Q: 012:004 When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream eleven planets and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me. 002:034 And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through pride, and so became a disbeliever. Why did Joseph's brother prostrate to him? Is he a God? Why did the angels prostrate to Adam? Is he a God? What happened you only bow to Allah? Aj nasser- When did Allah tell Joseph's Brothers to bow to him? Why can't I put my intelligence on the same level of the majority of Muslims in this forum, Amirah?
A: Dear Adnan, The answers to your questions are not short, but I will try to explain as much as I can. From another translation of the Holy Quran: 12:4 Behold! Joseph said to his father: "O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!" 2:34 And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith. Let's take the fist verse: 11 stars represent 11 bros. of Joseph (Yusuf), the sun rep. his dad, and the moon rep. his mom. After some certain years, Joseph becomes a prophet (and a ruler) and his family (bros., dad, and mom) follows his path/guide. His family joins his religion (faith). In this verse, bowing in his dream, represents that Joseph's family will join him later. This is just a metaphor. The second verse, is true. This is not a metaphor. Yes indeed all angles and Iblis (we consider him as the head devil) must have bowed to Adam (when he was created). This is to show how important, noble, high Adam was. It is like bowing to a supreme being to show respect and accept his highness. Adam was the first created person and we (all Muslims) consider him as our grand father. And this prostrating tells us that we are the only ultimate being after Allah. All human beings are above the animals, angles, devils, elfs, spirits, aliens etc...you name it) And that was the only and last bowing to a human being. After that, all created beings MUST obey and bow to Allah. (no exception at all) This is also stated in the Quran, but I do not have the translation with me now.