DRAFT
Exploring the narrative about Adam in Surah Bani Israel (Q17:60-70) in the light of Surah Yusuf
Surah al-Isra is also known as Surah Bani Israel. It begins with Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ night journey to meet Allah, what is known as the Mairaj. Then, we read about Moses being given the Book, and the command to to not to take anyone else as a Wakil (Trustee) except Allah. Then, it mentions their ancestor who was carried along with Noah. It then reminds them of their fate being written in The Book, and the future unfolding exactly as written. Then, Q17:13-14 informs us that every person's fate is tied to their neck, and that book will be readable by us on The Day of Judgement.
The Vision
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِالنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الرُّؤْيَا الَّتِي أَرَيْنَاكَ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّجَرَةَ الْمَلْعُونَةَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ۚ وَنُخَوِّفُهُمْ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلَّا طُغْيَانًا كَبِيرًا
And when We said to you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the mankind." And not We made the vision which We showed you except (as) a trial for mankind, and the tree the accursed in the Quran. And We threaten them but not it increases them except (in) transgression great.
[Al-Quran 17:60]
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
When said Yusuf to his father, "O my father! Indeed, I I saw one ten (i.e eleven) star(s) planets and the sun and the moon; I saw them to me prostrating."
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 12:4-5; translation edited in italics]
Surah al-Isra and Surah Yusuf both mention visions and people's reaction to it. Surah Yusuf shows us that outcomes cannot be changed, and Allah will prevail and make His Will happen. Our Lord has encompassed all humans!
Q17:60 mentions the vision showed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and it also mentions the accursed tree in the same ayah. It goes on to state that this is meant to frighten people. However, instead of taking heed, people react with great transgression instead.
Among the trees mentioned in The Quran, two profoundly harmful trees are:
- the Forbidden Tree in The Garden that Adam was warned to not to even go near
- the Tree of Zaqqum that will be a trial for the criminals upon resurrection
Most religions are obsessed with a sacred tree. The Tree of Life is a popular motif that appears in Ancient Egyptian mytheme as well, and is linked to eternal life. It seems that again and over again Satan uses the tree to tempt humans to disobey and err.
In Q12:4 Joseph mentions his vision to his father. In the next ayah we read that his father warns him to not to share his vision with his brothers lest they plot and plan against him. They would do this because of Shaitaan. Alas, they did plot and plan against Joseph. As the story unfolds, despite all the setbacks suffered by Joseph, the dream is eventually realised, and Joseph honoured above his siblings. The vision literally came true!
Allah taught Joseph the interpretation of visions. In Surah Yusuf, he accurately interprets the dream of the prison inmates, as well as that of the King of Egypt.
Superiority Complex, Arrogance & Jealousy
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ قَالَ أَأَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِينًا
And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam." So they prostrated except Iblis. He said, "Shall I prostrate to (one) whom You created (from) clay?"
[Al-Quran 17:61]
إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
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.
[Al-Quran 12:8]
Iblis considered himself a superior form of creation, because of the material used to create him. More on this in Q15 23-50 || Q12 under the sub-titles:
- Endotherms, The Genus Homo
- Ectotherms, class Reptilia, order Squamata, suborder Serpentes
- Biological Adam of Homo Sapiens Sapiens
The elder brothers of Joseph considered themselves a superior group. They were jealous of the greater love that their father had for Joseph and his younger brother. Satan was able to exploit the situation.
Honoured Above Me
قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
He said, "Do You see this whom You have honored, above me? If You give me respite till (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, I will surely destroy his offspring except a few."
[Al-Quran 17:62]
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, ..., 91]
Iblis, the Satan, refused to accept Allah's command of honouring Adam. He has sworn to destroy Adam's progeny. He tried that with Jacob's family as well. Joseph's elder brothers did plot against him. Yet, when they eventually saw that Allah's plans for Joseph remained in place in spite of their plotting and planning against it, they realised their mistake, admitted it, and sought forgiveness.
However, Iblis is still the sworn enemy of the progeny of Adam. He continues in his arrogance to mislead humans, and thereby generating more and more evidence against himself, and those who follow him.
The Recompense
قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَاؤُكُمْ جَزَاءً مَّوْفُورًا
He said, "Go, and whoever follows you among them then indeed, Hell (is) your recompense - a recompense ample.
[Al-Quran 17:63]
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
He said, "Not (will) come to both of you food you are provided with but I will inform both of you of its interpretation, before [that] [it] comes to both of you. That (is) of what has taught me my Lord. Indeed, I [I] abandon (the) religion (of) a people, not they believe in Allah, and they in the Hereafter [they] (are) disbelievers.
...
أَفَأَمِنُوا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَاشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they then feel secure (against) that comes to them an overwhelming [of] punishment (of) Allah, or comes to them the Hour suddenly while they (do) not perceive?
[Al-Quran 12:37, ..., 107]
Allah has promised recompense on the Day of Judgement. Free-will has been granted to each one to choose who they believe, and who they want to follow. Their is no compulsion in religion.
Joseph spent his initial years with his father, the Prophet Jacob, and thus was well-acquainted with the monotheistic Abrahamic faith. When he came to Egypt as a slave, he was exposed to the polytheistic religion of the ancient Egyptians.
Hell is the ultimate, eventual prison of the die-hard criminals, from which there will be no escape or release ever. In this-worldly prison, where Joseph was imprisoned on false charges, as per his own prayer to Allah to save him from evil and immorality, it seems the perfect setting to openly declare his belief in the true religion of Allah, and absolve himself of all the falsehood of Egyptian mythology.
Interestingly, the dream (Q12:36) that Joseph interprets (Q12:41) comes true (Genesis 40:20-22) on Pharaoh's birthday, the only birthday celebration mentioned in the Bible.
Related Post: Birthday Celebrations
The Right Religion vs Satan's Religions
وَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُم بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ وَعِدْهُمْ ۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And incite whoever you can among them with your voice, and assault [on] them with your cavalry and infantry and be a partner in the wealth and the children, and promise them." And not promises them the Shaitaan except delusion.
[Al-Quran 17:64]
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 people (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:40; translation edited in italics]
Iblis has been given permission to try and delude whoever he can. People are responsible for the choices they make. He whispers suggestions, he uses people and their resources, and tries to corrupt creation.
Related Posts: Jinn-Human Hybrids || The Evil of the الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ || World History & Future Implications
Allah's Chosen Slaves
إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلًا
"Indeed, My slaves not for you over them any authority. And sufficient (is) your Lord (as) a Guardian."
[Al-Quran 17:65]
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 chosen sincere.
...
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
He said, "My Lord, the prison (is) dearer to me than what they invite me to it. And unless You turn away from me their plot I might incline towards them and [I] be of the ignorant."
So responded to him his Lord, and turned away from him their plot. Indeed, [He] He (is) All-Hearer, All-Knower.
...
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَانِهِ اجْعَلُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَا إِذَا انقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And he said to his servants, "Put their merchandise in their saddlebags so that they may recognize it when they go back to their people so that they may return."
[Al-Quran 12:24, ..., 33-34, ..., 62]
The chosen slaves of Allah, those who are sincere in their worship, Allah averts from them evil and immorality. Iblis has no power over the chosen slaves of Allah.
Those in whose hearts Allah knows good, he grants them opportunities to recognise, return and repent. Joseph hid his brothers' merchandise in their bags, so that they might recognise and return for more food. As the story unfolded, they returned, ..., and eventually they did recognise Allah's Perfect Planning, sought forgiveness, and submitted to His Will. Thus, Allah Perfected His Favour upon Jacob and his family.
Travel
رَّبُّكُمُ الَّذِي يُزْجِي لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ فِي الْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا
Your Lord (is) the One Who drives for you the ship in the sea, that you may seek of His Bounty. Indeed, He is to you Ever Merciful.
[Al-Quran 17:66]
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]
Allah sent Adam to this Earth. Allah took Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the night journey to meet Allah, what is known as the Mairaj. He ascended and then he descended. On the day the sy is rent asunder (Q55:37), the Believers hope to ascend to the Gardens of Eternity. While all these are matters of faith, we preview Allah's special favours upon all humans in their journeys across the seas.
The Standing Laws of Recompense, the Right Religion, الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ, has been defined in The Quran:
Rescue
وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ كَفُورًا
And when touches you the hardship in the sea, lost (are) who you call except Him Alone. But when He delivers you to the land you turn away. And is man ungrateful.
[Al-Quran 17:67]
وَجَاءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَأَرْسَلُوا وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَىٰ دَلْوَهُ ۖ قَالَ يَا بُشْرَىٰ هَـٰذَا غُلَامٌ ۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَاعَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ
وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And there came a caravan and they sent their water drawer then he let down his bucket. He said, "O good news! This (is) a boy." And they hid him (as) a merchandise. And Allah (is) All-Knower of what they do.
And they sold him for a price very low, dirhams few, and they were about him of those keen to give up.
And said the one who bought him of Egypt to his wife, "Make comfortable his stay. Perhaps that (he) will benefit us or we will take him (as) a son." And thus We established Yusuf in the land that We might teach him from (the) interpretation of the events. And Allah (is) Predominant over His affairs, but most (of) the people (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:19-21]
During travel, when people get into difficult situations, it is Allah who rescues them and delivers them to a place of safety. Joseph was thrown in a dry well by his brothers, but Allah was in full-control of the situation, and he was taken out of that trouble and housed in a comfortable home.
When people travel through the seas, they encounter mighty storms. Allah rescues them from those situations, and brings them to the safety of land. However, most people are ungrateful in spite of Allah's Mercy.
The Constant Need for Allah's Mercy
أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا
أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ۙ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا
Do you then feel secure that (not) He will cause to swallow you, side (of) the land or send against you a storm of stones? Then not you will find for you a guardian?
Or do you feel secure that (not) He will send you back into it time another, and send upon you a hurricane of the wind, and drown you because you disbelieved? Then not you will find for you against Us therein an avenger?
[Al-Quran 17:68-69]
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
Alif Laam Ra. These (are the) Verses (of) the Book [the] clear.
...
۞ وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"And not I absolve myself. Indeed, the soul (is) a certain enjoiner of evil, unless [that] bestows Mercy my Lord. Indeed, my Lord (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
...
قَالَ هَلْ آمَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَا أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
He said, "Should I entrust you with him except as I entrusted you with his brother from before? But Allah (is) the best Guardian and He (is the) Most Merciful (of) the merciful."
[Al-Quran 12:1, ..., 53, ..., 64]
We are in constant danger, from within and without. We are in constant need of Allah's Protection and Mercy, everywhere, all the time.
Honoured with Preference
وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا
And certainly, We have honored (the) children (of) Adam and We carried them on the land and the sea, and We have provided them of the good things and We preferred them over many of those whom We have created (with) preference.
[Al-Quran 17:70]
وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And said the one who bought him of Egypt to his wife, "Make comfortable his stay. Perhaps that (he) will benefit us or we will take him (as) a son." And thus We established Yusuf in the land that We might teach him from (the) interpretation of the events. And Allah (is) Predominant over His affairs, but most (of) the people (do) not know.
...
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ
قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَاطِئِينَ
He said, "Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant?"
They said, "Are you indeed, surely you, Yusuf?" He said, "I am Yusuf and this (is) my brother. Indeed, has been gracious Allah to us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and (is) patient, then indeed, Allah (does) not let go waste (the) reward (of) the good-doers."
They said, "By Allah, certainly has preferred you Allah over us and indeed, we have been sinners."
[Al-Quran 12:21, ..., 89-91]
The progeny of Adam is the dominant specie on this planet. The words كَرَّمْنَا and فَضَّلْنَا in Q17:70 need pondering upon.
In the context of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – Ascension & Return that this surah begins with, Q17:70 is drawing our attention to our travels over land and sea. No other creature travels the way humans travel on this planet.
In Q12:21, the Joseph's master directs his wife to make Joseph's stay comfortable ( أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ).
Surah Yusuf not only narrates how Joseph arrives in Egypt, but it also mentions the movements of Joseph's brothers to and from Egypt. The vision at the beginning of Surah Yusuf became a trial for his brothers when they heard about it, and in Q12:91 they acknowledge how they had been utterly unable to frustrate Allah's Plan, and admit to Allah's Preference of Joseph over them.
Main post with introduction & links to all posts comparing Adam & Joseph
Last updated on: May 12, 2021
