What Is the Importance of the Story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) with Regard to the Youth?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami’ al Yakti

Question

What Is the Importance of the Story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) about the Youth?

Answer

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad, our master Joseph, and all the Prophets and Messengers.

The importance of this story for the youth lies in providing them with a real model to emulate and an excellent example for youth who preserve their religion, remain steadfast in the face of temptations and desires, and are patient during trials. It also presents a figure of wisdom, knowledge, trustworthiness, and proficiency in his work, along with other commendable traits and ethics of those successful and triumphant in both worldly and religious matters.

Details and Elaboration:

The story of Prophet Yusuf [Joseph], Allah bless him and give him peace, is among the greatest, most delightful, and finest of Quranic narratives, as Allah (Most High) says: “We relate to you ˹O Prophet˺ the best of stories through Our revelation of this Quran, though before this you were totally unaware ˹of them˺.” [Quran, 12:3] It encompasses many events, lessons, and realistic morals in various aspects of religious, da’wah, social, economic, educational, and administrative life, as well as much more.

Among the most significant and vital lessons for the youth are nurturing them to be patient during trials and tribulations, steadfast against desires and temptations, advocating for strength and knowledge, mastering work, sincerity in it, taking on responsibility, and purifying the heart from malice, resentment, and the desire for revenge. This is exemplified through the portrayal of Prophet Yusuf’s life as a young man, peace be upon him.

Here are some aspects that highlight the importance of Prophet Yusuf’s story: peace be upon him so that the youth can take him as a role model in their lives. These aspects will be mentioned in the form of principles and guidelines:

1. Good Relations with Parents, Obedience, and Kindness towards Them:

This is evident from the strong bond of love between Yusuf and his father, his confiding in him about his secrets and conditions – as with the dream he saw – and adhering to his father’s guidance to keep his dream a secret. Allah (Most High) says: “˹Remember˺ when Joseph said to his father, ‘O my dear father! Indeed, I dreamt of eleven stars and the sun and the moon—I saw them prostrating to me!’ He replied, ‘O my dear son! Do not relate your vision to your brothers, or they will devise a plot against you. Surely Satan is a sworn enemy to humankind.’” [Quran, 12:4-5]

Also, when he raised his parents onto the throne, Allah says: “When they entered Joseph’s presence, he received his parents ˹graciously˺ and said, ‘Enter Egypt, Allah willing, in security.’ Then he raised his parents to the throne…” [Quran, 12:99-100], and other instances.

2. Patience in the Face of Trials and Tribulations:

This is evident from the moment he was thrown into the well, then sold for a few coins, and later unjustly imprisoned for several years despite being in the right. Allah says: “And so when they took him away and decided to throw him into the bottom of the well, We inspired him: ‘˹One day˺ you will remind them of this deed of theirs while they are unaware ˹of who you are˺.’” [Quran, 12:15]

And “They ˹later˺ sold him for a cheap price, just a few silver coins—only wanting to get rid of him.” [Quran, 12:20]
“And so it occurred to those in charge, despite seeing all the proofs ˹of his innocence˺, that he should be imprisoned for a while,” [Quran, 12:35] as well as others.

3. Adherence to Religion and Values and Steadfastness during Temptations:

This is clearly shown through the story of the wife of Al-Aziz and how she tried to seduce him, but he resisted. Allah says: “And the lady, in whose house he lived, tried to seduce him. She locked the doors ˹firmly˺ and said, ‘Come to me!’ He replied, ‘Allah is my refuge! It is ˹not right to betray˺ my master, who has taken good care of me. Indeed, the wrongdoers never succeed.’” [Quran 12:23]

Allah also says: “She said… ‘I did try to seduce him, but he ˹firmly˺ refused. And if he does not do what I order him to, he will certainly be imprisoned, and ˹fully˺ disgraced.’” [Quran, 12:32]
This story reminds us of one of those seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade but His, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “And a man who was invited by a woman of beauty and position [to sin], but he said: ‘I fear Allah’” [Bukhari, Muslim].

4. Commitment to Calling towards Religion and Monotheism in All Conditions and Circumstances, Making It the Foremost Concern:

This is apparent in his invitation to the two fellow prisoners to worship Allah alone before interpreting their dreams. Allah quotes Yusuf: “Whatever ˹idols˺ you worship instead of Him are mere names which you and your forefathers have made up—a practice Allah has never authorized. It is only Allah Who decides. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright faith, but most people do not know.” [Quran, 12:39-40]

5. Mastery and Expertise in Life Matters and Acquiring the Qualities of Successful Individuals:

Such qualities include strength, trustworthiness, knowledge, perfection in work, sincerity, responsibility, caring for people’s and society’s welfare, and more. This is evident through Yusuf’s governance over the granaries of the land, as Allah quotes Yusuf: “Put me in charge of the store-houses of the land, for I am truly reliable and adept.” [Quran, 12:55]

6. Purifying the Heart from Hatred, Malice, or Grudge against Anyone:

This is manifested through his forgiveness and honor towards his brothers. Allah quotes Yusuf: “There is no blame on you today. May Allah forgive you! He is the Most Merciful of the merciful!” [Quran, 12:92]

7. Gratitude and Acknowledgment of Blessings and Favor from Allah, Acceptance, and Not Complaining about Fate and Destiny:

Allah quotes Yusuf, “O my dear father! This is the interpretation of my old dream. My Lord has made it come true. He was truly kind to me when He freed me from prison and brought you all from the desert after Satan had ignited rivalry between me and my siblings. Indeed, my Lord is subtle in fulfilling what He wills. Surely He ˹alone˺ is the All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [Quran, 12:100]

Based on the above:

These rules, principles, and others – from the story of Prophet Allah Yusuf, peace be upon him, and the ethics of our Prophet, upon whom be the best of prayers and peace – form important factors and reasons for the necessity of guiding our youth to take the prophets – especially Yusuf and our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them all – as role models and perfect examples in all aspects of their lives.

Allah (Most High) said about the prophets, peace be upon them: “These ˹prophets˺ were ˹rightly˺ guided by Allah, so follow their guidance” [Quran, 6:90], and His saying about our Prophet, peace be upon him: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day.” [Quran, 33:21]

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Abdul Samee al Yakti

Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.

He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.

He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.

Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (peace and blessings be upon him)”.