Verses 102–108: Reminders to the Prophet (peace be upon him)

102: That is from the stories of the unseen which We reveal to you ˹O Prophet˺. You were not present when they ˹all˺ made up their minds, and when they plotted ˹against Yusuf.

103: And most people will not believe—no matter how keen you are—

104: even though you are not asking them for a reward for this ˹Quran˺. It is only a reminder to the whole world.

105: How many signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by with indifference!

106: And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others with Him ˹in worship˺.

107: Do they feel secure that an overwhelming torment from Allah will not overtake them, or that the Hour will not take them by surprise when they least expect ˹it˺?

108: Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “This is my way. I invite to Allah with insight—I and those who follow me. Glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists.”

Verses 109–110: Allah’s Messengers

109: We only sent before you ˹O Prophet˺ men inspired by Us from among the people of each society. Have the deniers not travelled through the land to see what was the end of those ˹destroyed˺ before them? And surely the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter is far better for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Will you not then understand?

110: And when the messengers despaired and their people thought the messengers had been denied help, Our help came to them ˹at last˺. We then saved whoever We willed, and Our punishment is never averted from the wicked people.

Verses 111: Messengers’ Stories in the Quran

111: In their stories there is truly a lesson for people of reason. This message cannot be a fabrication, rather ˹it is˺ a confirmation of previous revelation, a detailed explanation of all things, a guide, and a mercy for people of faith.

Reflections

Lessons from Surah Yusuf

In these verses, we are reminded to take lessons from the story of Yusuf, including:

• Patience and trust in Allah.

  • Though his eyes became blind and his palms became stiff, Yaqub persisted in patience and prayer, to the point that his own sons mocked him for it.

  • Yusuf similarly displayed patience, facing one trial after another, while maintaining a standard of excellence that was apparent to those around him.

• Divine decree and destiny

  • This surah reminds us that Allah’s will is always executed. Though Yaqub strove to keep Yusuf close, Allah sent him away. Yusuf’s brothers tossed him down a well, but Allah elevated him to a throne.

  • We also learn that the negative experiences we dread so much may be the first link in a chain of good fortune.

• Forgiveness and reconciliation

  • It takes immense courage to face our darkest shadows, to break the cycle of trauma and extend grace to those around us. It’s an arduous task, but we have in the story of Yusuf a model for that process

Learn from history

In verse 109, Allah encourages us to explore the earth. If we are not able to do so with our feet, then at the very least, we should do so with our minds to see how history repeats itself. The numerous accounts of the perished nations teach us an important lesson - turn back to Allah before it is too late.

One of the early Muslims said, “When I emerge from my home, my eye does not fall upon anything except that I notice Allah’s favor on me because of it, or a lesson for me from it.”  Additionally, the great Companion, Ibn Abbas, said, “A moment of reflection is superior to standing for a night in worship.”

While you will not live for hundreds of years, the stories in the Quran can give you the experience of a thousand lifetimes.

Have you committed yourself to the truth?

Surah Yusuf is sealed with the words, “This message cannot be a fabrication, rather ˹it is˺ a confirmation of previous revelation, a detailed explanation of all things, a guide, and a mercy for people of faith.”

People who stand before Allah’s guidance are of three types:

1. Those who turn away in aversion.

2. Those who carry revelation as though it is a burden, they don't benefit from it, nor do they benefit others.

3. Those who are thirsty for faith and are healed by the Quran.

In order to be the third type of people, we must ensure that we firmly believe in the message of the Quran and act upon its teachings.

Action Item: As we come to our conclusion take a moment to pray, may we contemplate and implement the lessons of Surah Yusuf.

For the full book and other works by Mohammad Elshinawy click here.