'Ām al-Ḥuzn — The Year of Grief
Summary: The year in which Sayyidah Khadijah (RA) and Abu Talib died — the Prophet ﷺ's darkest personal period and the context in which Surah Yusuf was revealed.
'Ām al-Ḥuzn (عَامُ الحُزْن) means "the Year of Grief." It is the year in which two people closest to the Prophet ﷺ passed away:
- Sayyidah Khadijah (RA) — his wife and first supporter
- Abu Talib — his uncle and protector
The siege of Shiʿb Abi Talib (three years of economic boycott and exile) had ended shortly before, adding to this period of accumulated hardship. (source: Surah Yusuf Session 1)
It was during this period that Surah Yusuf was revealed — a direct message of consolation and hope, mirroring the Prophet ﷺ's situation through the story of Yusuf (AS). The surah was also a foreshadowing of Hijra: just as Yusuf left his homeland and ultimately prevailed, the Prophet ﷺ would leave Makkah and return triumphant.
See Asbab al-Nuzul for why knowing this historical context matters.