Islamic Center of Irvine

Juz 12

This juz' is constituted of almost the whole of surah /chapter Hud and the first half of surah Yusuf

Acknowledge that we are to return to our Creator for accountability and be cognizant ( 4-8) that Allah knows all things open and secret, Creator of everything, Whose kursi /authority rests on water [water is source of life Q 21:30' 25:54' 77:20' 86:6]
People have the tendency to take for granted the bounties of Allah, and when adversity befalls them they are in despair. Patient perseverance in doing good are essential components in the life of the faithful (9-11)
Some are skeptical of the revelation, some forge lies against Allah, some try to corrupt others and prevent them from what is good; others pursue this material world with ardent passion and Allah does not deny them; but if that is there aim then that is all they get. Such are losers in the estimation of Allah (14-22)
True Believers have genuine faith, do good and have an attitude of humility; never can absence of sight be equal to sight nor can absence of hearing be equal to listening; use your faculties of understanding so that you may be guided (23-24)
Hereafter follows a series of references to the lives of various Prophets ?��Ǩ��
Reference to the mission of Prophet Nuh and his mission, how he was opposed, ridiculed and rejected and how the opposers (including members from his household) were drowned (25-49)
Prophet Hud conveyed God's message to his people off ?��Ǩ��Aad, most of them not only opposed him, they deliberately broke the law to insult and humiliate him (50-69)
The people of Thamud opposed their prophet Saleh and purposely dishonored the symbols of Allah's bounty (61-88)
Reference to the glad tidings of the birth of Isaac to Sarah and Prophet Ibrahim. Isaac was later to father Jacob. Ibrahim had those admired human characteristics of being halim /forgiving, awwah /tender-hearted, muneeb / oft-repenting.(69-76)
Prophet Lut warned people of their deviant behavior (homosexuality), yet they persisted (77-83)
Prophet Shu'aib was sent to his people of Madian, warning them against injustices, fraudulent practices and cheating. He advised them to seek forgiveness, turn to Allah sincerely for Allah is raheem /Merciful and wadud /Most Loving(84-95)

[All these prophets stated that they are nadhir-um-mubeen /clear warners = message is simple and easy, not hidden. Nadhir = warner not equal to bringing despair to people. Prophet Muhammad advised man qaala ?��Ǩ?�halakal qawm?��Ǩ�� fa huwa ahlakahum ~ Whoever says that people are destroyes/perished/condemned he himself may cause them to perish by saying so. So, be careful of making people live a self-fulfilling prophecy.]

Moses was had to contend with disobedient and hair-splitting follower as well as having to confront the arrogance of the powerful pharaoh (96-99)

In all these historical events are lessons for us. Some of these ruins are still visible. Those people were not wronged by Allah, they suffered the consequence of their own wrong doing (100-102)

In all that is narrated and related, there are signs to reflect, ponder and perchance prepare for the Day when all will be gathered for accountability (103)
Believers are commanded ?��Ǩ��
To be principled
Obey the commands
Not to be excessive or extreme
Not to incline towards wrongfulness and injustice
To especially establish prayers at the beginning and end of the day
To do good
To be mindful of Allah's message which serves as a Reminder
To patiently persevere (112-115)

The concluding part of the surah conveys the historical and ideological importance of narrating the life examples of the Prophets (120-123) :

All that we relate to thee of the stories of the apostles, with it We make firm thy heart: through these the Truth is conveyed, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance for those who choose to believe?��Ǩ��To Allah belongs the unseen (secrets) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him returns every affair (for decision): then worship Him, and put your trust in Him: and remember that your Lord is not unmindful of anything that you do.

Yusuf
This Makkan surah is unique in that the entire chapter of 111 verses deals with one story, the life and times of Prophet Joseph/ Yusuf . Prophet Muhammad said of Prophet Joseph; truly Joseph was of the noblest of people, for he was the son, the grandson and the great grandson of prophets . Not only was he a prophet but so were three generations of his ascendants prophets ?��Ǩ�� Ya'qub /Jacob, Ishaq /Isaac and Ibrahim /Abraham.

The Qur'an is divine scripture that makes truth manifest and serves as an accurate historical record, narrating the most beautiful of stories, revealed in a universally spoken living language, Arabic . (1-3)
Yusuf narrates a dream to his old father Ya'qub /Jacob [also known as Isra'iel ] who interprets it as a forecast for a great future for Yusuf /Joseph and advises him not to divulge it to his 10 jealous half-brothers, [who according to the Bible were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar,, Zebulun, Dan, Nepatali, Gad, Asher. He had a brother named Benyamin /Benjamin]. Joseph himself is later given the gift of interpreting dreams (4-7)
Joseph's envious half-brothers plan to throw him into a well, and misinform Yacob that Joseph was devoured by a wolf, [providing him with false evidence of a blood-stained shirt] . Joseph is saved from the well by a passing caravan and sold as a slave for a cheap price to an Egyptian dignitary named ?��Ǩ��Aziz. Growing up to be a brilliant, intelligent and extremely handsome young man; there is an attempted seduction on Joseph by the wife of ?��Ǩ��Aziz. Yusuf resisted temptation [as was evidenced by the fact that his shirt was torn from the back when he tries to escape her clutches] but the false charge and accusation brought against him lands him in jail where he becomes renowned for his interpretation of dreams. The king of Egypt calls upon the now famous dream-interpreter (Joseph) and gives him the post as the custodian of the store-house. (8-58)