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Joseph in Islam

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This article details the name. For the singer see: Yusuf Islam.

Yusuf (Arabic: يوسف, also Yousef, Yousuf, Youssef, Yusef, Yossef or Yosef) is a prophet in the Qur'an, the holy scriptures of Islam. The figure corresponds to the character from the Jewish texts and the Christian Bible as Joseph and is the Arabic variant of that name.

Although the narratives of other prophets are mentioned in various suras, the complete narrative of Joseph is given just in one surah, Sura Yusuf. However, it is said to be the most detailed narrative in the Qur'an, and bears some differences from the Biblical counterpart.

The Story of Joseph, as told by Qur'anic verses

Qur'an depicts this story as the the most beautiful of stories narrated in the Qur'an ([Quran 12:03]).

The Plot Against Joseph

Joseph's brothers were all jealous of his talents and due to the fact that their father favored him above the others. They plotted to kill him, but one of the brothers felt sorry for him, and suggested they throw him into a well so that a caravan might pick him up and take him as a slave. They asked their father's permission to take him out to play, who granted them their request, on the condition that they would keep watch over him. The brothers proceed with their plan and dropped him in a well and left him there. They brought back Joseph’s shirt, covered with sheep's blood, to tell their father that wolves had eaten Joseph. Jacob became very saddened at the disappearance of his son and eventually became blind. (see 12:7)

God's Plan to Save Him

Joseph was rescued by a passing caravan (presumably the Ishmaelite). They had stopped by the well hoping to draw water to quench their thirst and saw the boy inside begging for help. So they retrieved him and sold him into slavery in Egypt, to a rich man referred as al-Aziz in the Qu'ran. The Quran described Joseph as a very attractive man (see 12:31)

"[12:19] A caravan passed by, and soon sent their waterer. He let down his bucket, then said, "How lucky! There is a boy here!" They took him along as merchandise, and GOD was fully aware of what they did.[12:20] They sold him for a cheap price - a few dirhams - for they did not have any need for him.[12:21] The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Take good care of him. Maybe he can help us, or maybe we can adopt him." We thus established Joseph on earth, and we taught him the interpretation of dreams. GOD's command is always done, but most people do not know.[12:22] When he reached maturity, we endowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the righteous.

While working for al-Aziz, he was constantly approached by al-Aziz's wife (Imra'at al-Aziz) (Presumably Zulaikha), she intended to seduce him. Joseph continuously rejecting her because he feared his Lord, until one day, she became furious and angry to the point where she plotted on trapping him in a room. Zulaikha locked the door and pleaded him to come into her but Joseph as a man of God refuses. She then tore the back of Joseph's shirt.

Main article: Yusuf and Zulaikha

(see 12:23)

Joseph Interpreted Dreams

After being imprisoned for a few years, God granted him with the ability to interpret dreams, a power in which he became popular amongst the prisoners using. In one occasion two less fortunate royal cooks were thrown into the dungeon prior to Joseph imprisonment. They were haunted by two ambigious dreams and remained unaware of the dream due to the inability to interprete it until they heard about Joseph popularity among the citizens. They went to Joseph to seek for his opinion and ask him if he could help them in solving the problems. Joseph ask them about the dreams they had, and one of them described that he saw himself in the vineyard plucking grapes and pressed it into wine. The other said to have seen himself holding a basket of bread on his head but then a bird came and snatch it from him. Joseph smile to the first man and said he will be released from the prison but warned the other one that he will soon die. One day, under the order of the King of Egypt soldiers came to take the two cooks away, the King said one would be forgiven, the other will be executed. The forgiven cook then served the King. (see 12:36)(see 12:37)

As Days pass and everything went back to normal one night the King was echoed by a mysterious dream. He was said to have seen seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes, and others shriveled. This dream haunted him every night and day turning him anxious and disoriented. When the butler heard about it he persuaded the king to seek for Joseph. The King immediately called him, and demanded him to interpret the dream.

Joseph went forth to tell the King that his dream mean that Egypt would suffer famine, and that the King should be ready for it to avoid the Egyptian from great suffering. The king followed the instruction and the land was saved from the great famine.

"[12:46] "Joseph my friend, inform us about seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes, and others shriveled. I wish to go back with some information for the people."[12:47] He said, "What you cultivate during the next seven years, when the time of harvest comes, leave the grains in their spikes, except for what you eat.[12:48] "After that, seven years of drought will come, which will consume most of what you stored for them.[12:49] "After that, a year will come that brings relief for the people, and they will, once again, press juice."

Joseph Attains Prominence

After the great success, Joseph eventually turned out to become a prominent advisor to the King of Egypt. The King elected him as His Royal Treasurer due to his good record.

"[12:54] The king said, "Bring him to me, so I can hire him to work for me." When he talked with him, he said, "Today, you have a prominent position with us."[12:55] He said, "Make me the treasurer, for I am experienced in this area and knowledgeable."[12:56] We thus established Joseph on earth, ruling as he wished. We shower our mercy upon whomever we will, and we never fail to recompense the righteous.[12:57] Additionally, the reward in the Hereafter is even better for those who believe and lead a righteous life.

The Family Reunion

Later on, he would once again run into his brothers whom he would forgive. He also found that his father (Jacob) became blind after crying so much over the disappearance his son (Joseph). However, Joseph restored his fathers blindness and back to his family. Joseph ended up dying in Egypt. Tradition holds that when Moses (Arabic: Musa) left Egypt, he took Joseph's coffin with him so that he would be buried alongside his ancestors in The Promised Land (Canaan).

His Extraordinary Beauty

Joseph was said to have an exeptional beauty and one of the most handsome men on earth. This claim is reflected in the Quran itself as Zulaikha tempted him with evil intention because she was unresisted to the outstanding beauty (12:23-33), and women in the city also shocked upon seeing Joseph ([Quran 12:02]).

Commentary on the Surah

The Quranic initials constitute a major component of a great miracle (see [Quran 12:01]) and the question "Why was the Quran revealed in Arabic?" and God has given the answer ([Quran 12:02]).

We learn from Joseph's dream that he was destined for a bright future. Thus, while his brothers met to decide his fate, his fate was already decided by God. Everything is done by God (see 8:17), and is already recorded (see 57:22).

In Chapter ([Quran 12:23]) Joseph worded this statement in such a way that the governor's wife thought that he was talking about her husband, when in fact he was talking about God.

In Chapter ([Quran 12:42]) When Joseph begged his companion to intercede with the king on his behalf, he exhibited dependence on other than God to be saved from the prison. This does not befit a true believer, and such a serious slip cost Joseph a few years in the prison. We learn from the Quran that only God can relieve any hardship that might befall us. A true believer trusts in God and depends totally on Him alone.

Chapter ([Quran 12:99]) marks the beginning of the Children of Israel in Egypt. Moses led them out of Egypt a few centuries later.

Indication to the Cataract Surgery

The detail about the healing of the eyes of the Jacob after the cast of the Joseph's shirt does not appear in the Bible (see [Quran 12:84], [Quran 12:93]). Some scientists take these verses as an indication to the cataract surgery, and present it as one of the Qur'anic miracles [1].

See also

References to Joseph in the Qur'an

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