya'qub's long sadness began from that night.

A Pearl in the Well

Allah, the Glorified, did not leave Yousif alone. He supports all good people.

Yousif was sad. However, he was patient. He firmly believed that Allah wanted to test him. For this reason he looked at the sky and praised Allah.

Yousif dreamt that eleven stars, the sun, and the moon came into the well. So the well was full of light. He saw them smiling at him and prostrating to him.

Yousif woke. He looked at the blue sky. He saw some white birds flying high in the sky. So he burst into tears for his father.

Three days passed. Yousif was still in the well. He was like a pearl in a deep sea.

He was like a pearl in the dark. No one knew that there was the most beautiful pearl in the well. It was Yousif's soul. Yousif was a handsome, pure young man. No one knew that except Allah.

Three days passed. Yousif had not eaten anything. He drank only water. Yousif was used to fasting. He fasted with his father. So he bore the pain of hunger with patience.

For this reason his soul was transparent and pure. It was like the wings of the emigrating white birds.

The Camel Caravan

Yousif spent three days in the well, He heard nothing except the howling of the wolves that walked about the desert.

Suddenly, he heard strange voices. He listened carefully to the voices. He said to himself. "Yes, it's a trade caravan." He knew that from the footfall of the carnels and the voices of the men.

The caravan stopped by the well. The merchants sent their water-drawer to get them some water from the well.

The water-drawer threw his bucket into the well. Yousif was waiting for this moment. When he saw the rope of the bucket, he was full of happiness. He thought that the rope would save him from the well. So he caught it strongly. Allah did not forget his servant, so He saved him from that dark well.

Yousif came out of the well as the pearl came out of the shell. He lighted the place when he made his way through the dark.

The water-drawer was not afraid when he saw Yousif. So he shouted: "Good news! This is a youth!"

The merchants thought that Yousif was a slave. They thought that he escaped and fell into the well.

For this reason, they did not ask him about his tribe, his origin, and his story. They numbered him as one of the goods they would sell in Egypt.

Egypt

The caravan continued its journey to Egypt. After twelve days, it arrived in Egypt. There began a new chapter of Yousif's story.

Yousif was now in Egypt, where the Nile river flows.

Yousif was still a youth. He was among the goods the merchants wanted to sell in Egypt. Allah wanted to test him in that land.

Yousif learned silence. However, his heart was full of love. He loved Allah, for Allah, the Glorified, was kind to him

The merchants were afraid of Yousif's silence. They said to each other: "If Yousif says that he's not a slave, he'll expose us!" For this reason, they wanted to sell him at a low price.

Yousif found himself in a new land. He had never seen the land before. He saw the Nile flowing from the south. He saw boats floating on the water of the Nile. He saw farmers taking water with their buckets to water their farms.

The merchants showed their wood and silver. They also showed Yousif. They wanted to sell him at a low price.

On that day, the Commander-in-chief of Egypt's Security Forces came. He himself checked the caravan.

The Commander-in-chief checked the caravan. He saw Yousif He asked the merchants: "Who's that handsome youth?"

"He's a youth for sale," replied the merchants.

"How much should pay for him?" asked the Commander-in-chief.

"We'll sell him for twenty dirhams only."

The Commander-in-chief paid them twenty dirhams. He took Yousif and went away.

Yousif now lived in a wide palace. Pretty gardens surrounded the palace. The palace belonged to the Commander-in-chief of Egypt.

Yousif entered the palace. He saw a beautiful lady. He knew that the lady was the Commander-in-chief's wife. She was the owner of the magnificent palace.

The Commander-in-chief said to his wife: "Give him an honorable abode. He's a good youth. Maybe he is useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. We don't have a son. So we must adopt Yousif as a son."

Zulaykha looked at Yousif. Yousif was a handsome youth. His face was bright, and his eyes were clear. He was like an angel who came down from the sky.

On that day Yousif took a bath, and wore a new garment. The garment was made of flax. It was thinner than silk.

The Egyptians at that time grew flax. They made various garments of flax.

Yousif lived as a master in the palace. However, the law of the country regarded Yousif as the slave of the Commander-in-chief and his wife. That is because they possessed him.

Thus, Yousif lived in one of the most magnificent palaces in Egypt.

was Yousif happy with his new life'? The answer is no.

He longed for his father and those pastures. There he lived a tranquil life. He worshipped Allah, the One and Only. He did not associate anyone with Him.

As for the people in Egypt, they worshipped idols. They also worshipped the King.

However Yousif led a life full of patience and faith, He believed in Allah and His Prophets Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub.

Yousif lived. His heart increased in faith day by day. His eyes became clearer and clearer.

All the people loved him. They loved his purity, manhood, and his morals. He also loved the people. He did a lot of good for them. He helped the poor. When he saw a tired farmer, he helped him. When he saw an old worker, he helped him.

Such was Yousif's life. He grew every year. His soul grew every day. His heart grew and grew, so it was filled with mercy and good.

Years passed. Yousif was eighteen years of age. The truth lighted his heart. He felt the truth day by day. The truth became as bright as the Sun and the stars.

Yousif believed in Allah. He adored him. He was God-fearing.

The Difficult Test

Yousif was now in the bloom of youth. He lived in a magnificent palace. However, all those things did not corrupt Yousif's soul.

His soul remained as white as the wings of the white pigeons.

In the magnificent palace Yousif's test began. All the people loved Yousif. Yousif's test began from this love.

Yousif lived in that magnificent palace. The owner of the palace was a beautiful lady. Her name was Zulaykha.

Zulaykha loved Yousif. She adored him. She did not love his pure soul. Rather, she loved his handsomeness. For this reason, she wanted to possess Yousif.

Yousif was her hope in life. She always thought of him, to the extent that "he affected her deeply with (his) love."

She looked at him with love. However, she treated him as a humble prisoner of war.

She approached Yousif, but he escaped from her. Yousif did not want to corrupt his soul. He wanted his soul to be as pure as dew drops. He wanted it to be as white as the wings of the white pigeons.

Yousif's test began this way. Zulaykha wanted him to commit an ugly deed. She wanted him to break the promise he made with his Lord. She wanted him to corrupt his pure soul. However, Yousif wanted Zulaykha to be faithful, pure and chaste.

For this reason Yousif escaped from Zulaykha. He escaped from sin. As for Zulaykha, she fell in love with Yousif. Thus she thought about away to make him submit to her.

One day there was no one in the palace except Zulaykha and Yousif. Zulaykha waited for such an opportunity. While Yousif was doing some of his work, Zulaykha closed all the doors of the palace and said to him: "Come forward!"

Yousif understood what Zu1aykha wanted. So he said to her with anger: "I seek Allah's refuge! Surely, my Lord has made my abode good!"

However, love moved Zulaykha. Thus, she wanted to force Yousif to approach her, As for Yousif, he prevented her from doing that. He escaped through the corridors of the palace.

Little by little Yousif became calm. He was bewildered, not knowing how to avoid that test. As for Zulaykha, she thought that Yousif had submitted to her desire. She looked at an idol in the palace. She was ashamed of herself . So she covered the face of the idol with a piece of cloth. When Yousif saw her doing that, he asked her: "What are you doing?"

Zulaykha replied: "I'm shy before my god. I don't want him to see me in this state."

Thus, Yousif scold Zulaykha, saying: "Are you shy of an idol that doesn't understand anything? If so, then why don't I feel shy in front of my Lord, Who's created and honored me"?

Yousif said that and tried to escape towards the door. However, Zulaykha chased him quickly. She siezed his shirt and tore it. Yousif was able to open the door. At that moment he saw Zulaykha's husband at the door.

Zulaykha was filled with anger. She wanted her husband to punish Yousif severly. Thus, she said to him: "What is the punishment of him who intends evil to your wife except imprison,ent or a painful torture"?

Yousif wanted to defend himself, so he said: "She wanted to tempt me!"

The Commander-in-chief was perplexed, not knowing what to do. Then he asked himself: "Which one's truthful- Zulaykha or Yousif?

There was a person with the Commander-in-chief. The person was Zulaykha's cousin. He said to Commander-in-chief: "Look at Yousif's shirt. If the shirt is torn in the chest, then Zulaykha's truthful. If it's torn in the back, then Yousif is truthful."

The Commander-in-chief looked at Yousif's shirt. He saw it torn in the back. He understood the truth. So he turned to his wife and said to her: "Surely, it is a guile of you women, surely your guile is great."

Then he said to Yousif. "Yousif, forget this."

Then he ordered his wife to ask Allah for forgiveness, saying: "Ask forgiveness for your fault."

Every thing was over. Yousif and Zulaykha continued life as usual. However, Zulaykha went on bothering Yousif. She threatened him, saying: "If you don't response to what I want, I'll torture and imprison you!" She always thought of Yousif. She refused to meet anyone except Yousif, Her friends in the city did not see her.

The women of the city heard of the story, They were astonished to hear it. They asked each other: "Why has Zulaykha loved her slave boy'? Isn't she the mistress of the women of the country'!"

The Angel

Zulaykha heard of what was happening in the city. She heard that the woman of the city were mocking her. So she thought of a thing to silence them.

Zulaykha invited her friends, and they accepted her invitation quickly. They came to her magnificent palace.

Zulaykha had prepared excellent furniture for them. The women sat silently before her. The slave boys came carrying trays of fruit. Conversations took place. Then Zulaykha asked her friends to eat fruit. All the woman took knives to skin the fruit. They were busy talking with Zulaykha. They forgot why they came to her.

At that moment, Zulaykha ordered one of her slave boys to summon Yousif quickly.

Yousif obeyed his mistress and came. He had worn a beautiful garment. When he came, he lighted the place. He stood before his mistress.

At that moment Yousif looked like an angel. His face shone with light. They women looked at him. They admired his handsomeness.

Yousif's handsomeness was attractive. So the women admired it. They became absent minded, so they cut their fingers with their knives.

Yousif charmed the women with his own handsomeness. Thus, the women said loudly: "Far Allah is (from imperfection); this is not a mortal; this is but a noble angel."

Yousif'saw the women looking at him with astonishment. His test doubled when he heard Zulaykha say: "This is he with respect to whom you blame me, and certainly I want him to yield to me, but he abstained, and if be does not do what I bid him, he shall be certainly imprisoned, and he shall certainly be of those who are in the state of ignominy."

There was nothing before Yousif except two choices- the way of Satan or the way of prison.

Yousif looked at the sky and said humbly: "My Lord, the prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to!"

Yousif preferred prison and torture to that life of corruption.

For this reason be asked Allah to save him from Satan's wickedness: "And if You do not turn away their vice frorn me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant."

The lights of the heaven lighted Yousif's heart. So he was not ready to listen to Satan's whisper. He preferred torture and prison to that.

Allah, the Glorified, accepted Yousif's prayers.

The Commander-in-chief of Egypt's security forces said: "I must imprison Yousif for a certain period of time to put an end to the rumors."

Thus, Yousif was imprisoned without fault. The jailer saw Yousif's morals and qualities, so he said to him: "I love you, Yousif. You're a good youth. It is an act of oppression that they've imprisoned you."

The jailer's words moved Yousif. Thus, Yousif said to the jailer: "Cousin, I don't want anyone to love me except Allah, for this love has caused me many troubles: My aunt loved me, and she ascribed theft to me. My father loved me, and my brothers envied me and threw me into the well. The Commander's-in-chief's wife loved me and ordered me to be imprisoned."

In Prison

Yousif was now in prison. Days and months passed. Yousif was still in prison. He bore all that torture to be pure.

Two people were imprisoned, They were among the King's slave boys, The king was angry with them and ordered them to be imprisoned. Yousif's morals and qualities affected the two people, and they made friends with him.

Yousif asked them about their jobs.

One of then replied: "I'm the cupbearer of the King. I gave him wine."

The other answered: "I'm the cook of the King."

Then the two persons asked Yousif about his job and he replied: "I'm the interpreter of dreams."

Days passed. Many people were in the prison. Yousif took care of them and was kind to them. He also took care of their food and beds. Thus, the prisoners knew that Yousif loved them and was kind to them.

One night all the prisoners slept. The cupbearer of the King dreamt that he was pressing wine. The cook of the King dreamt that he was carrying bread on his head, and that some birds were eating of the bread.

In the morning when they woke, they related their dreams to each other.

However, they could not interpret their dreams. So they decided to ask Yousif about them.

One of them said to him: "I saw myself pressing wine."

The other said: "I saw myself carrying bread on my head, of which birds ate."

"Inform us of its interpretation. Surely, we see that you are among the doers of good."

Allah, the Glorified, granted Yousif a wonderful ability to interpret dreams. Yousif knew those dreams and interpreted them as if he saw truth not dreams.

Yousif propagated Allah's Message

Yousif'seized the opportunity to summon the two prisoners to serve Allah, the One and Only. He wanted them to have absolute trust in him, so he said to them: "I know every thing, even the food the jailers brings to you. Allah's given me knowledge. That's because I've abandoned the worship of pagans, and I've served Allah, the One and Only."

"I've followed the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub."

"Allah's bestowed this blessing, on us, ahl al-Bayt and upon people. However, most people don't thank (Allah for this blessing)."

The two prisoners listened carefully to Yousif's logical words.

Then Yousif asked them: "Friends, which is better - serving various gods or serving Allah, the One and Only?"

He added: "Allah's everlasting,. The things you worship are mere useless names and idols. They've neither strength nor power. Strength belongs to Allah only, My religion asks you to believe in Allah's oneness."

Yousif kept silent for a few moinents, and then he said: "Friends, one of you will go back to his job. He'll press wine for the King. As for the other, he'll be crucified and birds will eat of his head.

The person who saw birds eating bread on his head was afraid, so he said to Yousif. "I dreamt nothing. I've told you a lie!

"The matter concerning which you inquired is decreed", explained Yousif.

Then Yousif turned to the cupbearer of the King and said to him: "Remember me with your lord."

On the following day, the jailer came and took the two prisoners. The cupbearer went to the king and continued his job. As for the cook, he was crucified.

The cupbearer of the King said to Yousif: "I'll mention you with your lord. I'll tell him that you're wronged, and that you've been imprisoned without guilt.

However, the cupbearer forgot his promise. For this reason, Yousif remained in prison for several years. Yousif bore those years with patience and faith. He was confident that Allah would not forget him.

The King's Dream

One night the King went to his bed to sleep. He had a wonderful dream.

He saw seven beautiful fat cows grazing in the green fields on the bank of the rivrr. Suddenly, seven ugly thin cows appeared. They walked toward the seven fat ones and ate them all. The King awoke with fright from the dream. Then he slept and dreamt again.

He saw seven green stalks full of grain. Beside them, he saw seven dry empty stalks. The seven dry empty stalks swallowed up the seven green stalks.

Again the king awoke from his dream. The dream made him worried. Thus, he sent for his statesmen. Then he held a meeting with them.

The King talked about his wonderful dream. He talked about the seven ugly thin cows that appeared from beyond the bank of the river and ate the seven beautiful fat ones.

He also talked about the seven dry empty stalks that swallowed up the seven green oncs.

The statesmen thought of the King's dream. However, all their efforts were useless.

The cupbearer was filling the cups with wine.

The states men said to the King: "They're confusing dreams. They're mere meaningless dreams."

When they saw that the King was grieved, they said to him: "We don't know the interpretation of dreams."

Suddenly, at those moments, while the King was looking for an interpretation to his dream, the cupbearer said: "I'll inform you of its interpretation, so let me go."

The King wondered at the cupbearer. However, the cupbearer told the King of what had happened to him some years ago. He said to him: "My friend, the cook, and I were in prison. We had wonderful dreams. We related our dreams to Yousif. Yousif interpreted them, and his interpretation was true."

Thus, the King sent the cupbearer to Yousif.

The Economic Crisis

The cupbearer went to the prison. He came to Yousif and said to him: "Yousif, truthful one, explain to us the dream of the King. He saw seven thin cows devouring seven fat ones. He saw seven green stalks and (seven) others dry. Yousif, interpret this dream to me. Then, I'll go back to the King and his statesmen. So they'll know your position and truthfulness."

Yousif saw the facts clearly. Allah had endowed him with the ability to interpret dreams. Warning them against the future economic crisis, Yousif said: "You shall sow continuously for seven years. Then leave what you reap in its stalk except a little of which you eat. Then there shall come after that seven hard years which shall eat away all that you have before-hand laid up in store for them, except a little of what you shall have preserved. Then there will come after that a year in which people shall have rain in which they shall press (grapes)."

The cupbearer set off carrying Yousif's words to the King and his statesmen.

The cupbearer stood before the King and related to him Yousif's words in detail.

The King was surprised, so he said to himself: "This means that the Nile will flow over its banks for seven years. It won't rain for seven years. The level of water in the Nile will drop. So there'll be famine."

Yousif interpreted the dream to them, and then he gave them an economic plan. That was when he said to them: "Sow continuously for the first seven years. Work hard. Collect your crops in certain stores. Be economical with your food."

"When the dry years come, your stores will be full of wheat. The stored wheat will be enough to the Egyptian people."

"When the dry years end, a new year will come, which will be blessed with rain and prosperity."

The King understood that he had a person with many abilities. The person's name was Yousif It was Yousif who suffered in prison for long years.

For this reason, the King ordered Yousif to be released, saying: "Bring him to me."

The cupbearer of the king went to the prison to release Yousif.

Did Yousif rejoice at his release? No, he did not. He refused to leave the prison. He said to the cupbearer of the King: "Go back and ask the King about the women who cut their fingers. Surely, my Lord Knows their guile."

The cupbearer came to the King and told him about Yousif's attitude, saying: "Yousif won't leave the prison till you affirm his innocence. He said: "Let the King ask the women why they've cut their fingers. The Commander-in-chief knows that I'm innocent."

The King summoned the women. The Commander-in-chief's wife herself was among them. The King asked them: "Why did you tempt Yousif?"

All the women replied: "Far is Allah (from imperfection). We firmly believe that Yousif has made no evil. He's innocent of all the accusations. He's as pure as dew drops."

The Commander-in-chief's wife herself confirmed Yousif's innocence, saying: "The truth is now in the open. It's I who tempted Yousif. All Yousif's words are truthful."

The King admired Yousif's honesty, knowledge, and patience. For this reason, he commanded: "Bring him to me. I'll choose him for myself."

Yousif's innocence was as clear as the sun. Then the King ordered Yousif to be released.

Yousif came to the King. The King had a conversation with him. He admired his vast knowledge.

Then the King said to Yousif, "Surely you are in our presence an honorable, a faithful one."

Yousif became a great character in Egypt. However, he thought of only one thing. He thought that he had to save Egypt from the future economic disaster. So he said to the King. "Place me in (authority) over the treasures of the land. Surely, I am a good knowledgeable keeper."

Yousif wanted to mange agricultural and irrigation affairs. He wanted to store crops to get ready for the years of drought and famine.

Soon, the King accepted Yousif's suggestion. Thus, Yousif became the Prophet of Egypt. He was patient. He endured all the hardships. He was believed in Allah, so his heart was pure and full of faith. Allah, the Glorified, had mercy on him. He saved him from the well, deviation from the right path, and prison. Then he made him a Prophet over the great country of Egypt.

Agriculture

Allah has endowed Egypt with the Nile. In the ancient times, people came to the Nile to irrigate their fields and farms in a primitive way. Yousif, the very truthful one (AS) came to power. He developed the way of irrigation, thus agriculture became prominent.

The people in those times used buckets to irrigate their fields. When Yousif came to power, he ordered them to build basins on the banks of the river. When the Nile flowed over its banks, the basins were full of water. Then Yousif ordered them to cut canals through their lands to carry water to their fields. Thus, agriculture bloomed and products increased.

For seven years, the people of Egypt sowed, reaped and stored seeds. Those years were full of good, blessing, and growth.

The Dry Years

The years of drought started. It did not rain in that year. The Nile did not flow over its banks. Plants withered. Fields became empty of plants. The following year came. The water of the Nile waned. Drought prevailed in Egypt and the neighboring countries.

The people of Egypt loved Yousif, for he saved them from the years of drought, and famine. Their stores were full of seeds. Yousif, the good kind person fed the hungry. He divided seeds equally among people.

Thanks to Yousif Egypt passed the economic crisis successfully. Yousif did not deny that Allah made him a favor.

Egypt and many other areas suffered from drought.

So people came to buy seeds from Egypt. Yousif, the strong person of Egypt, supplied them with seeds.

All the people left Egypt carrying wheat and other foodstuffs. Thus they admired Yousif.

During the days of Yousif, the strong person of Egypt, Egypt was full of good. People came to Egypt from everywhere. Yousif received them warmly. He was not selfish in his job and with his power. He was humble. He received people with a smile. He prepared accomodations for the travelers who came from distant places.

The Caravan of Palestine

One day a caravan from Palestine arrived in Egypt. The caravan had ten brothers. They also came to buy wheat. They had nothing except some silver dirhams.

The ten brothers came to Yousif. They bowed to him, and then they stood before him.

Yousif rose, looked at them, and greeted them.

Yousif recognized them all. He knew that they were his ten brothers. He remembered that they envied and wanted to kill him. He remembered that they threw him into the well in the desert.

Yousif knew that they were his brothers Sham'on, Rawbin, Lawi, etc.

What did Yousif do at those moments. His ten brothers did not recognize him. He had grown up. He was thirty years of age. They took his shirt and threw him into the deep well. However, Allah did not forget His sincere servant, Yousif. Yousif was now the powerful man of Egypt. He wore the royal uniform. Guards and soldiers surrounded him. In his band were the keys of stores full of wheat.

What would Yousif do? Would he dismiss his ten brotbers? Would be punish them? The answer is certainly 'no'.

Why didn't Yousif do that? He did not do that because his heart was full of faith. His heart had nothing except love and good.

Yousif was a Prophet. He wanted to teach people morals. He wanted to guide thern to believe in Allah.

Yousif received his ten brothers warmly. He accommodated them in the Rest House. He accepted their goods and supplied them with wheat. So they loved him very much.

Yousif filled all their containers with wheat. He treated them kindly. He asked them about their country. He asked them about their number. They told him about everything. They said to him: "Ya'qub is among Ibrahim's children. We're twelve brothers. One of us died. His name was Yousif. A wolf ate him."

"Where's your other brother?" asked Yousif.

"Our father didn't send him with us they answered.

Why?" asked Yousif

"Because he sent his brother Yousif with us and a wolf ate him they answered, "so he hasn't sent Benyamin with us. He fears for his life as he had feared for Yousif's life before."

Yousif welcomed his brothers. However, he did not let them recognize him. He did not tell them anything about himself.

Yousif asked his brothers about their homeland. They also told him that their father Ya'qub was sad. They told him that their father wept for Yousif till he lost his sight. They told him that their father's eyes became white because of sadness.

They told him that their father loved Yousif whom a wolf had eaten twenty years ago.

Yousif ordered his workers to fill the containers of his brothers with wheat. As for him, he went to a distant place among the trees and began weeping. He wept for his parents and his brother Benyamin. He longed for them.

The Return

Yousif went to oversee supplying his brothers with wheat. Then he ordered the Wheat Official to put the silver dirhams secretly in the containers of his brothers.

Yousif understood that his brothers led a poor life. Thus, he returned their dirhams to them and did not tell them about it.

Yousif came to see his brothers off. Then he asked them: "Are you satisfied with the measure."

"Yes, we are," they replied.

Then Yousif requested: "When you come to Egypt, bring me your brother Benyamin. When you bring him, we'll add a measure to your share. If you don't bring him, don't come to Egypt."

One of them said: "We'll do our best to persuade his father to allow him to come with us."

Yousif's ten brothers went back to the land of al-Khalil. They told their father about what had happened. They said to him: "The Chief of Egypt (Yousif) won't supply us with wheat if we don't take Benyamin with us."

Ya'qub said: "I cannot trust in you with respect to him, except as I trusted in you with respect to his brother before; but Allah is the best Keeper, and He is the most merciful of the merciful ones."

Ya'qub wept. He remembered Yousif, who had disappeared for twenty years.

When the ten brothers opened their goods, they found their money returned to them. They rejoiced very much. Thus, they came back to their father to give him the good news, saying: "Father, shall we request more than this? Our money has been returned to us with the wheat. So send our brother with us to bring wheat to our family. We will guard our brother and have an additional measure of a camel-(load)."

Ya'qub said: I will not send him with you until you give me a firm covenant from Allah that you will bring him to me, unless you are completely surrounded."

The ten brothers promised their father to take care of their brother Benyamin.

Ya'qub's fears

The ten brothers and Benyamin were prepared to go to Egypt. Ya'qub came to see them off. Then he advised them: "Sons, do not enter Egypt through one gate. Enter it through different gates. I am afraid that (people) will envy you. However, this will not avail you against the will of Allah, the Glorified."

Ya'qub (AS) was afraid that people would envy his eleven sons. He thought that an accident would happen to them and scatter them. However, he thought that Allah's will was over all things. So he said to them: "Judgment belongs to Allah only. On Him do I rely. And on Him let those who are reliant rely."

Thus, the eleven brothers set off. They crossed the desert to reach Egypt. After twelve days, they arrived at a place near Egypt.

At that place the brothers decided to enter Egypt two by two through different gates. They were eleven brothers. Who was by himself? Benyamin was by himself He entered Egypt by himself. So he was sad.

They came to the Chief of Egypt (Yousif) two by two to buy wheat. Then Benyamin came by himself to the Chief of Egypt. The moments were moving, After twenty years, Yousif looked at his brother Benyamin. Benyamin was a baby. He was now a youth. Yousif asked himself: "Why is Benyamin sad?" Then he asked him: "Why are you sad? Have you faced a misfortune?"

"No, Chief," replied Benyamin, "I've remembered my brother Yousif If he was alive, he would come with me."

"What has happened to Yousif?" asked Yousif.

Benyamin answered: "He went with my brothers to the desert and did not return. A wolf ate him. Since then I haven't seen him. I always look at his shirt stained with blood."

"My father has not believed this story of my brothers, He always weeps for Yousif."

"Benyamin, don't worry. I'm your brother Yousif. Come let's eat dinner together."

Yousif sat on the thorne of the king. He sat his brother Benyamin beside him, and talked with him to soothe him.

The Truth

Benyamin loved the Chief of Egypt (Yousif). He did not know why he loved him. He found him full of good, mercy, and kindness.

Yousif said to Benyamin: "If you saw your brother today, would you recognize him?"

"Perhaps, I would recognize his features," replied Benyamin.

Yousif wanted to please his brother, so he said to him: "Benyamin, listen to me carefully. These brothers of yours envied your brother Yousif. They took him to the desert and threw him into a well. Yousif is still living. He's endured many hardships. Surely Allah does not hold back the reward of the patient. I'm your real brother. Allah's made me a favor. He's made me the Chief of Egypt."

Benyamin could not endure the situation. He rubbed his eyes. It was as if that he was sleeping. So he looked at Yousif's features carefully. He recognized him. He embraced him, and then he wept.

Yousif wept, and then he said to his brother Benyamin: "Benyamin, don't tell your brothers about me. I'll do my best to make you stay in Egypt. I'll make a plan, so don't be sad on account of the plan."

The Plan

The ten brothers came to the Chief of Egypt (Yousif) and said to him: "Our father has asked us to take care of Benyamin, and we have promised him to do that."

Yousif ordered his workers to fill the containers of his brothers with wheat. He himself came to oversee their work. The workers were busy filling the containers with wheat. The ten brothers were busy preparing their camels.

Yousif approached the camel of his brother Benyamin He put an expesive silver cup in its bag, and then he covered the cup with wheat.

Yousif made a plan to make his brother Benyamin stay in Egypt.

The caravan headed for Palestine. In the distance, the ten bothers heard a caller saying: "Stop! You're thieves!"

The bothers were surprised except Benyamin, for he had known the plan. All the brothers came to the Egyptian guard and asked him: "What have you missed?"

The guard replied: "We've missed the King's drinking cup. Whoever brings it will have a camel load."

The brothers swore by Allah that they had not stolen anything. Then they said: "By Allah, you know that we've come not to make mischief in the land. We've come to buy wheat for our farnily."

The guard asked: "We'll search your bags. If we find a thief, how do we punish the thief?"

The ten brothers replied: "Thc thief is enslaved."

"Well we'll search all your bags," the guard explained.

Yousif himself came and searched their bags. First he searched the bags of the ten brothers, and then he searched Benyamin's bag. He put his hand into the wheat bag and took out the King's drinking cup.

All the brothers were surprised to see that. As for Benyamin, he looked at the cup with silence and sadness.

Yousif asked them: "Now what's your opinion?"

Looking at Benyamin with anger, the ten brothers answered: "His brother was also a thief!"

Yousif was sad. He felt that his brothers were still envying him and his brother Benyamin. He felt that they were still bearing malice against him and his brother.

Thus, he addressed them, saying: "You're in an evil condition. Allah knows best what you describe."

The eldest bother came to Yousif. He begged him, saying: "His father is an old man. He asked us to take care of his son Benyamin. So enslave one of us instead of him."

Yousif said: "Allah forbid! We only take the one with whom we've found our cup. If we take other than him, then we're oppressive."

When the brothers were hopeless of taking Benyamin with them, they held a meeting. In the meeting they asked each other: "What shall we do? What shall we say to our father" Shall we tell him the truth?"

One of them answered: "Yes, we shall tell our father the truth. We shall say to him that Benyamin has stolen the King's drinking cup, and that the Egyptians have enslaved him for that."

The eldest brother asked: "Shall we go and don't take Benyarmn with us? Hadn't we promised our father to take care of him? Have you forgotten what you'd done towards Yousif. Don't you have mercy on our old father?"

Then he refused their suggestions, saying: "No! No! I won't return to my father! I'll stay in Egypt till my father permits me to return! As for you, go back to your father and say to him: " Father, your son Benyamin has stolen the King's drinking cup! We'd not known the unseen. We'd not known that Benyamin had been a thief!"

The brothers kept silent. They were eleven brothers. The Chief of Egypt (Yousif) took Benyamin. The eldest brother decided to stay in Egypt. He refused to meet his father again, for he had promised him to take care of Benyamin.

The nine brothers went back to Palestine. They returned to tell their father of what had happened. Our Prophet Ya'qub bad been afraid that people would envy his sons. So be had ordered them to enter Egypt through different gates. He had wanted them to enter Egypt through different gates so that they might all return safely. The nine brothers came carrying sad news to their father.

The nine brothers came to Prophet Ya'qub and said to him: "Father, your son Benyamin has stolen the King's drinking cup. We've borne witness of what we know."

Ya'qub kept silent. The nine brothers felt that their father did not believe them. Thus they said to him: "If you don't believe us, ask the people who had been with us in Egypt."

Prophet Ya'qub took his rod, Then he rose and said: "No, you have tempted yourselves. Patience is good. I'll be patient again. Perhaps Allah will return them all to me."

However Prophet Ya'qub was sad for what had happened. He remembered Yousif, who disappeared for twenty years.

He understood that what had happened to Benyamin was related to what had happened to Yousif. For this reason, he said: "My sorrow is for Yousif!"

The nine brothers said to him: "You always mention Yousif You'll die of your sadness for him and your weeping over him."

Our Prophet Ya'qub said: "I complain of my sadness to Allah. I know from Allah what you don't know."

He kept silent for a while, and then he said to his sons: "Sons, go! Go and look for Yousif and his brother Benyamin. Don't be hopeless.Only unbelievers are hopeless."

I am Yousif

The family of Prophet Ya'qub used up the wheat. Prophet Ya'qub was sad because he missed his three sons Yousif, Benyamin, and their eldest brother.

So Prophet Ya'qub ordered his sons to go to Egypt to buy wheat and to look for their three brothers.

The brothers headed for Egypt for the third time. They only had a few silver dirhams. However, they went there to bring back their brother Benyamin.

They arrived in Egypt. No one honored them on account of what had happened before. So the brothers went to the Chief of Egypt (Yousif), vho had taken Benyamin. They went to him and spoke to him gently. They thought he would sell them wheat for their few silver dirhams. They also thought that this good Chief would release Benyamin.

They came to the Chief of Egypt (Yousif) and said to him: "Chief, distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought little money. So give us full measure and be charitable to us. Surely Allah rewards the charitable."

A wonderful thing drew the attention of the brothers. They saw Benyamin sitting with the Chief of Egypt (Yousif). They saw him wearing an excellent linen garment.

In those moving moments, Yousif, who was merciful, asked them: "Do you know how you treated Yousif and his brother when you were ignorant?"

Yousif forgot all those pains his brothers caused to him and his father. He forgot all those sufferings.

He wanted to say to them: "Your ignorance has driven me to this position. Allah has chosen me and made me a favor. He's rewarded me for my patience and faith."

At those moment the nine brothers understood the truth. They said to each other: "That Chief, whom the guards have surrounded and whose word is the first in Egypt, is Yousif. He's our brother Yousif, whom we had plotted against. He's our good, pure brother Yousif, who rewarded us with kindness for mistreatment. He's our brother, who had filled our bags with wheat and returned the silver dirhams to us."

The brothers said with astonishment: "Surely, you're Yousif!"

Yousif, whose eyes were full of tears because of fear of Allah, said: "Yes. I am Yousif and this is my brother. Allah has indeed been Gracious to us. Surely he who guards (against evil) and is patient (is rewarded) for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good."

The brothers discovered the truth after twenty years of misguidance and deviation from the right path. Thus, they said to him: "By Allah, Allah has preferred you to us. And we were certainly sinners."

Yousif'smiled at them. They were his brother. Satan misled them in a moment of envy. Then they returned to the right path.

So Yousif said to them: "(There shall be) no blame against you today. May Allah forgive, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful."

Yousif was a kind person. He forgave his brothers their faults. Then he wanted to put an end to his father's pains.

Twenty years ago his brothers took his shirt and stained it with blood.

They took the shirt to their father and said to him: "Father, a wolf has eaten Yousif."

So Yousif wanted to remove this lie from their mind. Thus, he took off the linen shirt and said to them: "Take this shirt of mine and cast it on my father's face; he will be able to see again. Bring me all your family."

All the brothers began smelling Yousif's shirt. They wept of joy and regret. They rejoiced at their brother Yousif, who became the first man in Egypt. They were sorry for what they did twenty years ago.

For this reason they bowed to Yousif, the Chief of Egypt, and left his palace quickly.

They wanted to go back to their father as quick as possible to gladden his sad heart. Thus, the caravan set off and began crossing the desert. This caravan did not carry wheat. Rather, it carried Yousif's shirt and good news.

The End of Hardship

Prophet Ya'qub went to the route of the caravans every day. He waited for the return of his sons.

One day, while the sun was sinking below the horizon, fresh breezes blew over Prophet Ya'qub. They carried the nice smell of Yousif. So Ya'qub said to his sons who had not gone to Egypt: "Most surely I perceive the smell of Yousif, unless you pronounce me to be weak in judgment."

His sons said to him: "By Allah, most surely you are still following your old error."

They said to their father: "You are still following your old error, You love Yousif and his brother Benyamin more than us."

At that moment they all saw a camel running quickly towards them. They saw a person on the back of the camel waving a shirt in the distance. Moments passed.

One of Ya'qub's sons went ahead of the caravan to give him good news of Yousif. He said to him: "The wolf did not eat Yousif! Yousif has not been dead for the past twenty years!"

The bringer of good news cast Yousif's shirt on Ya'qub's face. So a wonderful thing occurred. Light returned to Ya'qub's eyes. Thus, Ya'qub found the world bright and beautiful after he had found it black and sad.

So he wept for joy and said to his sons: "Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?"

His sons bowed their heads in shame and sadness, and then they said to him: "Father, ask (Allah) to forgive us our faults. Surely we were sinners."

The father, whose sight returned to him through Allah's mercy, said: "I will ask my Lord to forgive you. In deed He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Mercifuul."

Ya'qub said that because he wanted to delay his supplication to the time of early morning. He believed that Allah would accept his supplications at that time and forgive his sons their sins.

Prophet Ya'qub felt that be regained his strength, for happiness lighted his heart and his eyes.

He told his wife, Yousif's mother, about the good news, and she rejoiced.

Prophet Ya'qub (AS) ordered all the members of his family to prepare themselves to go to Egypt. Then they all went to Egypt to live under the just, good, and truthful ruler, Yousif (AS).

Yousif's Dream came true

Twenty years before, Yousif dreamt that he saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars prostrating themselves to him.

He was astonished at that dream. Then the events occurred later on. He found himself far away from his family in a distant land.

Twenty years passed. He found himself the ruler of Egypt. He found himself waiting for the coming of his parents from the desert to this beautiful land which was full of good.

Yousif ordered his soldiers to pitch a very big tent in the desert to receive his parents and his brothers.

The soldiers watched the route of the caravans waiting for a caravan coming from the land of Palestine. The caravan carried Yousif's family who lived in the desert.

One morning the soldiers saw a caravan. The caravan belonged to Prophet Ya'qub (AS), his wife, and his sons.

Thus, a horseman set out to Egypt carrying good news to Yousif of the coming of his parents and his brothers.

The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

The soldiers received Prophet Ya'qub with great respect. They caused him and his family to enter the tent. Prophet Ya'qub and his family waited in the tent till the Chief of Egypt (Yousif) came.

Prophet Ya'qub was waiting and longing for the arrival of his sons Yousif. He was very eager to meet him, for he had not seen him for twenty years. He wept for him throughout those years.

Yousif came in a carriage pulled by quick horses. The horses were covering the land quickly as if they understood that Yousif was longing to meet his parents.

Yousif arrived at the tent. He entered it. He was wearing the garment of glory. Light shone from his bright face. All the people the tent rose to show respect to the Chief of Egypt (Yousif). Then they bowed to show greatness to the Chief of Egypt. At that moment, the vision Yousif saw twenty years ago came true. He saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars prostrating themselves to him.

Yousif was now watching his father and mother and his eleven brothers bowing down to him.

Yousif embraced his parents. Then he took them to the throne of glory.

Then Yousif said to his father: "O my father, this is the significance of my old vision. My Lord has indeed made it to be true. And He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after that Satan had sown dissension between me and my brothers. Surely my Lord is gracious to whom He pleases. Surely He is the Knowing, the Wise."

Then Yousif raised his hands towards the sky, He thanked Allah for His blessings, saying: "My Lord, You have given me the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of sayings. Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my guardian in this world and the hereafter. Make me die a Muslim and join me, with the good."

How good Yousif was! Flow pure he was!

Yousif forgot all those painful events that took place throughout the twenty years. He recieved his brothers warmly and said: "Satan had sown dissension between me and my brothers."

Here lies Yousif's greatness. It lies in that pure soul and good heart.

Prophet Ya'qub and his children lived in Egypt. He lived in the country of blessings, under Yousif, the just ruler, who refreshed the country and saved it from a great economic crisis.

Prophet Ya'qub lived and had children. Then his children increased in number. They were called the Children of Israel.

Later on we will find out where Prophet Yousif was buried and how his mortal remains were carried to Palestine. We will find out when we all read 'And the Sea split open', the story of Prophet Musa (AS).

(presented by azeem shahyousufi 1434hj  2013)