PROPHET YUSUF – A story from the holy Qur'an.
[Theme Qasida]
Scene 1
[B1: Shamon; B2: Zobolon; B3: Lawi; B4: Rawbin]
[Scene set in a field]
Narrator: The story of the beautiful Prophet Yusuf began when he was born to Prophet Yaqub and his beloved wife Rachel (also known as Rahil). Rachel gave birth to another child Benjamin, Yusuf's real brother, after which she died. Because of this, Prophet Yusuf occupied first place in his father's affections. The rest of the 10 brothers were extremely jealous of Prophet Yusuf and could not bear to see the love between their father Yaqub and Yusuf.
In the first scene we shall see Yusuf, who was 12 years at the time. He has just had a dream in which he sees a light which had enveloped the whole environment.
[Yusuf paces up and down]
YA: My son? Yusuf? Is there something you want to say to me?
Y: o father I have seen, in a dream last night eleven stars and the sun and moon, and I saw them prostrating to me.
YA: This is a sign from Allah! There is a big message in this dream! O my son beware, do not relate your dream to your brothers, least they plot to plot against you. Verily shaytan is an open enemy to man. Do you understand? Do not tell about this dream to your brothers.
[Yakub kisses Yusuf and walks off stage, brothers walk in]
Y: Salam Alaikum!
B1: What is going on? Are you ok? You look very happy?
Y: I saw a dream last night.
B2: What was it? Tell us!
B3: Oh come on! Tell us!
Y: Umm, I.. , Ummm...
B2: Come on, we love you so much! We are your brothers! We want to be included in your happiness too!
B4: Yes, maybe we will be able to tell you what it means
Y: Really?! Oh ok then. I saw this bright white light which enveloped my whole surrounding. Then I saw eleven stars, a moon and the sun and they were all prostrating to me. [turns to the brothers] so DO you know what this means?
[The brothers just shake their heads and say "NO, sorry?!"] [Yusuf leaves the stage]
B1: Yusuf and his younger brother Benjamin are loved more by our father, than we, despite the fact that we are much stronger and deserving.
B2: Let's slay Yusuf or cast him in some land so that our father's attention may only be us. The attention and love will only be for the 10 of us!
B4: Can you imagine?!.. No Yusuf! No one to distract father from us! What do you think Lawi?
B3: Let us not slay Yusuf. Maybe we should just throw him into the bottom of the well. Some travellers passing by might pick him up and take him into an unknown land, and we would be free from murder.
[They think about it...]
B4: Ok let us go and ask father if we can take Yusuf out for the day.
[Yakub walks onto stage]
B1: O look there he is.. Let us ask now.
B4: Father, father, father! We have something to ask you.
B3: Can we, please please take Yusuf for a day out with us? Please?
Ya: You want to take Yusuf with you? ..I.. I don't know. I don't think it is a very good idea..
B1: o father, but why do you not trust us when it comes to Yusuf? Most surely we are his sincere well wishers, we are his brothers. We do love him after all.
B2: please send him with us tomorrow so that he can enjoy himself and play. Verily we shall take care of him.
All: we shall take good care of him
Ya: verily it saddens me that you should take him away, and I fear that the wolf should devour him while you are heedless of him.
B4: There are 10 of us. That cannot happen. If a wolf should devour him when we are there, all 10 of us, then surely we are ones who will be the losers.
Y: Can I ?
Ya: Ok
[When Yusuf leaves Yacub embraces him].
Ya: Be in God's protection
[Scene change – well scene]
[Munajat – Farewell to Yusuf]
Scene 2:
Narrator: Prophet Yacub was very apprehensive about the whole idea and is very sad to see Yusuf being separated from him. Prophet Yakub succumbs to the will of Allah and lets Yusuf go. The brothers take him away far away into the forest and agreed to throw him into a well. Let us see what happens.
B1: [Smiling Sarcastically] Oh I am so glad you came!
Y: Yes Shamon! So am I! I love being with you all!
[B2 comes from behind and hits Yusuf]
Y: [thinking it is a joke] what are you doing?
[B1 pushes him then B4 comes and hits Yusuf as well]
Y: Ouch!! Why are you hitting me? It hurts me!
B4: We don't like you!
Y: But why? I am your brother. Son of Yaqub!
B2: You are not our brother! You are our enemy! You are Rachel's son, NOT Yaqub's
B4: Ya! And father loves you more, which isn't fair!
[Yusuf started running and they kept catching him and trying to hit him. B4 takes out a dagger]
B4: Let's kill him!
B1: No! Wait! Let's just go and leave him far away, so a wolf can devour him!
B2: Ok.. but the wolf will see us too! And if we just leave him there, he may escape!
B3: Let's throw him in the well! He will either die! Or he'll be taken by some travellers and sold as slave! Whatever happens, it is a win win situation! He is out of our way!
B4: Sound good! Let us do it!
B1: Wait! Take his shirt off, so we have some proof for father!
B1: Get up! Take your shirt off!
Y: No! No! Leave me alone!
[They remove his shirt !]
Y: [looking at the sky] O my brothers! Do you not know that Allah sees you all and He know their secret evil intentions
B4: Yes.. Yes!! We'll turn to Allah in repentance afterwards and become good people!
[They pick him up and put him in the well]
B3: Lets go! He cannot escape now!
Y: why have you thrown me here?! I am your brother! I want to go back to my father! O Allah! Help me! O lord of Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub, have mercy on my helplessness, weakness and tender age.
Narrator: Even though Yusuf was distressed, he was patient. An angel was sent down to reassure him that he will be safe. In the meantime, the brothers wait to see what happens.
They see some travellers who have gathered themselves around the well.
[Travellers enter on stage. Brothers enter]
Tr1: Our supply of water has finished! We need to look for water.
Tr2: Hey! Look! There is a well there. Maybe, if we're lucky there will be some water, if it is not dried up yet.
TR1: Let's go and check
[They pull the bucket out]
TR1: This is a little heavy.. O look! There is someone there!
TR2: O my God! What a beautiful young boy!
Y: Salam Alaikum
TRs: Alaikum Salam!
TR1: Let's take him with us?
[Travellers walk away with Yusuf.. but the brothers stop them]
B1: Hey! What you doing?! Leave him! He's our brother! He had fallen into the well yesterday! We've come to take him back.
[Travellers stand up, as if ready to go]
[Brothers look at each other confused]
B2: Oh!.. Unless.. Unless you want him?!
[Silence]
B3: SO do you?
TRs: Ok thankyou
Tr1: OK.. [Holding Yusuf and taking him away..]
B3: You cannot just have him like that! You will have to pay us!
B4: 50 Dirhams!
Tr2: 20. Take it or leave it!
B4: Ok! Done!
[Brothers leave from one side and the rest from the other]
[Scene change – night scenery]
[Munajat – Yaqub missing Yusuf]
Scene 3
Narrator: They sold Yusuf. They sold him for 20 dirhams not realising his value and giving him away for such a paltry sum. Yusuf's buyers then sold him to the Aziz, the emperor of the time. The Aziz was married to the very beautiful and wealthy Zulaykha. They had no children.
The brothers, in the meantime, think up of a story to tell their father, Prophet Yakub. They decide to stain the shirt with the blood of a lamb that they kill, and tell Prophet Yakub that a wolf had devoured Yusuf.
Ya: Ya Allah! Night has fallen, and they haven't brought Yusuf back yet? O my son! My Yusuf! My child! Where is he?
[the brothers walk in to see Prophet Yakub at nightfall weeping and lamenting]
Ya: [Looking to find Yusuf] Where's Yusuf?
B1: oh father! We went racing, and we left Yusuf by our things; then the wolf devoured him but we know you will not believe us even though we tell the truth.
Ya: what you are saying is not true. Nay, your souls have made the matter light for you. The Almighty would never allow Yusuf to be devoured by a wolf before I witness the realisation of the dream of Yusuf.
B3: Here's the shirt of Yusuf! You know we never lie! We are so sorry! We would never do something like that.
[Brothers pretend to cry]
Ya: [He examines the shirt] the wolf was kind to my son, Yusuf. He ate him, but did not tear the shirt.. [Starts weeping] Patience is good, for Allah is he whose help is sought for against what you describe. I will remain patient and beseech help and mercy [Sadly holds the shirt, and walks away]
B4: [to all the other] we are so silly! We should have torn the shirt. Perhaps then, He would have believed us!! How silly of us!
[Scene Change – zulaykha's house]
[Recitation – Ishq]
Scene 4:
Narrator: The days passed and Yusuf grew to manhood. Allah the almighty said: "and when he Yusuf attained his full manhood we gave him wisdom and knowledge (the prophet hood), thus we reward the doers of the good. Yusuf was the most handsome man of his time. His face carried immaculate beauty". The purity of his inner soul and his heart appeared by his face, adding to his beauty. His face shone like a full moon.
The next scene takes place in the palace of the king when Zulaykha, the kings wife tries to infatuate him and lure him towards adultery.
[Zulaykha is in the room. Lying on the sofa, eating grapes. Yusuf enters]
Z: Yusuf! Just the person I wanted! My wish has come true! Come here Yusuf!
Would you like a grape? Come here, share some grapes with me! Come!
[Yusuf shakes his head]
Ok, Yusuf, Can you blow off that candle?
[Yusuf blows the candle]
Z: Yusuf.. come.. Come.. At this point in time you are not my slave.. Help me to get up from here? [Putting her hand forward]
Y: I cannot touch you
Z: But why not? Of course you can. You have to fulfil my desire.. Only you can!
[She bolts the door]
Z: I better cover this [puts a cloth on the idol]
Y: why? My lady, but why would you cover it?
Z: Because I am ashamed of my actions and I do not want the idol to see me like this
Y: You are ashamed of the idol that neither sees nor hears you. Shall I not be ashamed of my Lord who is all seeing and all hearing!
[Zulaikha walks to Yusuf]
Z: Yusuf, you have a beautiful face [tries to touch his face but Yusuf turns]
Y: Allah created me, I am not responsible for that.
Z: [drawing closer to him] Yusuf how soft is your hair?
Y: it is the first thing I will loose in the grave
Z: Yusuf how innocent do your eyes look?
Y: with them, I look at what my lord has created
Z: Am I not something your lord created, why do you not raise your eyes and look at my face?
[She pulls Yusuf by his shoulder towards the sofa backwards.. Makes him lie down on the sofa. Zulaykha bends over him. At this point Yusuf realises and disengages himself from her]
Y: Astaghfirullah! I fear the Day of Judgment
Z: I am drawing closer to you and you are keeping me away
Y: I want to be near my lord
Z: You are not a normal human being! You are more than that! I am filled with your love. You have become part of the air which I breathe, I am enslaved to your love, and I see that you are my right. You will not escape from me.
Y: Allah forbid. The lord of the worlds has blessed me with this house, and the master of this house blessed me with his trust. What fate will await me? How can I betray the trust of my master?
[as Yusuf runs towards the door, Zulaykha follows saying "come here" and tears his shirt. At that moment the king arrives and sees them in this condition. Zulaikha then tries to shift the blame onto Yusuf.]
K: What is going on here? Why is there such a commotion? What is going on?
Z: What is the punishment of him who intends evil to your wife. Surely he should be imprisoned or given a painful chastisement.
Y: I swear by the God of Yacub(a.s) I never intended any evil with your wife. She herself clung to me and was persuading me to sin. I ran away from her. My lord has asked you to ask the child which of us is guilty.
Baby: Arabic??? O king! Check the garment of Yusuf, if the shirt is torn from the front he went for her, and if the shirt is torn from the back then she has been in his pursuit.
[The King examines the shirt and finds that it is torn from the back]
K: This shirt is torn from the back! Verily, Yusuf is innocent!
[turns to Yusuf]
O Yusuf! Please Forget about all this! Do not talk to anybody about this at all, for it will cast a slur on my honour!
[Turns to Zulaykha]
As for you, Zulaykha, This is a result of your womanly art and craftiness! You should better seek forgiveness from Allah!
Narrator: Nevertheless, the story got out. The rumour circulated among some women in the city saying the wife of the aziz is in love with her slave.
This news spread from house to house, mouth to mouth until it reached the ears of Zulaikha.
[Zulaikha is on stage. Zulaikha's maid enters]
Maid: [bowing than kneels on one knee almost crouching] The whole town is talking about your love!
Z: my love with whom?
Maid: .. with.. with Yusuf
Z: I do not deny that I love Yusuf
Maid: They speak of your passion for him
Z: what do they say?
Maid: That you have gone astray
Z: [stands up with anger] Who says I have gone astray? Do they know the power of magic? Which ladies say so? Tell me the names of those gossipmongers!
[pause] In the meantime, can you prepare for a banquet.
Maid: Ok, my lady!
Narrator: Zulaikha came to a decision she was going to prepare a huge banquet. Invitations were extended to all those who gossiped about her and Yusuf. She selected meals and beverages and she instructed the knives to be placed by the apple and the napkins be laid beside them.
The day of the banquet all the ladies arrived and rushed to sit in the grand vizier. This was an opportunity for them to display their finest and new clothing and their best adornments. The event began and everyone was enjoying themselves.
Zulaikha then addressed them.
[Zulaikha stands on a stool. All the rest clap]
Z: [clears the throat] Have you finished your meal?
I have heard that those who say I have fallen in love with the young Hebrew Yusuf .
[Silence reigned and all hands stopped clapping. Everyone looks at each other]
I admit that he is a charming youth. I do not deny I love him. I have loved him for a long time.
Anyway [smiles] I hope you have enjoyed the meal. The fruit has just been served. Please help yourselves.
Narrator: Her confession created heavy feelings for embarrassment among the present. Soon the tension eased and the ladies sat down to peel their apples. She then raises her hand and beckoned Yusuf to walk into the room. Let us see what happens!
[Zulaikha claps her hand and shouts 'YUSUF!!'. Yusuf walks past and stops at Zulaikha. All the ladies look up in amazement and all end up cutting their finger instead of the apples]
[All of them stare and express awe (breathtaking expression)]
Lady1: "praise Allah(s.w.t). Is this a mortal being?
Lady2: this is but a noble guest.
Z: this is the one for whom I have been blamed. I do not deny I tempted him. Use your white napkins to treat your cuts. You all have been enchanted by the beauty of Yusuf! And see what you have done to your hands?
Lady 3: Yusuf don't you want a maid to clean your slippers and to bow to you?
Z: [Turns to Yusuf] If you do not do what I want you to, I shall have you imprisoned!
Y: O Allah my creator, I would rather be imprisoned than to submit to their evil desires and unless, O Allah, you keep their intrigues away from me for I may succumb to their temptations and be one of the misguided who are wrongful of their actions.
[Scene change- Night scenery]
[Munajat ]
Scene 5
Narrator: Although the evidence was clear, they decided to imprison him for an indefinite period of time. Yusuf went to prison to silence the gossip. He, himself, had asked Allah, the exalted, saying that prison was preferable to the invitations of the women at the palace banquet.
Prophet Yusuf always portrayed patience and belief in Allah during his time in prison. After a while, zulaikha admitted her guilt to the world, Yusuf's innocence was proven and he was released from prison. The king of Egypt put Yusuf in charge of the revenues and national wealth.
As years lapsed, a great famine grew in Egypt in which the Aziz died and Yusuf became the king. During the time prophet Yusuf was in prison, his father Prophet Yaqub was so sorrowful that he had become blind! When prophet Yusuf's brothers came to visit him, he gave them his shirt and asked them to cast it over the face of his father, Prophet Yakub. In this way, Prophet Yakub got his sight back and eventually went to see his beloved son, Yusuf.
At this point, can we just remind ourselves that the prophethood did not continue in the generation of Yusuf, but was shifted to the generation of Lawi, who, if we remember from the first scene, convinced his brothers not to kill Yusuf, but to put him in a well instead!
Yusuf continued to reign over Egypt, however, Zulaykha, in the meantime, was reduced to poverty. She was so impoverished that she took up begging. One day the people asked Zulaykha to sit in the path of Yusuf so that he might have mercy. When Yusuf passed by Zulaykha, this is what happened:
Z: In the name of the Lord. Give me some alms. Help me in the name of Allah!
[Yusuf comes to her and stops]
Z: Pure is the Almighty One Who turns the disobedient kings into slaves and who transforms slaves into kings due to their obedience.
Y: [recognises her] Zulaikha? Is that you Zulaykha? Do you remember the way you have treated me and used your evil intentions against me?
Z: please do not taunt me of my past misdeeds. I was attracted towards evil due to fact that I was so madly in love with you and there was no equal in elegance. I was endowed with such beauty and had no equal in my nation and I was the wealthiest woman. The king was also impotent, and could not bear me a child.
Y: Zulaykha, what do you desire?
Z: I desire that you pray to Allah (s.w.t) to forgive me and make me youthful once again.
Y: Allah is Rahman and Rahim! He is the most merciful! O my Lord, the one who accepted the repentance of Adam and Hawa and made them meet at Arafa, I pray that you accept Zulaykha's tawbah and grant her her youth.
Narrator: Prophet Yusuf and Zulaykha get married. It is known that after marriage, Zulaykha devoted most her time to Allah, even though she spent all her youth chasing after Yusuf. As some people say, youth is the perfect time of life if only it came later in life!