Yusuf
يوسف
Prophet · Quranic figure
Joseph — son of Yaqub, whose story of betrayal, patience and eventual authority in Egypt fills an entire surah.
Overview
Yusuf (Joseph) is the son of Yaqub. His story — called in the Quran "the best of narratives" (12:3) — is told in a single continuous surah: his dream of eleven stars (12:4), his brothers' betrayal, his sale into Egypt (12:21), the wife of the official, years of prison, the interpretation of the king's dream, and his eventual authority over the storehouses of Egypt, culminating in his family entering Egypt in safety (12:99).
Yusuf explicitly traces his faith to his fathers Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub (12:38), and the surah's closing lesson binds together taqwa and sabr: "whoever fears Allah and is patient, then indeed Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good" (12:90).
Graph
Key connections
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
Select a connection to see the source it rests on.
- Yusufيوسف
Sources
Quran references
Selected passages. Yusuf is linked to 27 ayat in total.
Yusuf 12:3
AboutDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلْغَٰفِلِينَ
We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.
Yusuf 12:4
NamesDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَٰجِدِينَ
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
Yusuf 12:90
NamesDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
Yusuf 12:99
NamesDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ
And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself and said, "Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe [and secure]."
Related
People
Yaqub
يعقوبchild of
Jacob — also called Israel; father of Yusuf, whose patience in loss the Quran holds up as 'beautiful patience'.
The king in Yusuf's story
الملك في قصة يوسفassociated with
The unnamed Egyptian king whose dream Yusuf interpreted and who appointed him to authority.
Related
Groups
Brothers of Yusuf
إخوة يوسفopposed by
The brothers who envied Yusuf, cast him into the well, and later returned to him in Egypt.
Related
Events
Yusuf in the well
يوسف في الجبparticipated in
The brothers' plot to cast Yusuf into a well and the caravan that found him.
Reunion of Yusuf's family
اجتماع أسرة يوسفparticipated in
The recognition, forgiveness, and arrival of Yusuf's family in Egypt.
Yusuf in prison
يوسف في السجنparticipated in
Yusuf's imprisonment, call to tawhid, and interpretation of fellow prisoners' dreams.
Related
Places
Egypt
مصرlived in
Misr — the land ruled by Pharaoh in the story of Musa and the country where Yusuf rose to authority.
Related
Concepts
Names of Allah
Divine Names
Names that occur in the passages linked to this page are separated from names associated with it thematically.
Provenance
Relationships
What do these labels mean?
Every connection on this page says what it rests on. The label tells you how directly the source supports it.
- Direct textual — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
- The source states this outright.
Every edge in the graph, with the evidence behind it.
Yusufchild ofYaqubDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:4Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَٰجِدِينَ
“[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."”
"When Joseph said to his father, 'O my father...'"
Open ayah 12:4 → - Quran Yusuf 12:38Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
“And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with Allah. That is from the favor of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.”
Yusuf names his fathers: Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub.
Open ayah 12:38 →
Yusufopposed byBrothers of YusufDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:8Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ
“When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.”
Open ayah 12:8 → - Quran Yusuf 12:10Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَٰعِلِينَ
“Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."”
Open ayah 12:10 →
Yusufparticipated inYusuf in the wellDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:15Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِى غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well... But We inspired to him, "You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity]."”
Open ayah 12:15 →
Yusuflived inEgyptDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:21Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًۭا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.”
"And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife..."
Open ayah 12:21 → - Quran Yusuf 12:99Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ
“And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself and said, "Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe [and secure]."”
"Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe."
Open ayah 12:99 →
Yusufparticipated inReunion of Yusuf's familyDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:90Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."”
Open ayah 12:90 → - Quran Yusuf 12:99Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ
“And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself and said, "Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe [and secure]."”
Open ayah 12:99 →
Yusufparticipated inYusuf in prisonDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:35Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ
“Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that al-'Azeez should surely imprison him for a time.”
Open ayah 12:35 → - Quran Yusuf 12:39Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
يَٰصَىٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ ءَأَرْبَابٌۭ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
“O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allah, the One, the Prevailing?”
Open ayah 12:39 →
YusufexemplifiesSabrDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
The Quran states the lesson of Yusuf's story in his own words, joining taqwa and sabr.
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:90Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."”
"Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient — indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
Open ayah 12:90 →
Yusufassociated withThe king in Yusuf's storyDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.2 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:54Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌۭ
“And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you are today established [in position] and trusted."”
Open ayah 12:54 → - Quran Yusuf 12:55Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
“[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."”
Open ayah 12:55 →
YusufexemplifiesTaqwaDirect — Direct textual. The source states this outright.1 src
Evidence
- Quran Yusuf 12:90Direct — Direct textual. The source states this outright.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."”
Open ayah 12:90 →
Further reading
Recommended resources
Curated external material. These are recommendations, not evidence for anything in the graph.
- Website
Quran.com — Surah Yusuf
Quran.com
The complete surah, the Quran's longest continuous narrative and its central treatment of patience under trial.