Juz '13 – Yusuf 53 – Ibrahim 52; Topic: Trust and Persevere

Guest written by Sheila Virani

The verses of Juz '13 are about trust in Allah even despite the many moments in which we doubt.

In the story of Yusuf, Jacob loses his beloved son and holds on to his faith though he cannot understand why this loss was necessary. Yusuf, who  has been separated from his father, also laments this loss. In this verse, Allah speaks of His plotting to show Himself to Yusuf's brothers. Though their actions were costly for both Yusuf and Jacob, Allah shows His mercy on these brothers and reunites father and son, perhaps as a reward of their persistent trust in the Divine.

This story of Joseph/Yusuf is shared by Muslims, Christians and Jews alike through Scripture. The parable allows these faith traditions to draw from a common story to deal with moments where faith is truly tested and to persevere in this faith leaving our ultimate trust in God and the larger plan.

In the following verse, al-Ra'd. Allah uses a different metaphor of the natural world (thunder, clouds, water) to allow believers another opportunity to look outside themselves to understand the workings of Allah as One that protects and nurtures.

However, it is up to us, those with intellect, to reflect and to do our part to sustain ourselves.
"Only those who possess intellect reflect, who fulfill the pact with God and break not the covenant..."
To have faith is to trust in Allah, to believe in a Creator that Created us in His image and to remember our primordial covenant- it is to understand that a covenant or pact requires action from both parties. When I truly reflect on the actions required of me to uphold this covenant, particularly when my faith is tested and I cannot explain the chaos in my world, Allah fulfills his covenant ten-fold by being my Protector, my Sustainer, my Benefactor, my Caretaker.

For me. trust is easy- I tend not to falter in my trust (on the larger scale) though I fall into inaction-into passivity. To persevere in my faith is to be active in my reflection and my knowledge that this covenant is mine to uphold because everyday I receive more than I can ever give.