In the ancient land of Canaan, there lived a righteous man named Yusuf. He was the son of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) and was blessed with wisdom and beauty beyond compare.
From a young age, Yusuf was gifted with the ability to interpret dreams. His brothers, however, grew envious of his favor with their father and the special talents bestowed upon him.
Their jealousy reached its peak when Yusuf had a dream that foretold his future greatness. In the dream, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him. When Yusuf shared this dream with his brothers, they became consumed with envy and plotted against him.
“إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ” (Quran 12:4)
One day, while Yusuf and his brothers were out in the fields, his brothers seized the opportunity to carry out their plan. They threw Yusuf into a well and returned home, feigning grief and claiming that a wolf had attacked him.
Meanwhile, Yusuf was rescued from the well by travelers who passed by. They took him with them and sold him as a slave in Egypt. Despite the trials and tribulations he faced, Yusuf remained steadfast in his faith and continued to trust in Allah’s plan.
“وَجَاءُوا عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصْبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ” (Quran 12:18)
In Egypt, Yusuf was sold to a nobleman named Aziz, who recognized his talents and virtues. Yusuf worked diligently and won the favor of his master. However, when Aziz’s wife attempted to seduce him, Yusuf refused her advances out of fear and piety.
“وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الْأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ” (Quran 12:23)
Enraged by Yusuf’s rejection, Aziz’s wife accused him of wrongdoing and had him thrown into prison. Yet even in prison, Yusuf’s faith never wavered. He continued to interpret dreams, and his reputation for accuracy spread throughout the land.
“وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي رُؤْيَايَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّؤْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ” (Quran 12:43)
Years passed, and one day, the king of Egypt had a troubling dream. He summoned his advisors and scholars, but none could provide an interpretation. It was then that one of the king’s servants who had been in prison with Yusuf remembered his gift for dream interpretation.
Yusuf was brought before the king, and with the help of Allah, he interpreted the dream, foretelling seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Impressed by Yusuf’s wisdom, the king appointed him as the governor of Egypt, second only to himself.
“وَقَالَ الَّذِي نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأْوِيلِهِ فَأَرْسِلُونِ” (Quran 12:45)
True to Yusuf’s interpretation, Egypt experienced years of plenty followed by years of famine. Through his foresight and careful planning, Yusuf ensured that the people of Egypt were well-prepared for the lean years ahead.
“وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ الرَّسُولُ قَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ الَّلَاتِي قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ” (Quran 12:50)
Back in Canaan, Yusuf’s brothers suffered from the effects of the famine and eventually journeyed to Egypt in search of food. Unbeknownst to them, they came face to face with their long-lost brother Yusuf, now a powerful ruler.
“فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ” (Quran 12:88)
Yusuf recognized his brothers immediately, but they did not recognize him. He tested their sincerity and eventually revealed his true identity to them. Overwhelmed with remorse, his brothers begged for forgiveness.
“قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَا أَخِي قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ” (Quran 12:90)
Yusuf forgave them wholeheartedly, for he understood that their actions were part of Allah’s divine plan. He embraced his brothers and welcomed them to Egypt, where they were reunited with their father Yaqub.
“وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ لَوْلَا أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ” (Quran 12:94)
The story of Yusuf and his brothers serves as a powerful lesson in forgiveness, perseverance, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. It reminds us that no matter how dire our circumstances may seem, Allah is always watching over us, guiding us through life’s trials and leading us to eventual victory.
