WHY YUSUF (AS) STAYED IN PRISON | OMAR SULEIMAN

In this powerful reminder, Omar Suleiman reflects on a profound insight from Imam Ibn al-Qayyim about two of Allah’s greatest prophets: Adam (AS) and Yusuf (AS) — and how Allah uses both mistakes and delays to teach, refine, and elevate His servants.

Adam (AS) was deceived by Shaytan and ate from the forbidden tree, seeking immortality. He repented sincerely, and Allah forgave him — yet he still lived with the consequence of leaving Paradise. Not as rejection, but as a lesson for all of humanity: that mistakes require tawbah, and that Allah turns even our falls into part of a greater divine plan.

Yusuf (AS), on the other hand, committed no sin. While imprisoned unjustly, he asked a fellow prisoner to mention him to the king for release. Instead of immediate relief, Yusuf remained in prison for years. Why?

Not as punishment — but as tarbiyah.
Spiritual training.

Allah wanted Yusuf’s heart to be attached only to Him, not even subtly to people or worldly means.

From these two stories, Omar Suleiman draws a timeless lesson:

✨ The higher your rank with Allah, the subtler His corrections become.
✨ You are allowed to use means — but never to depend on them.
✨ The heart must rely on the Maker of means, not the means themselves.

We plan.
We ask people.
We seek connections.
We work and strive.

All of that is halal.

But too often, we turn to these before we turn to Allah.

True tawakkul is:

👉 Turning first to Allah in du‘a.
👉 Placing full hope in Him.
👉 Then taking practical steps — knowing relief only comes by His permission.

Omar Suleiman reminds us that when doors close, when support fails, when help is delayed — it is not always rejection. Sometimes it is:

• purification
• strengthening of faith
• detachment from false hopes
• and elevation in rank

Allah may delay what you want…
…to give you what your heart truly needs: Him.

Overreliance on even halal means can weaken the soul if Allah is forgotten. And sometimes Allah removes those supports so that the believer finally realizes:

“There is no refuge, no relief, no success — except with Allah.”

The lecture ends with a beautiful supplication attributed in tafsir to Yusuf (AS) — asking Allah for relief, forgiveness, provision from unexpected places, and most of all:

That all hope be firmly placed in Allah alone.

Main Takeaway:

Seek Allah before all else.
Trust Him above every means.
And see both hardship and relief as part of His mercy, purification, and elevation for you.


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