Salaams,
I thought I or someone else had posted a vid of a recitation of Surah Yusuf, but when I tried searching for it but couldn't. (instead I came across that old topic I bumped up - so no I wasn't just wasting time, looking through old topics! 
)
Anyway I wanted to share a part of the introduction of Surah Yusuf, which is in my Quran:
Surah Yusuf deals in detail with the life of Prophet Yusuf (as), and gives it the name of Ahsan-ul-Qasas, the most beautiful of stories, for the reason that Prophet Yusuf (as) is the archetype of the moral man who faces all the vicissitudes, uncertainties and sufferings that befall him, but refuses to be misled by temptations, and follows the path of truth and righteousness with courage, fortitude, and submission to the will of Allah, and at the end of the long, arduous journey achieves ever-lasting bliss, both spiritual and physical.Prophet Yusuf (as) was the scion of the family of prophet Abraham (as). The greatness to which he was exalted by Allah is bestowed on a few persons, but to rise to that status he had to face the treachery of his brothers who threw him into a well, endure the ignominy of being sold as a slave in an Egyptian Market-place, resist the temptation of the seductive environment of the royal palace, defy the persuasion of his carnal self, confront the luring prompting of Satan, protect his chastity, and serve time in an Egyptian prison.
Yes, there are some words which I don't understand but I cbb to google them, I just got the gist of it. It just made me think and reinforced the message that to be closer to Allah (swt) we need to show these great qualities, like the Prophet Yusuf (as) - or atleat try to. The successful one is the one who in times of great difficulty, submits to Allah, and has the other qualities which come with doing so.
The prophets (pbut) were put through so much - *this* is what made them have such great status, the way they approached their problems - in the best manner possible, never forgetting Allah, His mercy, compassion, having taqwa and sabr etc.
When we're in difficulty it can never be as hard as it was for them, of course they were made to be able to endure such stuff. BUT we, too, are made to be able to endure the stuff we're put through. We just have to remember this and believe we can deal with it, whilst having full faith in Allah (swt) plan. And InshaAllah, through the struggles we, too, will get closer to Allah (swt) and earn a place in jannah.
Comments
MashaaAllah beautiful blog. Just like to share somethin t9 I read today. Its I. Surah luwman. On the
Third page near the end. It goes something like. Establish the prayer, enjoin good ams forbid evil an a have patience. That is hoe you shld basically deal's ith everyrhing in life. I thouvht that was pretty awesome
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Does anyone know anything about this? Why did they prostrate to him? :S
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
See beginning of saruah. He dreamt eleven atars, the sun n the moon protrated to him.
Also maybr check out the tafsir ibn kathir of this ayah?
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Cause of revelation:
Sa'ad Ibn Abi Waqqas said: When Allah revealed the Holy Quran and the prophet Muhammad (S) had recited it to the Sahabah for a period of time, they once requested, "How wonderful it would be if you also coversed with us", thus Allah revealed the verse "Allah has sent down the best speech". Then they said "O prophet of Allah, tell us a story!" and Allah revealed Surah Yusuf and the verse 'We are relating to you a very good narration'.
Dhahaak narrates from Ibn Abbas "The Jews questioned the prophet regarding the situation of the prophet Yaqub and his sons, especially Yusuf. They enquired as to why and how they came to Egypt whilst they were originally from Can'aan, Syria". Thereupon Allah revealed Surah Yusuf.
Yeah, I know that. Just surprised about the actual prostrating
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
Back in the days, it was a tradition to prostrate towards religious leaders and important people. It was kind of like the norm, and to show the respect you had towards a person you would honour them with prostration.
When Muadh returned from Syria he prostrated before the prophet Muhammad (S) and the prophet (S) exclaimed: 'O Muadh, what is this?' He replied: 'When i went to Syria i saw the Christians prostrating before their religious leaders and generals, so i thought to myself that we should do the same to you'.
However, the prophet Muhammad (S) did not allow this and said that 'Do not do this! If i were to order someone to prostrate infront of anyone other than Allah, i would order the wife to prostrate before her husband (due to the rights he has over her).
Ok, I thought that would've been taught by all prophets
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
For that prostration verse, there are said to be two meanings:
1) By prostrating it meant that they would come under his rule (This happened when they settled down in Egypt and then prophet Yusuf was its ruler).
2) Yet the literal meaning of putting your forehead on the earth can also be taken into account because it was also said to be a 'greeting' in those times.
Teebi explains in Mishkat that 'Prostration is the right of He who is eternal, who is alive and does not die, to whose sovereignity there is no end'. In other words the prophet (S) said 'You might bow down before me, due to respect while i'm infront of you, but when i go beneath the soil you would dislike doing the same to me'. It concludes that the prophet forbade prostration to himself and to any human, and that you should only prostrate before someone who is eternal and that is only Allah, alone.
It was before the commandment that made prostration haraam before another human.
It's like the narration about Abu Bakr (ra) gambling with a man over when the Romans would defeat the Persians, it was BEFORE gambling was made haraam.
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi