Story of Prophet Joseph in Sura Yusuf

Why is the story of Prophet Joseph in Sura Yusuf, which is named after him, called “the best of stories”?

Unlike the accounts of other Prophets, different elements and aspects of which are related in different suras, the astonishing story of Prophet Joseph begins and ends in the very same sura which is named after him. This sura, which exhibits its amazing beauty from the very beginning, relates his story as “the best of stories” (Yusuf 12:3). We can mention the following reasons for the Qur’an describing his story in the sura as the most beautiful of stories:

1. There is no other story in the entire Qur’an that contains lessons and principles at a similar level of magnitude than this story. While all the other stories of Prophets are scattered throughout different suras, the story of Prophet Joseph is given in its entirety and with great detail in this sura alone; his life history, in full chronological order, is provided. Just like this best narrative of Prophet Joseph, the Qur’anic accounts of the Prophets provide lessons with which one may take a warning and deduce various lessons. As a matter of fact, the following verse at the end of the sura clearly expresses this: “Indeed, in their exemplary life-stories there is a significant lesson for people of discernment” (Yusuf 12:111).

1. Revealing the manners of a Prophet in all his words and actions, Prophet Joseph showed patience and forbearance when treated badly by his brothers and he even forgave them, without leaving them feeling any guilt for their former misdeeds. He tells them , “No reproach this day shall be on you. May God forgive you; indeed He is the Most Merciful of the merciful”  (Yusuf 12:92).

So, the story, with such aspects, gives the best lesson and is the manifestation of godly acts.

1. In this chapter, not only are the manners of people from all walks of life – from the Prophets and God-revering, pious people, from the king and the courtiers to the servants and ordinary people, from scholars to the ignorant, from the destitute to merchants and beautiful temptresses mentioned, but also those of a variety of other characters, including angels, devils, jinn and animals. In this chapter also, the Oneness of God, Islamic jurisprudence, narratives of the Prophets, the dream episodes in Prophet Joseph’s life and his ability to interpret them, politics, human interrelations, economic life and many other subjects, which are important for both religious and worldly aspects of the lives of human beings, are dealt with. It could be for this reason that this sura is called the most beautiful of stories.

1. What is meant by the expression “the best of stories” here is that this is the most striking, the most surprising, the most beautiful description, and also that the Qur’an has described all matters in the best and most striking style. That is to say, the beauty of the words, expressions and their meanings has attained a miraculous level of eloquence.
2. Whoever is mentioned in this chapter obtains happiness in the end; Prophet Joseph, his father Prophet Jacob, and all his brothers. Indeed, all the persons involved in the events described in the sura come to understand their mistakes and find the truth, including Joseph’s brothers who jealously harbored murderous intentions toward Joseph. It is also narrated that the king believed in Prophet Joseph, embraced Islam and became a devout Muslim. The prisoner who dreamed that he served wine to his lord again and asked Prophet Joseph to interpret his dream as well as the courtier who witnessed Joseph’s shirt being torn from his back all obtained happiness in the end.

While almost all of the other narratives in other suras contain elements of destruction, the way the lives of people unfold in this sura  proves that everyone can attain goodness and prosperity by finding the truth in the end.

1. Stories can be both realistic and imaginary. And certainly, the most beautiful stories are the ones that are realistic. That is, stories in which a real event has been depicted with a refined sense of aesthetics that refers to a permanent beauty and is expressed in a full and eloquent style. Real beauty is always ahead of the imagination. Ideal beauty gains importance only when it becomes a symbol or a sample of real beauty.

Sura Yusuf eloquently lays before us the life of innocent beauty and at the same time it also tells how an eye that witnessed the reality of eternal beauty, belittlingly perceived the manifestations of a temporary physical beauty; Sura Yusuf is obviously a beautiful narration of the reality that disclosed its manifestation with a mutashabih (parabolical, allegorical) symbol from the unseen world. Also, as the dream of Prophet Joseph is the symbol and indication of his spiritual beauty, reflected in his physical beauty and his representation of such important virtues as chastity and devotion to doing good, so too is Sura Yusuf, in all its details, an invisible reality that is revealed as an introductory symbol of the highest level of spiritual beauty. Thus, Sura Yusuf is the most beautiful of all stories.

1. The story deals with all the religious, social, economic, political and literary aspects of this worldly life and is full of lessons and reminders. Probably the most significant lessons it gives are patience and forgiveness at a time when one is able to repay cruelty and torture in kind. With all these elements, this is the best of stories.

 

Akgul, Muhittin (2009). The Quran in 99 Questions (Abdullah Erdemli Trans.). New Jersey: Tughra Books. (Originally published in Turkish as Kur’an İklimine Seyahat)