Exploring the narrative about Adam in Surah Ta Ha (Q20:115-124) in the light of Surah Yusuf
Our Need to Pray
Before beginning the narrative about Adam in Surah Ta Ha, we read the directive to recite a three-word profound dua: رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا ("My Lord! Increase me (in) knowledge." [Q20:114]). Too often, believers assume they know everything they need to know about the story of Adam, even though popular belief is not in line with what The Quran states about it. We need to understand this story, as it is being narrated to us in The Quran, as this is where our story begins, and we start to realise the urgency of the warnings and the guidance.
Covenant & Forgetfulness
وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ آدَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِيَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ عَزْمًا
And verily We made a covenant with Adam from before, but he forgot; and not We found in him determination.
[Al-Quran 20:115]
وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الْأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ
And sought to seduce him she who, he (was) in her house from his self nafs. And she closed the doors and she said, "Come on you." He said, "I seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, he (is) my lord (who has) made good my stay. Indeed, not will succeed the wrongdoers."
And certainly she did desire him, and he would have desired her, if not that he saw the proof (of) his Lord. Thus, that We might avert from him the evil and the immorality. Indeed, he (was) of Our slaves the sincere chosen.
[Al-Quran 12:23-24; translation edited in italics]
...
وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
And he said to the one whom he thought that he (would be) saved of both of them, "Mention me to your master." But made him forget the Shaitaan (the) mention (to) his master, so he remained in the prison several years.
[Al-Quran 12:42]
...
قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِي بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا آتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
He said, "Never will I send him with you until you give to me a promise by Allah that surely you will bring to him unless that surrounded you are." And when they had given him their promise, he said, "Allah over what we say (is) a Guardian."
[Al-Quran 12:66]
...
فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْأَسُوا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِي يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ
So when they despaired of him, they secluded themselves (in) private consultation. Said the eldest among them, "Do not you know that your father, indeed has taken upon you a promise by Allah, and from before that you failed concerning Yusuf? So never will I leave the land until permits me my father or decides Allah for me, and He (is) the Best (of) the judges.
[Al-Quran 12:80]
The narration about Adam in Surah Ta Ha begins with the mention of the covenant taken from Adam, which he forgot, because he was not determined about upholding it. Earlier in the surah, Q20:80, reminds the Bani Israel of the covenant Allah took from them. Surah Ta Ha focuses on the story of Moses, and the liberation of his people, the descendants of Joseph and his brothers. The Quran informs us of the covenant ratified with the Bani Israel, the chosen people, after the Exodus along with Moses.
Surah Yusuf is the story about the twelve sons of Jacob (the first generation Bani Israel). Q12:24 informs us that Joseph was a chosen slave of Allah, and so Allah averted evil and immorality from him. In it is mentioned the covenant that Jacob ratifies with Joseph's elder brothers regarding his younger brother (Q12:66), and how they were unable to uphold it (Q12:80).
Q20:115 informs us that Adam forgot his covenant, and that he was not determined to uphold it. In the very first mention about Adam in The Quran, immediately after it, Q2:40 exhorts the Bani Israel to uphold their covenant, so that Allah also upholds His Covenant with them.
Related post: The Covenant & its Ratification
Satan plays a role in forgetfulness. As Q12:42 mentions, the man released from prison forgot to mention Joseph to his master because Satan made him forget.
However, Allah is determined about His Plans, and nothing can cause any change in it. Adam was made a Khalifa for the Earth (Q2:30), and he and his progeny are the dominant specie on this planet.
Iblis & The Egyptian Cobra
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ
And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," then they prostrated, except Iblis; he refused.
[Al-Quran 20:116]
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي ۚ إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And I follow (the) religion (of) my forefathers, Ibrahim, and Ishaq and Yaqub. Not was for us that we associate with Allah any thing. That (is) from (the) Grace (of) Allah upon us, and upon the mankind but most (of) the men (are) not grateful.
[Al-Quran 12:37-38]
To Allah belongs everything and He knows everything. With that introduction, Surah Ta Ha Q20:9 starts relating the story of Moses. When Allah spoke with Moses, Allah ordered him to establish prayer for His Remembrance, as the Promised Hour is definitely going to occur, when every nafs will be recompensed! Moses was also warned against being averted from prayer by the one who doesn't believe and follows هَوَاهُ generally translated as 'his desires'.
To show Moses a sign, Allah asked him to throw his stick which became a snake (حَيَّةٌ). Moses was then told not be afraid of it, but rather to pick it up, upon which it would revert to its former state.
The Egyptian Cobra was a symbol of royalty, deity, sovereignty and divine authority in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian Pharaohs wore the symbol on their head. The Egyptian Cobra is called Naja Haje. On the Wikipedia page about the Egyptian cobra (dated March 19, 2021), it states:
Etymology and taxonomy
The Naja haje was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The generic name naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग) meaning "cobra". The specific epithet haje is derived from the Arabic word ḥayya (حية) which literally means "snake".[4]
With the two miracles in Moses' hand: (the control over the Egyptian Cobra & the Healed Hand), Moses was commanded to go to The Pharaoh to demand the release of Allah's chosen people: the Bani Israel.
The Bible, Genesis 3:1, explicitly declares that the beast in The Garden was a serpent. While Q18:50 already informs us that Iblis is from the jinn (an ectotherm), and Q27:10 & Q28:31 state that Moses' stick became a jaan (snake), in Q20:20 it clearly specifies the species: (حَيَّةٌ), the very symbol the Pharaoh wore on his head! Iblis, the snake, had refused to prostrate to Adam, and the polytheistic Egyptians revered the very creature.
Screenshot from https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Naja_haje/classification/
Faith in one Allah, and submission to His Commands, the monotheistic religion of Abraham, stands in sharp contrast to the polytheistic beliefs of the ancient Egyptians.
Related post: The Serpent & The Snake: a Clear Sign
Open Enemy
فَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا عَدُوٌّ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰ
Then We said, "O Adam! Indeed, this (is) an enemy to you and to your wife. So not (let) him drive you both from Paradise so (that) you would suffer.
[Al-Quran 20:117]
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.
[Al-Quran 12:5]
Right at the beginning of Adam's story, when he is being placed in Paradise, he was warned about the enmity of Iblis. His arrogance had already been exposed when he refused to prostrate. The sequence is significant: covenant from Adam -> Iblis' arrogance exposed -> warning about Iblis' enmity!
Right at the beginning of Joseph's story, upon his vision of being prostrated to, his father Jacob warns his son not to share his dream with his brothers. Again, the reason they would plot against him is the enmity of The Satan, Iblis.
Q20:2 states: مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ (Not We (have) sent down to you the Quran that you be distressed). The Quran is a reminder! Q20:117 reminds us that Adam was warned against the enmity of Iblis, and told: فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰ (So not (let) him drive you both from Paradise so (that) you would suffer.) Q20:123 recaps the message stated at the beginning of the surah.
Q12:1-3 state:
الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
Alif Laam Ra. These (are the) Verses (of) the Book [the] clear.
Indeed, We, We have sent it down, (as) a Quran in Arabic so that you may understand.
We relate to you the best of the narrations in what We have revealed to you (of) this the Quran, although you were, from before it, surely among the unaware.
[Al-Quran 12:1-3]
Neither Hungry nor Naked
إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَىٰ
Indeed, for you that not you will be hungry therein and not you will be unclothed.
[Al-Quran 20:118]
۞ لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِّلسَّائِلِينَ
إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
اقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ
Certainly were in Yusuf and his brothers signs for those who ask.
When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
Kill Yusuf or cast him (to) a land so will be free for you (the) face (of) your father, and you will be from after that a people righteous."
[Al-Quran 12:7-9]
Q20:118, I think, holds the most important key to understand how the story of Adam is different from what is popularly believed. Right from the start, they were clothed. The verb form used is فعل مضارع which includes both present and future tenses. So, لَا تَعْرَىٰ literally translates as neither you are nor will you be naked! Looking around us, almost all of Allah's creation is naturally clothed. By the Grace of Allah, Q20:118 has inspired a series of posts in this blog.
Surah Yusuf mentions three significant clothes of Joseph. Please read Joseph's قَمِيصَ (Shirt / Jacket). The first of those is the one that his father gave him, which his brothers stained with false blood, after they had gotten rid of Joseph by throwing him in the well.
Surah Yusuf also mentions three food-related dreams: the dreams of the two prisoners which signified their fate, and the dream of the king signifying the food-related eras: two seven-year periods, the former easy, the latter tough, and then the year of plenty. When the King's dream is realised, then during the seven tough years of food shortage, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to get food. Eventually, as the story develops, they all settle there honourably.
Several centuries later, the Bani Israel are enslaved in Egypt, and Pharaoh is their enemy. Eventually, Allah liberates them. Surah Ta Ha discusses Moses' mission to the Pharaoh, leading up to their deliverance. Q20:80 links the covenant taken from the Bani Israel with the food (al-manna al-salwa) provided for them. The next ayat encourages them to eat from the good things provided for them, and warns them to not transgress in it, lest Allah's anger becomes 'halal' upon them! Merciful as Allah is, the next ayat allows a 're-covering' for those who repent and do acts of reform.
Food and clothing are linked in Adam's story, and also in the story of the Bani Israel.
Neither Thirsty nor Hot
وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظْمَأُ فِيهَا وَلَا تَضْحَىٰ
And that you not will suffer from thirst therein and not exposed to the sun's heat."
[Al-Quran 20:119]
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ
So when they entered upon him they said, "O Aziz! Has touched us and our family the adversity, and we have come with goods (of) little value, but pay (in) full to us the measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable."
He said, "Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant?"
[Al-Quran 12:88-89]
The Bible, Genesis 3:19, informs us that upon expulsion from The Garden, Adam was told: 'By the sweat of your brow/forehead, you will eat ...' Sweat implies heat and thirst.
In the story of the brothers of Joseph, they have to travel to Egypt in search of food, enduring the harshness of the journey.
Tree of Life
فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ
Then whispered to him Shaitaan, he said, "O Adam! Shall I direct you to (the) tree (of) the Eternity and a kingdom not (that will) deteriorate?"
[Al-Quran 20:120]
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Not you worship from besides Him but names which you have named, you and your forefathers, not (has) sent down Allah for it any authority. Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone. That (is) the religion the right, but most [the] men (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:40]
The Tree of Life is a common belief across many mythologies. The Ancient Egyptians also had a tree associated with the first couple, and the ennead, who they believe were gods... there are various 'confusing' accounts of the myths.
Iblis tempted Adam into eating from the forbidden tree with the promise of eternity and a kingdom that never decays.
Surah Yusuf very clearly refutes the gods of Ancient Egypt as names that the people have named, and those having no basis in reality.
It is Allah who is Eternal, and can grant eternal life. Surah an-Nur, Q24:35, presents the example of Allah's Nur as lit from a flourishing olive tree, ..., and it is only Allah Himself Who Gives His Nur to whom He Wills.
The Forbidden Tree in The Garden, or the ones held sacred by the polytheists on this Earth, cannot grant immortality to anybody.
Allah has promised immortality for The Hereafter, not in this life. Q66:8 informs us that on that Day, the Prophets and the Believers will be praying to Allah to perfect their nur for them.
Gratitude for the Guidance
فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ وَعَصَىٰ آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَىٰ
Then they both ate from it, so became apparent to them their shame and they began, (to) fasten on themselves from (the) leaves (of) Paradise. And disobeyed Adam his Lord, and erred.
[Al-Quran 20:121]
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And I follow (the) religion (of) my forefathers, Ibrahim, and Ishaq and Yaqub. Not was for us that we associate with Allah any thing. That (is) from (the) Grace (of) Allah upon us, and upon the mankind but most (of) the men (are) not grateful.
[Al-Quran 12:38]
The forbidden tree was harmful for Adam and his wife. They were commanded to not even go near it. They did, and were tempted through the cunning Iblis, who misled them. When they ate from it, they suffered loss of natural clothing. One of the reasons people revere snakes is their youthful appearance, as they shed their skins several times a year. However, that is not what was decreed for the human. Adam made the mistake of trusting Iblis, the Satan. Adam obeyed Iblis, and disobeyed Allah. So, when he ate from the forbidden tree, he inflicted injustice/darkness upon his nafs. If Adam had been grateful for Allah's guidance, and followed the instructions, he would not have suffered the loss he was clearly warned about!
Related Post: Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation || Wronging the Nafs || Human: Body or Soul? || Blue-Eyed Criminals
Chosen Again
ثُمَّ اجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدَىٰ
Then chose him his Lord, and turned to him and guided (him).
[Al-Quran 20:122]
وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And thus will choose you your Lord and will teach you of (the) interpretation (of) the narratives and complete His Favor on you and on (the) family (of) Yaqub as He completed it on your two forefathers from before - Ibrahim and Ishaq. Indeed, your Lord (is) All-Knower, All-Wise."
[Al-Quran 12:6]
Allah knows those who will realise their mistakes and repent from them. Those who turn back to Allah, He turns back to them, and chooses them again. The words اجْتَبَاهُ and يَجْتَبِيكَ denote this re-choosing after their mistake. Adam repented and prayed for mercy. Allah chose him again, and guided him. Joseph made the mistake of disobeying his father's warning, and spent the rest of his life in Egypt. However, he was also chosen again, and made a Prophet, and in charge of the stores of the earth of Egypt. His elder brothers, Jacob's sons, also eventually repented and submitted to Allah's choice. Allah's perfect plan had encompassed their mistakes, and their designated roles. Similarly, we find the word اجْتَبَاكُمْ in Surah al-Hajj (Q22:78) where we learn that Allah has chosen us and named us Muslims.
Follow Allah's Guidance
قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ
He said, "Go down from it all, some of you to others (as) enemy. Then if comes to you from Me guidance then whoever, follows My guidance, then not he will go astray and not suffer.
[Al-Quran 20:123]
إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
اقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ
قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ السَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ
When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
Kill Yusuf or cast him (to) a land so will be free for you (the) face (of) your father, and you will be from after that a people righteous."
Said a speaker among them, "(Do) not kill Yusuf but throw him in the bottom (of) the well, will pick him some [the] caravan if you are doing."
[Al-Quran 12:8-10]
...
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ
And certainly she did desire him, and he would have desired her, if not that he saw the proof (of) his Lord. Thus, that We might avert from him the evil and the immorality. Indeed, he (was) of Our slaves the sincere chosen.
[Al-Quran 12:24; translation edited in italics]
In this world, we meet many people, and those interactions lead to a variety of situations. To be able to navigate safely through all the dangers, we need to heed and follow Allah's guidance!
In the story of Joseph, first his brothers' jealousy gets the better of them, and they plot and plan against him. Then, the lady of the house invites him to sin and immorality. Then, he is imprisoned for no fault of his. Then, the person who is released from prison forgets to mention him to his lord. Then, his brothers, not knowing that they are speaking with him, falsely speak of a brother stating he was a thief.
Q4:174 states: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ (O mankind! Surely has come to you a convincing proof from your Lord, ...), and Q12:24 states that Joseph رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ (he saw the proof (of) his Lord).
Q20:2 states: مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ (Not We (have) sent down to you the Quran that you be distressed). The Quran is a reminder! Q20:117 reminds us that Adam was warned against the enmity of Iblis, and told: فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَىٰ (So not (let) him drive you both from Paradise so (that) you would suffer.) Q20:123 states: فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ (Then if comes to you from Me guidance then whoever, follows My guidance, then not he will go astray and not suffer.)
Remembrance & Belief in the Unseen
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ
And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then indeed, for him (is) a life straitened and We will gather him (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection blind."
[Al-Quran 20:124]
يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـٰذَا ۚ وَاسْتَغْفِرِي لِذَنبِكِ ۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَاطِئِينَ
Joseph, overlook this. While you, [wife,] ask forgiveness for your sin-you are greatly at fault."
[Al-Quran 12:29, Translation: Safi Kaskas]
...
وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
[Joseph] said to the one he knew would be saved, "Mention me to your master [when you are free]," but Satan caused him to forget to mention [Joseph] to his master, and so he remained in prison for a few [more] years.
[Al-Quran 12:42, Translation: Safi Kaskas]
...
وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِي ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ الْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ
And the King said: "Bring him unto me, so that I may attach him to my own person." And when he had spoken with him, [the King] said: "Behold, [from] this day thou shalt be of high standing with us, invested with all trust!"
[Al-Quran 12:54, Translation: Muhammad Asad]
...
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ ۖ لَوْلَا أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِي ضَلَالِكَ الْقَدِيمِ
فَلَمَّا أَن جَاءَ الْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَاهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
He said, "No blame will be uttered today against you. May God forgive you for your sins. He is the Most Merciful of those who are merciful.
[Now] take this shirt of mine and lay it over my father's face, and he will recover his sight. Then come [back] to me with all of your family."
As soon as the caravan [with which Jacob's sons were travelling] was on its way, their father said [to the people around him], "You may think I am senile, but I can smell Joseph."
They answered, "By God, you are still lost in that old illusion of yours."
But when the bearer of good news came [with Joseph's shirt], he laid it over his face, and he regained his sight, and said, "Did I not tell you, 'I know, from God, something that you do not know'?"
[Al-Quran 12:92-96, Translation: Safi Kaskas]
...
وَمَا تَسْأَلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ آيَةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ
although you do not ask them for any reward for [reciting] it. It is [God's] reminder to all people.
How many signs are there in the heavens and on earth which they pass by and on which they turn their backs?
[Al-Quran 12:105, Translation: Safi Kaskas]
Remembrance of Allah is linked to belief in the unseen and having hope. As Q20:124 states: And whoever turns away from My remembrance, then indeed, for him (is) a life straitened and We will gather him (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection blind." As discussed in Blue-Eyed Criminals, when snakes are in their shed cycle, they temporarily go blind. As discussed in The Cursed Tree, the criminals will encounter that tree as a trial, and will suffer its consequences.
As mentioned earlier, Satan plays a key role in forgetfulness!
Contrasted with that is Prophet Jacob's blindness due to grief for Joseph. He trusted Allah, and was gratefully patient through it all, and eventually his blindness was cured. Early on in Surah Ta Ha, Q20:39, the amazing trust of Moses' mother is mentioned, who was commanded (inspired) to put her baby in a chest and cast him in the water, and soon after the baby was returned to her with full protection and love of their enemy, the Pharaoh of Egypt. The reason the baby was returned to her was for the coolness of her eyes.
Related Post: Prayer & Remembrance of God || Gratefully Patient || Tears of Joy
Main post with introduction & links to all posts comparing Adam & Joseph
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