Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 13: Prophet Yusuf (as) and Interpretation of His Dream

The story began with a dream and it ends with the interpretation of the dream. Almighty Allah narrated:
He said: "I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily, He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."
Then, when they entered unto Yusuf, he betook his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allah will, in security."
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When the parents of Yusuf (as) arrived, he made them sit with him on his throne. All of them, his parents, and his eleven brothers, bowed down before him as a demonstration of his greatness and nobleness. This act was permitted for them and in the sharia of the Prophets sent after him. However, the act of prostrating to others was forbidden in the sharia of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).
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And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of prison, and brought you all here out of the Bedouin life, after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He! Only He is the All Knowing, the All-Wise." (12:98-100)
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Yusuf arranged an audience with the king for himself and his family, to ask the king's permission for them to settle in Egypt. Yusuf was an assert to the kingdom, and the king was happy to have him remain with his household. Yusuf prostrated to Allah in gratitude.
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Epilogue Consider his feelings now that his dream has come true. He prays to Allah:
"My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of my dreams; The only Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali, in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous." (12:101)
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When Yusuf (as) saw that the favors of Allah (swt) had been completed upon him and He had been united with his family, He realized that this world is a temporary abode and everything must perish. At this realization, He praised Allah (swt) with the best praises and glorified Him. He supplicated to Him regarding the two best things to ask for: to die as a Muslim and to be united with the pious and righteous, when resurrected. Similarly, a Muslim should also supplicate, using the following words:
"O Allah! Make us Muslims from birth and cause us to die as Muslims."
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It is possible that He supplicated with these words at the time of His death, just like our Prophet (pbuh) also asked something similar at the time of His death.
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It is also possible that Yusuf (as) supplicated this when He was quite healthy because it may have been permitted to them in their Sharia.
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Ibn Abbas (ra) has said: "No Prophet ever desired death before Yusuf."
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As for our Sharia, it is not permitted to ask for death except during times of trial and discord. This can be seen in a narration reported on the authority of Muadh (ra). In it, the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have supplicated:".......and when you put a people to trial, take us to you (cause us to die) without being put to trial." (Ahmed)
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In another Hadith, the words are: "O son of Adam! Death is better for you than fitnah."
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Also Maryam (pbuh) said, as quoted in the Quran: "..........would that I had died before this and had been forgotten out of sight." (19:23)
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Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) also desired death during his time as the ruler when the fitna became severe and people started fighting and killing each other.
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Imam Bukhari, the compiler of the authentic Hadiths, also desired death when things became very difficult for him and his opponents gave him a tough time.
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However, in times of ease, it is not permissible because of a hadith narrated on the authority of Ana's ibn Malik (ra) wherein the Prophet (pbuh) gave instructions concerning this.
He said: "No one should desire death for a harm that afflicts him, because if the person is a good-doer, then maybe he will increase (in his good deeds). And if he is an evildoer, then maybe he will repent.
However, one should say:"O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is better for me and make me die if death is better for me." (Bukhari)
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It should be noted that the meaning of harm in the aforementioned hadith refers to illnesses and diseases that affect the body and not anything concerning religion.
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The apparent meaning to be taken from the situation of Yusuf (as) is that he made that supplication either at the time of his death or before that.