All his children were born to her, except Ibrahim. During Yusufs time in jail, he was bestowed with the ability to interpret dreams. The next day, Yusuf set off with his brothers. The reason, according to abari, that she was able to do this was because of a belt that had been passed to her by her father, Isaac. Dr. Mohsen Haredy holds a PhD in Hadith literature from Leiden University, the Netherlands. Soon, a caravan bound for Egypt stopped at this well to fetch water. If it was torn on the front, Joseph was guilty and his wife innocent, but if it was torn in the back, Joseph was innocent and his wife guilty. Never was the Quran a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe. Surah Yusuf Ayah 111. [5] In addition to the role of God in his life, the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha (Potiphar's wife of the Old Testament) became a popular subject in Persian literature, where it became considerably elaborated over the centuries. Ibn Sad, 8/58-59. (See Zad al-Ma'ad, 1/105-114), It was said that Rayhanah bint Amr al-Nadariyyah (or al-Quraziyyah) was also one of his wives. The Story of Prophet Yusuf and the Wife of al-Aziz. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) married her and made her manumission her dowry. She said, What, other than prison or painful punishment, should be the reward of someone who tried to dishonor your wife? but he said, She tried to seduce me. A member of her household suggested, If his shirt is torn at the front, then it is she who is telling the truth and he who is lying, but if it is torn at the back, then she is lying and he is telling the truth. When the husband saw that the shirt was torn at the back, he said, This is another instance of womens treachery: your treachery is truly great. According to Ibn Kathir, "Jacob had twelve sons who were the eponymous ancestors of the tribes of the Israelites. He took their solemn oath to safeguard him. {In the end they thought it best, after seeing all the signs of his innocence, that they should imprison him for a while.} He cannot be mortal! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Joseph then stated that one of the men (the one who dreamt of squeezing grapes for wine) would be released from the prison and serve the king, but warned that the other would be executed, and so was done in time. Thus, Yusufs innocence was proven. 'the One subtle in accomplishing his will'). When the women were happily chatting away while slicing fruits, Zulaika summoned Yusuf. The noblest, the most exalted, the greatest of them was Joseph." [4] Log in, Join our e-mail list for regular site news and updates, All Rights Reserved for Islam Q&A 1997-2023. The verse is "we tell you the true story of Moses and the pharaoh for those who believe" (Quran: Al Qasas 3 ). Then the Negus married her to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and gave her a mahr of four thousand on his behalf, and sent her to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with Shurahbil ibn Hasanah. [3], Yusuf is believed to have been the eleventh son of Ya'qub (Arabic: ), and, according to many scholars, his favorite. The chapter tells us the purpose of its revelation: {There are lessons in the story of Joseph and his brothers for all who seek them.} Muslims should guard themselves against the plots made by their enemies by asking Gods for help and not surrendering to temptations. "They stained his shirt with false blood. The brothers eventually outpowered Yusuf and threw him down the well and rushed back home. and we submit to Him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4485; classed as saheeh by May Allah be pleased with them all. Suddenly, they found al-Aziz at the door. End quote from Rawdat al-Muhibbeen, p. 445, This does not mean that this story is definitively true; They had stopped by the well hoping to draw water to quench their thirst and saw the boy inside. The Quran tells the stories of the prophets in order to make Prophet Muhammadsheart firm and for us to draw lessons from their lives. Al-Bukhari entitled a chapter in his Sahih: The marriage of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), and her virtues, in which he narrated a hadith from Aishah who said: I never felt jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as I did of Khadijah, although she died before he married me, because of what I heard him say about her. Narrated by al-Bukhari, 3815. The noblest, the most exalted, the greatest of them was Joseph. "[33] It is also said that after the death of Azz, Joseph married Zolay.[32]. Having come through an especially noble line of patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Joseph too was awarded the gift of prophecy like his forefathers. Source: Jacob and his family were hungry and the brothers went to Egypt, unaware that Joseph was there and in such a high position. According to Ibn Kathir, Jacob knew that Joseph would someday become extremely important and would be in a high position, both in this world and the nexthe recognized that the stars represented his brothers and the sun and moon represented himself and Joseph's mother, Rachel. However, other scholars, especially women scholars such as Barbara Freyer Stowasser, think this interpretation is demeaning of womenperhaps believing that this seeks to show that women do not have the same connection. Hazrat Yusuf forgave his brothers as this was the right thing to do. Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam. action, and Allah compensated him by giving him full authority in the land They met with Yusuf and pleaded that tragedy had befallen them. "So he screamed and tore his clothes. As for the prison, there starts another story which is covered in the articles reference below. These are the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with whom he consummated marriage. He ran to his father in excitement and said, O my father, indeed I have seen eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me. Yaqub was overjoyed in realisation that his dear son was indeed chosen by Allah to be bestowed with Prophethood. A similar report was narrated from Zayd ibn Aslam, the great Jacob advised Joseph to keep the dream to himself in order to protect him from the jealousy of his brothers, who were already unhappy about the love Jacob felt for Joseph. Most of the commentators concluded that there is a temptation and a resistance. That was also narrated by al-Suyooti in al-Durr . The Qur'anic account differs from the Biblical version in which Potiphar believes his wife and throws Joseph into prison. She then warned Yusuf that if he denied her again he would be imprisoned, to which Yusuf replied, My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. That night Zulaika convinced her husband that the only way to safeguard her honor and his prestige was to imprison Yusuf. When they put the whole matter in front of their father, the aged, weakened prophet did not collapse or die in front of their eyes, as they had feared. However, Yaqub was concerned about his older sons possible reaction to this narration, for even though he treated them the same, they harboured jealousy towards Yusuf. He replied, "The most honorable among them is the one who is the most God-fearing." Narrated by al-Bukhari, 371. Taabii, and from Wahb ibn Munabbih, from the Israaeeliyyaat [55], Historically, some Muslims also associated Joseph's Tomb with that of the biblical figure. [14], Joseph did not tell his brothers about his dream, unlike in the version relayed in the Hebrew Bible, but their dislike of him was already too strong to subdue. Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links: 5 Practical Steps to Understand The Quran, When a Prophet Is Jailed: How Prophet Yusuf (PBUH) Coped. However, Joseph said that it was Zolay who had attempted to seduce him and his account is confirmed by one of the household. It is preceded by srah Hud and followed by Ar-Ra'd (The thunder).. Reasons for the Prophet's Marriages We can categorize all his marriages under two aspects of his personality: - Muhammad the man who needed a loving wife, children, and a stable home, so he married Khadijah and remained with only her for 20 years until she died. According to Mir's article in The Muslim World (1986), this Surah is the only one to point to the word 'Ghalib' as a divine attribute. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Reference: Fath al-Bari Narrated by Ibn Abi Haatim in al-Tafseer, 7/2161; Maymunah bint al-Harith After Joseph had been imprisoned for a few years, God granted him the ability to interpret dreams, a power that made him popular amongst the prisoners. Though al-Aziz saw prophet Yusufs shirt torn from the back and this is an indication that he tried to escape, he listened to the advice of his wife and imprisoned him. According to the Encyclopedia of Iranic, much of this comes from the Esra'Illiyat, that is, traditions drawn from the body of knowledge about Biblical events and people shared by Christians, Jews, and early Muslims. intimate relations with women, and you are as Allah made you, very handsome, abari demonstrates this by adding that they said to each other, "verily Joseph and his brother (Benjamin) are dearer to our father than we are, though we may be a troop ('usbah). that Yoosuf (peace be upon him) married the wife of al-Azeez, whose name (Wives of the Prophet, pages 57-61). "[17], But one of the brothers argued against killing him and suggested they throw him into a well, said to be Jubb Yusif (Arabic: , lit. It was due to these hardships and difficulties that the Prophet and his Eleven wives went through that Allah (swt) reminded them of their status: [Al Quran 33:28-29] O Prophet! He had intercourse with her when she was nine years old. Zilpah, the servant of Leah. Most of the stories of the prophets are repeated more than once throughout the Quran. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. She said to Joseph, Come out and show yourself to them! and when the women saw him, they were stunned by his beauty, and cut their hands, exclaiming, Great God! Abu Bakr kept quiet and did not give me any response. Quick Links: Yusuf not only grew up to be a handsome young man but was also blessed with exceptional knowledge and wisdom by Allah. Stowasser writes: "Both appear in the Hadith as symbolized in the concept of fitna (social anarchy, social chaos, temptation) which indicates that to be a female is to be sexually aggressive and, hence, dangerous to social stability. He casually inquired about their family. [44] But in the narration of Yusuf in the Bible, the titles King (Hebrew: Melekh) and Pharaoh are used interchangeably for the ruler of Egypt in Genesis chapters 3941. In the Bible he is referred to as Joseph son of Jacob. "[24] Ibn 'Abbas writes that the "reason for this trial of Jacob was that he had slaughtered a sheep while he was fasting. A possible reason for his enslavement was that after Abraham had left Egypt he took slaves with him but "Abraham did not dismount for them (following barefoot). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. All his children were born to her, except Ibrahim. End quote. "[25] The section that describes Joseph's revelation in the well is interpreted by Ibn 'Abbas: "When they were unaware" (12:15) means "you will tell them about what they did in a situation in which they will not recognize you. Commentators give different interpretations of this statement. The There she served them fruit along with knives. [22] But the brothers insisted. She abandoned her palace and wandered in the streets of the city. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. A very reluctant Yaqub said, Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are unaware. But the brothers insisted that they would take extreme care of him and that they Yusuf would enjoy himself. Create an account, If you do not have an account, you can click the button below to create one, Create new account She allowed her desires to overcome her love for Allah. Joseph was known, in addition to being very handsome, to be of gentle temperament. 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