Yusuf (يُوسُف)

Named after Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, Surah Yusuf is the 12th chapter or surah of the blessed Quran. Positioned in juz/parah number 12th to 13th, it has a total number of 111 verses. Surah Yusuf is situated between Surah Hud and Ar-R'ad. The surah is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the 10th or 11th year of his prophethood, thus, during the end of his residence in Makkah and before the migration to Madinah.

Surah Yusuf is considered unique because it was revealed in a single setting. The surah revolves around Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, son of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and narrates his life and the details of his mission for Islam. The surah also includes details about the principles to implement when serving Islam. It further explains that disbelievers will continue to be stubborn and refuse to acknowledge the signs of the Quran. However, the Prophet (ﷺ) should continue to proclaim the Islamic faith, as ordered by Allah.

١٢ - يُوسُف

12 - Yusuf

الۗرٰ۝۰ۣ تِلْكَ اٰيٰتُ الْكِتٰبِ الْمُبِيْنِ۝۱ۣ
Aliflamra tilka ayatu alkitabi almubeenu

English

Ahmed Ali

ALIF LAM RA. These are the verses of the immaculate Book.

1

اِنَّاۗ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ قُرْءٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ۝۲
Inna anzalnahu quranan AAarabiyyan laAAallakum taAAqiloona

English

Ahmed Ali

We have sent it down as a clear discourse that you may understand.

2

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ اَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَاۗ اَوْحَيْنَاۗ اِلَيْكَ ھٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنَ۝۰ۤۖ وَاِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ قَبْلِہٖ لَمِنَ الْغٰفِلِيْنَ۝۳
Nahnu naqussu AAalayka ahsana alqasasi bima awhayna ilayka hatha alqurana wain kunta min qablihi lamina alghafileena

English

Ahmed Ali

Through the revelation of this Qur'an We narrate the best of histories of which you were unaware before.

3

اِذْ قَالَ يُوْسُفُ لِاَبِيْہِ يٰۗاَبَتِ اِنِّىْ رَاَيْتُ اَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَّالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَاَيْتُہُمْ لِيْ سٰجِدِيْنَ۝۴
Ith qala yoosufu liabeehi ya abati innee raaytu ahada AAashara kawkaban waalshshamsa waalqamara raaytuhum lee sajideena

English

Ahmed Ali

When Joseph told his father: "O my father, I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowing before me in homage,"

4

قَالَ يٰبُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلٰۗي اِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيْدُوْا لَكَ كَيْدًا۝۰ۭ اِنَّ الشَّيْطٰنَ لِلْاِنْسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيْنٌ۝۵
Qala ya bunayya la taqsus ruyaka AAala ikhwatika fayakeedoo laka kaydan inna alshshaytana lilinsani AAaduwwun mubeenun

English

Ahmed Ali

He said: "O son, do not narrate your dream to your brothers, or they will plot against you. Surely Satan is man's acknowledged foe.

5

وَكَذٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيْكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِنْ تَاْوِيْلِ الْاَحَادِيْثِ وَيُـــتِمُّ نِعْمَتَہٗ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلٰۗي اٰلِ يَعْقُوْبَ كَـمَاۗ اَتَمَّــہَا عَلٰۗي اَبَوَيْكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ اِبْرٰہِيْمَ وَاِسْحٰقَ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ۝۶ۧ
Wakathalika yajtabeeka rabbuka wayuAAallimuka min taweeli alahadeethi wayutimmu niAAmatahu AAalayka waAAala ali yaAAqooba kama atammaha AAala abawayka min qablu ibraheema waishaqa inna rabbaka AAaleemun hakeemun

English

Ahmed Ali

Your Lord will choose you and teach you to interpret events, and confer His favours on you and the house of Jacob, as He had done in the case of two ancestors of yours, Abraham and Isaac, before you. Indeed your Lord is all-knowing and all-wise."

6

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِيْ يُوْسُفَ وَاِخْوَتِہٖۗ اٰيٰتٌ لِّلسَّاۗىِٕلِيْنَ۝۷
Laqad kana fee yoosufa waikhwatihi ayatun lilssaileena

English

Ahmed Ali

In the story of Joseph and his brothers are lessons for those who inquire.

7

اِذْ قَالُوْا لَيُوْسُفُ وَاَخُوْہُ اَحَبُّ اِلٰۗي اَبِيْنَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَۃٌ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اَبَانَا لَفِيْ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِيْنِۨ۝۸ۚۖ
Ith qaloo layoosufu waakhoohu ahabbu ila abeena minna wanahnu AAusbatun inna abana lafee dalalin mubeenin

English

Ahmed Ali

"Surely Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we," (said his half brothers) "even though we are a well-knit band. Our father is surely in the wrong.

8

اقْــتُلُوْا يُوْسُفَ اَوِ اطْرَحُوْہُ اَرْضًا يَّخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْہُ اَبِيْكُمْ وَتَكُوْنُوْا مِنْۢ بَعْدِہٖ قَوْمًا صٰلِحِيْنَ۝۹
Oqtuloo yoosufa awi itrahoohu ardan yakhlu lakum wajhu abeekum watakoonoo min baAAdihi qawman saliheena

English

Ahmed Ali

Let us kill Joseph or cast him in some distant land so that we may get our father's exclusive affection; then play innocent."

9

قَالَ قَاۗىِٕلٌ مِّنْہُمْ لَا تَـقْتُلُوْا يُوْسُفَ وَاَلْقُوْہُ فِيْ غَيٰبَتِ الْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْہُ بَعْضُ السَّـيَّارَۃِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ فٰعِلِيْنَ۝۱۰
Qala qailun minhum la taqtuloo yoosufa waalqoohu fee ghayabati aljubbi yaltaqithu baAAdu alssayyarati in kuntum faAAileena

English

Ahmed Ali

One of them said: "If you must do so, then do not kill Joseph, but throw him into an unused well. Some passing caravan may rescue him."

10

Surah Yusuf Asbab al-Nuzul (Historical Background & Context)

Surah Yusuf was revealed in Makkah at the time when the Prophet (ﷺ) was facing difficulty in his life. The surah highlights the life of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ in detail. Surah Yusuf was revealed in the year called the 'Year of Sorrow' due to two major losses: the death of the Prophet's beloved wife Khadijah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) and his uncle Abu Talib who was his (ﷺ) biggest support system against the Quraysh.

While Muhammad (ﷺ) was going through sadness, the Quraysh started troubling him by asking questions about the authenticity of his (ﷺ) message. So, when Prophet (ﷺ) was distressed, Surah Yusuf was revealed, and Allah highlighted all the trials that the Prophet (ﷺ) was facing, which were similar to those faced by Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was betrayed by his own brothers and was wrongly imprisoned for false accusations, but in the end, he was granted power and success. It was Allah's way of telling Muhammad (ﷺ) that He sees him, understands his pains, and wants the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to keep his faith strong and have patience because, in the end, he will be victorious like all the previous Prophets.

The Significance of Surah Yusuf

Surah Yusuf holds a special place in the Quran, and Allah Himself describes it as "the best of stories." Allah says, "Through the revelation of this Quran, We narrate the best of histories of which you were unaware before." (Surah Yusuf 12:3)

Surah Yusuf is the only surah in the Quran dedicated entirely to the story of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. From childhood to rising in power, the entire surah describes the entire life story of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. The surah describes how Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ faced betrayal from his own brothers and got imprisoned due to false accusations, but he remained steadfast and kept his trust in Allah. This surah provides comfort to the Prophet (ﷺ), who was facing hardship during the time it was revealed.

Themes and Subject Matter of Yusuf (يُوسُف)

The subject matter of Surah Yusuf indicates that it was revealed at a time when the Quraish were conspiring heavily against the Prophet (ﷺ), going as far as wanting to bring harm upon him, God forbid. Some of the believers at the time also put forward some questions, such as "Why did the Israelites go to Egypt?" purposefully, as they knew the Arabs did not know the answers because they were not a part of their tradition.

They expected the Prophet (ﷺ) not to answer their questions. However, Allah is indeed the greatest, which is why He revealed Surah Yusuf, describing the entire story of Prophet Yusuf to show the disbelievers how ignorant they were of the truth. When the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) narrated the story on the spot, the Quraish were put in an awkward position. The surah, along with revealing the truth, also warned them to mend their ways and showed them how nations before them had also behaved harshly towards the Prophets sent upon them.

The surah was revealed due to two objectives – one to give clear and concrete proof about the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and to show how he is the seal of the Prophets and no Prophet would come after him. The second objective was to warn the Quraish how they too would fail in their evil plans against Islam just as the nation of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ did so, as verse number 7 of the surah states:

"Indeed, there are signs in this story of Joseph and his brothers for these inquirers from among the Quraish."

Surah Yusuf highlights the message of mercy. It explains that Prophet Yusuf forgave his tormentors. Allah emphasizes the importance of forgiveness once people have realized the error of their ways and come to Islam's right path. Allah does not like Muslims to hold grudges and animosities for personal reasons. All opposition and friendship are for Allah.

An example of this forgiveness is shown from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) after the conquest of Makkah, the defeated Quraish stood meekly before the Prophet (ﷺ). These included Abu Sufyan, whose wife Hind had ordered her slave to kill the Prophet's uncle, Hazrat Hamza. After killing Hamza, the slave took out his heart and gave it to Hind. Allah's Prophet forgave Sufyan and his wife Hind after they repented and showed remorse.

He said to them, "Today, no penalty shall be inflicted upon you: you are forgiven." And indeed, Allah rewards those who show mercy.

Benefits and Virtues of Surah Yusuf (يُوسُف)

Surah Yusuf is a beautiful surah that encompasses several lessons for believers. Firstly, the story of Prophet Yusuf teaches us the importance of successful parenthood. Prophet Yaqoob never differentiated between his sons. However, the devil made them believe the opposite. This was apparent in the brothers' acknowledgment of their sins when they said: "O our father! Pray for the forgiveness of our sins. We have certainly been sinful." (Quran 12:97).

It also teaches us to remain steadfast in our faith despite our challenges. Prophet Yusuf put his faith in Allah and did not defy Him even when the governor's wife called him to practice the grave sin of adultery. Surah Yusuf also teaches us important lessons to remain humble irrespective of what Allah may bless us with because, at the end of the day, every good thing that befalls us is from Allah. We can also learn to forgive others and show mercy instead of engaging in harsh acts of vengeance if we have been wronged. Indeed, Allah loves those who forgive others and trust in his wisdom, power, and mercy.

Listen to Surah Yusuf Recitations by Renowned Qaris

Many renowned Qaris have recited Surah Yusuf in different styles. Though belonging to different countries, these Qaris have mastery of Tajweed and recite each surah beautifully. Here is a list of famous Qaris in whose voice you can listen to Surah Yousuf and uplift your spirituality:

  1. Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Samad – He is famous for his beautiful recitation creating an emotional connection.
  2. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais – He is the Imam-e-Kaaba and is recognized worldwide for his powerful rhythmic recitations.
  3. Sheikh Mishary Rashid Alafasy – Qari Mishary belongs to Kuwait and is known for his clear and soothing voice and beautiful recitations. He is one of the most popular Qaris in the world. 
  4. Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly – Qari Maher is famous for his deep and powerful tone, and people love his Quranic recitations.
  5. Sheikh Yasser Al-Dosari - He belongs to Saudi Arabia and is renowned for his serene recitation style and is famous among people.

Download Surah Yusuf PDF

Surah Yusuf is the 12th Surah of the Quran and is in the 12th and 13th Juz of the Holy Book. It narrates the story of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and teaches patience and keeping faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ to its reader. It also highlights the divine wisdom of Allah and how He plans the best for us. You can download the complete Surah Yusuf PDF for offline recitation or for reading it online after saving it on your device by following these steps:

  • Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard.
  • In the Destination dropdown menu, choose Save as PDF.
  • Click Save to download Surah Yusuf to your device.

FAQs:

Surah Yusuf is based on the life of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and gives a powerful lesson of patience and faith in the Almighty.

There are 111 verses in Surah Yusuf.

Reciting Surah Yusuf helps provide emotional relief during hardships, increases imaan, and helps keep up during trials and challenges. It teaches us to observe patience, have hope, and trust in Allah's planning.

You can recite Surah Yusuf anytime; there is no specific time to recite the surah. You can recite it during difficult items to find comfort and feel strengthened by trusting in Allah's plans.

In the third verse of Surah Yusuf, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ calls this story the "best of stories" as it teaches us life morals and spiritual lessons from the life of Prophet Yusuf (A.S.).

Yes, you can listen to Surah Yusuf online. There are beautiful recitations available online from famous Qaris in the world. We also have given a list above so you can listen to their soothing recitations.

Reading the Quran daily brings immense blessings from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. So, be it any Surah or Surah Yusuf, reciting it brings benefits and blessings from Allah.

Yes, non-Arabic speakers benefit from reciting Surah Yusuf as much as Arabic speakers do. To get the most out of surah, non-Arabic speakers should read it with translation to understand the meaning of it.

Surah Yusuf was revealed on Prophet (ﷺ) during the time called as Year of Sorrow. He (ﷺ) was facing immense hardship and lost His beloved wife, Hazrat Khadija (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا) and his (ﷺ) uncle in the same year. The surah was revealed to give him(ﷺ) hope, showing the challenges of Prophet Yusuf عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ and telling him to trust the plans of Allah as He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ is the best planner.