Joseph (a): Difference between revisions

Joseph (a) was a prominent prophet. In a [[hadith]] of [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]], Joseph (a) is introduced as both a prophet (nabi) and an apostle (rasul). It is mentioned in ''[[Tafsir-i Nimuna]]'' that Joseph’s dream in which the sun and the moon and eleven stars prostrated themselves before him indicated his future prophethood in addition to his future wealth and power. 'Allama Tabataba'i also believes that one of the instances of the completion of [[God]]’s blessing upon Joseph (a) (Qur'an 12:6) was his [[prophethood]].

The story of Joseph (a) is narrated by the Qur'an in detail. The Qur'an counts his story among “the best of narratives” (Qur'an 12:3). Among the details mentioned in the Qur'anic account is his being thrown into the well, the chieftain of [[Egypt]] buying him, the story of Joseph (a) and Zulaykha, his imprisonment, his meeting with his father and brothers, and his rule over Egypt.   

The Qur'an narrates that when Joseph (a) told his father about the prostration of eleven stars and the moon and the son before himself, Jacob (a) told him not to say anything about the dream to his brothers as they would conspire against him.  

According to the commentators, the eleven stars in Joseph’s dream indicated his brothers and the moon and the sun indicated his parents, all of whom would bow later before Joseph (a) for his high worldly and spiritual status.  

Jacob’s sons believed that Joseph was dearer to their father than they were. One day they asked Jacob (a) to let them take Joseph (a) out so that he plays. However, they threw him into a well, and when they returned, they told Jacob (a) that a wolf had eaten Joseph (a). According to the Qur'anic account, Jacob (a) did not believe their claim. He later became blind because he missed Joseph (a) greatly and cried a lot for his absence.

A caravan took out Joseph (a) from the well and took him to Egypt to sell him as a slave. The chieftain of Egypt bought him and thus Joseph (a) became part of his family.  

In the books on [[qisas al-Qur'an]] (Quranic stories), Joseph (a) is said to have been exceptionally handsome. This special beauty caused [[Zulaykha]], the chieftain’s wife, to fall in love with him and ask him to have unlawful relationship with her. Joseph (a) refused Zulaykha’s request, and the story spread among people. The women began to criticize Zulaykha for falling in love with her servant. So Zulaykha invited a group of these woman and gave them knives to peel fruit and then called Joseph (a) to enter. When he came in, the women were so much astonished at his beauty that they cut their hands.  

After this, other women also asked Joseph (a) to have unlawful relationship with them, so Joseph (a) asked [[God]] to save him from sin and said in his prayer that imprisonment was dearer to him than committing [[sin]]. After some time, Joseph (a) was imprisoned by Zulaykha’s request.  

While in prison, Joseph (a) interpreted the dreams of two inmates and told them that one of them would be killed, and the other one would find a position in the king’s court, and his interpretation was realized. Several years later, the Egyptian king dreamed that seven thin cows were devouring seven fat cows and also saw seven fresh green ears and seven dry ones, but no one was able to interpret his dream. At that time, the latter inmate remembered Joseph (a) and told the king that he would bring him the interpretation. So he went to Joseph (a) and asked him about the dream. Joseph (a) said, “You will sow for seven consecutive years. Then leave in the ear whatever [grain] you harvest, except a little that you eat. Then after that there will come seven hard years which will eat up whatever you have set aside for them all except a little which you preserve [for seed]. Then after that there will come a year wherein the people will be granted relief and provided with rains therein” (Qur'an 12:47-49).

The king was impressed by Joseph’s interpretation and solution, so he summoned him to the court. Joseph (a) told the officials to ask the king about the story of the women’s cutting their hands and the reason behind his imprisonment. The king investigated about the issue by summoning the women to the court. The women affirmed that Joseph (a) was innocent and Zulaykha confessed to her misdeed as well.

Afterwards, the king freed him from the prison and made him his own deputy and the chieftain of [[Egypt]].  

The same famine that struck Egypt affected [[Canaan (region)|Canaan]] as well. Thus, Jacob (a) sent his sons to Egypt to bring some wheat. When Joseph (a) saw his brothers, he recognized them but they did not recognize him, but he treated them well. Later, Joseph’s brothers recognized him and eventually Jacob (a) and his family came to Egypt and visited Joseph (a).   

According to the Muslim historian [[al-Mas'udi]], Joseph (a) married in Egypt and his wife bore him two sons, Ephraim (the ancestor of [[Joshua son of Nun]]) and Menashe (Manasseh).