4 supplications
Duas of Prophets Yusuf and Ya‘qub
Surah Yusuf, “the best of stories”, is a story of trials and patience across a whole family. The father, Ya‘qub, lost his beloved son for decades; the son, Yusuf, faced the well, slavery, temptation and prison. Their few words to Allah show how a believer speaks to his Lord in grief, temptation and success.
For a good ending
فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ
Fatiras-samawati wal-ard, anta waliyyi fid-dunya wal-akhirah, tawaffani musliman wa alhiqni bis-salihin.
Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Let me die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 12:101
Against temptation
رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
Rabbis-sijnu ahabbu ilayya mimma yad‘unani ilayh, wa illa tasrif ‘anni kaydahunna asbu ilayhinna wa akun minal-jahilin.
My Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to. Unless You turn their plot away from me, I will incline towards them and be among the ignorant.
Source: Qur’an 12:33
Ya‘qub’s complaint to Allah
إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ
Innama ashku baththi wa huzni ilallah.
I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.
Source: Qur’an 12:86
Ya‘qub’s beautiful patience
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
Fa-sabrun jamil, wallahul-musta‘anu ‘ala ma tasifun.
So patience is most fitting, and Allah is the One whose help is sought against what you describe.
Source: Qur’an 12:18
Yusuf: from the well to the throne
Yusuf was thrown into a well by his brothers, sold into slavery and tempted by the wife of his master. He chose prison over sin, saying: “My Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they invite me to” (12:33), and Allah turned their plot away from him. Years later he became the treasurer of Egypt and was reunited with his family.
At the height of his success, with his parents and brothers before him, he did not ask for more power; he asked for a good ending: “Let me die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous” (12:101). This is one of the most beautiful du‘as for the end of life.
Ya‘qub: patience and complaint to Allah
When he lost Yusuf, Ya‘qub said “So patience is most fitting” (12:18), a patience without complaint to people. Years later, when he lost a second son, his eyes turned white from grief, yet he said: “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah” (12:86). Grief is not forbidden; the believer takes it to Allah, and Ya‘qub never lost hope: “Do not despair of the mercy of Allah” (12:87).
Lessons from the family of Ya‘qub
The story shows that envy can tear a family apart, but that forgiveness can heal it: Yusuf told his brothers, “No blame on you today; Allah will forgive you” (12:92), and Ya‘qub asked forgiveness for his sons. It shows that patience, chastity and trust in Allah lead to honour, while wrongdoing ends in regret.
Putting these duas into practice
- Make “Tawaffani musliman” part of your daily du‘a for a good ending.
- When tempted, say Yusuf’s du‘a and leave the place of temptation.
- In grief, say “Innama ashku baththi wa huzni ilallah” and pour out your heart to Allah.
- Practise patience without complaining to people.
- Forgive those who wronged you, as Yusuf forgave his brothers.
Duas of Prophets Yusuf and Ya‘qub: questions and answers
Which du‘a is for a good ending?
“Tawaffani musliman wa alhiqni bis-salihin” (12:101): Let me die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.
What is “sabrun jamil”?
Beautiful patience: patience without complaining to people about Allah’s decree, while one may still weep and turn to Allah.