Lessons from Surah Yusuf (Pearls from the Qur'an)

by Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi

‘…Allah has truly been gracious to us…’ Yusuf immediately attributed all good to Allah. ‘None of this that you see is from my power. I’m not gloating that I have the upper hand. I am not showing you who is richer and more powerful. Allah has given us all of this.’ Manna is a gift that is not even earned or deserved, but something that Allah bestows because of His generosity. ‘…Surely whoever is mindful ‘of Allah’ and patient, then certainly Allah never discounts the reward of the good-doers.’ Notice that first, Yusuf ascribed the blessings directly to himself from Allah: ‘Allah has truly been gracious to us.’ Now he used the third person, ‘whoever is mindful...’ He didn’t say, ‘I was righteous and patient, so Allah rewarded me.’ Every single word that Yusuf used shows us over and over again, his level of humility. We could not have thought of humbler words to say on this occasion.