Day 133 · Surah Yusuf Verses 104-111

Yusuf 104–111

After Yusuf's story is told, Allah teaches preaching principles to Prophet Muhammad: not seeking material reward, based on the signs of Allah in heaven and earth, and drawing on lessons from previous peoples.

• Preaching must not expect material reward, because such a motive will not be pure and is easily corrupted.
• Preaching must reveal the signs of Allah in heaven and earth, yet most people still choose polytheism.
• Those who polytheize and disbelieve are described as not feeling Allah's threat, though punishment has struck previous peoples because of their polytheism and disbelief.
• The Messenger's path of preaching is said to be oriented toward Allah with a clear concept, strong management, wise leaders, professional followers, and free from polytheism.
• The stories of previous messengers, including when Allah's help came at the most critical times, are lessons, verification of the Qur'an's contents, guidance and mercy for the believers.

Verses 104-111 explain several principles of the Messenger's preaching that Allah taught to him after Allah told him the winding story of Prophet Yusuf in detail and beautifully. Among them:

1. In preaching Islam one is not allowed to seek material reward. Preaching that expects material reward will certainly not be able to be pure and clean and much of it will be withheld or distorted.
2. In preaching one must reveal the various signs of Allah that exist in the heavens and on the earth. Nevertheless, most people will still choose polytheism over affirming Allah's oneness.
3. The character of those who polytheize and disbelieve is that they do not feel Allah's threat, yet Allah has sent various punishments to previous peoples because of their polytheism and disbelief.
4. The path of Preaching of the Messenger of Allah is that which is oriented (goal) toward Allah, with a concept (manhaj) that is clear, based on strong management, wise leader, professional followers and free from various forms of polytheism.
5. The stories of the preaching of Allah's messengers before Prophet Muhammad and how their struggles with their peoples are necessary to be taken as lessons in running Islamic preaching, because the essence and flow of the story is the same, though the actors are different. There are critical times in facing the resistance of the disbelievers so that the messengers almost despaired, then at that time Allah's help came.
6. All the stories of the prophets and previous peoples that Allah tells in the Qur'an are good lessons, verifying the contents of the Qur'an, explaining events, guidance and mercy for the believers.

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