aamsaafanquran's Blog

Raad 8- 9
 
8- YOUR LORD KNOWS WHAT EVERY FEMALE CARRIES AND WHAT COMES OUT OF THE WOMBS AND WHAT INCREASES THEREIN, AND EVERYTHING WITH HIM IS ACCORDING TO A PRECISE AMOUNT.
9- HE IS WHO KNOWS WHAT IS HIDDEN AND WHAT IS SEEN, THE GREAT, THE ONE WHO IS ABOVE ALL ELSE.
 
Allah the Highest is telling us that He knows all that is hidden, such as what a pregnant female carries in its womb, what she lost and if she will have more.
If a person says that we can know what a woman carries in its womb of male or female or twins etc.  Allah the Highest knows about that from before conception, and knows also what is to come, which is hidden and unknown.  Allah the Highest also knows that without having to use instruments or do medical investigation.  This is but part of Allah’s absolute knowledge.
This knowledge is absolute and eternal.  It is part of the knowledge of what was, and what is happening and what is to happen in the future.  It is incomparable with human knowledge.
Then Allah the Highest tells us that this knowledge includes everything there is, seen or hidden.  With human knowledge, people know what is seen, but not everywhere, unless this knowledge is passed on to them through any channel, like television, radio etc.  However, Allah’s knowledge is the knowledge of who saw it itself, but also include all the facts about what is hidden concerning that even. 
Allah the Highest gave us a glimpse at the extend of this knowledge when he said: “INDEED, ALLAH HAS THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HOUR (RESURRECTION), HE BRINGS RAIN DOWN, AND KNOWS WHAT IS IN THE WOMBS, AND NO SOUL KNOWS WHAT IT WILL EARN TOMORROW, AND NO SOUL KNOWS IN WHICH LAND WILL IT DIE, FOR ALLAH IS MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND MOST ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THINGS”.  (S:31 A:34)
Allah’s knowledge is also direct and does not have to come from any of His creation, angel, jinn or human, for he is with us wherever we are.  Allah the Highest said: “AND HE IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE, AND ALLAH SEES ALL THE THINGS YOU DO”.   (S:57 A:4)
This knowledge is good for the righteous believer, and is also comforting.  It is good to know that Allah the Highest knows what we do or do not do and why.  We need not tell Him or explain, for Allah the Highest is a witness over what we do, as well as our motives, feelings and thoughts. 
Whoever does wrong should be weary of that, for they cannot justify or defend themselves as they might do with people.  
 

Raad 7
 
7- AND THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE SAY: “HAD HE HAD AN AYAH SENT DOWN TO HIM FROM HIS LORD?”  YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS BUT TO WARN THEM, AND FOR EACH PEOPLE, THERE IS A GUIDE. 
 
Allah the Highest sends the prophets and messengers and arms them with proofs of their prophecy.  The proofs can be in the form of Ayahs, such as miracles.
Miracles are event that happen against what we know about nature or physics and life in general.  They prove that the prophet is sent by Allah the Highest and that the miracles are from Allah the Highest proving His support for His prophet or messenger.  In other words they prove the authenticity prophet, and consequently the message he carries to people.
Mohamed prayer and peace upon him was supported by many miracles, the greatest of which was the Quran, a book not like any other, and could not be matched in style, eloquence, language or wisdom.  This miracle is never outdated or matched, not even a fraction of the Quran can be matched, even the shortest sorah.  Also in Makah Allah the Highest allowed him to perform a number of miracles, of them:
-         The splitting of the moon.  When the disbelievers in Makah ask to see a great miracle as a condition for their belief, He pointed at the moon and the moon split into two halves.  It remained like that for a while, and then it fused back again.  Allah the Highest said: “THE HOUR HAS DRAWN NEAR AND THE MOON SPLIT ASUNDER * AND WHENEVER THEY SEE AN AYAH THEY TURN AWAY AND SAY: CONTINUING MAGIC”.  (S:54 A:1,2)
 
-         The journey of t he Israa to Jerusalem and Miraage up to Heavens.
 
 
-         The tree walking to Mohamed ppuh and returning to its place.
 
-         Milking a ewe which was never covered by a ram enough milk for 3 men to drink.
 
-         Overcoming the strongest man in Makah in wrestling twice.
These are just some of many.
 
They asked Mohamed prayer and peace upon him to show them many more great miracles they named, like moving the mountains from around Makah, having plain fertile land and having rivers and springs of water. 
Allah the Highest sent Gabriel to Mohamed prayer and peace upon him with a message to the people of Makah that Allah the Highest will show them the miracles they asked for, but if they do not believe, he will punish them such a punishment, he did not punish any people before.  Mohamed prayer and peace upon him asked Allah the Highest to let him try with his people for longer.  He knew that they were not going to believe when they see the miracles, but will call it magic.  Allah the Highest also did not send such miracles knowing that they will not believe.  “AND WHAT STOPPED US SENDING THE MIRACLES WAS THAT THE EARLIER PEOPLE REJECTED THEM”.   (S: 17 A: 59)
Allah the Highest then states the responsibility of the messenger prayer and peace upon him:
-         To warn people that they will be resurrected and judged according to their deeds and then rewarded or punished.
 
-         To deliver the guide Allah the Highest sent to mankind, this is the Quran and the guiding principles and laws. 
As we know Allah the Highest sent the Engeel, Torah and the Zabor; book for the guidance of mankind.  The Koran is the only book preserved and its guidance supersedes all the others sent beforehand, and replaces them, though not contradicting them. 
This is important for us also to understand, we are responsible for presenting the best about Islam, but not responsible for those who reject such guidance.
 
 

Raad 6
 
6- AND THEY ASK YOU FOR WHAT IS GOOD TO HAPPEN SOON, MORE THAN WHAT IS GOOD, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SEEN SIMILAR EXAMPLES IN THE PAST, INDEED YOUR LORD HAS FORGIVENESS FOR PEOPLE DESPITE THEIR TRANSGRESSION, AND YOUR LORD IS ALSO SEVERE IN PUNISHMENT INDEED.
 
Allah the Highest appointed date and time for everything, whether reward or punishment.  The disbelievers used to ask to see the punishment they were threatened with before its time was due.  Whether it is a punishment in this life or in the Hereafter, its time is set, and Allah the Highest gives the disbelievers time to believe or repent.   Nothing they do will change Allah’s timing or plan.  Allah’s timing and plan are set in advance, and nothing can change them, for Allah the Highest said: “AND THEY ASK YOU TO BRING THE PUNISHMENT SOON, AND IF IT WAS NOT THAT ITS TIME WAS NAMED, IT WOULD HAVE COME TO THEM, AND IT WILL COME TO THEM UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THEY ARE NOT AWARE”.  (S: 29 A: 53)
They foolishly ask for their punishment to come soon, not appreciating that Allah the Highest is being Merciful by giving them time, “AND AS THEY SAID: “ALLAH, IF THIS IS THE TRUTH FROM YOU, THEN RAIN US WITH STONES FROM HEAVENS, OR SEND US SEVERE PUNISHMENT”.  (S: 8 A: 32)
This shows their arrogance and false confidence, or perhaps they know in their own hearts that severe punishment is what they deserve.
Allah the Highest has shown people on Earth his severe punishment in the past, many times.  It was aimed at the disbelievers and transgressors, while it spared the believers and the righteous.  We should remember what happened to the disbelievers at the time of Noah, how they were drowned by the flood, and the followers of Pharaoh, etc.  Similar things can happen today, and the disbelievers and transgressors should never feel secure. 
Postponing the punishment, is a Mercy from Allah the Highest to people, but does not at all mean that they are safe from Allah’s punishment.  Allah the Highest said: “AND IF THEY REJECT WHAT YOU SAY: “YOUR LORD HAS AN ALL EMBRACING MERCY, AS FOR HIS POWER, IT CAN NOT BE TURNED AWAY FROM THE TRANSGRESSORS”.  (S: 6 A: 147)
All people become unjust or transgressors at one time or another.  Therefore, should Allah the Highest punish people as soon as they are sinful, no one will be left on Earth.  Allah he Highest said: “AND SHOULD ALLAH TAKE PEOPLE TO TASK FOR WHATEVER BAD DEEDS THEY EARNED, HE WOULD HAVE LEFT ANYONE WALKING ON IT (THE EARTH)”.  (S: 35 A: 45)
Allah’s Mercy is great, and Allah’s punishment is severe, and it will come to the disbelievers and unjust, soon in this life, or later in the Hereafter.  Allah the Highest said: “TELL MY SLAVES THAT I AM THE MOST FORGIVING AND THE MOST COMPASSIONATE * AND THAT MY PUNISHMENT IS THE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT”.  (S: 15 A: 49, 50)
Allah’s Mercy is always coupled with His punishment.  The Mercy stops people from despairing because of the bad deeds they did, and the Punishment is to restrain people from disbelieving and sinning.

Raad 5
 
5- IF YOU ARE AMAZED BY THEIR DISBELIEF, WHAT THEY SAY IS EVEN STRANGER: “WHEN AFTER BECOMING DUST, WE WILL BE RECREATED AGAIN”.  THEY ARE THOSE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE IN THEIR LORD, THE CHAINS ARE IN THEIR NECKS, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE FIRE WHERE THEY WILL ABIDE ETERNALLY.
 
This is the long standing article of disbelief, it is not to believe that after our death and disintegration into dust we will be recreated and resurrected from the dead.
The denial or rejection that this will happen is illogical.  The reason is that Allah the Highest created us from dust in the first place.  For those who do not believe the dust or clay creation, there is no doubt that we are created from a sperm and an egg.  The fact that we know what man is created from, does not take away the fact that it is miraculous, and does not reduce its magnificence. 
The is no reason to find it difficult to believe that creation can take place another time, by any way that Allah the Highest chooses.  Allah the Highest said: “HE GAVE US A PARABLE, MEANWHILE FORGETTING HIS OWN CREATION, HE SAID: “BUT WHO WILL REVIVE THE BONES AFTER IT HAS BECOME OLD AND TATTERED?”  * SAY: “WILL REVIVE IT HE WHO CREATED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND HE KNOWS WELL ABOUT ALL CREATION”.  (S:36 A:78,79)
It stands to reason that whoever made a structure, can make another.  In fact we do check, in our life, to see people’s ability to do a job, through knowing that they have done a similar job.  This applies to individuals as well as companies or departments etc.
Allah the Highest asserts in a number of places in the Quran on His ability to do so and stating what He created in the first place He can recreate.
 Saying: “ARE WE TIRED OUT DUE TO THE FIRST CREATION, THEN THEY DOUBT A NEW CREATION TAKING PLACE”.  (S:50 A:15)
Indeed, Allah the Highest asserts that each and every one will be resurrected the same he was, down to the last details, including a person’s finger prints, which are very individual and specific to every person, hence its use to identify people.  Allah the Highest said: “DID MAN THINK THAT WE WILL NOT PUT HIS BONES TOGETHER * INDEED WE WILL AND WE ARE ABLE TO REMAKE HIS FINGER TIPS”.  (S:75 A:3,4)
Believing in resurrection means believing in Judgement and consequently, Reward or Punishment, and certainly the believe in God who is able to do that.
Allah the Highest gives us a glimpse of the punishment.  The disbelievers will have chains around their necks, which is also humiliating, in their marching to the Fire.
Allah the Highest described the disbelievers to be “THE PEOPLE OF THE FIRE”, which is what we say about people who have a very long association with a place.  Indeed, the disbeliever’s association with the Fire, their residence there is eternal; a terrible end indeed.

Raad 4
 
4- AND ON EARTH, THERE ARE NEIGHBOURING PLOTS, AND GARDENS OF VINES, OTHER PLANTS AND DATE PALM TREES, SOME OF HAVE ONE STEM AND ROOT, WHILE OTHERS SHARING THE SAME STEM AND ROOTS, WATERED WITH THE SAME WATER, BUT WE MAKE SOME TASTIER THAN THE OTHERS.  IN THESE, THERE ARE AYAHS FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUND MINDS.
 
Allah the Highest is giving us further evidence that what is on Earth of plants are designed and created by the Creator of the Heavens and Earth, of these evidence are:
-         One piece of land is not necessarily as good and fertile as the neighbouring piece.  Some pieces of land can be good for one kind of plants, while the other is good for another kind etc.
 
-         The various and different plants and fruit we see, growing in the same land and watered with the same water, but they are very different from each other.
 
-         There are date palm trees; some have one set of roots for a tree, while others have more than one tree sharing the same set of roots.  Although they share the same set of roots, the same soil and water, yet they can be different.  One can be bigger or smaller or tastier than the other.
 
We know about genetics now, and know how such characteristics are because of different genes.  We should not forget however that these genes which carry the characteristics of living things in the cell nucleus are also meticulously designed and created.  This knowledge should further increase our faith and certainty of the Creator. 
We should look at the world as a whole and everything in it, great or small, and we will see the great work and design.  However, we have to use our minds and think soundly to come to this conclusion. 

Raad 2-3
 
2- ALLAH IS HE WHO RAISED THE HEAVENS WITHOUT PILLARS THAT YOU CAN SEE, AND THEN SETTLED ON HIS THRONE AND HE DEDICATED THE SUN AND THE MOON FOR SERVICE, EACH IS RUNNING FOR A KNOWN TERM, HE ORGANIZES ALL THINGS, AND MAKE THE AYAHS DETAILED, SO THAT YOU MAY BE CERTAIN OF MEETING YOU LORD.
3- HE IS WHOM STRETCHED THE EARTH, AND THEREIN STABILIZERS AND RIVERS, OF ALL KINDS OF PLANTS HE MADE A PAIR, TWO.  IN THESE THERE ARE AYAHS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO THINK.
 
Allah the Highest is telling us about some of the signs of His presence and His ability to create.  These Ayahs are before our eyes in the Heavens and the Earth. 
They are:-
-         The Heavens is raised up without pillars which we can see.  We now know of the powers and forces which support the Heavens and keep the suns, planets and moons suspended in space.  These forces are invisible, although now we know they exist and are like pillars supporting the weight of a building.
 
We should note that they are not one but seven, for Allah the Highest said: “ALLAH IS HE WHO CREATED SEVEN HEAVENS AND THE LIKES OF THEM ON EARTH”.  (S: 65 A: 12)
 
But they are all held in their course and in place, Allah the Highest said: “AND HE HOLDS THE HEAVENS FROM FALLING ON EARTH, EXCEPT WITH HIS PERMISSION, FOR ALLAH IS MOST KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO PEOPLE”.  (S: 22 A: 65)
 
-         And then Allah the Highest settles on His Throne. 
 
There is no way of knowing how this happens, or what  Allah’s throne is like, or is made of, and we should not speculate, for Allah the Highest is not like any of His creations, and there is nothing like him, He said: “THERE IS NOT A THING THAT IS LIKE HIM”.
 
-         Allah the Highest dedicated and enlisted the sun and the moon for essential functions, which are essential for our very existence.   The sun gives us heat and radiations essential for all creation, including the plants.  The moon gives us light by night, gives us the time of the month, and its gravity affect the water and tides.
 
-         The sun and moon run in a very well defined course.  Any deviation from this course can have very catastrophic consequences for our lives, and life on Earth in general.
 
-         Although we found out that the Earth is rounded like a ball, yet it is practically stretched and flat for human beings.
 
-         Allah the Highest created mountains on Earth which act to stabilize the Earth crust.
 
-         Allah the Highest created rivers running throughout the Earth with fresh water, suitable to drinking, and watering the plants.  The clouds also carry the water of the rain evaporating from the sea and falling on land, back to the sea.  They give fresh water to the land areas, as well as filling up the underground water reserves, which man uses where there are no rivers. 
 
This is because water is essential for all forms of life, which Allah the Highest also mentioned in the Quran saying: “AND WE MADE EVERY LIVING THING FROM WATER”.  (S: 21 A: 30)
 
-         Allah the Highest created plants in pairs, male and female.  In fact all living creatures living on Earth are in pairs, males and females.  Allah the Highest said: “AND WE CREATED YOU IN PAIRS”.  (S:78 A:8)
Having male and female is essential for the vast majority of reproduction in living creatures.
 
All these systems, creation and organisation tell us about a powerful and very sophisticated and a meticulous creator behind them, not just made by nature as some people claim.
Indeed, using our minds, we will see Allah the Highest in all these.  This is how Allah the Highest is manifest although we cannot see him.

Sorah Al-Raad (Thunder)
 
Raad 1
 
1-    ALEF, LAM, MEEM, RAA, THESE ARE THE AYAHS OF THE BOOK, INDEED, WHAT WAS SENT DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR LORD IS THE TRUTH, HOWEVER MOST PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE.
 
In this Ayah, Allah the Highest is telling us, believers and disbelievers, that the Quran is made up of these basic elements of Arabic letters; if arranged haphazardly, they do not carry a meaning, but arranged differently, they form very eloquent and wise Ayahs.
What Allah the Highest sent down to His messenger is the truth and only the truth.  Therefore any verse or verses from any other book; supposedly heavenly, or written or said by a human; that is telling us anything that is different from this book is untrue.  This should be a very basic and firmly held belief for each and every Muslim.  No Muslim should consider anything that contradicts the Quran to be correct.
Allah the Highest also said about the Quran: “THIS BOOK, ABOUT WHICH THERE IS NO DOUBT, IS GUIDANCE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS THAT GUARD THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE”.   (S: 2 A: 2)
As mentioned before, the Quran was preserved by Allah the Highest, as it was written down, it was also memorized by many of Allah’s messenger’s Companions.  It was collected into one volume during the rule of Abu Bakr, who ruled for about 2.5 years after the death of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him. 
About 10-12 years later and during the rule of Othman which started about 13 years after the death of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, Othman ordered that the authenticated copy of the Quran was to be copied, and that these copies were to be sent to different countries to be the reference copy.  He ordered that copies should be made of these copies, and any other copies of the Quran were to be burnt.  This is the copy we have with us now, to read and study.  It is often called “the Othman script”, that is, written the same way the Quran was written at the time of Othman Ibn Afan, the third Khalifa.
The dots were not in the Arabic script at the time, and nor was the Shakl.  The Arabs who read did not need dots to know the different letters, and did not need shakl.
During the rule of Abd El-Malek Ibn Marwan who was an Amawy Khalifa, he feared that the Quran might be misread by all the new nations who embraced Islam.  He asked Linguists to solve this problem, and they came with the Idea of the Dots and Shakl; which made the Quran easier to read for those who were new to Arabic.  These improvements remain in the Arabic script to this day, and no further improvements or changes were made in the Arabic script.
It is therefore that the Quran remained unchanged to this day.  
Allah the Highest promised to keep the Quran intact and preserved in an Ayah of the Quran saying: “WE SENT THE ZEKR (QURAN) DOWN AND WE WILL PRESERVE IT”.  (S: 15 A: 7)
No one should have any doubt about the Quran being preserved intact, in both its form and content.
 

Yosef 111 (End of Sorah)
 
111- IN THE NARRATION OF THESE ACCOUNTS THERE ARE LESSONS FOR THOSE OF SOUND MIND, IT IS NOT MADE UP, BUT IT IS A CONFIRMATION OF WHAT CAME BEFORE YOU, AND DETAILING EVERY THING, AND GUIDANCE AND MERCY FOR THE BELIEVING PEOPLE.
 
At the end of the narration of the of the account of Yosef and his brothers and father, Allah the Highest is telling us the reason for the narrations of the accounts of the prophets and messengers, peace upon them all.
-         Allah the Highest narrates the accounts of the prophets for us in the Quran in order for us to learn lessons from them.  Those of sound minds will see and understand and learn.  The sound minds here, are not the most intelligent or inventive, but those who have sound reasoning and are not blinded by their preconceived ideas.
 
-         They are not lies or made up stories, or part of Mythology.  They are but the true accounts of what is now history.  The Quran does not contain any thing false, for this is Allah’s very word, He said: “FALSEHOOD DOES NOT COME TO IT, NEITHER FROM ITS FRONT OR IT’S BACK”.  (S:41 A:42)
 
-         It confirms what was sent beforehand, for these accounts are present in the older books.  They might differ with the Quran concerning some details, and the Quran should be considered the reference for accuracy, for it is Allah’s word, not perverted in any way. 
 
-         These Accounts are to guide believing people by the lessons we learn from them.  What we learn is certainly a Mercy for us in this life and the Hereafter.
 
What lessons should we learn from the account of Yosef, peace upon him?
 
-         It is important not to treat our children differently, for this can cause serious jealousy and envy between them, and can poison their relationship with each other.  This happened between Yosef and his brothers.
 
-         The most important time to establish the faith and morality of a child is in their childhood.  When Yosef was taken from his father to live in Egypt which was Idol worshiping at the time, he had his faith with him.  We should note this in the bringing up of our children.
 
-         Should a person of faith persevere with His faith in the face of challenges and temptations, Allah’s help is sure to come, but it might come after a while.  Allah the Highest likes to see how much His slave is ready to sacrifice in his cause.
 
-         The ruler of a country should do his best to establish justice for all his people, even a slave; as the king of Egypt did with Yosef.
 
-         The ruler of a country should do his utmost to protect his people from threats, should he know about them coming in the future.  Also, he should give the management of the country and its senior posts, to the most trustworthy and able persons.  This is what the then king of Egypt did.
 
-         When countries are in difficulties such as suffering shortage of food, the countries which have reserves should look after their people, as well as those of other countries if they can.  This is what Egypt did at the time of Yosef, peace upon him, and this is how he came to meet his brothers from Palestine when he was in charge in Egypt.
 
I am sure that there are more lessons in the account of Yosef, prayer and peace upon him, which other believers will be able to see. 
 
This ends the commentary and explanation of Sorah Yosef, we ask Allah the Highest to benefit us with this Sorah.

Yosef 110
 
110- UNTIL THE TIME WHEN OUR MESSENGERS START TO LOSE HOPE AND THINK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOTALLY REJECTED, THEN OUR SUPPORT COMES TO THEM, AND THEN WE SAVE WHOM WE WILL, BUT THE WROTH OF OUR PUNISHMENT WILL NOT BE KEPT AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO DO EVIL.
 
Whenever Allah the Highest sent messengers, they were never met with acceptance and belief from the start.   They always suffered in the course of delivering their message, and so do those who follow them initially. 
Allah the Highest promised to support his messengers and those who believe and follow them, however this support is not forthcoming from the start.  The messengers and their followers have to struggle hard first, and they have to tolerate a great deal of persecution and suffering to start with and for years, until they may be near the point of despair, before they receive Allah’s full support.  Allah the Highest said: “MANY A PROPHET FOUGHT AND WITH HIM MANY GODLY PEOPLE, THEY DID NOT LOSS HEART BECAUSE OF WHAT BEFELL THEM IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH, THEY DID NOT WEAKEN NOR GIVE IN, AND ALLAH LOVES THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE”.  (S:3 A:146)
Allah’s support can be in either:
-         People believing in large numbers, as Allah the Highest said: “WHEN ALLAH’S SUPPORT ARRIVES AND THE OPENING (OF MAKAH) * AND YOU SEE PEOPLE ENTERING ALLAH’S RELIGION IN LARGE GROUPS * HYMN THE PRAISES OF YOUR LORD AND ASK FOR HIS FORGIVENESS * FOR HE IS MOST FORGIVING”.  (S:110)
 
-         To punish and often eradicate all the disbelievers who refused to believe in that messenger, as happened with the people of Noah, the people of Saleh etc. 
 
Allah the Highest saves the believer who followed their prophet and messenger, always.

Yosef 109
 
109- WHAT WE SENT BEFORE YOU WAS REVELATIONS SENT TO MEN OF THE TOWN DWELLERS.  DID THEY NOT WALK THROUGH THE EARTH TO SEE WHAT THE END OF THOSE BEFORE THEM WAS, AND CERTAINLY THE HOME OF THE HEREAFTER IS BETTER TO THOSE WHO ARE PIOUS AND GUARD THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, WOULD YOU NOT UNDERSTAND.
 
 Allah the Highest sent His revelations to prophets and messengers, who were:
-         All men, and there were no women prophets and messengers. 
-         They were all town dweller, not nomads or gypsies. 
There might be many reasons for that:
-         Prophets and messengers suffered a great deal of verbal and physical abuse in the course of delivering the message, which would have been very hard for women.
-         Women would not be able to pray or fast for days every month, also after childbirth, which would have been inappropriate for prophets and messengers leading their people in Prayers.
-         The nature of the desert dwellers can be hard when they communicate and deal with others, and the town dwellers softer. 
-         A town dweller, brought up in a stable not moving community, will be known to his people, his character as well as family and descend will all be known.
-         It also means that Allah the Highest took human beings for prophets and messengers, not angels.  Allah the Highest said: “AND ALL THE MESSENGERS WE SENT BEFORE YOU WERE ONES WHO EAT FOOD AND WALK IN THE MARKETS”.  (S:25 A:20)
And said: “IF THERE WAS ANGELS WALKING COMFORTABLY AROUND THE EARTH, WE WOULD HAVE SENT THEM SENT DOWN TO THEM A PROPHET FOR A MESSENGER FROM HEAVEN”.  (S: 17 A: 95)
 
This is because, as the prophets and messengers are sent as an example to mankind; and in order for people to follow them, they should be able to take them as an example.  As the prophets and messengers are sent to human beings, we have to be able to do what they ask us to do, which is what they do; so that is humanly possible.
 
Allah the Highest is inviting mankind to walk throughout the Earth, to see and learn through knowing what happened to various disbelievers all over the world.  This command we can obey now from the comfort of our homes.
The Muslims should study history to learn from it, for Allah’s policy throughout the Earth and through time does not change.  Learning from history is the best way to forecast for the future.
We will see that the disbelieving nations, even the most powerful of them, did not last long after corruption and immorality spread through them. 
Also those of sound minds and good understanding know that the Hereafter is a better home and a better reward than anything they may gain in this lower life.  Any difficulties or sacrifices they may encounter in this life are worth it without any doubt.  Allah the Highest said: “BUT YOU PREFER THE LOWER LIFE * WHILE THE HEREAFTER IS BETTER AND LASTING MORE”. (S: 87 A: 16, 17)
This we should remember about this life, nothing is this life is worth sacrificing the Hereafter for.
 
 

Yosef 108
 
108- SAY: “THIS IS MY PATH, I AM CALLING FOR ALLAH WITH FULL UNDERSTANDING AND CERTAINTY, SO ARE THOSE WHO FOLLOW ME, PRAISE AND GLORY TO ALLAH, I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE WORSHIPPING PARTNERS BESIDES HIM”.
 
Allah the Highest is telling his messenger, prayer and peace upon him, as well as the believers who follow him, to call people to Allah’s way, with full understanding and certainty.
-         We should call people to follow the Path of Allah.  The way to Him is His religion, for Religion means a way of life.  The way of life Allah the Highest commands those who believe in Him.  It includes ways of worship, and laws to regulate their life, as well certain prohibitions, not many, for the basic rule is allowance and prohibition is the exception.
 
-         To make it know that this way is clear and understood by us, and about which we have no doubt.  Allah the Highest also said: “AND THIS IS MY STRAIGHT PATH FOR YOU TO FOLLOW, AND DO NOT FOLLOW OTHER PATHS WHICH WILL LEAD YOU ASTRAY OFF HIS PATH, THIS IS WHAT HE ADVISES YOU SO THAT YOU MAY BE PIOUS”.  (S:6 A:153)
 
-         That Allah the Highest alone is free of all faults and needs, and only He is worthy of being worshipped.
 
-         To make a clear statement that we, the Muslims, do not worship partners besides God, like others do, which is the greatest sin one may commit.  This means that Allah’s, religion, commands, are the foremost in our lives, and this way of life precedes any ideology, leader, or any other kind of wisdom.  Allah’s Path is above all else and before all else.

Yosef 105-107
 
105- AND HOW MANY AYAHS IN THE HEAVENS AND EARTH THEY PASS BY REJECTING.
106- AND MOST OF THEM DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, BUT WORSHIPPING PARTNERS WITH HIM.
107- DO THEY FEEL SAFE FROM ALLAH’S PUNISHMENT FALLING UPON THEM, OR (THE DAY OF RESURRECTION) COMING TO THEM SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THEY ARE UNAWARE.
 
Allah the Highest has an unlimited number of Ayahs in the Heavens and the Earth; that is throughout the Universe.  These Ayahs are signs of Allah’s presence and of His creation.  Everything there is in the Heavens and Earth point to the presence of the Great Creator.  They are there for everyone to see and also benefit from.  The believers take heed of these Ayahs, and they are increasing their belief. 
The disbelievers choose to ignore these Ayahs, which does not mean not noticing or understanding them, but ignoring that they point to the Creator who created them.  They see these Ayahs and know about them as much as the believers, or possibly more, however they attribute them to various things such as, nature, physics etc. ignoring the fact that nature and physics are Allah’s creation too.
People of various religious persuasions say that they believe in God; however for most of them this involves some shirk; which is believing in and worshipping partners with Him.
To worship partners besides Allah the Highest is doing one’s self great injustice.  As Luqman said to his son advising him: “AS LUQMAN SAID TO HIS SON ADVISING HIM: MY SON, DO NOT WORSHIP ANY ONE BESIDES ALLAH, FOR THIS IS A GREAT INJUSTICE”.  (S:31 A:13)
No one can do Allah the Highest injustice; therefore the injustice we do is to ourselves.
It is also the greatest sin.  Abd Allah Ibn Masoud asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him: “Allah’s messenger, what is the greatest sin?”  He said: “To take an equal to Allah who created you”.  (Bukhari & Muslim)
Indeed it is shirk to consider that Allah has a son, and it is shirk to consider that the Holy Spirit is a partner of God or part of Him.
There are minor types of shirk also, which many of fall into and which we should do our best to avoid such as to swear an Oath by other than Allah the Highest.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who swears an oath by other than Allah, he has committed shirk”.  (A:2;86, 87, 120 & T:Iman & D:Iman)
There is also a minor shirk of showing off, or wanting to be seen to be doing good deeds, for such deeds should be for Allah the Highest to see and reward, not for people to see to raise one’s esteem.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The most I fear for my nation is the minor shirk”.  They asked: “And what is the minor shirk Allah’s messenger?”  He said: “Doing the deed to be seen by people.  When Allah recompenses people for their deeds on the day or Resurrection, He says to those who wanted their deeds to be seen by others: “Go to those you used to show off to, and see if they have any reward for you”.   (A: 5; 228,229)
These kinds of minor shirk are very subtle, and they might creep into our hearts slowly.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “O people, be careful of the hidden shirk, for it as inconspicuous as the ante’s footsteps”.  They said: “And how can we protect ourselves from something as inconspicuous as the ante’s footsteps Allah’s messenger”.  He said: “By saying: Allah, we plead for you to protect us from taking what we know as partners with you, and we ask Your Forgiveness for what we do not know”.  (A: 4: 403)
We should purify our hearts, souls and intentions from such shirk, without any postponement, for the Day of Resurrection can happen any moment, and then we will not have any chance to ask for forgiveness or to put things right. 
The Muslim should not postpone acts of obedience, or postpone stopping acts of disobedience, for no one knows when will their life ends, or the time of the Day of Resurrection, for then there will be no chance to do good or ask for forgiveness for sins. 

Yosef 102-104
 
102- THIS IS OF THE HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE WE REVEAL TO YOU, FOR YOU WERE NOT WITH THEM WHEN THEY AGREED ON THEIR PLOTTING.
103- AND MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT BE BELIEVERS, REGARDLESS OF HOW KEEN YOU ARE FOR THEM TO BELIEVE.
104- WHILE YOU DO NOT ASK THEM FOR A RECOMPENSE FOR THAT, FOR IT IS A REMINDER FOR MANKIND.
 
Allah the Highest is telling us about the account of the prophets and messengers in the Quran.  These accounts revealed by Allah the Highest are the true accounts and they supersede any accounts from any other source.  This is because:
1-    These are accounts from Allah the Highest directly.
2-    They are the accounts of Eye Witness.
3-    They are accounts in the book, The Koran, which has never been subjected to any alterations.
 
These narrations about the prophets and messengers, peace upon them all, from the time of Adam, peace upon him, to Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, are not  storytelling, they are accounts to learn from. 
They are to give the believers morale support, and let them know that Allah’s help is there and will be forthcoming.
To let the believers know that the prophets and the believers are always subjected to trials and tests.  Allah the Highest said: “OR DID YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL ENTER THE PARADISE WITHOUT THE LIKE OF WHAT CAME TO THOSE BEFORE YOU COMING TO YOU.  THEY ENCOUNTERED AFFLICTION AND ADVERSITY AND WERE SHAKEN, UNTIL THE MESSENGER AND THOSE WITH HIM SAID: “WHEN SHALL ALLAH’S HELP COME”, INDEED, ALLAH’S HELP IS NEAR”.  (S:2 A:214)
Allah the Highest is always there when things happen, He said: “AND HE IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE”.  (S:57 A:4)
Allah the Highest gave us an example:  “THIS IS OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNSEEN, WE REVEAL TO YOU.  YOU WERE NOT WITH THEM AS THEY CAST THEIR PENS TO SEE WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF MARIAM’S GUARDIANSHIP, AND YOU WERE NOT WITH THEM AS THEY DISPUTED”.  (S:3 A:44)
And said: “AND YOU WERE NOT WITH THEM AT THE WESTERN SIDE WHEN WE SENT OUR COMMAND TO MOSES AND YOU WERE NOT A WITNESS OF THAT”.  (S:28 A:44)
 
And then, Allah the Highest tells Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, and the believers, that most people will not be believers, regardless of how hard he might try to get them to believe.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told us a parable about that, he said: “Compared to the idolaters, you are like a black hair in a white ox or a white hair in a black ox”.  (M:Eman;278)
Allah the Highest is telling us this so that His messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and the believers, do not feel very aggrieved when they find the majority of people not to be believers.  Allah the Highest said in sorah Al-Kahf (the cave): “YOU MIGHT BE DESTROYING YOURSELF OUT OF SORROW AFTER THEM WHEN THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN THESE WORDS”.  (S:18 A:6)
All of Allah’s prophets and messengers do not look for gain in this life or from anyone other than Allah the Highest from the delivering of Allah’s Word.
It is important for scholars and people who work in the field of Dawa.  It is important for them to know that:
-         Their religious work is not aimed at gaining financial reward or recompense of any kind, but aimed at giving their knowledge to people.
It is not the duty of the prophet or the scholar to guide people, just to deliver the message clearly.  As to who will be guided and who will not, is not the responsibility of the prophet or those who follow him.  Allah the Highest said: “THE MESSENGER’S DUTY IS ONLY TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE, AND ALLAH KNOWS WHAT YOU REVEAL AND WHAT YOU HIDE”.  (S:5 A:99)
And said: “YOU DO NOT GUIDE THOSE YOU LOVE, BUT ALLAH GUIDES WHOM HE WILLS AND HE IS THE BEST TO KNOW THOSE ON THE RIGHT GUIDANCE”.   (S:28 A:56)
 
Allah the Highest recompenses the believers according to their work and the sincerity of their work, more than by the result.

Yosef 99-101
 
99- WHEN THEY WENT IN TO MEET YOSEF, HIS PARENTS WENT CLOSE TO HIM, AND HE SAID: “ENTER EGYPT, ALLAH WILLING, SAFE AND SECURE”.
100- HE SAT HIS PARENTS ON HIS SEAT AND THEY WENT DOWN PROSTRATING BEFORE HIM, AND HE SAID: “DEAR FATHER, THIS IS THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, MY LORD MADE IT REAL, AND HE HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME AS HE GOT ME OUT OF PRISON AND BROUGHT YOU HERE FROM THE BEDOUINS, AFTER THE DEVIL HAD MANAGED TO CAUSE STRIVE BETWEEN ME AND MY BROTHERS, FOR MY LORD IS KIND TO WHOM HE WILLS, HE IS THE MOST KNOWING AND THE MOST WISE.
101- “MY LORD YOU HAVE GIVEN ME POWER AND AUTHORITY, AND TAUGHT ME THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS, YOU ARE THE CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, YOU ARE MY ALLY AND SUPPORTER IN THE LOWER LIFE AND IN THE HEREAFTER, LET ME DIE AS A MUSLIM AND LET ME JOIN THE RIGHTEOUS”.
 
 Yosef’s parents and family went to see him and they went close to him, and he said to them: “ENTER EGYPT, ALLAH WILLING, SAFE AND SECURE”.  This was a welcoming statement to his family.
This is how he welcomed them in Egypt.  From the family of Yacob came the Children of Israel, who lived in Egypt until the time when Moses and Aaron came, and took them out of Egypt. 
Up until Allah the Highest sent Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, people used to prostrate to the kings and those in senior positions, as a greeting and as a sign of respect and acknowledgement of their authority.  After the prophecy of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, prostration became only for Allah the Highest alone.
Yosef, peace upon him, honoured his parents by sitting them on his seat, which was like a sofa and it was for him to sit on as the minister.  Then his parents and brothers prostrated before him, as they would have greeted the minister of Egypt at the time.
Yosef then said to his father that this is the interpretation of the dream he had as a child, which Allah the Highest made true.  He saw the sun and the moon and 11 stars prostrate to him:
The sun was his father, Yacob.
The moon was his mother.
The 11 stars were his 11 brothers.
Yacob, peace upon him, must have understood the meaning of this vision,  when Yosef saw it as a child; that was why he told Yosef not to tell his brothers otherwise them might plot to harm him.
Then Yosef, peace upon him, started to tell his parents how thankful he was to Allah the Highest for the great bounties which Allah the Highest bestowed upon him, including getting his out of prison, having a senior position of authority, his knowledge of the interpretation of visions and dreams, and  his family being brought from the desert.  Yosef, peace upon him, was a thankful slave, and few of Allah’s slaves are: “AND FEW OF MY SLAVES ARE THANKFUL”.  (S: 34 A: 13)
After thanking Allah the Highest for His bounties, Yosef, peace upon him, started asking Allah the Highest, saying that Allah the Highest is supported in this life and in the Hereafter.  He asked to:
-         To die as a Muslim, that is a believer who does not worship any partners beside Allah the Highest.  We should note that Yosef, peace upon him, did not consider that as he was a Muslim he would necessarily die as one.  He was subjected to many temptations and trials and he knew that there might be more to come.  He asks that he will not succumb to any of them and would not loss his faith or have his faith shaken before he dies. 
 
This was the Dawa of the prophet, the son of a prophet, the son of a prophet, the son of the father of the prophets, the man who was the Minister of Egypt, a great civilization at that time, to die as a Muslim and to join the righteous in the Hereafter.
 
If a prophet who is a son of a prophet, son of a prophet and son of the father of the prophets ask for that, we should really ask for the same very hard.
 
To make him join the righteous in the Hereafter, for they will have a special place and status in the Hereafter, and they will be the best company then, Allah the Highest said: “AND THOSE WHO OBEY ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER, THEY ARE WITH THOSE WHOM ALLAH BESTOWED HIS BOUNTY UPON, OF THE PROPHETS, THE SINCERE IN FAITH, THE MARTYRS AND THE RIGHTEOUS, AND WHAT A DELIGHTFUL COMPANY THIS IS * SUCH IS ALLAH’S BOUNTY, AND ALLAH IS SUFFICIENT FOR HE KNOWS EVERY THING”.  (S: 4 A: 69)
 
This concludes the narration of the account of the Allah’s prophet Yosef, peace upon him, in the Quran.  There are many lessons to be learnt, may Allah the Highest benefit us all from them.
 
There are two principles regarding bringing our children up, we should learn from this account:
1-    Yosef, peace upon him, was brought up by Yacob, peace upon him, as a Muslim until he was taken in to Egypt which worshipped idols at that time.  This did not change Yosef’s faith, he continued to be a Muslim in Egypt.  This shows us that the most important period in the upbringing of a person from the point of view of his faith and morality is the period of childhood.  What  the child learns then, is engraved in  their beliefs and on their personality.
2-    The extra attention which Yosef and Benjamin enjoyed from their father Yacob, created a great deal of jealousy and envy in their other brothers, even thought Yosef and Benjamin were the younger ones and needed more attention at the time.  This should teach us to try to be as just and even handed with our children as possible, to save our children from having such envy between them, as this can last even when they grow up into adults.
 

Yosef 94-98
 
94- WHEN THE CARAVAN LEFT, THEIR FATHER SAID: “I SMELL THE SMELL OF YOSEF, JUST DO NOT CONSIDER ME OLD AND CONFUSED”. 
95- THEY SAID: “BY ALLAH, YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR OLD CONFUSION”.
96- WHEN THE PERSON CARRYING THE GOOD NEWS ARRIVED, AND HE PUT IT (YOSEF’S SHIRT) ON HIS FACE, HE (YACOB) REGAINED HIS EYESIGHT AND HE SAID: “DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT I KNOW ABOUT ALLAH WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW”.
97- THEY SAID: “OUR FATHER, ASK ALLAH TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, FOR WE WERE SINFUL”.
98- HE SAID: “I WILL ASK MY LORD TO FORGIVE YOU, FOR HE IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL”.
 
Allah the Highest showed Yacob’s sons and others that Yacob was still his prophet and had his favour despite his old age.
When the caravan started forth from Egypt with Yosef’s brothers, and carrying Yosef’s shirt, Yacob smelt Yosef’s smell in the shirt, while Yacob was still in Palestine.  He told those around him, although he knew that they were not going to believe him, but would consider him to be a confused old man.  Allah the Highest was also comforting his old prophet Yacob, peace upon him.
Days later, one of Yosef’s brothers arrived and put Yosef’s shirt on his father’s face and Yacob regained his eyesight.  This was a miracle Allah the Highest performed through Yosef, which showed Yosef’s high esteem before Allah the Highest ,as well as Yacob’s high esteem too. 
Yacob reminded his sons of his telling them that he knew about Allah the Highest what they did not know.  What did Yacob, peace upon him, know that his sons did not know? 
May be it was that Allah the Highest tries and tests His prophets and messengers.
Or may be that Allah the Highest relieves the difficulties of the righteous believers “WITH DIFFICULTY COMES EASE * WITH DIFFICULTY COMES EASE”.
Now as they realized the status of their father Yacob before Allah the Highest, they asked their father Yacob to ask Allah the Highest to forgive them, which he said he would.
The prophets and messengers of Allah the Highest intercede for their people, and so do the righteous and the martyrs.  Yacob, peace upon him, also knew that Allah the Highest is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving.

Yosef 88-93
 
88- WHEN THEY WENT IN TO HIM (YOSEF) THEY SAID: “O MINISTER, WE AND OUR PEOPLE SUFFERED HARDSHIP, AND WE COME WITH GOODS OF LITTLE VALUE, GIVE US FULL MEASURES AND BE CHARITABLE TO US, FOR ALLAH REWARDS THE CHARITABLE”.
89- HE (YOSEF SAID) DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID TO YOSEF AND HIS BROTHER WHEN YOU WERE IGNORANT?”
90- THEY SAID: “YOU ARE YOSEF!”  HE SAID: “I AM YOSEF AND THIS IS MY BROTHER, ALLAH HAS BESTOWED HIS BOUNTY UPON US, FOR WHOEVER IS PIOUS AND PATIENT, ALLAH DOES NOT WASTE THE REWARD OF THOSE WHO DO GOOD DEEDS”.
91- THEY SAID: “BY ALLAH, ALLAH HAS FAVOURED YOU TO US, AND WE WERE SINFUL”.
92- “NO REPRIMANDING FOR YOU TODAY, MAY ALLAH FORGIVE YOU, FOR HE IS THE MOST MERCIFUL OF THE MERCIFUL”.
93- “TAKE THIS SHIRT OF MY AND PUT IT ON MY FATHER’S FACE, HE WILL HAVE HIS EYESIGHT BACK, AND BRING ALL YOUR FAMILY TO ME”.
 
Yosef, peace upon him, showed his great character here.  He disclosed his identity to his brothers by reminding them of what they did to him, which no one else knew.  However, he added to this that at the time they were ignorant, which implied that they are possible not the same now.
When they identified him as Yosef, Yosef also showed them his brother, safely with him.  Both Yosef and Benjamin were enjoying Allah’s Bounty, and living in comfort.  Yosef told them that Allah the Highest rewards the believers who are pious and do good deeds.  They were enjoying some of Allah’s reward in this life, but this is conditioned, by being a believer, pious, patient and doing good deeds.
We know however that, pious believers who do good deeds are not always rewarded materially in this life on Earth, and when such reward comes, it is usually after some time of difficulties which require patience and perseverance.  The worldly reward for belief and piety are never the aim or motive behind a believer doing good deeds and being patient.
Yosef’s brothers plotting against him, was the first trial for him, and then it was the minister’s wife’s seduction, and then him being imprisoned.  Then when he was asked for the interpretation of the king’s dream, while Yosef was still in prison, he did not ask for a reward or made conditions for interpreting the dream, but acted for the general welfare of every one, rather than looking after himself first. 
Indeed the people who suffer more afflictions and are tested more are pious, and each according to the strength of their faith, and the most tested and afflicted are the messengers. 
Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Such are the messengers, they are afflicted and then they will succeed at the end”.  (B:Jihad;102 & M:Jihad;74 & A:1;263)
And said: “A man is afflicted according to the strength of his faith”.  (T:Zohd, 57 & Ma:Fetan;23 & Da:Reqaq;67 & A:1;172)
Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, was asked: “Who of the people are afflicted the severest”.  He said: “The prophets, and then the closer in faith, and then the closer, and then the closer”.  (T:Zohd;57 & B:Marda;3 & Ma:Fetan;23 & Da:Reqaq;67 & A:1;172)
This was an opportunity for Yosef, peace upon him, to reprimand his brothers and rebuke them severely for what they did to him.  However, he reassured them that he was not going to reprimand or rebuke them, which was most generous and pious of him.  He was one of the pious believers Allah the Highest described in the Quran as: “AND HASTEN TO FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR LORD AND A PARADISE, ITS WIDTH IS THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, PREPARED FOR THE PIOUS * THOSE WHO SPEND (IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH) IN PROSPERITY AND IN ADVERSITY, THOSE WHO RESTRAIN THEIR ANGER, AND THOSE WHO PARDON PEOPLE, AND ALLAH LOVES THOSE WHO DO GOOD AND ARE CHARITABLE”.  (S:3 A:133-134)
Indeed, Yosef, peace upon him, restrained his anger towards his brothers, forgave them and was charitable to them.
And then Yosef, peace upon him, gave his shirt to his brothers, and asked them to put it on Yacob’s face, and told them that then, Yacob will regain his eyesight, which they did when they went back.  Yosef, peace upon him, also told his brothers to bring the rest of their family to him, bring them out of the desert to live in Egypt.
 

Yosef 80-87
 
80- WHEN THEY LOST HOPE OF HIM, THEY WENT TO TALK IN PRIVATE, AND THEIR ELDER BROTHER SAID: “DO YOU NOT REMEMBER THAT YOUR FATHER HAS TAKEN SOLEMN COVENANT FROM YOU BEFORE ALLAH, AND YOU HAVE ABUSED AND LOST YOSEF BEFOREHAND, I SHALL NOT LEAVE THIS LAND UNLESS MY FATHER PERMITS ME, OR ALLAH RULES OUT FOR ME AND HE IS THE BEST JUDGE”.
81- “GO BACK TO YOUR FATHER AND SAY TO HIM: OUR FATHER, YOUR SON STOLE, AND WE TESTIFIED BY WHAT WE KNOW ONLY, AND WE WERE NOT TO KNOW WHAT IS HIDDEN”.
82- “YOU CAN AS THE TOWN WE CAME FROM AND THE CARAVAN WE CAME WITH, FOR WE ARE INDEED TRUTHFUL”.
83- YACOB SAID: BUT YOUR SOULS HAVE TEMPTED YOU TO DO SOMETHING WRONG, I WILL BE PATIENT A BEAUTIFUL PATIENCE, HOPING THAT ALLAH WILL BRING THEM ALL TO ME, FOR HE IS THE MOST KNOWING AND THE MOST WISE”.
84- AND HE (YACOB) WENT AWAY FROM THEM AND SAID: “HOW SADDENED I AM FOR YOSEF”.  AND HIS EYES TURNED WHITE OUT OF SORROW HE HAD INSIDE HIM.
85- THEY SAID: “O BY ALLAH, YOU KEEP REMEMBERING YOSEF UNTIL YOU WEAKEN OR UNTIL YOU PERISH”.
86- HE SAID: “BUT I COMPLAIN ABOUT MY GRIEF AND SORROW TO ALLAH, AND I KNOW ABOUT ALLAH WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW”.
87- “MY SONS, GO AND SEARCH FOR YOSEF AND HIS BROTHER, AND DO NOT DESPAIR OF ALLAH’S SPIRIT (MERCY) FOR ONLY THE DISBELIEVING PEOPLE DESPAIR OF ALLAH’S SPIRIT”.
 
The brothers appealed to Yosef to take one of them in Benjamin’s place, but their appeals failed.  They went to talk together in private, and their older brother reminded them of the covenant they had given their father to keep Benjamin safe and return him safe.  He decided not to go back with them, unless Yacob permited him. 
The brothers knew that their father was not going to believe them, although they were truthful on this occasion.  Yacob, peace upon him, thought that they had done Benjamin some harm, as they did to Yosef.  Yacob felt great sorrow, remembering losing Yosef and now losing his young brother.  Never the less, Yacob had great hope of Allah’s Mercy, and hoped that He will bring all his children together.
Such is the hope of the true believers in Allah’s Mercy, they have no doubt.  They know that the means are no obstacle to Allah the Highest.  Just as Zakariah, peace upon him, has been mentioned in the Quran: “THE MENTION OF YOUR LORD’S MERCY TO HIS SLAVE ZAKARIAH * AS HE CALLED UPON HIS LORD IN PRIVATE * HE SAID: “MY LORD, MY BONES BECAME FRAIL AND MY HEAD ALL GREY, BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN UNHAPPY AFTER CALLING UPON YOU * AND I FEARED FOR MY DEPENDANTS AFTER ME, AND MY WOMAN IS BARRON, SO GIVE MY A SON FROM YOU * TO INHERIT ME AND FROM THE FAMILY OF YACOB, AND BE PLEASED WITH HIM MY LORD” * “O ZAKARIAH, WE GIVE YOU THE GOOD NEWS UPON YAHIA, WE NEVER CALL ANYONE THAT BEFORE”.  (S:19 A:2-7)
Although Zakariah, peace upon him, mentioned all the reasons why he and his wife cannot have a child, yet he asked Allah the Highest for a son, of his own flesh and blood, to inherit prophecy from the family of Yacob, and to be a person Allah the Highest pleased with.
Yacob, peace upon him, was grieving continuously and crying until he lost his eyesight and his eyes turned white.
His sons complained about him grieving all the time, and that this might kill him, he told them that he is not complaining to them, but to Allah the Highest, our creator who can help, and can create the means to such help.
After Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, was stoned and driven out of Taef, he sat on his own under a tree and said: “My Lord I complain to you about the weakness of my power, my inability to manage my difficulties, and that I am of no importance to people ..........................”
Yacob, peace upon him, told his sons that he knew about Allah what they did not know.  There are no obstacles stand in Allah’s way to do what He wills, and that Allah the Highest said: “I am as my slave expects of my and I am with him when he remembers Me”.
Then Yacob commanded his sons not to lose hope in Allah’s Mercy, for only the disbelievers do, and to go out and try to get Yosef and Benjamin back.
 

Yosef 69-79
 
69- WHEN THEY WENT IN TO YOSEF’S PALACE, HE LET HIS BROTHER COME CLOSE TO HIM AND SAID: “I AM YOUR BROTHER, DO NOT BE SADDENED BY WHAT THEY USED TO DO”.
70- WHEN HE SUPPLIED THEM WITH WHAT THEY NEEDED, HE PUT THE MEASURE IN HIS BROTHER’S CAMEL’S SADDLE, AND THEN A CALLER CALLED OUT (SAYING): “PEOPLE OF THE CARAVAN, YOU ARE THIEVES”.
71- THEY SAID GOING BACK TO THEM: “WHAT DID YOU LOOSE?”
72- THEY SAID: “WE LOST THE KING’S MEASURE, AND FOR WHOEVER BRINGS IT THERE IS A PRIZE OF A CAMEL’S LOAD (OF GRAIN), AND I GUARANTEE THAT”.
73- THEY (YOSEF’S BROTHERS) SAID:  “BY ALLAH, YOU KNOW THAT WE DID NOT COME TO CAUSE MISCHIEF ON EARTH, AND WE ARE NOT THIEVES”.
74- THEY SAID: “AND WHAT IS HIS PUNISHMENT (THE THIEF) IF YOU ARE LIARS?”
75- THEY SAID: “THE PUNISHMENT OF HIM IN WHO’S CAMEL’S SADDLE IT IS FOUND, IS THE PUNISHMENT OF THE TRANSGRESSORS”.
76- HE STARTED (SEARCHING) WITH THEIR CONTAINERS BEFORE HIS BROTHER’S CONTAINER, AND HE GOT IT OUT OF HIS BROTHER’S CONTAINER.  THIS IS HOW WE HELPED YOSEF’S PLAN; HE WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN HIS BROTHER ACCORDING TO THE KING’S RELIGION UNLESS ALLAH WILLS.  WE ELEVATE WHOM WE WILL IN GRADE, AND INDEED ABOVE THOSE WHO KNOW, THERE IS THE KNOWLEDGEABLE.
77- THEY SAID: “SHOULD HE STEAL, HIS BROTHER HAS STOLEN BEFOREHAND”. YOSEF KEPT IT TO HIMSELF AND DID NOT SHOW IT TO THEM, AND HE SAID: “YOU ARE OF THE WORST KIND, AND ALLAH KNOWS THE TRUTH CONCERNING WHAT YOU ARE TELLING”.
78- THEY SAID: “O MINISTER, HIS FATHER IS AN OLD MAN, TAKE ONE OF US IN HIS PLACE, WE SEE THAT YOU ARE OF THOSE WHO DO GOOD DEEDS”.
79- HE SAID: “GOD FORBIDS US TO TAKE ANYONE OTHER THAN WHOM WE FOUND OUR GOODS WITH, FOR THEN WE WILL BE UNJUST”.
 
When Yosef’s brothers arrived, he welcomed them; he then brought his brother Benjamin close to him and told him secretly that he was his brother.  He told Benjamin that he knew that they mistreated him as they had mistreated him before.  He told him not to be saddened for this will not take place any more.  Yosef planed not to let his brother Benjamin go back with them.
In Jacob’s religion, a person caught stealing had to become a slave to the person he stole from.  Therefore, Yosef arranged for his brother Benjamin to be caught stealing from him and to be punished according to Yacob’s religion, not according to the religion and law of the pharaoh of Egypt.
Yosef, peace upon him, told his boys to put the king’s measure, that they measured the grain with, in the containers of the saddle of Benjamin’s camel.  When they started to go, it was called out that they were thieves.  When they returned enquiring what was missing, they were told that it was the king’s silver measure, and Yosef put a prize for whoever found it, a camel load of grain.  Naturally Yosef’s brothers denied that they had the measure.
Before beginning to search their camels, Yosef got them to agree on the punishment for the person they found with the measure.  They said that they should be punished according to their own laws, which meant being enslaved to the Yosef.  Yosef’s brothers helped him fulfil his plans.  Yosef took his brother Benjamin.
Yosef’s brothers realised that they had a problem, particularly as they promised their father to take good care of Benjamin and to keep him safe.  They asked Yosef, peace upon him, to take one of them as a slave instead of Benjamin, but he refused as this would have been unjust.  Yosef wanted to keep Benjamin from the other brothers.  Yosef and Benjamin were from the same father and mother, while the other brothers were their brothers only through their father, Yacob.
Yosef’s brothers said that Yosef stole before, in fact he did not, and there was some incident about that.
Yosef’s father’s sister, Yacob’s sister, looked after him for a while.  When Yacob wanted to have him back, she was very reluctant as she had become very attached to Yosef.  Yacob’s sister used to keep a family heirloom, which was a belt which had belonged to her father Isaac.  When she was letting little Yosef go home, she made him wear the belt under his clothes, and then she claimed that she was missing the belt, which they found on Yosef.  This meant that she could keep Yosef as her slave, however she later confessed and cleared little Yosef of the offence.
When they mentioned that his brother (Yosef) stole before hand, Yosef was naturally angry, but he restrained his anger and held it inside, like the people Allah the Highest praised in the Quran saying: “AND HASTEN TO FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR LORD AND A PARADISE, ITS WIDTH IS THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, PREPARED FOR THE PIOUS *  THOSE WHO SPEND (IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH) IN PROSPERITY AND IN ADVERSITY, THOSE WHO RESTRAIN THEIR ANGER, AND THOSE WHO PARDON PEOPLE, AND ALLAH LOVES THOSE WHO DO GOOD AND ARE CHARITABLE”.  (S: 3 A:133-134)
We will later see that Yosef, peace upon him, after restraining his anger towards his brothers, was kind, generous and charitable with them, and did not take vengeance when he was able.  Yosef, peace upon him, was a prophet, son of a prophet Yacob, son of a prophet Isaac, son of a prophet Ibrahim, peace upon them all.



 
 

Yosef 67-68
 
67- HE (YACOB) SAID: “MY SONS, DO NOT ENTER THROUGH ONE DOOR BUT ENTER THROUGH DIFFERENT DOORS, BUT THIS CAN NOT COME BETWEEN YOU AND ALLAH’S FATE, FOR ONLY ALLAH DECIDES OUR FATE, UPON HIM WE RELY, AND UPON HIM THE BELIEVERS SHOULD RELY”.
68- AND THEY ENTERED AS THEIR FATHER COMMANDED THEM, HE WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTED THEM FROM ALLAH, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING INSIDE YACOB WHICH HE FULFILLED, FOR HE HAS KNOWLEDGE THAT WE TAUGHT HIM, BUT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW.
 
Yacob, peace upon him, advised his sons that when they reach Egypt, not to enter town where the person in charge of giving the food is through the same door, but through many doors.  In the past, towns used to be surrounded by walls which shut at night to protect the inhabitants from invaders and criminal.  These walls have doors or gates which open during the day and the guards inspect those coming in, and are shut at night.
Yosef’s sons had to go through these doors in the wall to reach where Yosef and the food are.  This was not to protect Yacob’s son from any fate Allah the Highest had for them, but is was to fulfil something hidden inside him, may be that if they come to harm, they do not come to harm all of them.
Allah the Highest commands us to seeks his protection from Him, for total protection comes from God only as in the two Sorahs or Istiaza, which are the last two Sorahs of the Quran (113, 114)
Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him used to ask for Allah’s protection for his grandsons Hassan and Hussien saying: “I seek protection for you with Allah’s complete words, from every devil and deadly poisonous creature and from every hurtful eye”.  (A:1;270 & Termezi & Abu Dawood)
 Yacob peace upon him was a prophet and he knew that he had to seek Allah’s protection for his children, and that only Allah the Highest can decide their fate and what will happen to them. 
What Yacob peace upon him did was to ask them to do what they can humanly do to keep themselves safe.  It is a principle of Allah the Highest on Earth that human beings should do their part even if insignificant then Allah’s help will be forthcoming.
The Early Muslims had to fight in the cause of Allah the Highest and have some killed and some injured in order to have Allah’s support.
People have to work hard and sincerely in their jobs in order for Allah the Highest to give them success.
Allah the Highest heals the sick, but one has to seek and have treatment when it is available to be healed.  Even Ayob peace upon him who was sick for forty years and sought Allah’s help, Allah the Highest told him about some plant and water, he rubbed his body with and drank from in order to be healed.  Allah the Highest said: “AND REMEMBER OUR SALVE AYOB WHEN HE CALLED UPON HIS LORD: THE DEVIL AFFLICTED ME WITH AILMENT AND SUFFERING” * GO DOWN (THIS) WITH YOUR LEG, THIS IS COOL TO WAS WITH AND TO DRINK FROM”.   (S:38 A:41-41)
Even Mariam who carried Jesus peace upon him was not exempted from this rule when she gave birth to the son immaculately conceived.  After giving birth and she needed to eat, Allah the Highest told her to shake the stem of the palm tree, then ripe dates will fall.  For those who know palm trees, they know that it might take the strength of at least 4 strong men to shake the stem of a date tree to have dates falling, but the week woman Mariam who just gave birth, just had to try to shake it, had to do her part.  “AND SHAKE THE STEM OF THE DATE TREE IT WILL DROP ON YOU RIPE DATES”.  (S:19 A:25)
Yacob peace upon him also told his sons to take these precautions, although he knew well that it will not change their fate.

Yosef 65-66
 
65- WHEN THEY OPENED THEIR LUGGAGE THEY FOUND THAT THEIR GOODS WERE GIVEN BACK TO THEM, THEY SAID: “OUR FATHER, WHAT DO WE WANT MORE, THESE ARE OUR GOODS GIVEN BACK TO US, WE SHALL SUPPLY OUR FAMILY WITH FOOD, LOOK AFTER BROTHER, AND HAVE AN EXTRA CAMEL LOAD, WHICH WILL BE A LITTLE EXTRA MEASURE TO CARRY”.
66- HE (YACOB) SAID: “I WILL NOT SEND HIM WITH YOU UNLESS YOU BRING ME YOUR OATH AND COVENANT BY ALLAH TO BRING HIM BACK, UNLESS YOU ARE TOTALLY OVERWHELMED”.  WHEN THEY BROUGHT HIS THEIR COVENANT HE SAID: “AND ALLAH OVERSEEING WHAT WE SAY”.
 
When Yacob’s sons opened up their luggage, they had a very pleasing surprise.  They found that all the good they took to buy took to buy food from Egypt put back in their luggage.  They had their many camel’s loads of food from Egypt for free.
They went to tell their brother Yacob that they could not have possibly asked for more than that from Egypt.  They wish to supply their family with food next year and get an extra camel load for Benjamin when he goes with them, and this is not too much for the food supply of Egypt at the time.
Yacob peace upon him said that he will let Benjamin go with them next year but on one condition.  They will have to make a covenant by Allah the Highest that they will protect Benjamin, look after him and bring him back safely, unless they are totally overwhelmed by robbers of much greater number and force. 
They gave Yacob their covenant to that effect, and Yacob told them that Allah the Highest is overseeing this covenant, and ultimately Allah is the best able to keep them safe.