Finding Strength Through Surah Yusuf

In the twelfth chapter of the Quran, Allah SWT presents the story of Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام through four distinctive stages of his life. At the first stage, Ayats 1-20, we’re introduced to the childhood of Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام and his relationship with his brothers. Filled with jealousy and resentment for various reasons, his brothers made a plan to abandon Yusuf and leave him to be discovered by strangers. In Ayats 21-35, Allah SWT has taken this ill-fortunate plan devised by Prophet Yusuf’s عليه السلام brothers and turned it into a blessing. Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام now has the opportunity to establish himself in a safe environment away from his malevolent brothers and further develop his spiritual abilities. Despite this, Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام is not free from the actions and ill-intentions of disbelievers. At this stage of his life, Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام is tested by the mistress of the house he resides in. Due to the lust she harbors, she attempts to force Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام into disobeying Allah against his will. However, Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام stands his ground despite her malicious attempts and soon enough, the owner of the household realizes what his wife had been scheming and surely sides with Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام. Through Ayats 36-111, Allah continues to express the several hardships that Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام must overcome in his lifetime. Although he was met with numerous disbelievers who attempted to stray him away from his faith and relationship with Allah, Yusuf displayed resilience and perseverance through it all. His trust in Allah never once faltered, it only seemed to strengthen as time went on and Allah, indeed, offered him guidance and help in desperate times of need. Surah Yusuf is a great demonstration of conviction in courage because our Prophet Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام was able to withstand the obstacles hurled at him during his lifetime and find courage to practice his faith in a society filled with disbelievers.

﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ ۖ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ﴾

“Allah 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. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." [2.286]

We are all bound to experience hardships but it is important to remember that Allah will never make us endure more than we can handle. During times of struggles and pain, we can always turn to Allah to find strength and courage just like our Prophet Yusuf عليه السلام .