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la-qad kāna fī qaṣaṣihim ʿibratun li-ʾulī l-ʾalbābi mā kāna ḥadīthan yuftarā wa-lākin taṣdīqa lladhī bayna yadayhi wa-tafṣīla kulli shayʾin wa-hudan wa-raḥmatan li-qawmin yuʾminūna
There is certainly a moral in their accounts for those who possess intellect. This [Quran] is not a fabricated discourse; rather, it is a confirmation of what was [revealed] before it, and an elaboration of all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yusuf – Verse 111
111. “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for the possessors of intellect. It is not an invented tale, but a confirmation of what came before it, and a clear exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe.”
The Arabic words /‘ibrat/ and /ta‘bir/ denote to pass, and the passing from one stage to another. When Yusuf says that this was the interpretation of his dream of old, it signifies the passing of his dream into reality. And /’brat/ also means passing from what was capable of being seen and heard into a state where they are not capable of being seen or heard but exist nevertheless. The Qur’anic term /qasasihim/ perhaps refers to the story of all the prophets or it probably focuses on the stories of Yusuf, Ya‘qub, the brothers, the ‘Aziz of Egypt, and the bitter and sweet events associated with them told in this story.
Anyway, the last verse of this Surah is comprehensive in content dealing with all the issues of this Surah in a concise manner. It tells us that all the stories of the holy Qur’an, including the story of Yusuf and his brothers as well as that of the prophets, the faithful and the unbelievers, are useful and instructive lessons for all those who are not afraid to use their minds. These stories teach us about the causes of victory and defeat, success and frustration, happiness and misfortune, and elevation and degradation. Briefly put, they show us what should be of value or should lack value in our lives. However, it is only the /’ulil al bab/ (the people of understanding) that can learn from the instructive lessons that are taught.
The Qur’an says:
“Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for the possessors of intellect...”
These stories, the Qur’an adds, have not been fabricated or false. They have been revealed to the Prophet unveiling the true history of past generations which confirm the original books of the past prophets. The verse says:
“…It is not an invented tale, but a confirmation of what came before it...”
Whatever is needed by man and the identification of all those things that are the real bases of man’s true happiness, have been elucidated in these verses. For this reason the Qur’an is the source of all guidance for those who seek it and the source of blessings for all those who are believers. The verse continues saying:
“…and a clear exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe.”
These stories, as instructive and heart rending as they are, are identical with the truth and there is not the slightest deviation in their authenticity or objectivity. They therefore carry an enormous impact for we know that fables, no matter how interesting they might be, are not as impressive as true stories. Therefore, it becomes clear how the school of Yusuf, the fighter for holy causes, the abstinent, the champion of faith and virtue, the angel like man, the exemplar of benevolence and humanitarianism, the man of peace and reform and, finally, the representation of human perfection, is formed.
The godly school represented by this spiritual and political personality, does not only have a beneficial impact upon all social classes, but it can also provide valuable lessons for world leaders as well, saving the political world from lack of faith, mischief, lying, and aggression, leading them towards faith, humanitarianism and virtue, thus guaranteeing world peace and security for all. We send warm greetings to you O’ celestial and heavenly man from the lovers of truth and humanitarianism whose illustrious story has been the center of attention of the entire world. Your life is a torch that leads and directs man towards his true happiness.
We who aspire to truth and justice send loving greetings to you, the champion of faith and virtue who did not surrender himself to the illegitimate tendencies of deviants, who was jailed for not having committed any crime, adding another page of pride to the history of enlightened people. O Allah! bestow upon us open eyes, open ears, and zealous hearts so that we can benefit from the ways of our predecessors to find a path of salvation from the difficulties in which we are immersed.
O Allah! Make us so receptive and kin to be able to see the true end of the life of the former nations who, after victory, painfully defeated because of disunity and that we do not go along the way they went. O Allah, provide us with such a sincere intention to be able to trample upon our egoistic selves and bestow upon us a wisdom which does not make us arrogant when we are victorious, and bestow upon us such tolerance which would enable us to leave others to undertake tasks which they are more capable of performing.
Once you bestow these on us, we shall then be able to overcome all difficulties and illuminate the world with the Everlasting Light which shines forth from Islam and the Qur’an. O Allah, the Almighty, illuminate our hearts with the light of the Qur’an and put us in a position to execute all the commands of the Qur’an.