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Yusuf (Joseph), the most beautiful of stories in the Quran
The Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)
Origins and Family
- Son of the Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)
- Grandson of Ishaq (Isaac)
- Great-grandson of Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Benjamin his full brother
The Prophetic Dream
The Vision
- The first sign of his future prophethood
- His father's warning
- The beginning of a series of trials
Trials and Tribulations
The Brothers' Betrayal
- A plot against him
- Thrown into a well
- Sold as a slave
In Egypt
- An attempted seduction
- A false accusation
- Unjust imprisonment
The Rise to Power
- Interpreting dreams in prison
- Interpreting the king's dream
- Appointed minister of the treasury
- Managing the economic crisis
The Family Reunited
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
- Recognising his brothers without being recognised
- Testing their repentance
- Revealing who he was
- Forgiveness granted to the brothers
Virtues and Wisdom
Moral Qualities
- Exemplary patience
- Chastity and piety
- The capacity to forgive
Qualities of a Leader
- Administrative wisdom
- Justice in government
- Economic foresight
His Legacy in Islam
Teachings
- Patience in adversity
- Strength of character
- Forgiveness
- Wisdom
- Trust in Allah
The story of the Prophet Yusuf in Islam according to the Quran
The story of Yusuf is among the most captivating accounts in the Quran. This prophet, son of Yaqub, went through extraordinary trials that show the wisdom of Allah and His protection of His faithful servants.
His brothers' jealousy marked the beginning of his hard road. They threw him into a well, thinking they were rid of him for good. But Allah had other plans for Yusuf. Merchants found him and sold him as a slave in Egypt, where his beauty and intelligence quickly drew attention.
His master's wife tried to seduce him. Yusuf refused her advances despite the grave consequences that awaited him. His piety and uprightness led him to prison, but even there Allah gave him the gift of interpreting dreams. That gift brought him out of prison and made him a minister of Pharaoh.
His interpretation of the king's dream about the seven fat cows and the seven lean ones saved Egypt from famine. Yusuf organised the management of the stores with remarkable wisdom. His brothers came looking for food without recognising him at first.
Yusuf's forgiveness of his brothers is a perfect illustration of mercy in Islam. He bore them no grudge despite what they had done. This story teaches patience, trust in Allah and the importance of forgiveness. The prophets of Islam such as Yusuf show us how to stay faithful even in adversity. Their example guides Muslims in their reading the Quran and in their daily practice.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Yusuf?
Yusuf (Joseph) is a prophet of Islam, son of Yaqub (Jacob), grandson of Ishaq and great-grandson of Ibrahim. The Quran devotes a whole surah to him, Surah Yusuf, which it calls the most beautiful of stories. It runs from his brothers' betrayal to his rise to power in Egypt and his final forgiveness.
What does Yusuf's dream mean?
As a child, Yusuf saw in a dream eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing down before him. His father Yaqub recognised in it the sign of a prophetic mission and advised him not to tell his brothers, for fear of their jealousy. The dream came true years later, when his whole family bowed before him in Egypt.
Why did Yusuf's brothers throw him into a well?
Jealous of the love Yaqub had for Yusuf, his brothers plotted to be rid of him. They threw him into the bottom of a well and made their father believe that a wolf had devoured him. A caravan of merchants took him up and sold him as a slave in Egypt, where Allah had another destiny in store for him.
Why was Yusuf imprisoned?
His master's wife tried to seduce him, but Yusuf refused out of fear of Allah. Falsely accused, he was imprisoned unjustly for several years. In prison Allah granted him the gift of interpreting dreams, which later secured his release and cleared his name when the king sought the meaning of his vision.
How did Yusuf become a minister of Egypt?
Yusuf interpreted the king's dream, seven fat cows devoured by seven lean ones, as the sign of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He offered to manage the country's stores and was put in charge of the granaries. His management saved Egypt from famine and brought back his brothers, whom he finally forgave.