https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qcissXHODKKTf59XCatHN?si=4058191dc6764120
Yusuf (as) goes through a lot of what the Prophet SAW went through
→ never really had a bubble of protection (family)
→ sent by Allah as a comfort to Muhammad SAW (biggest consolation)
! sunnah to visit the sick & let them know you’re there for them
Surah Yusuf revealed to the Prophet SAW during what scholars call ‘The Year of Grief’
Take-Aways:
— whenever a person is engaged with any sort of temptation or desire, that person needs to be honest with themselves
→ many of our mistakes occur in life because we are over-confident with our ability to remain on the straight path
→ Muraqabah (becoming deeply aware of who we are in respect to Allah) & Muhasadah (to take account of yourself): how we can come to get to know ourselves ?
We have to admit that we need help in order to benefit from the Mercy of Allah
Your faith cannot breathe without shukr for Allah
→ this does not mean perfection: thank Him, do your best live up to it, and when you fall short you repent
innahoo laa yuflihuz-zaalimoon
the wrong-doers will never succeed → people who do wrong will be made to face judgement for their deeds on day which no man can hide
— for some people, happiness isn’t attainable because your priorities are OFF
→ don’t expect to reach standards that Allah didn’t set
one of the punishements of sin is that you have to know that you’re a person capable of that sin
→ one of the punishments in THIS world is that isolation from doing wrong and committing it unto others
Surah Yusuf is like an overload of life-lessons
— the Quran is meant to be a detox in some ways
→ in order to get something to swing sometimes you have to apply a lot of force so we can be knocked back onto the Straight Path
You’re not given wisdom and knowledge without the work of life
→ only dead things don’t grow
There are moments in life when your response to a situation is critical
— when it comes to the dignity of your faith and your honor, you should always be upfront and direct about protecting them
— there is value in setting things straight, especially when you are defending something that invalidates your character
→ but there’s a right & wrong time do this, put effort where it matters
Intention Matters:
— sometimes we have less than sincere intentions in making the right decisions
— intention should always be to do the right thing b/c it what was ordained from Allah SWT
→ making the right decision in terms of your islam is not always the most beneficial outcome in terms of your dunya
→ the reward for being ethical is closeness to Allah even if it puts you in difficulty
The same sins have been committed from day one, that’s why Islam has the checks and balances that it does
→ peoples temptations will push until they can’t anymore
Make the right choice even if there’s nothing apparently rewarding about it
→ this is the reward in itself
→ just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean the victory is not coming
What if Allah did not give you the luxury and extravagance that you see around you because it would destroy you?
One of the miracles of the Quran is that it remains ever-relevant, universal
→ this is why re-reading is so important, the words don’t change but the meaning to us does as we live and experience life
In order for a person to benefit from the guidance of the Quran, they must be willing to humble themselves
→ we do not know everything
→ we need to come back to the book of Allah for the answers we seek
When a person who is Muslim sees something that is wrong, they have three options
*A person who knowingly & willingly (intentionally) misses Asr — all of their good deeds are erased
‘[…] Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.’ (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185)
‘God does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned’ (Surah al-Baqarah 2:286)
‘And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to God is the [final] destination’ (Surah Fatir 35:18)