[القلب الحزين]

Innovative Way to Memorize the Quran (5)



Allah Almighty says in His Book: "There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it….

Allah Almighty says in His Book: "There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe." [Yousif: Joseph: 111] Thus, if you want to memorize any story from the Quranic stories, you have to understand it and deduce from it lessons and sermons. Then, you start memorizing and you will find memorizing the story very easy.

Joseph Surah is a truly a masterpiece of the Quranic stories… I remember how this Surah was my start in the journey of memorizing the Almighty's Book. One of the important things to find real enjoyment in memorizing is to start by what you love and what interests you without sticking to a certain ranking. Your objective will be is to please Allah Almighty and perfecting memorizing the Quran or part of the Quran. The objective is not to memorize the Quran according to its ranking. But if you memorize one Surah thoroughly in sake of Allah, it is much better for you than memorizing the whole Quran only for the sake of memorizing or to have people say that you have memorized the Quran!

Therefore, that was my systematic way of memorization. The result was that what I had memorized stayed long though I did not revise it! I used to leave everything, sit to memorize the Book of Allah Almighty, find great pleasure in reciting the Quran and enjoy its meanings which capture hearts.

We will try now memorizing Surah Joseph (pbuh). But before we start this job, we need to divide this Surah into portions according to the events of this story. Then, we memorize each portion alone, next, we connect the portions to each other. We will find ourselves memorizing this Surah without much effort.

I will leave this Surah for you, dear reader to divide it into portions that suit your ability to memorize. The portions may be large or small. I will give you an idea about the story and the lessons it includes, so that you feel with me the events and the situation which were hints from this great Surah.

The best stories

The stories of the prophets in the Holy Quran come within the Surah verses, nonetheless, the Quran considered this story in a whole Surah because of its importance, many lessons, sermons and the benefits which the story had introduced to us. Therefore, we find Allah Almighty talk to His beloved Mohammed (pbuh) said to him: "We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur'an: before this, thou too was among those who knew it not."[Yousif: Joseph: 3]

Joseph dreamed and told his father, "Behold! Joseph said to his father: "O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!" 5. Said (the father): "My (dear) little son! relate not thy vision to thy brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee: for Satan is to man an avowed enemy! "[Yousif: Joseph: 4-5]. The father knows his sons and he knows that Joseph was the best of his brothers who hate him. Therefore, the father asked Joseph not to tell his brothers, because he was afraid that they may hurt Joseph.

Joseph's brothers

Joseph had a number of brothers who envy him for being their father's favorite. They wanted to separate him from their father and so they tried always to concoct plots for Joseph because their father loves him more. One day, they met and decided to take Joseph and throw him in the well to get rid of him and gain Jacob's, their father, affection. Therefore, they came, swindled their father and said, "They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph,- seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers? 12. "Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him." 13. (Jacob) said: "Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him." 14. They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party, then should we indeed (first) have perished ourselves!" ."[Yousif: Joseph: 11-14] Of course, they were lying to their father, and therefore, their lying would be uncovered after a while.

They took Joseph

Jacob, the father, (pbuh) agreed to send Joseph with his brothers who took him to a place far away where there was the well. They swindled Joseph and then threw him in the well before they hurried home! But before that they had taken Joseph's shirt, dipped it in blood, came back to their father weeping, and said, "Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping. 17. They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf devoured him.... But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth." 18. They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is Allah (alone) Whose help can be sought". . ."[Yousif: Joseph: 16-18] Here, we see how Jacob, the father, (pbuh) had faced this calamity with patience and surrendered the whole issue to Allah… and so we must be patient on all calamities and let Allah manages. We must not rely in all our issues and life on anyone other than Allah.

What was the fate of Joseph?

Allah was with Joseph and He did not leave him at all because Joseph was a believer child who fears Allah and does not disobey Him. He used to love Allah who loves him. Allah had arranged for Joseph a place in the well that he did not feel afraid. Allah protected him from any harm. Joseph sat in the well waiting for who may come and save him until a caravan who sent their servant to bring them water from the well. When he put down the bucket into the well, Joseph held it and climbed up with it. The servant saw Joseph, hurried back and said: I have found a child!! Hence, one of the merchants took him to Egypt and availed him for selling. One of the princes, Al-Aziz came and bought him for a miserable price, only few dirhams. "The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! 21. The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honourable: maybe he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son."[Yousif: Joseph: 20-21]

A new journey starts

The Aziz took Joseph, the child, and brought him up in a good manner. He always used to tell his wife to dignify this kid because he was good. Josef was getting gradually older and increasingly beautiful, knowledge and wisdom. Here, Allah describes this stage of Prophet Joseph’s (pbuh) life and says, "When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right.” [Yousif: Joseph: 22]

But this journey included some troubles that Allah had prescribed for Joseph (pbuh). Aziz's wife was fond of Joseph and she tried to sleep with him but he was always refusing. He was saying: My master Aziz has dignified me a lot and I fear Allah Almighty, how come that I make things that make Allah angry? Therefore, every believer who loves Allah Almighty should stop committing sin that makes Allah Almighty angry. He should be in the state of permanent fear of Allah. Allah sees us wherever we are. Therefore, Joseph said, " He said: "(Allah) forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!" [Yousif: Joseph: 23] At the time, a master or a chief was called lord.

Joseph goes to prison

Aziz’s wife was furious of Joseph, tried to approach him forcibly and to compel him to sleep with her but he refused and escaped. While he was running away from her, she tore his shirt from behind. Suddenly, Aziz appeared in front of them. His wife hurried to tell him: Joseph had attacked her!! Joseph defended himself saying: she was trying me to commit adultery but I ran away from her and she tore my shirt from behind.

A wise relative to Aziz’s wife came to judge between them. He said: if Joseph’s shirt was torn from behind, it meant he was running away and she was chasing and attacking him and thus his shirt was torn from behind.

Therefore, Aziz checked Joseph’s shirt to find that it was torn from behind. This proved that Joseph was innocent of his wife’s accusations and was sincere in each word he had said. Aziz reprimanded his wife for what wrong she had done to Joseph and asked to repent from this wrong deed. But the word was spread in the city and ladies started to talk about Aziz’s wife, her love to Joseph and she was wrong. But Aziz’s wife summoned the city ladies and gave each one a knife and then asked Joseph to get out. When they saw Joseph, they were crazy of his beauty to the extent that they cut their fingers with the knives unknowingly! The ladies were saying: This was a nonhuman, but a kind angel. Then, Aziz’s wife said to the ladies: This is Joseph whom you blamed me of. I will send him to prison if he does not carry out what I ask him to do.

Joseph interprets dreams

Therefore, Aziz thought that if he put Joseph in prison, the issue and the city ladies talk would end. We may wonder if we knew that Joseph (pbuh) had preferred jail to committing a sin… therefore, He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant." 34. So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and knoweth (all things)." [Yousif: Joseph: 33-34]

Joseph went to prison and Allah had arranged for him to meet two other guys in prison. One of them said: I saw a dream that I would like to ask about its interpretation. I saw myself squeezing grapes to make wine. Joseph said: the interpretation of this dream was that you will carry wine and give your lord to drink. This is what will happen to you but you live and therefore please tell your lord my story and that I can interpret dreams.

The second guy said: I saw a dream that I would like to ask about its interpretation. I saw myself standing and bread was on my head. Birds came and ate from this bread. Joseph said: the interpretation of this dream is you will be crucified on wood till you pass away and then birds will come and eat from your head!

The two guys left the prison and as Joseph told, the second guy made a mistake, thus was crucified, died and birds came to eat from his head. While the first guy took wine and gave his lord to drink but he forgot to tell him about Joseph’s story.

The king sees a dream

The king of Egypt saw a dream while he was sleeping. He summoned his ministers the next day and asked for an interpretation for this dream. He said: I had seen seven fat cows i.e. fleshy and heavy weight. The king continued telling his dream and said: I saw also seven lean cows i.e. emaciated and skinny. I saw also seven green ears of corn and seven dry ones.

The king was asking an interpretation to his dream and asked them to bring whoever could interpret that dream. They said: we do not know dream interpretation but we look for someone who could do that. “The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom seven lean ones devour, and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! Expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions." [Yousif: Joseph: 43]

Then, that guy who was with Joseph in prison came and remembered that Joseph could interpret this dream. But Joseph was in prison what to do? The guy went to the king’s palace and told them that there is a man who can interpret this dream and his name is Joseph but he is in prison. They went to Joseph, told him the dream and asked for interpreting the king’s dream.

Joseph interprets the dream

Joseph said to them: the interpretation of this dream that the seven fat cows denote that seven years of good will come, and the crop of wheat will be in abundance. The other seven skinny cows denote that seven years of drought and very little crop will follow. However, a year will follow these years of drought when it will rain, the plants grow again and the famine ends. Allah Almighty says about this, “(Joseph) said: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont: and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which ye shall eat. 48. "Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded. 49. "Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil)." [Yousif: Joseph: 47-49]

The king was pleased with this interpretation, worked on utilizing the good years, stored corn in storage areas and also prepared for the years of drought that will follow.

The truth shows

Therefore, the king ordered to bring Joseph in front of him but Joseph refused until he was declared innocent of the accusations that led him to prison, and that Aziz’s wife was the one who enticed him and that he would not be the attacker but she was the one who assaulted him. At this moment, Aziz’s wife came and said: Now I tell the truth, Joseph was innocent of the accusation that took him to prison, I was the one who tried to entice him but he refused and he did not do anything that makes Allah angry.

The Holly Quran tells us in rhetoric and wonderful style about the innocence of our Prophet Joseph (pbuh) and this is Aziz’s wife or as the Quran called her the woman of Aziz, “Said the 'Aziz's wife: "Now is the truth manifest (to all): it was I who sought to seduce him from his (true) self: He is indeed of those who are (ever) true (and virtuous). 52. "This (say I), in order that He may know that I have never been false to him in his absence, and that Allah will never guide the snare of the false ones.” [Yousif: Joseph: 51-52]

This was how the truth appeared and Aziz’s wife admitted it. She was the one who tried to commit adultery that makes Allah Almighty angry. Innocence of Joseph had come and the king knew that this youth was sincere, pure and a believer. Therefore, he sent someone to bring Joseph to him. When Joseph came and appeared in front of the king, the king said to him: Today you have become strong and we will give you what you want and I shall depend on you.

Joseph replied: I have knowledge in managing money and accounts, please assign me this position. I will handle all accounts in a perfect manner. The king gave the position to Joseph. Egypt flourished during the time of Joseph and became richer and stronger. Allah Almighty says, “Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take possession therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good.” [Yousif: Joseph: 56]

The seven year famine

The famine occurred. The seven good years ended and were replaced by the seven years of drought. People resorted on Egypt King to give them corn for their feeding. The king assigned that responsibility to Joseph (pbuh) who was responsible for distribution of corn to the people from different countries. The famine reached the village of Jacob (pbuh), father of Joseph, who sent his sons, the brothers of Joseph, to Egypt to bring some corn.

They went to Egypt to bring corn from our Prophet Joseph and they did not know that he was Joseph. They believed that he was being taken by some people and became their servant. They did not imagine at all that Joseph was the honorable of Egypt distributing corn and controlling the money and the treasure of the whole country. Allah Almighty says about this stage of Joseph’s life, “Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take possession therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good. 57. But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and are constant in righteousness.” [Yousif: Joseph: 56:57] This was how Allah had made our Prophet Joseph stronger holding what he wanted, went to and fro freely. This was by the grace of Allah Almighty to our Prophet Joseph because he endured too much the harm of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers come

Joseph’s brother came to him but they did not recognize him; nonetheless, he recognized them!! He asked them: How much corn do you need? They said: We need an amount that will satisfy us, our father and our younger brother who remained with his father. He said: Why didn’t you bring your younger brother with you?? They said: Our father is much related to him and he won’t let him at all. Joseph said to them: I will give you what you need of corn on condition that you bring me your younger brother whom you left with your father. Almighty says, “And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he said: "Bring unto me a brother ye have, of the same father as yourselves, (but a different mother): see ye not that I pay out full measure, and that I do provide the best hospitality? 60. "Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall ye (even) come near me." 61. They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his father: Indeed we shall do it." [Yousif: Joseph: 59-61]

Allah is the best to take care

They returned to their father and said to him: O father can we take our brother with us because Egypt governor stopped us from taking our corn share. He wanted us to bring our younger brother. Their father said: do you want me to send him with you to do what you have done to Joseph?? “But Allah is the best to take care (of him), and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" [Yousif: Joseph: 64]!!!

They replied: O father, we will bring him back to you and do no harm to him. We will take him with us to get the corn and come back. Father said: I won’t send with you until you swear to Allah Almighty that you will bring him back to me and till you give me a solemn oath to Allah that you bring him back to me unless Allah estimate something out of your will.

So, Joseph’s brothers promised their father not to hurt their younger brother and they will bring him back to their father as soon as they get corn from Egypt. Almighty says, “Further he said: "O my sons! enter not all by one gate: enter ye by different gates. Not that I can profit you aught against Allah (with my advice): None can command except Allah. On Him do I put my trust: and let all that trust put their trust on Him." [Yousif: Joseph: 67]

They went back again

Joseph's brothers targeted Egypt accompanied by their younger brother. They surrounded him with all the care and diligence till they have arrived Joseph. They came to Joseph with their younger brother who was good-hearted and did not want to hurt anyone. He was different from his brothers and this was why he had this proximity to his father after Joseph had gone. Joseph (pbuh) did not want to tell them he was Joseph and left them unaware. However, he called his younger brother and told him not to fear. That was me your brother Joseph and the younger brother was very pleased. Joseph told him not to tell his brothers. I would make a simple trick to keep you with me without they were aware of that. Here, the Quran tells us about that in saying of Almighty, "Now when they came into Joseph's presence, he received his (full) brother to stay with him. He said (to him): "Behold! I am thy (own) brother; so grieve not at aught of their doings." [Yousif: Joseph: 69] He kept his brother beside him and took into the palace without they noted that. He told him not to be sad about what was happening. Joseph (pbuh) wanted to make a simple trick to take his younger brother.

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