A ROLE MODEL FOR THE YOUTH IN CONTEXT OF SURAH YUSUF: PROPHET JOSEPH AS SYMBOL OF CHASTITY

Abstract

Quran uses significant adjectives while depicting characteristics of a believer. The prophets, whose stories are told in The Holy
Quran, displayed exemplary behaviors according to the era and the society which they were sent in besides the common
qualities they had and their invitation to believe in Single God. Practical reflections of good moral and values such as chastity,
righteousness and virtuousness are counted against malicious incentives such as jealousy, lust, betrayal, revenge in the best of
the stories (ahsen’l-kasas). Prophet Yusuf is depicted as the symbol of chastity and virtue with his shirt torn from the backside
while resisting against Zuleika’s sedition, who is one the outstanding women of Egyptian royal society. Moral maturity of
Prophet Yusuf outstands among the qualities composing his model character.
Negligence of so many orders dealing with chastity laid down in Quran, ignorance of them by contemporary people –especially
by the youth- and regarding the illegitimacy as legitimate are all indicators of the degeneration grade of the society. On the
hand, chastity is regarded as a virtue that should only be sought in women falsely. Yet, while keeping one’s chastity is ordered
in Noor and AhzabSurahs men and women are each addressed with equal emphasis. Taking the gender into account, chaste
woman and chaste man qualities are presented characteristic qualities to be adopted by believers. Two people are counted as
symbols of chastity Prophet Yusuf among men and Virgin Mary. This presentation deals with Prophet Yusuf.