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The Prophets

Yūsuf (Joseph) — يوسف

The truthful, from the well to the throne

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His story

Yūsuf saw eleven stars, the sun, and the moon prostrating to him. His father told him to keep the dream to himself, but his brothers' envy took its course: he was thrown into a well, picked up by a caravan, and sold in Egypt for a paltry price.

In the house of al-ʿAzīz he was tempted and refused — 'prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me' — and was imprisoned unjustly. Even there he called his fellow prisoners to the One God and interpreted their dreams. Years later his interpretation of the king's dream saved a nation from famine.

Given authority over the storehouses of Egypt, he met his brothers when they came for food. He revealed himself with the words, 'No blame will there be upon you today; may Allah forgive you.' The whole sūrah is called by the Qur'an 'the best of stories'.

Mentioned in the Qur'an — with proof

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ

"We relate to you the best of stories."

Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:3

قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ

"He said, 'My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me.'"

Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:33

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ

"He said, 'No blame will there be upon you today. May Allah forgive you.'"

Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:92

Sources & references

  • • Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr — Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyāʾ (Stories of the Prophets)
  • • Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, Jāmiʿ al-Bayān
  • • Sūrah Yūsuf (12) in full

Full details

The full account — Yūsuf (Joseph)

"The most beautiful of stories," as the Qur'an calls it: a favoured son betrayed by his own brothers, tested by slavery, temptation, and prison, and finally raised to power over the very land that had once bought him as a slave.

Part 01

The dream and the seed of envy

The story opens with a boy's dream: eleven stars, the sun, and the moon prostrating before him. His father Yaʿqūb recognised at once both its meaning and its danger, and told Yūsuf plainly not to relate it to his brothers, "lest they devise a plot against you. Indeed Satan is to man a manifest enemy." That single instruction — offered out of love rather than suspicion — frames the entire drama that follows: knowledge given too soon, to people not ready to carry it, becomes a source of harm rather than joy.

The brothers' envy did not need the dream to exist; it existed already, provoked by their father's visible tenderness toward Yūsuf and his younger brother. They said to one another, quite baldly, that Yūsuf and his brother were more beloved to their father though they themselves were a stronger group, and concluded that their father was "in manifest error." From ordinary sibling jealousy, nursed and rationalised, came a plot to kill or banish him.

Proof

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:4–5

    “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. He said: O my dear son! Tell not thy brethren of thy vision, lest they plot a plot against thee. Lo! Satan is for man an open foe.”

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:8–10

    “When they said: Verily Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, many though we be. Lo! our father is in plain aberration. (One said): Kill Joseph or cast him to some (other) land, so that your father's favour may be all for you, and (that) ye may afterward be righteous folk. One among them said: Kill not Joseph but, if ye must be doing, fling him into the depth of the pit; some caravan will find him.”

Part 02

The well, the caravan, and the false blood

One brother's conscience softened the plot from murder to abandonment: cast him into the depths of a well, and a passing caravan may pick him up. They persuaded their father to let Yūsuf go out with them, then threw him into the well and returned that evening weeping, carrying his shirt stained with blood that was not his, claiming a wolf had devoured him while they were racing and had left their things unguarded.

A caravan did indeed pass, and a water-drawer let down his bucket and found the boy clinging to the rope. The travellers, delighted at their unexpected find, concealed him as merchandise and sold him in Egypt for a paltry price — "a few dirhams, and they were, concerning him, of those content with little." The man who bought him, an official of Egypt, told his wife to make his stay honourable, hoping he might prove useful or even be adopted as a son, unaware that he had brought into his household a future prophet.

Proof

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:15–20

    “Then, when they led him off, and were of one mind that they should place him in the depth of the pit, We inspired in him: Thou wilt tell them of this deed of theirs when they know (thee) not. And they came weeping to their father in the evening. Saying: O our father! We went racing one with another, and left Joseph by our things, and the wolf devoured him, and thou believest not our saying even when we speak the truth. And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into something. (My course is) comely patience. And Allah it is Whose help is to be sought in that (predicament) which ye describe. And there came a caravan, and they sent their waterdrawer. He let down his pail (into the pit). He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And they hid him as a treasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did. And they sold him for a low price, a number of silver coins; and they attached no value to him.”

Part 03

The temptation and the proof of innocence

As Yūsuf reached maturity, the woman of the house whose husband had raised him attempted to seduce him, locking the doors and declaring her intention plainly. He refused, invoking Allah directly — "I seek refuge in Allah; indeed he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed" — and fled toward the door. In the chase, she tore his shirt from behind, and they found her husband at the door, at which point she accused Yūsuf first, hoping to escape blame by speed and status.

Justice, however, hinged on a small physical detail: a member of her own household observed that if the shirt was torn from the front, she spoke the truth and he was a liar, but if it was torn from behind, then she had lied and he was truthful. It was torn from behind. The husband recognised the plot as "of your women's guile," and told Yūsuf to overlook the matter, while instructing his wife to seek forgiveness for her sin. Even so, when the affair became known among the women of the city, she arranged a banquet to prove her attraction was no scandal but simple, overwhelming beauty on Yūsuf's part — after which, still refusing him, he was imprisoned rather than she, so that appearances in the ruling household might be preserved.

Proof

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:23–29

    “And she, in whose house he was, asked of him an evil act. She bolted the doors and said: Come! He said: I seek refuge in Allah! Lo! he is my lord, who hath treated me honourably. Lo! wrong-doers never prosper. She verily desired him, and he would have desired her if it had not been that he saw the argument of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might ward off from him evil and lewdness. Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves. And they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind, and they met her lord and master at the door. She said: What shall be his reward, who wisheth evil to thy folk, save prison or a painful doom? (Joseph) said: She it was who asked of me an evil act. And a witness of her own folk testified: If his shirt is torn from before, then she speaketh truth and he is of the liars. And if his shirt is torn from behind, then she hath lied and he is of the truthful. So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said: Lo! this is of the guile of you women. Lo! the guile of you is very great. O Joseph! Turn away from this, and thou, (O woman), ask forgiveness for thy sin. Lo! thou art of the faulty.”

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:30–35

    “And women in the city said: The ruler's wife is asking of her slave-boy an ill-deed. Indeed he has smitten her to the heart with love. We behold her in plain aberration. And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them and prepared for them a cushioned couch (to lie on at the feast) and gave to every one of them a knife and said (to Joseph): Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless! This is no a human being. This is not other than some gracious angel. She said: This is he on whose account ye blamed me. I asked of him an evil act, but he proved continent, but if he do not my behest he verily shall be imprisoned, and verily shall be of those brought low. He said: O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me, and if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish. So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He is Hearer, Knower. And it seemed good to them (the men-folk) after they had seen the signs (of his innocence) to imprison him for a time.”

Part 04

Prison, interpretation, and years of forgetting

In prison, Yūsuf combined patience with active service — he interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners, but only after first inviting them to the worship of the one God, declaring that he had left the religion of a people who did not believe in Allah and followed the faith of his fathers, Ibrāhīm, Isḥāq, and Yaʿqūb. He told the one whom he judged would be saved to mention him before his master, but Satan caused that man to forget, and Yūsuf remained in prison for some additional years as a result.

His release finally came through the king's own dream of seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain alongside seven dry ones — a dream none of the courtiers could interpret. The freed prisoner, remembering Yūsuf at last, brought the question to him, and Yūsuf both interpreted it, foreseeing seven years of abundance followed by seven of famine, and proposed the administrative plan to manage it. Yet even summoned by the king, Yūsuf refused to leave prison until his innocence in the earlier affair was publicly established, insisting the truth be examined properly rather than accepting a quiet, unexplained release.

Proof

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:36–42

    “And two young men went to prison with him. One of them said: I dreamed that I was pressing wine. The other said: I dreamed that I was carrying upon my head bread whereof the birds were eating. Announce unto us the interpretation, for we see thee of those good (at interpretation). He said: The food which ye are given (daily) shall not come unto you but I shall tell you the interpretation ere it cometh unto you. This is of that which my Lord hath taught me. Lo! I have forsaken the religion of folk who believe not in Allah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter. And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us to attribute aught as partner to Allah. This is of the bounty of Allah unto us (the seed of Abraham) and unto mankind; but most men give not thanks. O my fellow-prisoners! Are divers lords better, or Allah the One, Almighty? Those whom ye worship beside Him are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers. Allah hath revealed no sanction for them. The decision rests with Allah only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men know not. O my two fellow-prisoners! As for one of you, he will pour out wine for his lord to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified so that the birds will eat from his head. Thus is the case judged concerning which ye did inquire. And he said unto him of the twain who he knew would be released: Mention me in the presence of thy lord. But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to his lord, so he (Joseph) stayed in prison for some years.”

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:43–50

Part 05

The keeper of Egypt's storehouses

Once the women's testimony had cleared him publicly — even the wife of the official confessing openly, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful" — Yūsuf was brought before the king, who found him trustworthy and secure. Yūsuf himself then requested the position: "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land; indeed, I will be a knowing guardian." A man once sold as property for a few coins now asked, of his own initiative, to be placed in charge of an entire nation's provisions during the years of hardship to come.

Under his stewardship, Egypt survived the seven years of famine, and grain drew his own brothers from Canaan, unaware they stood before the sibling they had once thrown into a well. Yūsuf recognised them, though they did not recognise him, and through a series of careful tests — withholding payment, requesting the youngest brother be brought, and finally hiding a drinking cup in that brother's bag — he engineered circumstances that would reveal his family's growth in conscience without ever revealing himself in bitterness or rushing toward revenge.

Proof

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:51–57

    “He (the king) (then sent for those women and) said: What happened when ye asked an evil act of Joseph? They answered: Allah Blameless! We know no evil of him. Said the wife of the ruler: Now the truth is out. I asked of him an evil act, and he is surely of the truthful. (Then Joseph said: I asked for) this, that he (my lord) may know that I betrayed him not in secret, and that surely Allah guideth not the snare of the betrayers. I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful. And the king said: Bring him unto me that I may attach him to my person. And when he had talked with him he said: Lo! thou art to-day in our presence established and trusted. He said: Set me over the storehouses of the land. Lo! I am a skilled custodian. Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where he pleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good. And the reward of the Hereafter is better, for those who believe and ward off (evil).”

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:58–76

Part 06

Forgiveness and the fulfilled dream

When Yūsuf finally revealed his identity, his brothers were struck with astonishment and shame. His response, rather than reproach, was among the noblest statements of forgiveness in scripture: "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful." He asked them to bring the whole family to Egypt, and sent his shirt ahead so that his father, blind from grief, might have his sight restored by its scent and touch, as indeed happened.

The family's arrival and the moment his parents and brothers bowed before him as governor fulfilled, at last, the dream of his childhood — eleven stars, the sun, and the moon prostrating before him. Yūsuf's own words closed the circle: "O my Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous." The Qur'an frames the entire account explicitly as instructive proof: "There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding."

Proof

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:88–93

    “And when they came (again) before him (Joseph) they said: O ruler! Misfortune hath touched us and our folk, and we bring but poor merchandise, so fill for us the measure and be charitable unto us. Lo! Allah will requite the charitable, He said: Know ye what ye did unto Joseph and his brother in your ignorance? They said: Is it indeed thou who art Joseph? He said: I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allah hath shown us favour. Lo! he who wardeth off (evil) and endureth (findeth favour); for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the kindly. They said: By Allah, verily Allah hath preferred thee above us, and we were indeed sinful. He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. Go with this shirt of mine and lay it on my father's face, he will become (again) a seer; and come to me with all your folk.”

  • Qur'an, Sūrah Yūsuf 12:99–111

Sources & further reading

  • • Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr — Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyāʾ, chapter on Yūsuf
  • • Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, Jāmiʿ al-Bayān, on Sūrah Yūsuf, complete sūrah
  • • Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Aḥādīth al-Anbiyāʾ, chapter on Yūsuf

What to learn

Main lessons from the story of Yūsuf (Joseph)

  • Envy nursed within a family can grow into betrayal; guard the heart against it.
  • Allah can turn even betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment into the means of honour.
  • Chastity and trust in Allah protect a person even when temptation is powerful and near.
  • Patience through years of hardship is rewarded with authority used for the people's good.
  • True forgiveness, as Yūsuf showed his brothers, ends cycles of resentment.
  • Interpreting events rightly requires wisdom, humility, and turning first to Allah.

Test yourself

A short quiz — Yūsuf (Joseph)

Ten questions. Answer them, see your grade, and share it with someone you care about.

Question 1 of 10

Score: 0

What did Yūsuf see in his dream as a boy?