The Complete Story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)

Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) is a noble prophet and the son of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) (peace be upon him). He is a descendant of a lineage of prophets, being the great-grandson of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be upon him). His story is beautifully narrated in the Qur'an, in a chapter named after him—Surah Yusuf. This chapter is filled with important lessons and strong messages applicable to the lives of many people.

Early Life of Yusuf

Yusuf grew up in the household of his father, Yaqub, and he had eleven brothers. Yaqub loved Yusuf dearly, which sparked jealousy among his siblings. One day, Yusuf told his father about a dream he had, where he saw eleven stars, along with the sun and the moon, bowing down to him. Understanding the significance of the dream, Yaqub cautioned Yusuf not to share this vision with his brothers, fearing they might envy him or seek to harm him.

The Dream of Yusuf

In the Qur'an, Allah says:

“When Yusuf 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.’ His father said, ‘O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers, or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed, Shaytan (the devil) to man is a manifest enemy.’” (Qur'an 12:6-7)

Despite Yaqub's warning, the jealousy of Yusuf's brothers reached a boiling point. They schemed to throw him into a deep well so they could claim he was devoured by a wolf. They returned to their father, heartbroken, claiming that a wolf had eaten Yusuf and even presented him with his bloodied shirt. However, Yaqub sensed that something was amiss, and he expressed his suspicions that they had conspired against Yusuf. He said,

“But your souls have made a thing appear good to you, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe.” (Qur'an 12:18)

Yusuf in the Well

After Yusuf was thrown into the well, a passing caravan came by and sent one of its men to fetch water. When he pulled up the bucket, he discovered Yusuf clinging to it. Overjoyed, the caravan sold Yusuf in Egypt for a few coins, and he was taken to serve in the house of the Minister of Egypt.

Yusuf in the House of Aziz

The minister honored Yusuf and treated him with kindness, believing that Yusuf could potentially benefit their household in the future. As Yusuf grew older, he became known for his beauty. However, the minister's wife became infatuated with him and attempted to seduce him. Despite her advances, Yusuf resisted, saying,

“I seek refuge in Allah! Indeed, he is my master, and he has made good my stay.”

As a result of his refusal, the minister's wife falsely accused him, leading to his imprisonment.

Yusuf in Prison

While in prison, Yusuf remained steadfast in his faith, and his reputation grew for his ability to interpret dreams. One day, two fellow prisoners shared their dreams with him. Yusuf, believing this was an opportunity to call them to faith, interpreted their dreams, predicting that one would be restored to his position as the king's cupbearer while the other would face execution.

Before the cupbearer was released, Yusuf asked him to mention him to the king, but the man forgot about Yusuf after his release.

Yusuf's Rise to Power

After a while, the king had a distressing dream that no one could interpret. The cupbearer remembered Yusuf and told the king about him. Yusuf was summoned from prison, and he accurately interpreted the king's dream, predicting seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of drought. This interpretation impressed the king, and he appointed Yusuf as a high official in charge of the storehouses of Egypt.

Yusuf Reunited with His Family

During the years of famine, Yusuf's brothers traveled to Egypt seeking food. They did not recognize him, but Yusuf recognized them. After several encounters and tests, he eventually revealed his identity to them. His brothers, filled with remorse for their past actions, sought forgiveness.

Yusuf reassured them, saying he bore no ill will, and welcomed them to stay in Egypt. Eventually, their father, Yaqub, was brought to Egypt, and the family was reunited, fulfilling the prophetic vision Yusuf had seen years before.