Page 67 - The School of Yusuf (as)

Education In The School Of Yusuf

The School Of Yusuf Is For The Believer A Retreat

Many Islamic scholars of the past spent time in retreat to with-
draw from the world, to meditate deeply and with a pure heart on
Allah, to reflect on the Qur’an, in order to attain a more profound
spirituality, enlightenment and a perfected faith. Allah said to His
Prophet (saas) in the Qur’an:
In the daytime much of your time is taken up by business

matters. Remember the Name of your Lord, and devote your-
self to Him completely. (Surat al-Muzammil, 7-8)
As the verse book reveals, all have work to attend to during the
day. For instance, a believer struggling in the cause of Allah may be
busy with many things during the day, like teaching the morality of
the Qur’an to others, working for the good of others, maintaining
contact with other believers, as well as handling various other af-
fairs. He may also be busy in trade. Nevertheless, he is always
aware of Allah’s presence, and does not violate His limits. However,

in order to ponder the wonders of Allah’s creation, reflect on truth
of the Hereafter, Judgment Day, Hell and Paradise, and to read and
uncover the wisdom and secrets of the Qur’an, one must transcend
everyday affairs, concentrate one’s mind and “devote oneself to
Allah completely,” as the verse prescribes. Throughout history,
many Islamic scholars found it necessary to withdraw from the rest
of society for certain periods of their lives, in order to deepen their

knowledge of the Qur’an, to come closer to Allah, and to perfect
their faith.
The Qur’an offers many examples of such retreats. For instance,
a group of faithful sought refuge in a cave from the oppression of
the unbelievers, and Allah covered them with His mercy. When our
Prophet (saas) was forced out of Mecca, he too sought refuge in a

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