Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 1: The Story Of Prophet Yusuf/Joseph (as): The Introduction To The Story

Allah (swt) has revealed a complete Surah in the Quran regarding Prophet Yusuf (as) and the story of His life to enable people to contemplate its wisdom, admonition and manner. This is the most detailed and fascinating story in the Quran, involving both human weaknesses such as jealousy, hatred, pride, passion, deception, intrigue, cruelty, and terror as well as noble qualities such as patience, loyalty, bravery, nobility, and compassion. It is related that among the reasons for its revelation is that the Jews asked the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to tell them about Yusuf (pbuh) who was one of their old prophets. His story had been distorted in parts and marred in others with interpolation and exclusions. Therefore it was revealed in the Book of Allah (Quran), complete in its minute and careful details.
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Allah the Almighty declared:
"We relate unto you (Muhammad) the best of stories through Our Revelations unto you, of this Quran. And before this, you were among those who knew nothing about it (the Quran)." (12:3)
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Almighty Allah also decreed:
"Thus We relate to you (O Muhammad) some information of what happened before, And indeed We have give you from Us a Reminder. Whoever turns away from it, verily they will bear a heavy burden on the Day of Resurrection. They will abide in that, and evil indeed will it be that load for them on the Day of Resurrection." (20:99-101)
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The story of Yusuf (pbuh) moves in a stream from beginning to end; its substance and form are equally coherent. It inspires you with a feeling for the depth of Allah's power and supremacy and the execution of His rulings despite the challenge of human intervention.
"And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not." (12:21)
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The Story is presented in a sequence of episodes. It gives you scene after scene and the transition is inspiring, informative, and stirring to the imagination. There are also artistic loopholes, which leave it to the imagination of the reader to complete the sense, as well as the depth of the picture, the like of which no human artist can bring forth.