Joseph (a): Difference between revisions

Yusuf (a), son of Jacob (a) and Rachel,<ref>Ṣuḥufī, ''Qiṣṣaha-yi Qur'ān'', p. 106.</ref> was an Israelite prophet. He had eleven brothers, but only [[Benjamin]] was from the same mother as Joseph (a).<ref>Ṣuḥufī, ''Qiṣṣaha-yi Qur'ān'', p. 106.</ref> Joseph (a) was younger than the other brothers except Benjamin.<ref>Ṣuḥufī, ''Qiṣṣaha-yi Qur'ān'', p. 87.</ref>

The name Yūsuf (Joseph) is mentioned twenty-seven times in the Qur'an,<ref>Ja'farī, ''Nāmhā-yi payāmbarān dar Qur'ān'', p. 25-26.</ref> and is the title of the twelfth [[sura]]. The Qur'an introduces Joseph (a) as one of the “purified servants of God”.<ref>Qurʾān, 12:24.</ref> According to [['Allamah Tabataba'i]], this means that not only Joseph (a) refused to have a sinful relationship with Zulaykha but that he was not even inclined to that.<ref>Ṭabātabā'i, ''al-Mizān'', vol. 11, p. 130.</ref> Joseph (a) is also considered a “good-doer” in the Qur'an.<ref>Qurʾān, 6:84.</ref>

In the books on [[qisas al-Qur'an]] (Quranic stories), Joseph (a) is said to have been exceptionally handsome.<ref>See: Jaza'iri, ''al-Nūr al-mubīn fī qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ wa l-mursalīn'', p. 217. Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 98. Ṣuḥufī, ''Qiṣṣaha-yi Qur'ān'', p. 114,115.</ref> 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,<ref>Ṣuḥufī, ''Qiṣṣaha-yi Qur'ān'', p. 115,116. and Qurʾān, 12:23</ref> 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.<ref>Ṣuḥufī, ''Qiṣṣaha-yi Qur'ān'', p. 117,118. and Qurʾān, 12:30,31</ref>

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,<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 98. and Qurʾān, 12:41</ref> 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,<ref>Jaza'iri, ''al-Nūr al-mubīn fī qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ wa l-mursalīn'', p. 223. Qurʾān, 12:43</ref> 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.<ref>Jaza'iri, ''al-Nūr al-mubīn fī qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ wa l-mursalīn'', p. 223. Qurʾān, 12:44,45</ref> 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” <ref>Jaza'iri, ''al-Nūr al-mubīn fī qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ wa l-mursalīn'', p. 223. Qurʾān, 12:47-49</ref>

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.<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 105-106. and Qurʾān, 12:50,51</ref>

Afterwards, the king freed him from the prison and made him his own deputy and the chieftain of [[Egypt]].<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 108.</ref>  

The same famine that struck Egypt affected [[Canaan (region)|Canaan]] as well. Thus, Jacob (a) sent his sons to Egypt to bring some wheat.<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 110.</ref> When Joseph (a) saw his brothers, he recognized them but they did not recognize him,<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 109. and Qurʾān, 12:58</ref> but he treated them well.<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 110. and Qurʾān, 12:59</ref> Later, Joseph’s brothers recognized him and eventually Jacob (a) and his family came to Egypt and visited Joseph (a).<ref>Balāghī, ''Qiṣaṣ-i Qur'ān'', p. 119. and Qurʾān, 12:100</ref>   

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