Use of the symbols {} is done for clarity purposes by defining or refining difficult concepts so as to bring clarity in reporting.
Without doubt, the Quran is at once very easy to read and at the same time very difficult to conceptualize in a fuller, universal sense. An example must be given to show this!
If the average person who had no previous knowledge of the Quran was asked to name the person who would be honored as to being the one discussed about in being the namesake of The Most Beautiful of Stories found in the Quran/history of planet Earth the answers would be all over the place. And for good reason especially if this question was preluded by qualifying the answer based on a major factor in the development of Earth’s History.
The Father of Monotheism – Abraham (pbh) gets votes; the Foundation of the Chosen Peoples – Moses (pbh) gets votes; the Leader of the prophets – Muhammad the chosen and elite one (pbh) get votes; even Noah (pbh) who headed up the re-start of mankind (in the religious sense) get votes.
The surprise is that none of the above is credited with that distinction of being more pronounced by the ONE GOD HIMSELF than Yusef (pbh) or Joseph. The distinction comes from ALLAH HIMSELF and that means something. It is a perfect fit for a perfect story for a special area of development of what occurred on what we call Planet Earth.
A.L.R. These are the symbols (or Verses) of the perspicuous {crystal clear} Book.
WE have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.
WE do relate unto you THE MOST BEAUTIFUL of stories, in that WE reveal to you this (portion of the) Qur’an: before this, you too were among those who knew it not. Quran (12:1-3)
The Quran is heavy and complex but simple at one and the same time; difficult to dissect but simple to catch the glimmer of truth that it defies a normal explanation. Anything emanating from the ONE GOD is going to be super special and a basic building block to help us understand the life we live and our surroundings.
It will be impossible for us to understand everything, every nuance, every spatial relationship of the Arabic Letters and the complex development of the human race and fortunately, we don’t have to! But it is nice to know that the Quran stands heads and shoulders above the other great Monotheistic works (the Jewish Old Testament and the reformatted Jewish texts called the Injeel in Arabic and wrongfully the New Testament by Christians. Basically because no Christian was involved in producing those texts held up as ‘Christian works’ in today’s world.
Christians can argue all they want concerning their holy works which go back to a pre-Christian era, minus minor adjustments, to the first century AC or CE or before 90 CE. The production of which is declared more than five times in the Quran of which the Muslims believe which shows that they have good validity only when their meanings are translated correctly– which goes back to the old blurb of ‘the thief was caught red handed’ even though he doesn’t have a red hand!
Yusef (pbh) is a complex individual showing what can be argued as part and parcel of being that SIGN given to mankind as a developmental pathway taken in the ‘put your trust in ALLAH’ and let HIM be your GUIDE and DEVELOPER.
The truthful yet highly symbolic Chapter 12 in the Quran is THE STORY of life itself and the salvation of that part of the human race that puts its trust in the ONE LORD and Yusef (pbh) embodies that spirit of trust and obedience to his CREATOR LORD. Although Yusef is still a few stages removed from his ultimate appearance in ‘winning through’ to a promising and glorified end, he symbolizes the spirit, grace and humbleness of the true servant of GOD!
He started life off as chosen amongst the children of his father Jacob (Israel) (pbh) only to fall into the trap of pride which tarnished his perfection. But through patience and good hope he managed to defy the odds and become a central force for his family and those of the believers who followed that way. But his story wasn’t to be finished upon his passing!
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Genesis (37:4)
His soul, like valuable gold, would be refined again and again in the furnace of life until he became worthy of being that spotless SIGN to mankind – the SIGN of humble obedience and trust in his CREATOR LORD! And the Dead Sea Scrolls of much later times would emphasize his longing to obey and please his CREATOR LORD such that he would be known by a few as the Teacher of Righteousness against whom the world(ly) would assail but to no avail – a tireless worker in the GLORIOUS PLAN of ALLAH!
A man on a mission who was guided and protected by his LORD to perfection as only the PERFECT GUIDE COULD PERFORM. So, in the end, he became that Way, that Light that Truth that the good sons of Adam would coalesce around. Not a bringer of any new religion but an icon of obedience to what was true.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through me {as to the true course of obedience and belief that I showed and I will be a witness against them who have chosen another course not sanctioned by the LORD}. John (14:6)
Hence, his love for his CREATOR gives him a joy in his heart to pronounce his love for the truth (Islam) on his eventful return in joining the Believers as a dominant force in establishing Pure Islam to reign above all concepts even though the pagans and miscreants would object to it!
It is HE Who has sent HIS Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). Quran (9:33)
For he did not enter this world to fill his belly with gold but to fulfill that which was promised to him of old IF he would but put his trust in his CREATOR LORD! And indeed he became that SIGN to mankind of obedience and subservience to his CREATOR’S ideals and wishes. And in that arena, it was Satan and the disbelievers who became the real losers.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through me {as to the true course of obedience and belief that I showed and I will be a witness against them who have chosen another course not sanctioned by the LORD}. John (14:6)
And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him {Jesus} before his {final}death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them {those who did not believe in the Faith chosen by ALLAH}; Quran (4:159)
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to GOD, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness {being only human and therefore like with like}.
That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by GOD, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ DID NOT glorify himself to become High Priest, but it was HE {GOD} who said to him: “You are MY Son {chosen servant as} today I have appointed you {to fulfill that role}.”
As HE also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
Who, in the days of his flesh, when he {as our adam} had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to HIM {his CREATOR LORD} who was able to save him from {spiritual} death, and was heard because of his godly fear, Hebrews (5:1-7)
The similitude of Jesus before ALLAH is as that of Adam; HE created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”. And he was.
The Truth (comes) from ALLAH alone; so be not of those who doubt. Quran (3:59-60)
But now you seek to kill me, a MAN who has told you the truth which I heard {by inspiration}from GOD. Abraham did not do this {as did your claimed father Abraham do as he was a true prophet from the GOD you claim to love}. John (8:40)
For this reason the FATHER loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it back {Again}.
No one takes it {my life} from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have {been given the} power to lay it down, and I have {been given the} power to take it {UP} AGAIN. This command {Gift/Law} I have received from my FATHER {CREATOR LORD the ORIGINATOR of ALL}.” John (10:17-18)
No one has ascended to heaven but he who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in from heaven. (John 3:13)
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the WILL of HIM who sent me. John (6:38)
Who has ascended to heaven and come down {Again}? Who has gathered the wind in his hands? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak {by trained experiences}? Who has {become} established {at} all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son {peoples or Chosen WAY} surely you know! Proverbs (30:4)
The first {complete} man {true Homo sapiens} was of the dust of the earth, the second {refined} man from heaven. 1Corinthians (15:47)
And now, FATHER, glorify me in YOUR presence with the glory I had with YOU before the world existed. John (17:5)
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for ME One to be ruler over Israel {the Believers}—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. Micha (5:2)
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen {our father}Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was {placed on this Earth}, I am {was in the flesh doing the work of GOD}.” John (8:57-58)
“You are MY witnesses {for the Last Day},” declares the LORD, “and {also} MY servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe ME and understand that I am HE. Before ME no god was formed, and after ME none will come.
I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is NO {REAL} Savior but ME {The ONE UNIVERSAL GOD}. Isaiah (43:10-11)
The witness to his being made perfect by the ONE WHO IS PERFECT in the heavens comes from the written WORD through the consistency of its pages, down through time, over thousands and thousands of years. A blessing of light to the peoples that have endured and believe! All made possible by ALLAH’s MOST PERFECT PLAN sorting out the wheat from the chaff.
It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas’ud: We once said: Messenger of ALLAH, would we be held responsible for our deeds committed in the state of ignorance? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: He who did good deeds in Islam would not be held responsible for what he did in the state of ignorance, but he who committed evil (after having come within the fold of Islam) would be held responsible for his previous and later deeds. (Muslim)
And So It Goes!
