An Epic Journey part 4

Salam all, 
This edition came much later than I had planned, but nonetheless, here it is :) we continue with ayat 4-5 of Surah Yusuf. At the pace I am going, we may be able to finish the whole surah mid next year... :P

[Of these stories mention] when Yusuf said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."

He [Ya'qub] said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

Yusuf’s Lineage
His full name	Yusuf bin Ya’qub bin Ishaq bin Ibrahim (Khalil Allah)
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrate:	Upon the authority of Abu Hurayrah the Prophet was asked, “Who is the most honourable of people? ” He replied, “ the most honorable s the one with the most taqwa.” The questioner said, “I am not asking about that,” so the Prophet said, “the most honoured is Yusuf, who was a prophet, a son of a prophet, son of a prophet, son of Khalil Allah
In other narration :	Ibnu Umar narrates that the Prophet said of Yusuf: He is the noble one, son of a noble one, son of a noble one:

Lesson:
10. In Arabic language, there a many ways to call the parents, but the most softest way is to add ‘tha’ at the end : Ya abati (O, my father)
11. Parents should be the children’s’ role model, the first they turn to when they have questions.

Respect for Parents
A muslim child should respect, appreciate and honour his parents at all times, Allah has mentioned kind treatment of parents alongside the command to worship him alone, which indicates the importance of honouring one’s parents and treating them well. Allah emphasises the status of parents and how they should be treated in many ayat:
Be good and dutiful	Allah says: and we have enjoined upon man, goodness to parents [Surah al-Ankabut, 29:8]
	Shaykh a-Sa’di (RA) said: “be dutiful and kind to parents” means: treat them kindly in all ways in word and deed. [Tafsir al-Sa’di, p.524]
Acknowledge the high status of parents	The importance and high status that Islam has granted to parents is evident from the fact that Allah often mentions the command to worship Him and to be dutiful to one’s parents together, as in: Surah Luqman,31:14-15 And We enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do
Obey them, and ask forgiveness for them	Islam teaches a child to obey his parents, to do as they ask and to refrain from what they tell about him not to do, on condition that it does not contradict the teachings of Allah. Furthermore Allah commands us to supplicate for our parents and pray for forgiveness for them especially when they grow old and weak: Surah al-Isra’ 17:23-24 And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff", and do not repel them but speak to them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My lord, have mercy on them as they have brought me up [when I was] small."  Shaykh a-Sa’di said: “this means, pray for mercy for them, while they are alive and after they die.” [Tafsir b. Sa’di, p.524]
Yahya bin Zakariyya	Allah has provided us with examples of his messengers and described how they treated their parents with kindness and compassion. Surah Maryam 19: 12-15 [ Allah ] said, "O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah, And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant. And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari said: “Here ‘And dutiful towards his parents’ meaning that he was quick to obey them, loving towards them, not disobedient, ‘and he was neither arrogant nor disobedient’- that he was not too proud to obey Allah or his parents; rather he was humble and submissive towards towards Allah and his parents, doing what he was commanded to and avoiding what was forbidden to him; he disobeyed neither his Lord not his parents. ” [Tafsir al-Tabari, 16/58]
Isa  bin Maryam (A.S)	Surah Maryam 19:30-32 [Isa] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.

Dreams

There are 3 types of dreams:

1.      1.  Divine dreams

a.       True dreams

b.      Good dreams

2.      2. Satanic dreams

3.      3. Human dreams

Imam Muslim reported:

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said “There are three types of dreams: a righteous dream, which is glad tidings from Allah; the dream which causes sadness is from Satan; and a dream from the ramblings of the mind.”

1 a. Divine dream: True Dreams 

Prophetic Dreams	The dreams of the prophet were a form of revelation. Allah states that revelation was given to prophets in 3 ways. Surah al-Shura 42:51
The story of Ibrahim (AS)	This clearly illustrates that prophetic dreams are a form of revelation as he acted immediately upon the instruction given in his dreams. Surah al-Saffat 37:102-105
Al-Bukhari reports….	From A’ishah that : “Divine revelations began to come to Allah’s messenger in the form of righteous (true) dreams during his sleep. Whenever, he had a dream, it would come true like the daybreak.”
True dreams are a gift from Allah	Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet said, “True dreams are from Allah and bad dreams are from Shaytan.” [Al-Bukhari]
Al-Bukhari also reports…	…on the narration of Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet said, “When the day of resurrection approaches, the dream of a believer will hardly fail to come true.”
It is reported in Sahih Muslim…	Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet said, “Those of you with the truest dreams will be those who are most truthful in speech.” This hadith indicates that true dreams are related to human character; the more righteous the people are the truer their dream will be.

Are true dreams specific to the believers? No, for example the King’s dream later in this surah turns out to be a true dream as well.

Can the same true dream be shared by several people? Yes, refer to sahabah’s dream on azan.

We will be continuing with the other type of dream in the next part, till then, wassalam :)