The Story of Prophet Joseph ON HOLD

Chapter 4

                                 ﷽

 

                    “The best of stories.”

Assalamu alaikum and thank you for reading up to this point in my book!  Before continuing with the third verse of the 12th Chapter of the Qur’an that deals with the amazing story of Prophet Joseph ﷺ , I would like to dedicate this chapter to @TayyibMussa21, who asks questions that reignite my commitment to writing this book. 

         .

Here we go!

Verse/Ayah 12:3 – (English Sahih International)

 

“We relate to you, (O Muhammad), the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’an although you were, before it, among the unaware.”

Tafsir or interpretation by Ibn Kathir:

“We relate unto you the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of this Qur’an. And before this, you were among those who know nothing about it.”

‘On the reason behind revealing the ayah, Imam Ahmad recorded a narration from Jabir bin Abdullah that;

Umar bin Al-Khattab came to the Prophet with a book that he took from some of the People of the Book. Umar began reading it to the Prophet who became angry.  He said

 ‘Are you certain about it Ibn Al-Khattab?

By the One in whose Hand is my soul! I have come to you with it white and pure.  (The Prophet ﷺ said) Do not ask them about anything, for they might tell you something true and you reject it, or they might tell you something false and you believe it.

By the One in Whose Hand is my soul!  If Musa (Moses) were living, he would have no choice but to follow me.’

Tafsir or interpretation of Ayah 12:3 by Nouman Ali Khan (NAK):

 

“We are the ones in fact, who relate unto you the story in the best possible way it can be told, by way of having inspired this Qur’an to you (Prophet Mohammad ﷺ ) and for sure, for a long time before, and up until now, you truly were from those who are unaware.”

NAK begins his explanation of this ayah by stating that the first thing that Allah ﷻ is emphasizing as He ﷻ speaks to us before getting into the details of this remarkable story, are the words ‘We in fact, We relate’ or ‘Nahnu naqussu’ in Arabic. 

NAK points out that Allah ﷻ double iterates  Himself, (Nahnu = We in fact, naqussu = We relate) to emphasize that this story is NOT being told by the Prophet Mohammad ﷺ.  Rather, that it is in fact being told by Allah ﷻ.