A Depiction of the Captive Prophet Yūsuf (A.S) in Andalusian Prisons Poetry

Abstract

Yousaf (AS) the Prophet of Allah was the son of Yaqub (AS). His brothers conspired and dropped him in a deep well jealously. A caravan pulled him out of that and sold him on the hand of Aziz (Governor of Egypt). As Yousaf (AS) grew to full manhood, he became adorably handsome that the wife of his master fell in love with him. She attempted to approach him with sinful intentions. Upon his avoidance had been thrown into prison on false charges of assault and remained imprisoned for several years. The Muslims ruled Andalus for about 8 centuries (711--1492 AD). There were several poets incarcerated due to various reasons. They were inspired by the environment of prison cells and produced glorious poetry behind the bars of the penitentiary. The prisoner poets of Andalus alluded their poetry and eulogies with prophets to make the poetry strengthened and gain their goals. They selected the prophet Yousaf (AS) for their prison poetry and referred him from different angles. The prisoner poets of Andalus who discussed the prophet Yousaf (AS) in their prison poetry are; Yahya bin Huzail (999 AD), Marwan bin Abdu Rehman al- Thaleeq (1010), Muhammad bin Masuod al- Bajjani, Yousuf bin Haroon al- Ramadi (1012), Abdul Malik bin Ghusan al-Hijari (1062), Ibn-e-Zydun (1071), Abu-al-Hasan Albughdadi al- Fokaik and Muthasim bin Samadih (1091 AD). This article highlights a discussion on prominent features of Yousaf’s life in Andalusian prison poetry, his shirt, the wolf, and jealousy of his brothers as well as a description of his prison life in their poetry behind the bars.