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 believed to be unique in the aspect that 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 details of his mission for Islam. The surah also includes details about the principles to implement when serving Islam. The surah also discusses how the disbelievers will continue to be stubborn and refuse to acknowledge the signs of the Quran. However, the Prophet (ﷺ) has been ordered to continue to proclaim the Islamic faith in Surah Yusuf.

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

Theme 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 have come to the right path of Islam. 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, Hadrat 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' acknowledgement 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 no matter the challenges we are faced with. 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.