The Quran tells the whole story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) in one surah, from a dream in his childhood to his reunion with his family. Allah calls it the best of stories (12:3). This article follows the surah in order and points out lessons the text itself supports.
نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ ٣
We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.
Surah Yusuf (12:3)
The dream
Yusuf was still young when he told his father about a dream. In it, eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowed down to him (12:4). His father, Ya'qub (Jacob), understood what the dream meant. He warned his son not to tell his brothers, because they might plan some harm against him (12:5).
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَـٰجِدِينَ ٤
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
Surah Yusuf (12:4)
The brothers' plan
Yusuf's brothers resented him. They felt their father loved Yusuf and his younger brother more than the rest of them (12:8). They considered two options: kill Yusuf, or send him far away (12:9). One of them suggested the bottom of a well, where a passing caravan might pick him up (12:10).
إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ ٨ ٱقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًۭا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ قَوْمًۭا صَـٰلِحِينَ ٩ قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَـٰعِلِينَ ١٠
(8) When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error. (9) Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people." (10) Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."
Surah Yusuf (12:8-10)
The brothers carried out the plan. They put Yusuf into a well. That evening they came back to their father crying. They showed him a shirt with false blood on it, and said a wolf had eaten Yusuf (12:16-17).
Ya'qub saw through the story. He said he would bear this with beautiful patience, known in Arabic as sabrun jamil, and he asked Allah for help (12:18).
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍۢ كَذِبٍۢ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌۭ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ ١٨
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."
Surah Yusuf (12:18)
Sold in Egypt
A caravan stopped near the well and sent a man to draw water. He pulled up the boy and called out the news (12:19). The traders later sold Yusuf for a low price, a few coins, because they did not value him (12:20). The buyer was a senior official in Egypt. He told his wife to treat the boy well, since he might be useful to them or they might adopt him (12:21). The text says that Allah established Yusuf in the land and taught him how to interpret events.
The house of the minister
When Yusuf reached full strength, Allah gave him judgment and knowledge (12:22). The woman of the house tried to draw him into sin. She closed the doors and invited him. Yusuf refused and sought refuge in Allah. He said his master had treated him well, and that wrongdoers do not succeed (12:23).
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ٢٣ وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ٢٤
(23) And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." (24) And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.
Surah Yusuf (12:23-24)
The next verse says she was intent on him, and that he would have inclined to her had he not seen a proof from his Lord (12:24). Scholars explain this verse in different ways, and they agree that Yusuf did nothing wrong. The two raced to the door. The truth came out when Yusuf's shirt was found torn from behind. The text says a witness from her household spoke (12:25-28).
The story then spread through the city. Women talked about the wife of the minister. She invited them to a banquet and gave each of them a knife. When they saw Yusuf, they were so struck that they cut their hands (12:30-31). Yusuf said that prison was dearer to him than what they called him to do (12:33). Allah protected him from their plot, and he was sent to prison for a time (12:34-35).
Later commentaries give the woman a name, but the Quran does not. The text keeps its focus on Yusuf's faith and self-control.
Prison
Two young men entered prison with him. One said he saw himself pressing wine. The other said he carried bread on his head, and birds were eating from it (12:36). Before he answered them, Yusuf called them to Allah. He asked whether many scattered lords were better than the One, Allah. He told them that the command belongs to Allah alone (12:39-40).
Then Yusuf gave his interpretation. The first man would be freed and would serve wine again. The second would be executed (12:41). Yusuf asked the man who would be freed to mention him to his master. The man forgot, and Yusuf stayed in prison for several more years (12:42).
The king's dream
The king had a dream. Seven fat cows were eaten by seven thin cows, and seven green ears of grain were followed by seven dry ones (12:43). His advisers could not explain it. The freed prisoner remembered Yusuf and asked to go to him (12:45).
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍۢ سِمَانٍۢ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌۭ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍۢ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍۢ ۖ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَـٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ ٤٣
And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."
Surah Yusuf (12:43)
Yusuf gave his answer. Egypt would have seven years of good harvest. Then seven hard years would follow, when people would eat what they had stored. He advised them to leave the grain in its ears, except for what they needed to eat (12:46-47). After the hard years, a year of rain and plenty would come (12:48-49).
When the king asked for him, Yusuf first asked that the women's case be looked into (12:50). The women admitted the truth (12:51). Yusuf said that he had not betrayed anyone in private. He also did not claim that his own soul was free of fault. Human souls often command evil, except for those Allah shows mercy to (12:52-53).
Power in the land
The king recognized Yusuf's honesty and gave him a position of trust. Yusuf asked to be placed over the storehouses, because he was a careful keeper with knowledge (12:54-55).
قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ٥٥
[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."
Surah Yusuf (12:55)
The brothers come to Egypt
When famine reached the land of Canaan, Yusuf's brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. They did not recognize him, but he knew them at once (12:58). He gave them what they asked for. He also put their payment back into their bags (12:61-62).
He asked them to bring their youngest brother next time. Without him, they would receive no more grain (12:59-60). Their father, Ya'qub, was reluctant to let Benjamin go. He agreed only after they gave him a solemn promise (12:63-64).
When they came back with Benjamin, Yusuf privately told his brother who he was. He asked him not to grieve over what the others had done (12:69). Then a cup was placed in Benjamin's bag, and the brothers were accused of theft (12:70). Yusuf kept Benjamin in his care by a plan that Allah had arranged (12:76).
The eldest brother refused to go home without his father's permission (12:80). The others returned to Ya'qub and told him the news. Ya'qub again said that patience was most fitting, and he hoped Allah would bring all of them back to him (12:83).
قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٨٣
[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."
Surah Yusuf (12:83)
Ya'qub's eyes turned white from grief, and he kept his sorrow inside (12:84). He told his sons to search for Yusuf and his brother. He reminded them not to despair of Allah's mercy, because only those who disbelieve despair (12:87).
The reunion
The brothers came to Egypt again, poor and asking for help. Yusuf asked them whether they knew what they had done to him and his brother (12:89). They realized who he was. Yusuf told them that Allah had been kind to him and to his brother. He said that whoever fears Allah and is patient, Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good (12:90).
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ٩٠
They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
Surah Yusuf (12:90)
He told them there was no blame on them that day, and he asked Allah to forgive them (12:91-92).
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ٩٢
He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful."
Surah Yusuf (12:92)
Yusuf asked them to bring the whole family to Egypt. When the shirt was placed on Ya'qub's face, his sight returned (12:93-96). The family entered Egypt, and they bowed down before Yusuf. He said this was the meaning of the dream he had seen long before, and that Allah had made it true (12:100).
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًۭا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّۭا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌۭ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ١٠٠
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.
Surah Yusuf (12:100)
What the story teaches
The surah holds many lessons. Some are stated in the text. Others are reflections that scholars have drawn over the centuries.
- Patience has a reward even when a trial lasts for years. Ya'qub's patience and Yusuf's time in prison both show this. The Quran says Allah does not waste the reward of the patient.
- When tempted, seek refuge in Allah. Yusuf did not argue with the temptation. He turned to Allah (12:23-24).
- Jealousy causes damage. The brothers' plan brought years of grief to their father and to themselves.
- Do not despair of Allah's mercy. Ya'qub's reminder in 12:87 helps in any hard situation.
- Allah's plan may unfold slowly. Yusuf's dream came true only after many years.
- Honesty about your own weakness is a strength. Yusuf did not claim to be free of fault (12:53).
- Forgiveness can be given when the moment comes. Yusuf told his brothers there was no blame on them (12:92).
The surah ends with a line that speaks to the reader directly.
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌۭ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًۭا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ ١١١
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
Surah Yusuf (12:111)