The Prophet’s SAW Relationship with Yusuf AS | Amazed by Surah Yusuf w/ Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed

The Prophet's Relationship with Yusuf عليه السلام

We know that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has dedicated a beautiful chapter for the journey of Yusuf alayhi salam. But did the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam ever speak about Yusuf alayhi salam? Does he refer to him? And there are some amazing, beautiful narrations where the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam honors our Prophet Yusuf alayhi salam.

Who is the Most Noble of People?

One specific incident — the Sahaba asked the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam:

O Prophet of Allah, who is the most noble of people? Who is the most honorable person?

Of course, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam is not going to refer to himself — but we know the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam is the greatest of humans and the greatest of creations. He responds to them by saying:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3374)

That the most noble of humans, the most honorable human, is actually Yusuf alayhi salam — who is the son of Al-Kareem, of an honorable person, which is Yaqub; who is the son of another honorable person, that is Ishaq alayhi salatu was salam; and who is the son of the Khalil of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the chosen friend of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Ibrahim alayhi salam — and he himself is very noble and honorable. So the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam honors Yusuf alayhi salam.

The Night of Mi'raj — Encountering Yusuf in the Third Sky

Another narration where the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam is speaking about his journey of Mi'raj — he mentions that in each sky he met different prophets. He says: in the third sky, when we entered and the gates were opened up for us:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3394; Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 309)

"There I was, standing in front of Yusuf alayhi salam." And with the other prophets, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam does not describe them — but it is as if he is in awe of Yusuf's beauty where he says: "And he was given half of beauty." That he was extremely beautiful — and we know that from the beautiful story of Yusuf alayhi salam.

The Conquest of Makkah — Following in the Footsteps of Yusuf

In another incident — during the journey of Fath Makkah, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam as he entered into this city as a conqueror, as being victorious after years of being persecuted in the city — you can imagine walking back into that same home, those same alleys, those same streets where you were persecuted, the trauma, the PTSD that one can experience through that — as someone is walking and riding his animal back into this community as a conqueror of the city, he is heard saying:

(Referenced in Sirah Ibn Hisham; echoing Quran 12:92)

That I will say that which my brother Yusuf said to his brothers when they came to him to seek forgiveness:

"There is no blame upon you today. May Allah forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."

There is no blame to go on you. There is no — "you did this to me, so I'm going to do this to you." There is no vengeance. There is no revenge. La tatriba alaykumul yawm. Rather, I actually pray that Allah forgives you all, and He is the most forgiving.

The Prophets as Guides for Our Prophet ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ in different incidents of his life would actually refer to Yusuf alayhi salam and he would take lessons from their lives. The lives of the prophets in the Quran were there to give our Prophet ﷺ different directions on what to do and how to do it in different situations in his life. And our Prophet of Allah responded to all of them perfectly — and now we have the life of our Prophet ﷺ as the greatest qudwa and role model for us, and how we respond to different difficulties and challenges and situations.

But these are moments — the Prophet ﷺ, amongst the many moments where he speaks about his brother and his beautiful friend, Yusuf alayhi salam.