Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 2: Prophet Yusuf (as) And His Childhood

The story begins with a dream and ends with its interpretation. As the sun appeared over the horizon, bathing the earth in its morning glory, Yusuf (as), son of the Prophet Yaqub (as) awoke from his sleep, delighted by a pleasant dream he had had. Filled with excitement he ran to his father and related it.
"O my father! Verily, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves to me." (12:4)
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His father's face lit up. He foresaw that Yusuf would be one through whom the prophecy of his grandfather, Prophet Ibrahim (as), would be fulfilled, in that his offspring would keep the light of Ibrahim's house alive and spread Allah's message to mankind.
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Therefore, it was narrated that "Allah's Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) was asked: Who is the most honorable amongst the people?
He replied: The most God-fearing.
The people said: We do not want to ask you about this.
He said: The most honorable person is Yusuf, Allah's prophet, the son of Allah's prophet, the son of the faithful friend of Allah (Ibrahim)." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)
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However, the father was well aware of the jealousy of Yusuf's brothers, so he warned him against telling his dream to his brothers.
"O my son! Relate not your dream to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is to man an open enemy! Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams and perfect His Favor on you and on the offspring of Yaqub, as He perfected it on your fathers, Ibrahim, and Ishaq aforetime! Verily ! your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wiser." (12:5-6)
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Yusuf (as) heeded his father's warning. He did not tell his brothers what he had seen. It is well known that they hated him so much that it was difficult for him to feel secure telling them what was in his heart and in his dreams.
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Yusuf (as) was eighteen years old, very handsome and robust, with a gentle temperament. He was respectful, kind and considerate. His brother Binyamin was equally pleasant. Both were from one mother, Raheel. Because of their refined qualities, the father loved the two more than his other children, and would not let them out of his sight. To protect them, he kept them busy with work in the house garden.

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