It  is  a fine point  about  the  finest  of stories.  An elevated,  subtle,  happy,  and miraculous point of the verse,

Take my soul [at death] as one submitting to Your will [as a Muslim], and unite me with the righteous,(12:101)

which announces that the story of Joseph (Upon whom be peace), the best of stories, has reached its conclusion. It is this: the sorrows of death and separation at the end of other happy stories sour the pleasure the listener has received from the story in his imagination, and dispel it. Especially if they describe death and separation just when recounting the moment of perfect joy and happiness; this is even more painful and causes those listening to cry out in sorrow. However, although this verse mentions Joseph’s death just at the most brilliant part of his story, when he is Ruler of Egypt, united  with  his  mother  and  father,  fondly  meeting  with  his  brothers,   and  is experiencing the greatest worldly happiness and joy, it does so in such a way as to say: Joseph himself asked Almighty God for his death in order to experience greater happiness and a more brilliant situation; and he did die and did receive that happiness.

That is to say, there is beyond the grave a happiness and joy greater than the pleasurable  happiness  of  this  world,  so  that  while  in  that  most  joyful  worldly situation, a truth-seeing person like Joseph (Upon whom be peace) wished for bitter death, so as to receive that other happiness.

So note this eloquence of the All-Wise Qur’an, and the way it announces the end of the story of Joseph. It causes not sorrow and regret to those listening to it, but gives good tidings and adds further joy. It also gives guidance, saying: Work for beyond the grave, for it is there that true happiness and pleasure will be found! It also points out Joseph’s exalted veraciousness, saying: Even the most brilliant and joyful situation of this world did not cause him to become heedless; it did not captivate him; he still wanted the hereafter.

The Eternal One, He is the Eternal One!

S a i d   N u r s i