The Majestic Quran

12. Yusuf The Prophet Joseph This is a late Makkan chapter revealed some time after Chapter Hud . It tells the story of Prophet Joseph, and is called “the most beautiful story” (3). It employs a commanding narrative that is lyrical at times, with an outstanding drama woven around moral and spiritual values. Deeply embedded in Quranic guidance, values such as truthfulness, patience, modesty, justice, forgiveness, kindness and courage are presented in a variety of contexts in this story, to show that in the end they will prevail over tyranny and immorality. Joseph was the great grandson of the Prophet Abraham, this would be approximately 1600 bc. The Bible also tells the story of Joseph, in Genesis 37 and 39. The Biblical story contrasts in tone and tenor with the Quranic narration; it appears as an account of the envy between brothers, the youthful naiveté of Joseph, romance and his triumph over his brothers. It stresses the cleverness of a young bureaucrat against the Egyptians; he takes advantage of the famine and buys the cattle of the Egyptians cheaply for the King. However, the Quranic story is free from such charges against a prophet of God. Through its twenty-seven scenes, Chapter Joseph effectively plots the complexity of human life, and sudden and unexpected changes in fortunes: one moment living at home, the next languishing in a dark, dank well; one moment enjoying life in a palace, the next in prison; one moment a prisoner, the next a Prince. The story of Joseph provides a real-life illustration of a Quranic principle: “Sometimes you may dislike something that is good for you, and sometimes you may like something that is bad for you. Only God knows the whole truth , not you” ( Al-Baqarah 2: 216). The chapter