English Translation of Al-Quran
[40].Surah Al Mumin (The Believer) also known as Surah Ghafir [The Forgiver]
Ayat 34. (A believing man of Firaun’ s (Pharaoh) family, who hid his faith further said) And indeed Yusuf AS (Joseph) did come to you, in times gone by, with clear signs, but you ceased not to doubt in that which he did bring to you, till when he died you said: “No Messenger will Allah send after him.” Thus Allah leaves astray him who is a Musrif (a polytheist, oppressor, a criminal, sinner who commit great sins) and a Murtab (one who doubts Allah’s Warning and His Oneness).
Tafseer of Surah Al Mumin (The Believer) Ayat 34. “And to you there came Joseph in times gone by, with Clear Signs, but ye ceased not to doubt of the (Mission) for which he had come: At length, when he died, ye said: ´No messenger will Allah send after him.´ thus doth Allah leave to stray such as transgress and live in doubt, so far he has been speaking of general religious tradition. Now, as an Egyptian, addressing Egyptians, he refers to the mission of Joseph in Egypt. Joseph was not born in Egypt, nor was he an Egyptian. With what wonderful incidents he came into Egypt! What difficulties did he not surmount among his own brothers first, and in the Egyptian family which afterwards adopted him! How injustice, spite, and forgetfulness on the part of others, yet wove a spell round him and made him a ruler and savior of Egypt in times of famine! How he preached to prisoners in prison, to Zulaykha in her household, to the Egyptian ladies in their banquet, and to the Court of Pharaoh generally! The Egyptians profited by the material gains which came to them through him, but as a nation remained skeptical of his spiritual truths for many generations after him. Perhaps the interval was about one to three centuries, a very short period for the memory of a learned nation like the Egyptians. And yet they as a nation ignored his spiritual work, and afterwards even persecuted Israel in Egypt until Moses delivered them. They actually saw the benefits conferred by Joseph, but did not realize that Allah’s Kingdom works continuously even though men ignore it. For such men how could the Grace and Guidance of Allah be effective in their hearts?.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH)! Who is the most honorable amongst mankind?” He [SAWW](PBUH) said, “The most honorable of them is one who is the most pious of them.” They said, “We are not asking about this”. He said, “Then, the most honorable of men was Yusuf [PBUH] (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of Allah’s Prophet, who was the son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (PBUH))’ They said, “We are not asking you about this.” He enquired, “Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend the religious knowledge”.
[Al-Bukhari Book 05, Chapter 55, Hadith # 572]
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al-Mumin Ayat 34. “Indeed Yusuf (Joseph) did come to you, in times gone by, with clear signs” We come to know from this Hadith that the families which enjoyed popularity and prestige for their eminent qualities (like generosity, chivalry, honesty, etc.) in the pre-Islamic period were also credited for these values after their acceptance of Islam. But now their respect was qualified with their religious knowledge and practice. Their capabilities, self-respect and other qualities were turned towards a different direction. These qualities which were previously used for paganism were now devoted for Islam.