INTRODUCTION

• This Surah was revealed during the last stage of the Holy Prophet’s residence in Makkah, when the Quraish were considering the prospects of killing, exiling, or imprisoning him.
• At that time some of the non-Muslims put this question to test him: “Why did the Bani Israel (Israelites) go to Egypt?” 
• The Surah was revealed there and then, and had several lessons in its narration for the listeners.
• I have gone through the Surah itself, consulted a tafseer, listened to a few commentaries on YouTube and attended a lecture on the subject.
• Whereas there are a number of lessons to be learnt from the Surah, I have elected to write on only two of its universal teachings: –
  • Characteristics of the “People of Evil” and the “People of the Promise”, as gleaned from the study of this Surah.
  • The overall theme of the Surah, which includes:
    • Allah’s ‘PROMISE’ to the human being.
    • The period of ‘TRAINING’ that has to pass between the ‘promise’ and its ‘fulfilment’.
    • How the promise is ‘FULFILLED’.
• I have deliberately avoided listing several teachings of this Surah, in order to highlight ONLY the above two teachings.
• You may use this document as a “fluid document” and add to it as your own study reveals more insights from this Surah.
• I ask Allah’s forgiveness if I misinterpreted something, or stepped out of line with what was originally intended from the revelation of the Surah.
• I also sincerely hope and pray that this work is of benefit to all of us.

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Section One

CHARACTERISTICS OF “PEOPLE OF EVIL”

[Ehl ul Batil]

As gleaned from SURAH YUSUF (PBUH)

Allah informed us in Surah Yusuf (PBUH), the characteristics of the “People of Evil”, as opposed to the “People of Good” (or the “People of the Promise”). The examples given are from the characters of the story.

You will find the following characteristics in the non-believers that opposed the call to Islam by our Prophet (PBUH) in Makkah. This was the immediate audience listening to the Surah as it was being revealed in response to their question [“Why did the Bani Israel go to Egypt?”].

By way of extension, you will also find the following characteristics in any person or group of persons that have evil designs.

	CHARACTERISTICS	EXPLANATION
1.	They have JEALOUSY, or ENVY (in its negative connotation).	– Yusuf’s brothers claimed out of envy that “Yusuf (PBUH) and his brother are dearer to our father than us”. (Ayah No. 8) – Jealousy / Envy is the first “museeba” that came to Iblees. – The people of evil have this quality of Iblees.
2.	They possess PRIDE.	– The brothers of Yusuf (PBUH) claimed that they “were a powerful group”. (Ayah No. 14)
3.	They ACCUSE PIOUS PEOPLE of wrong-doing.	– When the brothers said “Although we are many, Yusuf PBUH and his brother are dearer to our father than we are … our father (Yaqoob PBUH) is clearly in the wrong”. – They said this despite having full knowledge that their father was a Nabi, a son of Nabi, and a grandson of Nabi. (Ayah No. 8)
4.	They CONSPIRE AGAINST people of HAQ (the righteous people).	– In Islam, if you sit together for something good, it is called MASHWARA. If instead, the sitting together is to inflict pain on others, it is called MUÁMARAH (or conspiracy). – One of the characteristics of the people of evil is that they sit to discuss and conspire against the people of good, to a point that they are ready to even kill the righteous. – In (Ayah No. 9), the brothers said “Kill Yusuf (PBUH)”.
5.	They DESIRE the rights of others and TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS of others.	– As the brothers said “Kill Yusuf or banish him to another land, and your father’s attention will be free to turn to you”. – The people of evil thus desired to take away, and then occupy the place that Yusuf had in their father’s heart. (Ayah No. 9)
6.	They have WISHFUL THINKING!	– In (Ayah No. 9) the brothers planned to kill or banish Yusuf PBUH. Following this they said “After that you can be righteous”. – Shaitan coaxes them with wishful thinking, saying: “Do this wrong act – and afterwards you can become pious people!”
7.	They are TWO-FACED.	– They never show what they hide inside them. – They show something different to what they hide. – The brothers said to their father “Why do you not trust us with Yusuf PBUH? We wish him well”. (Ayah No. 11)
8.	Their nature is to LIE!	– They always lie; they tell lie upon lie upon lie. – In (Ayah No. 12) the brothers said to their father, “Send him with us tomorrow and he will enjoy himself and play – we will take good care of him”.
9.	They PLOT a lot.	– They use plot upon plot upon plot – to give a wrong impression to others. (Ayah No. 16 & 17)·       “And at nightfall they returned to their father, weeping” (Ayah 16)· – They said, “We went off racing one another, leaving Yusuf PBUH behind with our things, and a wolf ate him. You will not believe us, though we are telling the truth!” (Ayah 17)
10.	Allah always EXPOSES their HIDDEN PLANS.	– They use “HAQ” (truth) for the “BAATIL” (false reasons), but Allah exposes their plans. – They deceive others by making them misinterpret their words. – They thus change the meanings of the words they use! – An example is (Ayah No. 18) … and they showed him his shirt, deceptively stained with blood. He (Yaqoob PBUH) cried “No! Your souls have prompted you to do wrong! But it is best to be patient: from Allah alone, I seek help to bear what you are saying”. – The brothers brought Yusuf’s shirt with fake blood to their father. But their father saw through this deception.
11.	They CHANGE the TRUTH!	– They accuse others even though they are the ones who are GUILTY. – They SUPPLICATE & COMPLAIN when they are the ones who are GUILTY of the crime. – See (Ayah No. 25). She tore his shirt from behind & accused him of wrongdoing in front of her husband! – They raced for the door – she tore his shirt from behind – and at the door they met her husband. She said “What, other than prison or painful punishment, should be the reward of someone who tried to dishonour your wife?”
12.	They SELL THE RIGHTEOUS (Muslim) at the cheapest price!	– See (Ayah No. 20)· – And then sold him for a small price, for a few pieces of silver: so little did they value him.
13.	The PROOF becomes clear to them. But they DON’T TAKE a LESSON from the proof.	– When she heard their malicious talk, she prepared a banquet & sent for them, giving each of them a knife. She said to Yusuf PBUH “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! He cannot be mortal! He must be a precious angel!” (Ayah No. 31)· – The minister’s wife also exclaimed: “I tried to seduce him and he wanted to remain chaste”. – But when the matter became clear to the women, instead of vouching for Yusuf’s innocence, they all wanted a piece of him.
14.	They want to DOMINATE & CORRUPT the pious – OR ELSE – they wouldPUNISH them with a degrading punishment.	– See (Ayah No. 31)· – “But if he does not do what I command now, he will be put in prison and degraded”.·       And this is exactly what happened.

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QUALITIES OF “PEOPLE OF THE PROMISE”

[Sahib al Mauóod]

As gleaned from SURAH YUSUF (PBUH)

There is (ULTIMATELY) no fear and no sadness for those that say “Allah is our Rabb!” and act steadfastly on this in their lives. They are the ones promised to be “Owners of the Promise (of Jannah)” [Mauóod: promised to them by Allah].

They are the Sahib al Mauóod (holders of the promise), as a reward, and as compensation!

Allah informed us in Surah Yusuf (PBUH), the characteristics of the people who have been promised by Him. Following are the qualities of the “Promised Ones”, as seen in the Surah. The examples given are from the characters of the story.

So, when you see the following qualities (characteristics) in some people, you can be sure that these are the “Promised Ones” or the “People of Haqq” or the “People of Good”.

	CHARACTERISTICS	EXPLANATION
1.	They TRUST in GOD, always.	– See Hazrat Yaqub’s (PBUH) expression in Ayah No. 18. – “…But it is best to be patient: from God alone, I seek help to bear what you are saying”.
2.	The way they deal with “People of Evil” is through EXERCISING PATIENCE (Sabrun Jameelun) &SEEKING ALLAH’S HELP (Nastaeen Billah)	– People of Good face conspiracies with the BEST PATIENCE. – They also say: “Allah is the sole helper against what you are claiming or conspiring”. – “…But it is best to be patient: from God alone, I seek help to bear what you are saying” (Ayah No. 18). – So, the way to deal with “People of Evil”, as outlined in this Surah is through 2 acts, adopted together: –NASBIR (Have patience) + NASTAEEN BILLAH (Seek Allah’s help)
3.	They remain unaware of the “promise” being delivered by God – BUT – God gives them some SPECIAL POWERS – or places them in POSITIONS of ADVANTAGE – to go successfully through their period of TARBIYYA (training & upbringing).	Examples (from the Surah) of how God soothes and comforts the “People of Promise” are as below. 1.     In the well, Allah comforted Yusuf (PBUH) that he would be able to inform his brothers of the wrong they did – “…We inspired him, saying, ‘You will tell them of all this [at a time] when they do not realise [who you are]!’” (Ayah No. 15) 2.     Yusuf (PBUH) was bought by an Egyptian minister. God put it in his heart to say to his wife the following: “The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, ‘Look after him well! He may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ In this way we settled Joseph in that land and later taught him how to interpret dreams: God always prevails in His purpose, though most people do not realise it.” (Ayah No. 21) 3.     Yusuf (PBUH) was saved form wrong-doing with his master’s wife. “The woman in whose house he was living tried to seduce him: she bolted the doors and said ‘Come to me,’ and he replied, ‘God forbid! My master has been good to me; wrongdoers never prosper.’” (Ayah No. 23)
4.	They always SEEK ALLAH’S HELP.	– MAÁZ ALLAH – “I seek refuge in Allah” (Ayah No. 23)
5.	They are SHOWN SIGNS BY ALLAH IN VERY DIFFICULT TIMES.	– “She made for him, and he would have succumbed to her if he had not seen the evidence of his Lord – We did this in order to keep evil and indecency away from him, for he was truly one of Our chosen servants.” (Ayah No. 24)· – This is how Allah treats the “Promised Ones” (Sahib al Mauóod). He puts them through tests (trials) and then also helps them, based on their intention (Niyyah).
6.	They STAND FIRM WITH GOD.	– Their training (Tarbiyya) makes them firm on the right path (HAQ) & prevents them leaning away from it. – God plans their training (Tarbiyya) in such a way that they stand firm with God. – “Joseph said, ‘My Lord! I would prefer prison to what these women are calling me to do. If You do not protect me from their treachery, I shall yield to them and do wrong’.” (Ayah No. 33)· – The scholars say the following about Yusuf (PBUH): ‘He said Maáz Allah and was saved by Haasha Allah.’ In Ayah No. 23, Yusuf (PBUH) said “Maáz Allah” (I seek refuge in Allah), and he was saved by the women saying (Ayah No. 51) “Haasha Allah” (I cannot do anything that touches the order of Allah).
7.	They are busy INVITING (others) TOWARDS ALLAH.	– Yusuf (PBUH) is imprisoned for something he never did. – Despite this, he remains steadfast to his faith. – Even in the prison, he continues to invite others to God. – “All those you worship instead of Him are mere names you and your forefathers have invented, names for which God has sent down no sanction. Authority belongs to God alone, and He orders you to worship none but Him: this is the true faith, though most people do not realise it.” (Ayah No. 40)
8.	They GIVE KNOWLEDGE – FOR THE SAKE OF GOD – and DO NOT HIDE IT.	– See Ayah No. 47, 48 & 49. – Yusuf (PBUH) does not negotiate for his release from prison, even when he can. Instead, he gives goodness for the sake of God (informs the king’s servant of the interpretation of the king’s dream) and says “My reward and compensation are only from Allah.”
9.	They are not appointed by authorities; they APPOINT THEMSELVES.	– Usually: the king appoints people to a position· – But here: the “promised one” appoints himself, saying: – I am “Aleem” (guardian) & “Hafeez” (knowledgeable). – “Joseph said, ‘Put me in charge of the nation’s storehouses: I shall manage them prudently (ALEEM) and carefully (HAFEEZ).” (Ayah No. 55)
10.	ALLAH PLOTS for them.	– Yusuf (PBUH) is a prisoner, a slave and a non-resident of Egypt. – He has NO RIGHTS. – But when it comes to the fulfilment of Allah’s promises, He makes the KING of Egypt SERVE the Prisoner / slave / foreigner· – The king gets him out of prison. – He is made in charge of the storehouses of the state. – The famine brings his brothers to him. – Through his brothers he is reunited with his parents. – He sets the ground for Bani Israel to settle in Egypt which was the most advanced civilisation of the time. – Yusuf’s strife led him to his high position in the government and this led to saving millions of lives through his fore-planning for the famine (all of it being God’s plan).
11.	They DO NOT GIVE UP ON ALLAH’S PROMISE despite repeated failures / losses / bouts of sadness	– Yaqub (PBUH) lost Yusuf (PBUH) & said “Sabrun Jameel” – It is best to be patient. (Ayah No. 18)·       – Yaqub (PBUH) lost Benjamin & said “Sabrun Jameel” – It is best to be patient. (Ayah No. 83)· – Yaqub (PBUH) also said, “Allah will bring them back to me’’·       Even though Yaqub (PBUH) is very sad, and while he cries remembering Yusuf (PBUH), he also continues to declare:a.      I plead my grief and sorrow before God. I have knowledge from God that you do not have (Ayah No. 86), andb.     May God bring all of them back to me – He alone is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise – (Ayah No. 83) (He will fulfil His promise to me)· – All obstacles in life are faced by the “People of Promise” through the above 2 sentences.·       He said, ‘I am Joseph. This is my brother. God has been gracious to us: God does not deny anyone who is mindful of God (has TAQVA), and steadfast in adversity (has SABR), the rewards of those who do good.’ (Ayah No. 90)
12.	They are given GOOD JUDGEMENT (wisdom) & KNOWLEDGE	– And when he reached maturity, We bestowed on him right judgement and knowledge. Thus We reward those who do right/good. (Ayah No. 22)
13.	They DO NOT BECOME ANGRY – AND – DO NOT TAKE REVENGE when Allah makes them prevail.	– The time when Yusuf (PBUH) revealed himself to his brothers was a time to take revenge – But he went the opposite way, and forgave them instead!· – He said, ‘You will hear no reproaches today. May God forgive you: He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Take this shirt and lay it over my father’s face: he will recover his sight. Then bring your whole family back to me.’ (Ayahs No. 92 & 93)
14.	When the promise made to them is fulfilled, they WANT NOTHING FROM THIS WORLD – as they have been given it all.All they WANT (is) A GOOD OUTCOME (as explained in Ayah No. 101)	– Yusuf (PBUH) came to Egypt (the most advanced civilisation of the time). – His family was with him. – He was the king. –  …and he took them up to [his] throne. They all bowed down before him and he said, ‘Father, this is the fulfilment of that dream I had long ago. My Lord has made it come true and has been gracious to me – He released me from prison and He brought you here from the desert – after Satan sowed discord between me and my brothers. My Lord is most subtle in achieving what He will; He is the All-Knowing, the Truly Wise.’ (Ayah No. 100)· – So, life was beautiful. – But what did Yusuf want?· – See Yusuf’s (PBUH) duá (in Ayah No. 101), as below: – a.     My Lord! You have given me authority; b.     You have taught me of the interpretation of events (speech, dreams included); c.      Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter; d.     Let me die in true devotion to you (as a Muslim; in Islam), e.     And join me with the righteous (Saleheen)

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SUMMARY COMPARISON OF THE QUALITIES OF “People of the Promise” versus “People of Evil”

	PEOPLE OF THE PROMISE	PEOPLE OF EVIL
1.	Always trust in Allah	Are jealous and envious
2.	Deal with ‘’People of Evil”” by “exercising patience” & “seeking Allah’s help”	Possess pride
3.	Are helped by “Special Powers” & by being put in “Positions of Advantage”	Accuse pious people of wrong-doing
4.	Always seek Allah’s Help	Conspire against “People of Haq”
5.	Are shown signs by Allah in very difficult times	Desire the rights of others – and take away the rights of others
6.	Stand firm with Allah	Have wishful thinking
7.	Are busy inviting others towards Allah	Are two-faced
8.	Give knowledge 9to others) for the sake of Allah – and do not hide it	Their nature is to LIE
9.	Appoint themselves, with Allah’s help	They scheme and plot a lot
10.	Allah plots/designs situations for them	Allah always exposes their hidden plans
11.	Do not give up on Allah’s promise	They change the truth
12.	Are given good judgement (wisdom) and knowledge	They sell the righteous at the cheapest price
13.	Do not become angry – and do not take revenge	The proof becomes clear to them but they don’t take a lesson from it
14.	Despite having access, want nothing from this world. Instead, they want a good outcome for their life in the hereafter	They want to dominate and corrupt the pious, or else punish them with a degrading punishment

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Section Two

HOW DOES ALLAH FULFIL HIS PROMISE (TO THE PROMISED ONES)?

The above is the EXPERIENCE of all the Prophets & Messengers of Allah.

AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH A PROMISE, AND ITS FULFILMENT, IS GIVEN IN SURAH YUSUF:

The process	There is the promise of Allah (Mauóod)	There is the period of disciplining & proper upbringing (Tarbiyya) where Shaitan comes in to uproot the promise by putting your nearest & dearest against you	There is the fulfilment of His promise (Tahqeeq al Mauóod)
An example	Allah’s promise to Yusuf (PBUH) through his dream (11 stars + sun + moon prostrating to him) as a child, in Kanaan.	Yusuf’s (PBUH) trials & tribulations (as highlighted in Surah Yusuf) as the period of his intense training(Tarbiyya)	11 brothers + mom + dad prostrate to Yusuf (PBUH), decades after the promise, in Egypt – the promise is fulfilled.

THE PROCESS OF FULFILMENT OF ALLAH’S PROMISE TO THE PROMISED ONE (Sahib al Mauóod) IS EXPLAINED AS BELOW: –

• The entire Tarbiyya (training through life), of the holders of the promise (Sahib al Mauóod), is aimed at DEVELOPING & PERFECTING a few qualities in them.
• Once perfected, only then does the promise to Sahib al Mauóod get fulfilled.
• The good-doers (Mohsineen) are rewarded by being given wisdom and knowledge in this world.

THE QUALITIES THAT NEED PERFECTING, SO THAT THE PROMISE OF ALLAH IS REALISED, are: –

1. Sahib al Mauóod develops TAQVA (is a Muttaqi) – Ayah No. 90
2. Sahib al Mauóod develops PATIENCE (is Sabir) – Ayah’s No. 83, 90
3. Sahib al Mauóod does NOT ACCUSE OTHERS, does NOT TAKE REVENGE, and is FORGIVING (Al- Afw) – Ayah No. 92
4. Sahib al Mauóod INCREASES HIS/HER GOOD ACTS TOWARDS OTHERS – Ayah No. 62
5.  Sahib al Mauóod does NOT WANT ANYTHING FROM DUNYA – Ayah No. 101, and
6. Sahib al Mauóod WANTS THE AAKHIRA – Ayah No. 101

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LESSON TAUGHT IN SURAH YUSUF IS: –

The prescribed way, to attend to your individual training (Tarbiyya), is a combination of:

Sabrun Jameelun (have the best patience)

&

Nastaeenu Billah (seek only Allah’s help)

So that you may attain the (above mentioned) 6 qualities,

and thus, qualify for receiving the Promise of Allah!!!

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TAKE HOME MESSAGE FROM SURAH YUSUF: –

• We, the human beings, including non-Muslims, are the ones who have been promised the best of rewards, here and in the hereafter.
• We humans, are the “Sahib al Mauóod” (the promised ones).
• What is the promise of Allah? Several rewards in this world – and JANNAH as the reward in the Hereafter. This is detailed at several places all through the Quran.
• The objective and the purpose of living this life, and going through our individual Tarbiyya (training), is “TO BECOME A SOURCE OF MERCY & KINDNESS (Rehmat) FOR ALL OF MANKIND” – because our Prophet (PBUH) was a source of Rehmat for all of mankind!
• So, let us make an intention to be a source of mercy to all of mankind (and say Insha Allah, while making this intention, so that our intention is registered by the Angels).
• This lesson was revealed in Makkah where all the circumstances were against the spread or fulfilment of this lesson; the lesson being: –

Promise (Mauóod)

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Training /Period of Upbringing & Development (Tarbiyya)

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Fulfilment of promise (Tahqeeq al Mauóod)