Destiny

lessons from The Quran 

Joseph (12:21)

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًۭا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٢١

And the one from Egypt[1] who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

— Saheeh International

[1]- The minister in charge of supplies, whose title was al-ʿAzeez.

And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.

— M. Pickthall

The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honourable: may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of stories (and events). And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.

— A. Yusuf Ali

اور مصر کے جس شخص نے یوسف کو خریدا (اس نے) اپنی بیوی سے کہا : اس کو اچھے طریقے سے رکھنا ہوسکتا ہے یہ ہمارے لیے نفع بخش ہو یا پھر ہم اسے اپنا بیٹا ہی بنا لیں اور اس طرح ہم نے یوسف کو اس ملک میں تمکنّ عطا کیا اور تاکہ ہم اس کو سکھائیں باتوں کی تہہ تک پہنچنے کا علم اور اللہ تو اپنے فیصلے پر غالب ہے لیکن اکثر لوگ جانتے نہیں ہیں

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

اور اہل مصر میں سے جس شخص نے اس کو خریدا، اس نے اپنی بیوی سے کہا کہ اس کو اچھی طرح رکھو امید ہے کہ وہ ہمارے ليے مفید ہو یا ہم اس کو بیٹا بنالیں  اوراس طرح ہم نے یوسف کو اس ملک میں جگہ دی اور تاکہ ہم اس کو باتوں کی تاویل سکھائیں  اور اللہ اپنے کام پر غالب رہتا ہے لیکن اکثر لوگ نہیں جانتے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[https://quran.com/12/21]

Surah Yusuf (Joseph) presents excellent examples from so many aspects of human life, trials, tribulations, plots and plans, the scheming of humans, the enmity of Satan, etc. 

Jacob (Yaqub عليه السلام) was a prophet of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ . He had warned his son Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) of the enmity of Satan, and therefore, told him to not to share his glorious dream with his brothers. Young Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) did not take the warning seriously, and ended up losing his shirt and his home.   

Yet, through all the scheming, through all the setbacks, through all the frustration, the destiny of Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) is fulfilled. The dream that he was shown which his father interpreted, the assurance that was inspired to him when he was thrown in the well by his brothers, the temptation presented through the wife of the Aziz, and the consequent imprisonment to protect his chastity, the people he meets in the prison, the climate forecasted in the King's dream, and the eventual appointment of Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) upon the food stores of Egypt, the repentance of the brothers, the beautiful reunification of the family, all went as per the original plan of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎  .  

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ had chosen and destined Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) to be a prophet and in charge of the food stores of Egypt, and so, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ made it happen. 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ has written each and every person's destiny, and regardless of the circumstances we encounter, our destiny is bound to happen. All that is written for us will happen to us, and that which is not written will not endure, even if everyone on Earth tries to make it happen. 

The brothers of Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) tried to take his place, and for several years the family lived without Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام). However, they did not succeed in replacing their father's affection for Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) for themselves. After many years, when they least expected it, they were reminded of it, just as Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ had reassured Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) when they had thrown him in the abandoned well. 

The wife of the Aziz, in whose home Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) lived in Egypt, tried to make him sin, yet Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى saved his chosen slave Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) from sinful temptation and its consequences. 

The polytheist prisoners, who were in the prison with Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام), both dreamed the decision about their fate, and it turned out exactly as seen by them, and as interpreted by Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام). Before interpreting their dreams, Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) introduced them to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى 's Deen (Law) (Q12:40):

The King dreamt a strange dream. Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) interpreted the dream as climate forecasted for the next several years. The climate changed accordingly.  

Jacob (Yaqub عليه السلام) was a prophet of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ . He possessed knowledge that he had been taught. He was concerned and worried for safety of his sons, especially the youngest, so he told them to enter Egypt through different gates. Yet, he also knew that he could not avail his sons anything against Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎  at all. And so it happened that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's plan prevailed.  

The destiny of all of Jacob (Yaqub عليه السلام)'s sons was to be saved. So, early on in the story, we see them conspiring to kill Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام), yet they talk themselves out of this major sin, and settle for a lesser crime: getting rid of him by throwing him in an abandoned well. Yet, through their selfish, evil act, they set in motion a series of events that landed Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) in the exact role that was his destiny, and eventually the brothers all submitted to him, exactly as in the dream. 

Egypt was ruled according to the Deen of the King of Egypt. According to that King's Deen, Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) could not take his younger brother from his elder brothers. So, a plan was inspired to him to enable him to take his younger brother, according to the Deen of Allah, upon which were Jacob and his sons. 

The Quran states that Allah's Deen will eventually overcome and replace all other deens (legal systems).

  

There is much hope in the stories of the prophets. They were chosen, and Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ ensured that His Chosen ones, and those who believed with them, were saved from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's punishment. After the time was up for their nation, it was the believers who prevailed. In the Hereafter, those whom Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ forgives and reforms, are the ones who will be successful.  

Every person has a nafs in this world. 

One of the aspects of this nafs is ammarra (commanding). The Nafs-e-Ammarra commands, and it is up to the individual to choose whether to act upon the command, or not. Surah Yusuf presents the Nafs-e-Ammarra of both believers and disbelievers, and how they respond to its whispers.  

Another aspect of this nafs is lawwamma (reproaching / blaming). The Nafs-e-Lawwamma makes us realise our fault, and makes us feel guilty. In Surah Yusuf, we see one brother feeling guilty about not being able to keep his covenant he ratified with his father upon which they were given permission to take the youngest son to Egypt. They were unable to protect him, and so he feels guilty about returning to his father's presence without their youngest brother. 

The desirable aspect of this nafs is mutmainna (satisfied). In the end, they are all satisfied with the decree of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ for them. Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام), in charge of the food stores of Egypt, is in a position of authority and dignity. So, when he welcomes them in Egypt, they are provided a better standard of life in the city than what they had in the village. The entire family gets elevated because of this brother (Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام)) who has been raised in dignity. Repentant, and consequently satisfied, in this world, they hope to be joined with the reformed in the Hereafter. 

Towards the end of the story, Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام)'s prayer is quoted thus: 

Joseph (12:101)

۞ رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًۭا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ ١٠١

“My Lord! You have surely granted me authority and taught me the interpretation of dreams. ˹O˺ Originator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Guardian in this world and the Hereafter. Allow me to die as one who submits[1] and join me with the righteous.”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

[1] lit., as a Muslim.

My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."

— Saheeh International

اے میرے رب ، تو نے مجھے حکومت بخشی اور مجھ کو باتوں کی تہہ تک پہنچنا سکھایا۔ زمین و آسمان کے بنانے والے ، تو ہی دنیا اور آخرت میں میرا سر پرست ہے ، میرا خاتمہ اسلام پر کر اور انجام کار مجھے صالحین کے ساتھ ملا “۔

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an

اے میرے رب ! تو نے مجھے حکومت بھی عطا کی ہے اور مجھے خوابوں کی تعبیر (یا معاملہ فہمی) کا علم بھی سکھایا ہے اے وہ ہستی جس نے آسمانوں اور زمین کو پیدا کیا ہے توُ ہی میرا کارساز ہے دنیا میں بھی اور آخرت میں بھی مجھے وفات دیجیو فرمانبرداری کی حالت میں اور مجھے شامل کر دیجیو اپنے صالح بندوں میں

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

[https://quran.com/12/101]  

Links to posts about Surah Yusuf 

Links to posts about Nafs. 

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Last updated on: May 10, 2026