Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Yūsuf (Joseph) | PROLOGUE
He said: ‘Did I not say to you that I know from God something that you do not
know?’ (Verse 96)
My Lord, You have given me power and imparted to me some understanding of the
real meaning of statements. (Verse 101)
This is certainly a clear example of how harmony is maintained in this
glorious book.
• The sūrah also explains some of the attributes of Godhead, notably judgement.
This occurs once quoting Joseph in the sense of people being subject to God
and willingly obeying Him. It occurs again quoting Jacob in the sense of
people’s involuntary submission to God’s will. The two aspects thus are
mutually complementary in defining the concept of judgement and Godhead.
There is no chance that this could have been mere coincidence.
Joseph first states within the context of refuting the claims of Egypt’s rulers
that they were deities, explaining that this runs against the concept of God’s
oneness: “My two prison companions! Which is better: [to believe] in diverse lords,
or to believe in God, the One who holds sway over all that exists? Those you worship
instead of Him are nothing but names you and your fathers have invented, and for
which God has given no sanction from on high. All judgement rests with God alone.
He has ordained that you should worship none but Him. This is the true faith.”
(Verses 39-40)
Within the context of God’s will and that it will always be done with no force
able to stop it, Jacob says: “My sons, do not enter [the city] by one gate, but enter
by different gates. In no way can I be of help to you against God. judgement rests with
none but God. In Him have I placed my trust, and in Him alone let all those who trust
place their trust.” (Verse 67)
The complementarity in the significance of judgement means that faith is not
set on the right footing unless submission to God’s will in matters of
judgement is equated with submission to His will in matters of fate. Both are
aspects of faith. Voluntary submission is as much part of faith as submission
to what is determined by God’s will, giving man no say in it.
• We see another fine example when Joseph, wise, sagacious and astute as he is,
chooses the most suitable of God’s attributes when he speaks of a situation
that reflects God’s gracious handling of all affairs: “And he raised his parents to
the highest place of honour, and they fell down on their knees, prostrating themselves
before him. He said: ‘Father, this is the real meaning of my dream of long ago. My
Lord has made it come true. He has been gracious to me, releasing me from prison, and
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