Stories
"The best of stories"
A dream, a well, a prison, a palace, and brothers forgiven.
7 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 6
Young Joseph had a dream: eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowed to him. His father Jacob told him to keep it from his brothers, who were already jealous of the love their father had for him.
Qur'an 12:3
نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَٰفِلِينَ ٣
3 We relate to you [O Prophet] the best of stories through Our revelation of this Qur’an, although before this you were unaware of them.
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
Joseph's first test came from jealousy inside his own family.
Part 2 of 6
Joseph's jealous brothers threw him into a well and came home with his shirt stained with false blood. Jacob did not believe them, and said: beautiful patience. A caravan found Joseph and sold him in Egypt.
Qur'an 12:18
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمࣲ كَذِبࣲۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرࣱاۖ فَصَبۡرࣰ جَمِيلࣰۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ ١٨
18 They brought his shirt, stained with false blood. He said, “Nay; rather your souls have enticed you to commit something. But I will bear it with beautiful patience. It is Allah’s help that I seek against what you claim.”
Lesson
Jacob's "beautiful patience": grief without complaint.
Part 3 of 6
Joseph grew up in the house of al-'Aziz, an Egyptian official. The official's wife tried to seduce him. He refused and ran; she tore his shirt from behind, which proved his innocence. Still, he was imprisoned to quiet the scandal.
Qur'an 12:23
وَرَٰوَدَتۡهُ ٱلَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيۡتِهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلۡأَبۡوَٰبَ وَقَالَتۡ هَيۡتَ لَكَۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّيٓ أَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَايَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ٢٣
23 But the woman in whose house he was living tried to seduce him. She bolted the doors and said, “Come here to me!” He said, “I seek refuge with Allah! My master has made my stay good. Indeed, the wrongdoers will never succeed.”
Lesson
Joseph chose prison over wrongdoing.
Part 4 of 6
Prison was not the end for Joseph. There he interpreted dreams. The king later dreamt of seven fat cows eaten by seven thin ones. Joseph explained: seven years of plenty, then seven of famine. He was put in charge of Egypt's stores.
Lesson
Joseph's knowledge, used honestly, fed a nation.
Part 5 of 6
Famine drove Joseph's brothers to Egypt for grain. Eventually Joseph revealed himself. They feared revenge. He said: no blame on you today; may God forgive you. His parents came, and the dream came true.
Qur'an 12:92
قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِيبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۖ يَغۡفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ٩٢
92 He said, “There is no blame on you today. May Allah forgive you, for He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
Lesson
Forgiveness was the ending Joseph's dream pointed to.
Part 6 of 6
Joseph's story closely follows Genesis in outline. The Qur'an adds Jacob's "beautiful patience", the torn shirt as evidence, and Joseph preaching one God in prison, and frames the whole as a lesson in trust.
Lesson
Genesis and the Qur'an tell the same story; the Qur'an tells it to teach trust in a hidden plan.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
A dream, a well, a prison, a palace, and brothers forgiven.