I have chosen here selective verses from Joseph (Yusuf) sura: 012.003 "We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Quran, though before this you were certainly one of those who did not know". The bible stories in the Quran are strong proof to Muhammad (PBUH) and all of us that the God of the Quran is the same of the Bible. 012.007 "Certainly in Yusuf and his brothers there are signs for the inquirers". Joseph (Yusuf) is one of the best Bible/Quran stories since it gives a lot of signs to the truth of religion: Satan temptations, jealousy, moral corruption, patience, visions and the ultimate victory of good over evil and the fulfillment of God promise.
012.009 "Slay Yusuf or cast him (forth) into some land, so that your father's regard may be exclusively for you, and after that you may be a righteous people". This is how Satan invoked jealousy in the heart of Joseph brothers and put in their heads plans to get rid of him.
012.016 "And they came to their father at nightfall, weeping". 012.017 "They said: O our father! Surely we went off racing and left Yusuf by our goods, so the wolf devoured him, and you will not believe us though we are truthful". Prior to these two verses his brothers succeeded in putting him in a well (previous verses) and then came to their father with the wolf story.
012.021 "And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: Give him an honorable abode, maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus did We establish Yusuf in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of sayings; and Allah is the master of His affair, but most people do not know". Joseph was found in the well and brought to Egypt where he would start a new life in Egypt.
012.022 "And when he had attained his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge: and thus do We reward those who do good". The reward of being righteous has been commonly wisdom and knowledge.
012.023 "And she in whose house he was sought to make himself yield (to her), and she made fast the doors and said: Come forward. He said: I seek Allah's refuge, surely my Lord made good my abode: Surely the unjust do not prosper". This is the sexual temptation that Joseph was tested for and was able to resist.
012.035 "Then it occurred to them after they had seen the signs that they should imprison him till a time". Though he had proved himself innocent, they put him in prison.
012.043 "And the king said: Surely I see seven fat kine which seven lean ones devoured; and seven green ears and (seven) others dry: O chiefs! Explain to me my dream, if you can interpret the dream". In the prison Joseph was famous in interpretation of the visions. The king had this vision that no one knows its interpretation.
012.045 "And of the two (prisoners) he who had found deliverance and remembered after a long time said: I will inform you of its interpretation, so let me go:" One of them who was delivered remembered that Joseph interpreted a lot of visions in the prison.
012.046 "Yusuf! O truthful one! Explain to us seven fat kine which seven lean ones devoured, and seven green ears and (seven) others dry, that I may go back to the people so that they may know". 012.047 "He (Yusuf) said: You shall sow for seven years continuously, then what you reap leave it in its ear except a little of which you eat". 012.048 "Then there will come after that a year in which people shall have rain and in which they shall press (grapes)". 012.054 "And the king said: Bring him to me, I will choose him for myself. So when he had spoken with him, he said: Surely you are in our presence today an honorable, a faithful one". Thus Joseph came out of prison to be the minister of the treasury.012.056 "And thus did We give to Yusuf power in the land-- he had mastery in it wherever he liked; We send down Our mercy on whom We please, and We do not waste the reward of those who do good". 012.057 "And certainly the reward of the hereafter is much better for those who believe and guard (against evil)".
012.058 "And Yusuf's brothers came and went in to him, and he knew them, while they did not recognize him".
012.059 "And when he furnished them with their provision, he said: Bring to me a brother of yours from your father; do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of hosts?
012.060 "But if you do not bring him to me, you shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall you come near me". In the next verses they brought their brother and Joseph told him the story. Then he told them every thing since they put him in the well.012.091 "They said: By Allah! Now has Allah certainly chosen you over us, and we were certainly sinners". 012.092 "He said: (There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful.
012.099 "Then when they came in to Yusuf, he took his parents to lodge with him and said: Enter safe into Egypt, if Allah please".
012.100 "And he raised his parents upon the throne and they fell down in prostration before him, and he said: O my father! This is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has indeed made it to be true; and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the prison and brought you from the desert after Satan had sown dissensions between me and my brothers, surely my Lord is benignant to whom He pleases; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise".
012.111 "In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of understanding. It is not a narrative which could be forged, but a verification of what is before it and a distinct explanation of all things and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe". The lesson of Joseph story is that of life itself: the evil (jealousy and temptations) against the good. Joseph was tested through most of his life with separation from his parents, fear in a well, oppression in a prison, sexual temptations and jealousy of his brothers. God tests all of us in one way or another. Muslims commonly read Joseph story when they are going through trials. It gives hope and make you feel there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Translation To Shakir.
