Story of Prophet Yusuf in the Quran: The Best of Stories

Surah Yusuf (Quran, chapter 12) tells the story of one prophet in a single continuous account, while most stories in the Quran come in pieces across many surahs. It opens by saying that Allah relates to the Prophet ﷺ the best of stories (12:3), and it says there are signs in Yusuf and his brothers for those who ask (12:7). At the end it says there is a lesson in these stories for people of understanding (12:111).

In this article we keep to what the surah says. Where the surah is silent, we say so.

Yusuf told his father Yaqub (Jacob) that he had seen eleven stars, the sun and the moon prostrating to him (12:4). Yaqub told him not to tell his brothers, and said that Allah would choose him and teach him the interpretation of events (12:5-6).

The brothers resented that Yusuf and his brother were more beloved to their father. They spoke of killing Yusuf or casting him away, and one of them suggested the bottom of a well instead, so that travellers might pick him up (12:8-10). They persuaded their father to send him with them and threw him into the well. Allah inspired Yusuf that he would one day tell them of this deed while they did not recognise him (12:11-15).

That night they came weeping, with false blood on his shirt, saying that a wolf had eaten him. Yaqub said: «فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌۭ», a beautiful patience, and that Allah is the One whose help is sought against what they describe (12:16-18).

A caravan found Yusuf in the well and sold him for a few dirhams. The man from Egypt who bought him told his wife to make his stay comfortable, hoping that he would benefit them (12:19-21). When Yusuf reached maturity, Allah gave him judgement and knowledge (12:22).

The wife of the Aziz tried to seduce him and closed the doors. Yusuf said, 'I seek the refuge of Allah', and reminded her that her husband had treated him well (12:23). Allah turned evil and immorality away from him, for he was among His chosen servants (12:24). A witness from her family said that a shirt torn from behind showed that she was at fault (12:25-28). When the women of the city talked about it, Yusuf prayed that prison was dearer to him than what they invited him to, and Allah turned their plan away from him (12:30-34). He was then imprisoned for a time (12:35).

In prison two young men told Yusuf their dreams. Before interpreting them, he called them to Allah, the One, and away from separate lords (12:36-40). He told one that he would serve wine to his master and the other that he would be crucified, and asked the first to mention him to the king. Satan made the man forget, and Yusuf stayed in prison several years (12:41-42).

Later the king saw seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and seven dry ones. The freed man remembered Yusuf and asked him. Yusuf explained that there would be seven years of planting, then seven hard years, then a year of rain, and advised leaving the grain in its ears except for a little to eat (12:43-49).

When the king sent for him, Yusuf first asked that the case of the women who cut their hands be examined. They said they knew no evil of him, and the Aziz's wife admitted that she had sought to seduce him, adding that the soul often commands evil unless Allah shows mercy (12:50-53). The king made Yusuf a trusted man close to him, and Yusuf said: «ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌۭ», meaning, appoint me over the storehouses of the land, for I am a knowing guardian (12:54-55).

In the hard years his brothers came for food. Yusuf recognised them, but they did not know him. He asked them to bring their other brother and returned their goods to their bags (12:58-62). Yaqub sent the brother only after they gave a promise in Allah's name (12:63-67). Yusuf told his brother quietly who he was, and by Allah's will kept him by having the king's measuring cup found in his bag (12:69-76).

Yaqub said again that patience is most fitting (12:83). He turned away, said that he missed Yusuf, and his eyes turned white with sorrow (12:84). When his sons blamed him, he said: «إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ», meaning, I only complain of my sorrow and grief to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know (12:86). He told them to go and search, and not to despair of Allah's relief (12:87).

When they came to Yusuf again, he asked, 'Do you know what you did to Yusuf and his brother?' They recognised him and admitted their wrong, and Yusuf said that no blame was on them that day and that Allah would forgive them (12:89-92). His shirt was placed on his father's face, and Yaqub could see again (12:93-96). The family came to Egypt, and Yusuf said that this was the meaning of his early dream. He then prayed to die as a Muslim and to be joined with the righteous (12:99-101).

The Quran does not name the wife of the Aziz or the king, does not give the number or names of the brothers, does not name the brother who stayed with Yusuf, and says only 'several years' about Yusuf's time in prison. Many stories added in later books are not found in the Quran or authentic hadith, so we leave them out. Scholars differ over whether 12:52-53 are the words of the Aziz's wife or of Yusuf; many commentators, including Ibn Kathir, take them as her words, as we have done here. Scholars explain that the prostration in 12:100 was a way of showing honour that was lawful in their time, not worship of Yusuf.

The Prophet ﷺ was asked who is the most noble of people. He said that the most noble is the most pious, and then named Yusuf, a prophet of Allah, son of a prophet, son of a prophet, son of the Khalil of Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 3374). In another narration, Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The noble, son of the noble, son of the noble, son of the noble: Yusuf son of Yaqub son of Ishaq son of Ibrahim' (Sahih al-Bukhari 3390). Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, also reported that the Prophet ﷺ said that if he had stayed in prison as long as Yusuf stayed, he would have answered the caller (Sahih al-Bukhari 3372). Scholars take this as praise of Yusuf's patience and firmness in wanting his name cleared.

• Patience that does not complain to people but only to Allah is 'beautiful patience'. Yaqub kept hope through years of grief (12:18, 12:83, 12:86).
• Guard the heart against envy. The harm the brothers did to Yusuf began with jealousy over their father's love (12:8).
• Fear of Allah protects in private. Yusuf said 'I seek the refuge of Allah' when no one was watching, and prayed for Allah's help (12:23, 12:33).
• Calling to Allah comes first, even in prison. Yusuf spoke about tawhid before he interpreted the dreams (12:37-40).
• Forgiveness is stronger than revenge. Yusuf said 'No blame will there be upon you today' (12:92).
• Allah plans for good with a wisdom we may not see. Yusuf said that his Lord is subtle in what He wills (12:100).