The Story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)

Once upon a time, in the lands of Palestine, lived a noble prophet named Yusuf (peace be upon him), the son of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) (peace be upon him). They belonged to a people known as the Canaanites, named after their ancestor Canaan.

Yusuf was the favorite among his eleven brothers, and one day he had a vivid dream. In his dream, he saw eleven stars, along with the sun and the moon, bowing down to him. Excited, he shared the dream with his father, Yaqub, who advised him to be cautious and not to tell his brothers, fearing they would become envious and plot against him.

The Brothers' Jealousy

As the jealousy and hatred of Yusuf's brothers grew, they decided to get rid of him. Initially, they thought of killing him, but one of them suggested throwing him into a well instead. They managed to convince their father to let them take Yusuf out to play, and once they were far enough away, they threw him into a deep well, leaving him alone and scared.

When they returned home, they told their father that a wolf had eaten Yusuf, bringing with them his shirt stained with false blood. Yaqub’s heart broke for his beloved son, yet he remained patient, deeply suspicious of his sons and convinced they had plotted something against Yusuf. He sought solace in his Lord's mercy.

Meanwhile, a caravan passed by the well and found Yusuf. They pulled him up and were thrilled to discover him, seeing him as a way to make money. They sold him for a small price.

Yusuf in Egypt

The man who bought Yusuf in Egypt was a high-ranking official known as Aziz. He entrusted Yusuf to his wife, hoping that he might be of service to them in the future. As Yusuf grew, he became known for his beauty and wisdom. However, Aziz's wife became enamored with him and tried to seduce him, but Yusuf resisted her, saying, “I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”

When word spread among the women of the city about her infatuation, Aziz's wife invited them over, giving each of them a knife and fruit to cut. When they saw Yusuf, they were so astonished by his beauty that they accidentally cut their hands. Still, Aziz's wife persisted and, when Yusuf refused her advances, she had him thrown into prison.

Yusuf in Prison

While in prison, Yusuf continued to call people to worship Allah alone, gaining a reputation for his ability to interpret dreams. He interpreted the dreams of fellow prisoners, including one who would soon serve wine to the king, but once the man was released, he forgot to mention Yusuf to the king.

Later, when the king had a troubling dream that none of his advisors could explain, the former prisoner remembered Yusuf and informed the king about him. The king summoned Yusuf, and he interpreted the dream, explaining that seven fat cows would be eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of corn would be followed by seven dry ones. He advised the king to prepare for seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.

Yusuf Becomes Aziz of Egypt

The king was impressed by Yusuf's wisdom and reconsidered the accusations against him. He cleared Yusuf of all wrongdoing and appointed him as a high official, responsible for managing the country's resources.

During this time, a famine struck the lands of Canaan, prompting Yusuf's brothers to come to Egypt seeking food. Yusuf recognized them, but they did not know him. After filling their bags with provisions, he asked them to bring their youngest brother back to him.

When they returned with their brother, Yusuf revealed his identity. He planned a clever scheme to keep his brother with him. He placed a royal cup in his brother's belongings, and when it was discovered, the brothers returned to Yusuf in a panic, pleading for mercy and asking him to forgive them for their past actions.

Seeing their remorse, Yusuf forgave them and reminded them of their previous wrongdoing. His brothers were filled with regret for what they had done, but Yusuf assured them that they could start anew.