Lessons from Quran and Sunnah 2 — Prophet Yūsuf (AS) يوسف

Yūsuf (AS) was the son of Prophet Yaʿqūb (AS) (Jacob), one of the youngest of 11 brothers, with excellent character; his father loved him dearly. He dreamt that eleven stars, the sun and the moon prostrated to him. Yaʿqūb (AS) saw his son's great destiny and told him not to tell his brothers.

Jealous of their father's love for him, the brothers took Yūsuf out and threw him into a dry well, then brought his shirt stained with false blood, claiming a wolf had eaten him. Yaʿqūb (AS) did not believe them and chose beautiful patience (ṣabr jamīl). A passing caravan found Yūsuf and sold him into slavery in Egypt for a few pieces of silver.

He was bought by the ʿAzīz (a high officer of the king), whose wife Zulaykhā tried to seduce him. Yūsuf (AS) refused. As he fled for the door she tore his shirt from behind; a witness reasoned that a tear from behind proved his innocence.

The city women gossiped, so Zulaykhā invited them to a feast; dazzled by his beauty, they cut their hands with their knives. Still, he was sent to prison on false charges.

With him were two prisoners. He first called them to tawḥīd (the Oneness of Allah), then interpreted their dreams: the wine-server would be freed and serve the king again; the baker would be executed. It happened as he said — but the freed man forgot to mention Yūsuf to the king.

The king dreamt of seven fat cows eaten by seven lean cows, and seven green ears and seven dry. The wine-server remembered Yūsuf, who interpreted it: seven years of plenty, then seven years of famine — so store grain during the good years. Yūsuf (AS) refused to leave prison until his innocence was established; the women confessed and Zulaykhā admitted the truth.

The king gave him authority; Yūsuf (AS) asked to be put in charge of the storehouses of the land.

He managed Egypt through the seven years of plenty and the famine that followed, which reached as far as Canaan, where Yaʿqūb (AS) and his sons lived.

His brothers came to buy grain and did not recognise him. He treated them generously, secretly returned their money, and required them to bring their youngest brother Binyāmīn next time. On the next visit he hosted Binyāmīn and privately revealed his identity to him. He then placed the king's cup in Binyāmīn's bag so that, by a plan from Allah, he could keep his full brother with him in Egypt.

When the brothers came a third time pleading, Yūsuf (AS) finally revealed himself: "I am Yūsuf, and this is my brother." He forgave them — "No blame upon you today; may Allah forgive you" — and sent his shirt to restore his father's sight. Yaʿqūb (AS) had said "I smell the scent of Yūsuf," and his eyesight returned. The family came to Egypt and his parents and brothers prostrated before him, fulfilling the childhood dream.

Yaʿqūb (AS) lived 17 more years in Egypt (died at 147); Yūsuf (AS) died years later at about 110. Their descendants became known as the Banī Isrāʾīl.

• Ṣabr (patience) and trust in Allah through betrayal, slavery and prison.
• Chastity & taqwā — fleeing sin even when powerful people pressure you.
• Forgiveness — he pardoned the brothers who wronged him.
• Allah's plan (qadar) — every hardship was a step toward honour: "He was gracious to me."
• Honesty & competence in public office (the storehouses of Egypt).