DA'WAH IN THE PRISON

 FAJR REMINDER: DA'WAH IN THE PRISON

By: Umm ‘Affān

Rajab 21, 1447 (11-January-2026)

As previously mentioned, Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) was endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and an exceptional ability to interpret dreams. He assured the two men who shared their dreams with him that he would provide interpretations. However, before doing so, he first called them to the worship of Allāh Alone. Allāh says:

قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ذَٰلِكَ مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ

He (Yūsuf) said: “No food will come to you (in wakefulness or in a dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in Allāh and are disbelievers in the Hereafter (i.e., the Kan’aniun of Egypt who were polytheists and worshipped the sun and other false deities).”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 37]

Clearly, Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) made it known that his gift of interpreting dreams was bestowed upon him by Allāh Alone. He emphasized that he had forsaken the beliefs of the disbelievers. Allāh also informs us that he declared:

وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ | يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ | مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“And I have followed the religion of my fathers, - Ibrāhīm (Abraham), Ishāque (Isaac), and Ya’qūb (Jacob), and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allāh. This is from the Grace of Allāh to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e., they neither believe in Allāh, nor worship Him). O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allāh, the One, the Irresistible?! You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgment) is for none but Allāh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e., His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verses 38-40]

Inspiring! Even within the confines of the prison, Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) reached out to others, inviting them to embrace Islām and teaching them Tawḥīd (Islāmic Monotheism). Tawḥīd is fundamental to the Da'wah of all the Prophets of Allāh.

This serves as a reminder that, regardless of our circumstances, we should always strive to encourage others towards goodness.

I beseech Allāh to enhance our knowledge and grant us steadfastness. Aameen.