2017_JJ_Grade34_StoriesFromQuran

Story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) (Surah Yusuf)

Prophet Yusuf (AS) was the son of Prophet Ya'qub (AS). Prophet Yusuf (AS) had 11 brothers. He was one of the youngest and possessed excellent character and manners. His father loved him dearly.

Prophet Yusuf (AS) once dreamt that eleven stars and the sun and moon were prostrating to him. He related the dream to his father. Prophet Ya'qub (AS) realized that the dream outlined his son's destiny and greatness and cautioned him not to tell his brothers about the dream.

His brothers were jealous of the favour that he enjoyed in their father's eyes and planned to somehow get rid of him. Whenever they took their goats out for grazing they would ask their father if Yusuf (AS) could accompany them.

As soon as they were far enough from home, they began to plot about how to dispose of Prophet Yusuf (AS). Then, they came across a dry well. They removed Prophet Yusuf's (AS) shirt, and threw him into the well. They arrived home weeping and told their father that while they were grazing their sheep, a wolf came and ate their brother. He did not believe their story and could do nothing but remain patient and wait for Allah to reunite him with his beloved son.

Meanwhile a caravan of traders passing by the well stopped to draw some water. They were surprised to see Prophet Yusuf (AS) come up holding the bucket. They hid him with their merchandise and sold him to some slave traders for a few pieces of silver.

Thus, Prophet Yusuf (AS) arrived in Egypt. One of the leaders of Egypt and his wife, Zuleikha wanted to adopt Yusuf but then was falsely accused by Zuleikha and they decided to imprison Prophet Yusuf (AS), despite his innocence

People started to see that Prophet Yusuf (AS) was a noble and pious person and asked him if he could interpret their dreams. Prophet Yusuf (AS) took this opportunity to preach the religion of Allah to his prison-mates. He promised to tell them the meaning of their dreams and informed them that this was a special power given to him by Allah Before he did so, however, he explained to them how senseless it was to believe in various gods and explained to them about the Oneness of Allah and the Day of Resurrection.

Prophet Yusuf (AS) interpreted the dream by the power given to him by Allah . He said, "For seven years the crops will yield abundant food-grain for the people of Egypt. After that there will be a famine for seven years during which all the food-grain lying in the storehouses will be finished and people will starve. Therefore, the people should try to grow as much extra grain as possible so that it would stand them in good stead during the time of famine". On hearing this very reasonable and sensible interpretation of his dream from Yusuf, the king was delighted. He ordered that Prophet Yusuf (AS) be brought before him so he could make good use of his wisdom in solving his problems.Prophet Yusuf (AS) was released from the prison with his dignity and honor restored.

When his brothers arrived in Egypt, Prophet Yusuf (AS) was very pleased to see them. They did not recognize him at all, never expecting that he was alive. As a token of their gratitude to Allah at this reunion, his parents and 11 brothers prostrated themselves on the ground. Thus Allah made true the dream of Prophet Yusuf (AS), when he had seen eleven stars and the sun and the moon in prostration in front of him. After many trials, Allah raised him from the position of a slave to the highest rank in the land.

At the request of his son, Prophet Ya'qub (AS) settled in Egypt with his family for the next 17 years, and their clan came to be known as the Bani Israa'il. Prophet Ya’qub passed away at the age of 147 and Prophet Yusuf passed away at the age of 110.

Story of Maryam (Surah Maryam)

Maryam is venerated in Islam. She is one of the most important and righteous women in Islam and the name Maryam literally means ‘maidservant of Allah’. She is mentioned in the Quran 34 times which is more than the New Testament. She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran. Many Muslim women look up to her as an example. According to the Quran, Allah chose Maryam above all women of all nations. The Quran states:

Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of all nations.

—Quran, sura 3 (Al Imran), ayah 42.

Maryam is mentioned in the Quran frequently. Her life narrative occurs in the earliest chapters. The 19^th chapter is named after her. The chapter is called Maryam

Her father, Imran, and her mother, Hannah, are also mentioned in the Quran.

Maryam’s guardian was Prophet Zakariyya (who was the husband of Maryam’s maternal aunt) and was a very pious man and took good care of Maryam and raised her well. As Maryam became older, she devoted herself to the worship of Allah. Maryam fulfilled the promise of her mother and dedicated her life to the worship of Allah. She was modest, honorable, innocent, and dedicated to her task of worship.

The Quran states that Angel Jibril came to Maryam and told her she would be pregnant with a holy child. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): “Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!” But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-free): “Grieve not! for your Lord has provided a stream beneath you; “And shake towards yourself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you.

When Maryam showed the baby to her people, they said that this was truly an amazing thing that had happened. Although Maryam promised not to speak to any man the day he was born, she pointed to the child when confronted by other men at the temple. The newly born baby (Isa) replied to the people:

He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah: He has given me revelation and made me a prophet; “And He has made me Blessed wheresoever I be and has enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; “(He) has made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable; “So Peace is on me the day I was born the day that I die and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”! (Surah Maryam: 30-33).

Even though Maryam is the mother of Isa and occupies a highest position among women, neither Maryam nor Isa have any divine attributes in them. The Holy Quran makes this clear.

The Elephant (Surah Al-Fil)

It is a story illustrating the fate of those who tried to attack the Ka’aba. The incident took place just before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.S).

Before Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.S) was born, the governor of Abyssinia, Abraha Al-Ashram, had built a place of worship and asked all Arabs to worship there. This site was richly decorated with treasures from the collection of Bilquis, Queen of Saba.

But the Arabs refused to bow down. Their loyalty lay with the Ka’aba, built by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Abraha was angered by this so much that he swore to destroy the Ka’aba. The Abyssnians had tame elephants that they used in wars. Abdul Muttalib Ibn Hashim, the Prophet’s grand father, who was then, the leader of the Quraish prepared his people and evacuated many people from around the Ka’aba. As Abraha advanced towards the Ka’aba, he defeated the tribes, enslaving the people and seizing their property. Included in this were two hundred camels that belonged to Abdul Muttalib. Abraha gathered his army of men and elephants and marched towards Makkah. Abraha, arrogantly claimed that no one could defend the Ka’aba from him. The next morning, Abraha prepared himself, his troops and his own elephant, Mahmoud, to enter Mecca. When Mahmoud was directed towards Makkah, Nufail Ibn Habib came near him and whispered in his ear: “Kneel down Mahmoud and go back home safe, you are in Allah’s Sacred Town.” He let go his ear and the elephant kneeled down. Nufail Ibn Habib then went away and climbed up the mount till he was far and safe. The Abyssinians tried everything to make the elephant stand again but in vain. Allah the Almighty then sent birds from the seaside that resembled hawks. Each bird held three stones: one in its beak and one in its each leg. The birds dropped these stones on the Abyssinians killing them. Some Abyssinians fled while death pursued them every way they went. They tried to go back the way they had come and asked Nufail Ibn Habib to guide them back to Yemen. Allah the Almighty also sent a severe wind that added to the speed and strength of the stones and caused the majority of the army to perish. This incident was revealed in the Sura Al Fil as a reminder to the Quraish of Allah’s Favor bestowed on them through defeating the Abyssinians and defying them.