Lessons From Prophet Yusuf (A.S.)

Life is full of obstacles, and no human being on the planet is immune to adversity in some form or another. Even the prophets were put to the test when they lost their wealth, health, or loved ones.
اَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ اَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَـنَّةَ وَ لَمَّا يَاْتِكُمْ مَّثَلُ الَّذِيْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْؕ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَاْسَآءُ وَالضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوْا حَتّٰى يَقُوْلَ الرَّسُوْلُ وَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مَعَهٗ مَتٰى نَصْرُ اللّٰهِؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيْبٌ
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is the help of Allah?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” (Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 214)
Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was thrown into a well by his enraged older siblings when he was a youngster, which resulted in him being separated from his beloved father Prophet Yaacob (A.S.) for many years, becoming a slave, and being imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. What was Prophet Yusuf’s response to the several problems he faced?
In Islam, patience (sabr) is a multifaceted virtue that includes endurance, steadfastness, and diligence, among other things. Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was not able to confront his older brothers until he was in his adulthood, when he was reunited with his father and youngest brother Bunyamin. He showed a lot of sabr throughout his journey.
By refusing to be tempted by his master’s wife, Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was imprisoned. He had resorted to Allah when he had to make a decision.
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ اَحَبُّ اِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُوْنَنِىْۤ اِلَيْهِ‌ۚ وَاِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّىْ كَيْدَهُنَّ اَصْبُ اِلَيْهِنَّ وَاَكُنْ مِّنَ الْجٰهِلِيْنَ
“He said, “My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant.” (Surah Yusuf: 33)
He had determined that jail was preferable to remaining on God’s path, and that Allah (S.W.T.) was always the superior option.
Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was designated as the King’s personal counselor years after he was imprisoned. Despite being in a position of power over his older siblings, he forgave them for their earlier ignorance and sins towards him when he ran into them in maturity.
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيْبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ‌ؕ يَغْفِرُ اللّٰهُ لَـكُمْ‌ وَهُوَ اَرْحَمُ الرّٰحِمِيْنَ
“He said, ‘No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” (Surah Yusuf: 92)
This one should be self-explanatory. In his early years, Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) encountered numerous obstacles. He did not, however, fall beneath the weight of his challenges, even after he was in prison for long years. Instead, he was able to pick himself up, brush himself off, and keep walking down the right path in the face of hardship.
Prophet Yusuf (A.S.) was a self-aware individual who understood his own talents and flaws. He chose to go to prison rather than be tempted by his master’s wife Zulaikha since he was aware of his own faults. He made a pitch to be nominated by the King by being conscious of his own strengths, such as his knowledge of particular subjects.
قَالَ اجْعَلْنِىْ عَلٰى خَزَآٮِٕنِ الْاَرْضِ‌ۚ اِنِّىْ حَفِيْظٌ عَلِيْمٌ
“Yusuf said, ‘Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian.” (Surah Yusuf, Verse 55)
As a result of his self-awareness, he was able to face life’s obstacles with honesty, morality, and assurance. Continue to be patient after we’ve done everything we can to better our position. Because the difficulties we endure are actually chances for us to strengthen our confidence in Allah (S.W.T.).
After all, Allah (S.W.T.) has promised that the difficulties we face in life are only temporary and that we shall be freed of them in some way.
Allah Says in Quran:
فَلَمَّاۤ اَنْ جَآءَ الْبَشِيْرُ اَلْقٰٮهُ عَلٰى وَجْهِهٖ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيْرًا ‌ ؕۚ قَالَ اَلَمْ اَقُل لَّـكُمْ‌ ۚ‌ ۙ اِنِّىْۤ اَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ
“Then when the bearer of good news came and put the shirt over his face, he regained his sight. He said, “Did I not tell you that I know from Allah that which you do not know?” (Surah Yusuf: 96)