237 Page Notes

12 Surah Yusuf (continued)

Page 237 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

12:15

12:16

12:17

12:18

12:19

12:20

12:21

12:22

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 237 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 237 of the Quran continues the narrative of Surah Yusuf (Chapter 12), Verses 15 through 22. This specific section contains some of the most emotionally charged and pivotal moments of the entire chapter: the brothers cast Yusuf into the dark well, return to their father in the evening weeping with a shirt stained with fake blood, and claim a wolf devoured him. It then details Yusuf's rescue by a passing caravan, his sale into Egyptian slavery for a cheap price, and his eventual maturation under the roof of the 'Aziz (the high official of Egypt), where Allah grants him wisdom and knowledge.

The prophetic Sunnah and classical Ahadith frame these historic events around critical legal and spiritual rules: the true meaning of patience, the concept of divine destiny, the reality of human trafficking, and the physical characteristics of Prophet Yusuf.

1. The Definition of "Beautiful Patience" (Sabrun Jameel)

Quranic Context (Verse 18): When presented with the blood-stained shirt, Prophet Ya'qub knows his sons are lying and declares: "...So [for me] beautiful patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."

In the Sunnah, Ya'qub's response is the primary scriptural standard for how a believer handles tragedy. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly defined what makes patience "beautiful" (jameel) versus ordinary despair.

• The Hadith: When the Prophet ﷺ was asked about the meaning of "beautiful patience," he replied:
  "It is patience in which there is no complaint (to people)."
  — Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Via traditional narration chains linked to Verse 18; also transmitted via structural variations in early Musnad works)

• The Psychological Reality of Grief: The Sunnah establishes that Sabrun Jameel does not mean suppressing natural grief or tears. When the Prophet's ﷺ own infant son Ibrahim passed away, his eyes filled with tears. When questioned by companions who thought this contradicted patience, he corrected them:
  "The eyes weep and the heart grieves, but we do not say anything except what pleases our Lord. Indeed, O Ibrahim, we are grieved by your separation."
  — Sahih al-Bukhari (1303)

2. Allah's Absolute Decree vs. Human Plotting

Quranic Context (Verse 21): After Yusuf is sold to an Egyptian official, Allah states: "...And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know."

This verse acts as a profound testament to Qadar (Divine Decree)—the brothers plotted to eliminate Yusuf so they could have their father’s love, yet their very act of throwing him in the well was the catalyst that propelled him onto the throne of Egypt.

• The Hadith on Divine Mastery: This theological reality is famously captured in the Prophet’s ﷺ comprehensive advice to his young cousin, Ibn Abbas:
  "Know that if the whole nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something that Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."
  — Jami` at-Tirmidhi (2516)

3. The Unsurpassed Beauty of Prophet Yusuf

Quranic Context (Verses 19-22): The travelers pull Yusuf out of the well and view him as simple, low-value "merchandise" (bida'ah), selling him for a few silver coins. However, by Verse 22, he reaches full physical and spiritual maturity (ashuddahu).

The physical appearance and presence that Yusuf developed as he grew into manhood on this page is explicitly highlighted by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the famous Hadith of the Night Journey (Isra' wal-Mi'raj).

• The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ narrated that during his journey through the heavens:
  "I passed by Yusuf (in the third heaven), and behold, he had been given half of all beauty."
  — Sahih Muslim (162)

• Contextual Insight: Classical commentators note the stark irony shown on Page 237: human beings evaluated this flawless, extraordinarily beautiful future prophet as a cheap, disposable commodity to be sold for a "miserable price" (darahima ma'dudah), while in the eyes of Allah, his value was immeasurable.

4. The Severe Sin of Selling a Free Human Into Slavery

Quranic Context (Verse 20): "And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little."

The merchants and brothers participated in the capture and sale of a free child into forced servitude. The Sunnah strictly addresses this act of human trafficking, classifying it as one of the ultimate sins where Allah Himself will act as the legal adversary against the perpetrator on the Day of Judgement.

• The Hadith Qudsi: The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah said:
  "There are three types of people whose adversary I will be on the Day of Resurrection... [the second is] a man who sells a free person (into slavery) and consumes his price."
  — Sahih al-Bukhari (2227)

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. I. (1997). Sahih al-Bukhari. Darussalam Publishers.

• Al-Naysaburi, M. H. (2007). Sahih Muslim. Darussalam Publishers.

• At-Tirmidhi, M. I. (2007). Jami` at-Tirmidhi. Darussalam Publishers.

• Ibn Kathir, I. (2000). Tafsir Al-Quran Al-Azim (Vol. 4). Dar-us-Salam Publications.

• Najafi, M. A. (2026). Tafseer-e-Quran: Sura Yusuf Ayaat 15-22. Hyder AI Islamic Lecture Series.