PROPHET YUSUF (Joseph)

Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him) had twelve sons, one of whom was Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him). He was very handsome and brilliant. His father loved him very much, which unfortunately made his other brothers jealous.
[When they said, surely Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we, and we are a party. No doubt, our father is clearly absorbed in their love.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse:8)

One day Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) told his father of a dream he had, saying:
[Recall when Yusuf said to his father, O my father, I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating before me.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse:4

Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him) advised
him not to disclose this dream to his brothers.
[He said, O my son; relate not your dream to your brothers, lest they will devise any scheme against you. No doubt, Satan is the clear enemy of man.]
((Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 5

One day they decided to get rid of their brother Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him). So they made a plan and said to their father:
[They said, O our father! What happened to you that you do not trust us regarding Yusuf, and we are his well-wishers. Send him forth with us tomorrow that he may eat fruits and play, and no doubt, we shall take every care of him.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verses:11-12

Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him)replied:
[He said, it will grieve me that you should take him away and I fear that a wolf may eat him while you remain unaware of him. They said, if a wolf were to eat him while we are a party, then we indeed be the
losers.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter: 12, Verse:13-14

On the request of his children, Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him) gave his permission to them. They took Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) away to a deep well and threw him in it.
[Then they took him away and all agreed that he should be put in a dark well.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse:15

At night they came back to their father with
Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him)’s shirt soaked in sheep’s blood and said:
[And at night they came to their father weeping. They said, O our father, we went away racing and left Yusuf near our provisions. Then a wolf ate him and you may not believe us even if we are true. And they brought him his shirt stained with false blood.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verses:16-18)

A caravan with merchants came and passed by the well. They found Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him), pulled him out and took him with them to Egypt. There he was sold in the market to a man and his wife who had no children of their own.
[And there came a caravan, they sent their water carrier down the well. He said ‘Hurrah’ what good news, this is a boy and concealed him as a treasure. And Allah knows what they do. And they sold him for a mean price on a counted dirham and had no
inclination in him.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verses:19-20

Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) grew up in their home. After some years passed, he was accused of a horrible crime he had not done and was sent to prison. One night the pharaoh of Egypt saw a dream, which caused him much concern.
[And the king (pharaoh of Egypt) said, I saw a dream that seven fat cows were being eaten by seven lean cows and seven green ears of corn and seven others dry. O courtiers! Give an answer to my dream if you know the interpretation!]
((Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse:43

But none of the courtiers could explain what this dream meant!
[They said, these are confused dreams and we do not know the interpretation of [these] dreams.]
((Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse:44

Then the Pharaoh was informed by someone of Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him)’s knowledge in the field of interpreting dreams. So he sent for Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) who explained:
[He said, you will cultivate for seven continuous years, then whatever you reap, leave it in its ear, except for a little which you may eat. Then after that will come seven hard years, then eat what you had stored before, but a little with you may save. Then thereafter there shall come a year in which people will have rain and in which they will press juice.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verses: 47-49)

The Pharaoh was very grateful to Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) and wanted to appreciate him for his awesome knowledge, so he ordered to bring him.
[The king said, bring him to me that I may choose him specially for myself. Then when he talked to him he said, certainly today, you are a man dignified, trusted with us.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse:54)
Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) said to him.
[He said, Set me over the store-houses of the land
No doubt I will guard them, as one who knows.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 55)

When the famine came and spread over the country, it effected the town of Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him)’s brother’s as well. So they came to Egypt to buy some food.
[And the brethren of Yusuf came and appeared before him. Yusuf recognized them but they remained unaware of him.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 58
Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) filled their baggage with corn and asked them to bring their stepbrother next time.
[And when he got their baggage ready, he said, bring your stepbrother to me……..]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 59)

Next time they came to Egypt, they brought along their stepbrother Bin Yamin. Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) looked at him and set him alone and disclosed his identity, asking him not to inform his brothers.
Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) planned to keep Bin Yamin with him and did so. When the brothers returned to their father without his dearest son, Bin Yamin, he felt very sorrowful and turned a side praying to Allah, The Almighty. Some time later, Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him) ordered his sons to go to Egypt and bring Bin Yamin back. They obeyed him and came before the Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) asking for Bin Yamin to be freed. Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him) said to them, remember what you had done with your brother Yusuf (Peace be upon him) many years ago?

[He said, are you aware what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 89)

Now they recognized him and felt very ashamed of what they had done years ago. They begged his pardon and he forgave them all.
[He said, there is no reproach today upon you. May Allah forgive you. And He is the Most Merciful.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 90
His father, Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him) had lost his sight due to crying a lot for his sons. So Prophet yusuf (Peace be upon him) handed his shirt over to his brothers, asking them to cast it on my father’s face in order to be cured and bring the rest of the family with them

[Go with this shirt of mine, put it over the face of my father, he will come to see back. Then come to me togather with all your family.]
( (Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 93

They came back to their home and followed the instructions given by his brother Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him). His father Prophet Yaqoob (Peace be upon him ) indeed came back to see clearly.
[Then when the bearer of the good news came, he cast that shirt over his face, and he forthwith regained
clear sight.]
((Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 96

Later on, they brought their parents to Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him).
[Then when all reached Yusuf, he offered a place near him to his father and mother and said ‘enter’ Egypt, if Allah wills, with security.]
(Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 99)

At last they all prostrated before Prophet Yusuf (Peace be upon him).
[And he seated his father and mother on the throne and all fell down prostrating for him, and Yusuf said, O my father, this is the interpretation of my first vision. Verily my Lord has made it come true……]
((Holy Quran, Chapter:12, Verse: 100