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yā-ṣāḥibayi s-sijni ʾa-ʾarbābun mutafarriqūna khayrun ʾami llāhu l-wāḥidu l-qahhāru
O my prison mates! Are different masters better, or Allah, the One, the All-paramount?
— Ali Quli Qarai
12YūsufيوسفVerse 39 of 111
Joseph12. Yūsufيوسف
Yūsuf
Joseph
MeccanVerse 39 of 111
Surah Yusuf – Verse 39
39. “O my (two) mates of the prison! Are (many) diverse lords better, or Allah, the One, the All-Dominant?”
Men are of three different types: One group is flexible like the air which has no form or shape and is so volatile that it can naturally fill any container regardless of its size, shape, or structure. The second group is inflexible and resistant in all its aspects, like iron and steel which can withstand all kinds of pressure from the outside. The third group is composed of leaders and pioneers who seek to convert everything into what Allah has ordained. Yusuf is an example of the third group, seeking to convert polytheists into monotheism even in the prison.
In different occurrences of the Sublime Qur’an, we find that it has employed the method of comparing ideas supporting true monotheism and unbelief, some examples of which, concerning Allah, we present below.
1) “It there any of your partners (whom you ascribe unto Allah that) can originate creation, then bring it back again?” 2
2) “It there any of your partners (whom you ascribe unto Allah) one (that) leads towards the Truth?” 3
3) “Shall I seek a lord other than Allah while He is the Lord of everything?” 4
4) “Is Allah better, or what they associate (with Him)?” 5
Explanations
1. Call people to the true faith with love and affection.
2. Use opportune places and times for the propagation of religion.
(As soon as Yusuf realizes that they require him to interpret their dreams, he takes the opportunity to propagate the faith.)
3. Queries and comparisons are often channels of both communication and guidance.
Footnotes