You’re trying to do the right thing. You’re trying to stay on the straight path. You’re trying to be a good Muslim in a world that constantly pushes you toward haram.
And the people closest to you—your family, your friends, the ones who are supposed to support you—they’re the ones making it hardest.
Maybe they mock your commitment to prayer. Maybe they pressure you to compromise your values. Maybe they’ve actively betrayed you, hurt you, or abandoned you because you refused to be like them.
And you’re sitting there feeling completely alone, wondering: Is staying faithful even worth it when everyone around you has turned against you?
According to Islamic teachings, Allah ﷻ preserved an entire surah in the Quran specifically for people like you. Not just any surah—the one He Himself calls “the best of stories.”
Surah Yusuf. The story of a young man who lost everything—his family, his freedom, his reputation, years of his life—but never lost his faith. And in the end, Allah ﷻ elevated him higher than anyone who betrayed him could have imagined.
If you’re drowning in loneliness because you’re choosing Allah ﷻ over people, this is your story.
The Betrayal That Started It All
Prophet Yusuf ﷺ was his father’s favorite son. According to the Quranic narrative documented at Quran.com, he had a dream where eleven stars, the sun, and the moon were prostrating to him. His father, Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) ﷺ, immediately understood this was a sign that Yusuf would reach a high status.
But his brothers? They were consumed with jealousy.
Allah ﷻ says in the Quran, translated at Quran.com:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 8]
“When they said, ‘Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.'”
Think about what that means. These weren’t strangers. These were his brothers. The people he grew up with. The people who were supposed to protect him.
And they hated him so much—just because their father loved him—that they plotted to kill him.
According to Islamic scholars, the brothers eventually decided instead of murdering him outright, they’d throw him in a well and leave him to die. Then they lied to their father, claiming a wolf had eaten Yusuf.
Imagine being a young boy—scholars estimate he was around 12-17 years old—and your own siblings throw you into a dark, empty well in the middle of nowhere. They walk away. And you hear them laughing as they leave you there to die.
That’s where Yusuf’s ﷺ test began. Not with strangers. With family.
The Loneliness of the Well
According to Islamic teachings, Allah ﷻ revealed something beautiful to Yusuf ﷺ while he was at the bottom of that well.
Allah ﷻ says in the Quran, translated at Quran.com:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 15]
“And We inspired to him, ‘You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity].'”
Even at his lowest point—abandoned, betrayed, alone in darkness—Allah ﷻ gave him hope. “One day, you’ll remind them of this. One day, you’ll be in a position of power and they won’t even recognize you.”
That’s the message for everyone who’s been betrayed: your story isn’t over. The people who hurt you don’t get to write your ending. Allah ﷻ does.
But here’s what Islamic scholars emphasize: Yusuf ﷺ didn’t know when that promise would be fulfilled. He didn’t know it would take decades. He just held onto Allah’s word while sitting in a well, not knowing if he’d survive the night.
That’s faith. Not when you can see the outcome. When you’re in darkness and you trust Allah ﷻ anyway.
From Slavery to Temptation
Yusuf ﷺ was eventually pulled from the well—not by rescue, but by a caravan that found him and sold him as a slave in Egypt. He was bought by a high-ranking official (some scholars identify him as the Aziz, or chief minister).
Things started looking up. He was no longer in a well. He had shelter, food, safety. The official even told his wife to treat Yusuf well, recognizing something special in him.
But then came the test that would define his character.
The official’s wife—whom Islamic tradition calls Zulaikha—became infatuated with Yusuf ﷺ. She was a powerful, beautiful woman used to getting whatever she wanted. And she wanted him.
Allah ﷻ describes what happened next in the Quran:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 23]
“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, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.'”
Let’s break down this situation according to Islamic scholars at IslamQA:
- He was young, in the prime of his life
- She was beautiful and in a position of power
- They were completely alone—she’d locked all the doors
- Nobody would ever know if he gave in
- Refusing her could destroy his life
And he said no.
Not “maybe later.” Not “let me think about it.” Not “we shouldn’t do this but…” He ran to the door trying to escape.
That’s the kind of faithfulness Allah ﷻ is looking for. The kind that says no even when every circumstance is pushing you to say yes.
The Accusation and the Prison
But according to the Quranic narrative, as Yusuf ﷺ was running away, Zulaikha grabbed his shirt from behind and tore it. Her husband walked in at that exact moment.
She immediately lied, according to the translation at Quran.com, accusing Yusuf ﷺ of trying to assault her.
Think about that injustice. He rejected her advances. He tried to escape. And now he’s being accused of the exact sin he refused to commit.
According to Islamic teachings documented at Yaqeen Institute, even though his innocence was proven—his shirt was torn from the back, showing he was running away—he was still imprisoned. Why? To protect the reputation of the powerful family.
So now Yusuf ﷺ has been:
- Betrayed by his brothers
- Sold into slavery
- Tempted by someone in power
- Falsely accused of a crime he refused to commit
- Thrown into prison despite being innocent
And according to Islamic sources, he spent years in that prison. Some scholars say seven years. Some say more.
Imagine that. You did nothing wrong. You chose Allah ﷻ over temptation. And your reward is years in a dungeon.
Where’s the justice? Where’s the “good things happen to good people”?
The Prayer That Reveals Everything
But here’s where you see the depth of Yusuf’s ﷺ faith. According to the Quran, after all that betrayal, all that injustice, all those years of suffering, he made a dua. Not a dua cursing his brothers. Not a dua asking why this was happening to him.
Allah ﷻ records his words:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 33]
“He said, ‘My Lord, prison is more beloved to me 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.'”
Read that carefully. He’s saying: “I’d rather stay in prison doing what’s right than be free and commit sin.”
This is one of the most powerful statements of tawakkul (reliance on Allah) in the entire Quran.
He wasn’t asking Allah ﷻ to get him out of prison. He was asking Allah ﷻ to keep him strong enough to stay faithful even if staying faithful meant staying imprisoned.
That’s the mindset that elevates you. Not “Ya Allah, make my life easy.” But “Ya Allah, keep me obedient to You even if obedience is hard.”
The Wisdom He Gained in Darkness
Those years in prison weren’t wasted. While Yusuf ﷺ was locked up, he was:
Learning patience. You can’t rush Allah’s plan. His brothers threw him in a well when he was a teenager. He’s now an adult in prison. The promise Allah ﷻ made in the well hasn’t been fulfilled yet. But he’s still trusting.
Developing wisdom. He became known in prison for interpreting dreams accurately. Two prisoners came to him with dreams, and he told them their meanings—and he used that moment to call them to worship Allah ﷻ alone. Even in prison, he was doing dawah.
Building character. The man who would eventually rule Egypt wasn’t being trained in palaces. He was being trained in slavery and prison. Every test he endured was shaping him into the leader Allah ﷻ needed him to become.
The prison wasn’t punishment. It was preparation.
When the Tables Finally Turned
Eventually, Yusuf ﷺ interpreted a dream for Pharaoh through an intermediary. The dream predicted seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh was so impressed that he wanted to meet Yusuf ﷺ personally.
And here’s where everything changes. Pharaoh said:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 54]
“Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself.”
The man who had been a slave, who had been falsely imprisoned, who had lost everything—was now being elevated to the highest position in the land. Yusuf ﷺ became the treasurer of Egypt, responsible for managing the entire nation’s resources during the crisis.
But notice what Islamic teachings emphasize: he didn’t ask for this position. He didn’t scheme for it. He didn’t compromise his values to get it. He just stayed faithful during the darkest years, and Allah ﷻ elevated him when the time was right.
The Reunion With His Brothers
Years later, during the famine, Yusuf’s brothers came to Egypt begging for food. According to the Quran, they didn’t recognize him—he’d grown from the boy they threw in a well into a powerful man ruling Egypt.
But he recognized them. And this is where you see the beauty of his character.
He didn’t have them arrested. He didn’t take revenge. He didn’t even reveal his identity immediately. Instead, he tested them—not out of cruelty, but to see if they’d changed.
Eventually, he revealed himself. And he said:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 92]
“He said, ‘No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.'”
The brothers who tried to kill him. Who sold him into slavery. Who lied to their father and made him cry for decades. Who caused every single hardship in his life.
And he forgave them. Completely. Without conditions.
That’s the ultimate test of faith—not just enduring hardship, but forgiving the people who caused it.
The Lessons for You Right Now
If you’re reading this while feeling betrayed, abandoned, or alone because you’re trying to stay faithful, here’s what Surah Yusuf teaches:
1. The people who hurt you don’t control your destiny. Allah ﷻ does.
Yusuf’s brothers thought they were destroying his future. They were actually setting up his rise to power. Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you is actually Allah’s way of redirecting you to something better.
2. Staying pure in filth is your greatest victory.
Yusuf ﷺ could have given in to Zulaikha. He was young, human, tempted. But he chose Allah ﷻ over immediate pleasure. And that choice—that moment of saying no—defined his entire legacy.
You’re surrounded by people doing haram. You’re the only one at school who prays. You’re the only one who refuses to compromise. That loneliness you feel? That’s the same loneliness Yusuf ﷺ felt. And it’s worth it.
3. Prison is better than sin.
According to the dua Yusuf ﷺ made, he literally preferred being locked in prison over being free but sinful. That’s the mindset you need. Whatever hardship you’re enduring because you’re choosing Allah ﷻ—whether it’s family rejection, social isolation, financial struggle—it’s better than the alternative.
4. The promise Allah ﷻ makes will come true—just not on your timeline.
Yusuf ﷺ was promised greatness while sitting in a well as a teenager. That promise was fulfilled when he was an adult ruling Egypt. Decades passed between the promise and its fulfillment. But it came.
Your breakthrough is coming. You just don’t know when. So stay faithful in the meantime.
5. Forgive the people who hurt you—not for them, but for you.
Holding onto anger and resentment keeps you chained to the people who hurt you. Yusuf ﷺ forgave his brothers and moved forward. That’s how you heal.
When You’re in the Well Right Now
Some of you reading this are in your “well moment.” You’ve been betrayed. You’re in darkness. You don’t see a way out. And you’re wondering if Allah ﷻ has forgotten you.
He hasn’t. According to the Quran, Prophet Yaqub ﷺ—who lost Yusuf for decades—said:
[Surah Yusuf, Ayah 87]
“O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.”
Don’t despair. The story isn’t over. The well isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something Allah ﷻ is preparing you for.
Make the dua Yusuf ﷺ made. Ask Allah ﷻ to keep you faithful even if faithfulness is lonely. Ask Him to protect you from temptation even if resisting means suffering.
And trust that one day—maybe not tomorrow, maybe not this year—you’ll look back at this painful chapter and realize it was exactly what you needed to become who Allah ﷻ is making you.
The Bottom Line
Surah Yusuf isn’t just a beautiful story. It’s a roadmap for surviving betrayal without losing your faith.
If your family has turned against you because you’re trying to be obedient to Allah ﷻ—you’re not alone. Yusuf’s brothers tried to kill him.
If someone in power is pressuring you to compromise your values—you’re not alone. Zulaikha tried to seduce Yusuf, and he chose prison over sin.
If you’re suffering consequences for doing the right thing—you’re not alone. Yusuf was imprisoned for years despite being innocent.
And if you’re wondering when things will finally get better—just know that Allah ﷻ elevated Yusuf ﷺ at exactly the right time, and He’ll do the same for you.
Stay faithful. Stay patient. Stay pure. Your brothers might throw you in a well, but Allah ﷻ is preparing you for a throne.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic teachings, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars in their local area for specific religious rulings, detailed interpretations, and matters requiring expert guidance.