Yusuf (Joseph)

108. “Say (O’ Our Apostle): ‘This is my way. I invite to Allah with clear sight, I and whoever follows me; and glory be to Allah! And I am not (one) of the polytheists’.”

The way of the Prophet of Islam (S) is clear and transparent to all those who want to seek guidance, and true guidance comes from Allah, thus his way is a call to Allah, the only true Reality. The verse says:

“Say (O’ Our Apostle): ‘This is my way. I invite to Allah with clear sight...”

Indeed, he does not follow this path without knowledge or by imitation; rather he and those who follow him traverse this path with full knowledge and insight. This verse implies that every Muslim who follows the Prophet (S) must show the Way of Allah to others in his words and deeds.

This is the path of pure monotheism, the path to Allah the One, Who is free of all defects and has no partners or companions.

The verse says:

“…I and whoever follows me; and glory be to Allah! And I am not (one) of the polytheists’.”

Thus the believer in the One True God cannot and should not be considered as one of the polytheists.

This verse being located within the context of the Surah Yusuf itself indicates that the way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (S) is not differentiable from that of Yusuf, the great Divine prophet.

From the prison he used to call people to worship the One Allah, and regarded deities other than Him as merely fictitious names which when called upon could not answer, for they are ignorantly worshipped only through imitation and superstition.

Explanations

1. The Prophet’s way of life is visible and transparent and is the object of attention and concentration for all those who seek the truth.

2. A leader must have full insight into everything that is relevant to his position.

3. A leader’s call must be directed towards Allah, not towards himself.

4. Religious propagators and preachers must be sincere and genuine and their propagation techniques must revolve around making the concept of Allah that is free of all symbols of polytheism and partnership.

5. Each and every one of the followers of the Prophet must be a propagator and preacher calling the people towards Allah with insight.

Incidentally, the basic pillar of Islam is monotheism and the negation of polytheism.