Yusuf (Joseph)

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Who is Yusuf (Joseph)?

Yusuf, peace be upon him, known in English as Joseph, is the son of the prophet Ya'qub (Jacob) and grandson of Ishaq, whose life is recounted in the Qur'an as a single sustained narrative in Surah Yusuf — a structure the Qur'an itself calls "the best of stories." As a young boy, Yusuf dreamed of eleven stars, the sun, and the moon prostrating to him, a vision his father recognized as a sign of a great future, while warning him not to share it with his jealous brothers.

That very jealousy set the story in motion. Resentful of their father's love for Yusuf, his brothers threw him into a deep well, deceiving their father into believing he had been killed by a wolf. Yusuf was later discovered by a passing caravan and sold into slavery in Egypt, where he was purchased by a nobleman and raised within his household, his integrity and character becoming apparent even in servitude.

It was in that household that Yusuf faced his greatest trial: the wife of his master attempted to seduce him, and when he firmly refused out of fear of Allah, she falsely accused him of wrongdoing, leading to his imprisonment despite clear evidence of his innocence. Yusuf spent years in prison, where his gift for interpreting dreams became known, eventually reaching the king of Egypt himself, who sought Yusuf's interpretation of a troubling dream about seven fat cows and seven lean ones.

Yusuf's interpretation — predicting seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine — so impressed the king that Yusuf was elevated to a position of great authority, overseeing Egypt's resources through the crisis. When famine eventually drove his own brothers to Egypt seeking grain, unaware of who he was, Yusuf orchestrated a series of events that led to a full reconciliation, ultimately revealing his identity and, remarkably, forgiving his brothers completely rather than seeking revenge for what they had done to him decades earlier.

The story of Yusuf is treasured in Islamic tradition for its rich lessons on patience through injustice, resisting temptation even when concealment seems easy, trusting Allah's plan through years of hardship, and choosing forgiveness over vengeance when finally granted power. His narrative closely parallels the account of Joseph in the Hebrew Bible, making him another shared figure of reverence across the Abrahamic traditions, admired for turning a life marked by betrayal into one defined by mercy.

Key Moments in Yusuf's Story

• The prophetic dream: As a boy, Yusuf dreamed of celestial bodies prostrating to him, foretelling his future greatness.
• Betrayed by his brothers: Jealous of their father's love, Yusuf's brothers threw him into a well and sold him into slavery.
• Falsely accused and imprisoned: After refusing the advances of his master's wife, Yusuf was wrongly imprisoned despite his innocence.
• Reunion and forgiveness: Risen to power in Egypt, Yusuf was reunited with his family and forgave his brothers completely.

References in Qur'an & Hadith

"We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an." — Surah Yusuf 12:3

"He said, 'There is no blame upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.'" — Surah Yusuf 12:92

The Prophet ﷺ said, when asked who was the most honorable of people: "The most honorable of them is Yusuf, the Prophet of Allah, son of the Prophet of Allah, son of the Prophet of Allah, son of the close friend of Allah." — Sahih al-Bukhari 3382