Dear Brothers and Sisters!  

In the Qur’an, some stories are told by Allah (swt) for people to take lessons. These stories are in the nature of advice and include the struggles of the tribes and prophets who lived in the past years. Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran; “We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’ān although you were, before it, among the unaware.”[1]. The purpose of these stories sent by Allah (swt) is to take lessons from them. Lessons should be taken from bad events and examples should be drawn from good events.   

Dear Jama’ah!

One of the stories that will be taken as both an example and as a lesson in the Qur’an is mentioned in Surah Yusuf. In this surah, it is mentioned about the various troubles that Prophet Yusuf (a.s.) is faced with, the patience he showed against them, and the success he achieved as a result. In the story of Yusuf (a.s) and his brothers, useful advice and important messages are given for us believers. Allah (swt) praised Yusuf (a.s.) and mentioned the modesty he displayed so that all generations could imitate him until the Day of Judgement. In the verse, the exemplary attitude of Prophet Yusuf (as) is conveyed as follows: “And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, “Come, you.” He said, “[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he1 is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.”[2]

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

This story of Yusuf (a.s), who is praised in the Qur’an, is the best example of what kind of attitude should be taken in the face of the chastity test that many of our young people face Today. As a matter of fact, in the story of Yusuf (a.s), whose beauty is great, there is a woman who is famous for her beauty, position and wealth.“She said, “That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased.”[3] Yusuf (a.s) was threatened by this saying of the woman. However, Yusuf (a.s) responded to this threat by saying, as the Quran mentions, “He said, “My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant.”[4] He preferred to attain the pleasure of Allah (swt) by maintaining his chastity at the expense of paying a heavy price, rather than being defeated by his Nafs and falling into sin. Ultimately, Allah (swt) had given him the power to rule over Egypt.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Undoubtedly, one of the greatest values ​​of Islamic moral values ​​is that men and women have a sense of chastity and modesty. Rasulullah (saw) made dua by saying,  “O Allah, I seek from You guidance, piety, chastity and wealth.”[5]. Yusuf (a.s), who said “no” to the unlawful desires out of fear of Allah (swt), is the best example for Muslim youth. Youth equipped with faith, worship and good morals, and distanced from the unlawful things is possible only if the virtues of the Qur’an exists in the hearts. In order for this to happen, we must support the youth work of the Islamic Community Milli Gorus and remember that our future will rise on the shoulders of our faithful youth. May Allah (swt) not deprive this ummah of young people who take Prophet Yusuf (a.s) as an example. Ameen.

[1] Surah Yusuf, 12;3

[2] Surah Yusuf, 12:23

[3] Surah Yusuf, 12:32

[4] Surah Yusuf, 12:33

[5] Müslim, Zikir, 72

Khutba-Ornament of a Muslim Youth: Haya