Menu

Theme Mode

Basket (0) Sign In Join
Stories of the Prophets
In chronological order

The Lives of the Prophets ﷺ

The prophets named in the Quran — their message, their trials, the miracles Allah gave them, and what their lives teach us.

25 Prophets Covered
5 Ulul 'Azm Messengers
482 Mentions in the Quran
10 Family Trees Included
11

Prophet Yūsuf ﷺ

يوسف
"Ahsanul Qasas" — Best of Stories ~1700 BCE
#11
of 25 prophets
—
Named in the Quran
Prophet
Rank
Life Story

Allah called the story of Yūsuf ﷺ the "best of stories" (ahsanul qasas). He was the beloved son of Ya'qūb ﷺ, blessed with remarkable beauty and the ability to interpret dreams. His eleven brothers, consumed by jealousy, threw him into a well and sold him to merchants, who sold him as a slave in Egypt.

In Egypt, he was bought by a noble named Al-'Azīz. His wife Zulaykhā tried to seduce him, and when he refused, she had him imprisoned. In prison, he interpreted the dreams of fellow inmates. When the Pharaoh was troubled by a dream no one could interpret, Yūsuf ﷺ was brought forth and correctly interpreted it — warning of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of drought.

Impressed, the Pharaoh appointed him over Egypt's treasury. He managed the food stores through the famine brilliantly. When his brothers came to Egypt for food (not recognising him), he eventually revealed himself, forgave them all, and invited his entire family to Egypt — reuniting with his beloved father Ya'qūb ﷺ.

Hardships Faced & Lessons
Thrown into a well by his brothers — Left to die in darkness as a child, betrayed by his own family out of jealousy.
Sold into slavery — Sold for a meagre price and taken to a foreign land as an enslaved person.
Attempted seduction & false accusation — Refused the advances of Zulaykhā and was falsely accused, thrown into prison despite his innocence.
Years in prison — Imprisoned for years, forgotten by those he helped. Yet he never abandoned faith or hope.
Key Miracles & Distinctions
Dream interpretation — a divine gift Rose from slave to Chief Minister of Egypt His shirt restored Ya'qūb's ﷺ eyesight Entire Surah (12) dedicated to his story Model of patience, chastity, and forgiveness
Quranic References
"We relate to you [O Muhammad] the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Quran." — Sūrah Yūsuf (12:3)
Yūsuf 12:3