The Quran contains many fascinating stories, but none is as captivating as the one when a slave left in prison finally became a ruler and a prophet after a dream he had when he was young. That's a very simple way to summarize the story of the Prophet Yusuf (AS)

The story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) is one of Islam's most remarkable stories. It's among the best stories Allah (SWT) has revealed:

“We relate to you, ˹O Prophet, the best of stories through Our revelation of this Quran, though before this you were unaware ˹of them˺..” (Yusuf, 3)

As you look back on every small misfortune and even big event in the story of Prophet Yusu, you can't help but be in awe at the immense patience he showed in every stage of his life. Moreover, his life is filled with lessons about the power of forgiveness and trusting Allah’s plan.

Are you ready to explore how Allah protected Yusuf through many challenges, eventually raising him to a high position in Egypt? Let's get started

Who Was Prophet Yusuf in Islam?

Prophet Yusuf, also known as Joseph in Christianity, was born to Prophet Yaqub (Jacob), who had many sons—11 to be precise. Yusuf and his younger brother Benjamin were from one wife, and the other ten were half-brothers from other wives. Jacob loved Yusuf and Benjamin the most.

One night, Yusuf had an extraordinary dream. When he woke up, he was eager to tell his father and asked him what this dream meant. So what was this dream? In this dream, Yusuf saw eleven planets, the sun, and the moon all prostrating to him.

Prophet Yaqub understood this wasn’t just another dream; it was a true one (Ru'ya) and a sign from Allah that he had chosen Yusuf to be a prophet. He was overjoyed! However, he also knew this dream might cause jealousy and hatred among Yusuf’s brothers. So, he advised Yusuf to keep the dream a secret and not tell his brothers.

As you see, Prophet Yusuf’s journey started with a dream. As we follow his story together, you’ll discover how every moment is a valuable lesson for kids and adults alike.

Jealousy is a dangerous emotion; it can lead to the most evil things. Just like in the story of Habil and Qabil, jealousy made one brother kill the other; in the Prophet's Yusuf story, jealousy turned his brothers against him. Keep reading to find out what happened.

How Jealousy Led to Prophet Yusuf's Betrayal?

As days passed by, Yusuf’s brothers could see how much their father loved him! They began to be so envious that they wanted to get rid of him, so their father loved them more! Little did they know, it was the start of their fall. They started to plot against him.

One day, they came up with a plan: they would take Yusuf far away and throw him in a deep well. Then, they would go back and tell their father that a wolf had attacked and killed him.

But their father didn't trust them because he knew they were jealous, and he refused.

“Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware"— (Yusuf, 13)

Nonetheless, after many trials, they convinced him to let Yusuf come with them on a trip. They assured him that they would take care of him and they would simply have fun all together as brothers. Once they reached the well, they took off Yusuf's jacket and threw him into the well. He pleaded with them to stop, and he tried to fight.

However, they were stronger and bigger, so they overpowered him and left without caring for their scared little brother. In the darkest of the deep well and the situation itself, Yusuf prayed to Allah and asked for help. Indeed, Allah never left his side, and he reassured Yusuf that one day he would meet his brothers again and remind them of their wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the brothers returned home with fake tears, showing their father Yusuf’s shirt stained with false blood from a sheep. They told him that a wolf had attacked Yusuf.

“O our father, indeed we went racing with each other and left Yusuf with our possessions, and a wolf ate him.” (Yusuf, 17)

But Prophet Yaqub knew something wasn’t right. He was heartbroken; he was so sad and crying all the time till his eyes were white and he could no longer see.

So what happened to Prophet Yusuf after that? Soon after, a caravan of travelers passed by the well to get some water. As they drew the bucket up, they found Yusuf clinging to it.

So they saved him and took him to Egypt, where he was sold as a slave. Imagine that after being among your brothers and at home, he became a slave! Such a dark turn of events, one might think. But Yusuf’s story was far from over—Allah had great plans for him.

From Slavery to Prison: Prophet Yusuf's Trials in Egypt

Al-Azeez, the treasurer of Egypt and a nobleman, bought Yusuf. He was a kind man and treated him well. As he grew older, Yusuf was famous for his honesty, integrity, and wisdom.

"And when Yusuf reached maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. And thus we reward the doers of good." — (Yusuf, 22)

Therefore, Al-Azeez placed him in charge of his household.

“And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.” (Yusuf, 21)

But the story doesn't end here. Prophet Yusuf is known to be one of the most beautiful men on earth. In the famous hadith about the night journey of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to heaven, he saw Yusuf (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), who was said to have "half of (world) beauty." (Sahih Muslim 162)

The wife of Al-Aziz was captivated by his beauty; she grew fond of him and tried to seduce him. But Yusuf was a righteous man who rejected her many times in fear of making a sin and disobeying Allah SWT.

When she chased Yusuf, he hurried to the door to leave, and she tore his shirt. When her husband arrived, she lied. She accused Yusuf and blamed him, saying he deserved a great punishment for his wrongdoing.

A man suggested seeing from which side Yusuf’s clothes were cut to decide who was innocent. If his clothes were torn from behind, he would be innocent, and if his clothes were torn at the front, he would be guilty. When they found Yusuf’s clothes cut from behind, they understood he was innocent.

This was gossip among the women of the town. For this, the woman of Azeez arranged for the ladies to come to her house to see Yusuf's (a.s.) beauty for themselves. She gave each of the women a knife. Then, she asked Yusuf (a.s.) to enter the room. They were so enchanted by his beauty that they cut their own hands without even noticing.

After that, she threatened Yusuf that if he didn't do as she wished, she would put him in jail. Yusuf (a.s.) then said that he would rather be in jail than disobey Allah's order. Imagine preferring prison over doing something that looks so easy.

That is how faithful and righteous our beloved prophet Yusuf was. Thus, falsely, he ended up in prison.

Even when he faced injustice and was imprisoned, he kept his faith strong. For more inspiring lessons explained in fun and simple ways, explore our activities to keep your kids engaged while learning.

The Power of Dream Interpretation: Yusuf's Gift from Allah

In prison, Yusuf remained patient and trusted in Allah. He continued to pray, teach others about Islam, and help those around him. One day, two prisoners approached Yusuf with strange dreams and asked him to explain these dreams.

One of them said he dreamed that he was pressing grapes to make wine. The other one dreamed that birds were eating from bread carried on his head.

Allah gave Yusuf the wisdom to interpret dreams.

Thus, he interpreted their dreams correctly. He explained that the one pressing the grapes would be freed and return to serve the king, while the other would be crucified, and the birds would peck at his head. Furthermore, he asked the one who would be freed to mention his name to the king so he might be released, but the man forgot.

Yusuf never lost faith. He knew that Allah’s timing was always perfect. So, how was Prophet Yusuf released from prison? That's where it gets interesting.

Prophet Yusuf’s Role in the Pharaoh’s Court

Just as his story started with a dream, his freedom from prison was because of a dream. How so? One day, the king of Egypt had a dream that none of his advisors could explain.

In the dream, the king saw seven thin cows eating seven fat cows, seven green wheat grains, and seven dry ones. The dream was very confusing, and the king sought help from anyone who could interpret it.

The man freed from prison remembered Yusuf and told the king about his ability to interpret dreams. The king then called Yusuf to the court, and with Allah’s guidance, he explained the dream.

Yusuf told the king that Egypt would experience seven years of abundance, where he would cultivate plenty of crops, followed by seven years of severe famine.

Then, there would be a productive, fruitful year where people would be relieved. He advised the king to store food during the good years to prepare for the difficult years after.

The king was impressed by Yusuf’s wisdom and insight, and not only did he release him from prison after 9 years but also appointed him as a trusted advisor. Before Prophet Yusuf accepted this, he asked him to clear his name. He wanted everyone to know he was innocent before he was free.

The women who cut their hands acknowledged Yusuf’s innocence. Furthermore, Al-Azeez’s wife confessed to her wrongdoing.

“And the wife of Al-Azeez said, ‘Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is truthful.'” (Quran, 12:25)

Yusuf asked the king to be in charge of the storehouses across his land. The king saw Yusuf’s integrity and leadership and agreed. He made him the overseer of all the country's food supplies.

Yusuf had gone from a slave, a prisoner, to one of the most powerful men in Egypt. Yusuf stayed humble and always remembered that all was by Allah’s will. Want to teach your kids more about wisdom and leadership in Islam?

For seven years, Yusuf worked hard to store large amounts of grain and food. He ensured the country was prepared for the difficult years to come. When the famine finally struck, Egypt had enough food to survive, and people from neighboring lands came to buy food. Among those who came were Yusuf’s brothers. So how did the encounter go?

After all those years passing, they did not recognize Yusuf. He was now dressed in royal clothes and held a high position. But Yusuf recognized them immediately. Despite the harm they had done to him, Yusuf was not filled with anger. Instead, he was calm and decided to test his brothers to see if they had changed

The Reunion: How Prophet Yusuf Forgave His Brothers

When his brothers came to ask for food, Yusuf treated them respectfully but asked them about their families. They told Yusuf about their father, Yaqub, and that they had a younger brother, Binyamin (Benjamin), who stayed behind with him.

Yusuf gave them food but accused them of being dishonest. Shocked, the brothers denied it, insisting that they were honest men. Yusuf demanded that they bring their younger brother with them the next time. The brothers knew that their father would be devastated if they took Binyamin away and that he wouldn't trust them because of what they did with Yusuf.

When they returned to their father, he didn’t trust their claim and thought they were deceiving him as they had with Yusuf in the past. However, when they opened their bags, they found that their supplies had been fulfilled, which encouraged them to return to get an additional supply for their brother. Their father agreed and took the pledge that they would return their brother safely.

When the brothers returned to Egypt with Binyamin, Yusuf welcomed them warmly and provided them with more food. But he was not done testing them yet.

Yusuf secretly ordered that his silver cup be hidden in Binyamin’s bag.

Prophet Yusuf (PBUH) whispered to his brother that he was Yusuf, to not be afraid, and even told him about his plan. After realizing it was missing, the news spread in the market that whoever returned the cup would get a reward.

The brothers explained they were innocent. However, they were asked to choose a penalty if this turned out to be false. They said that whoever the silver cup was found in his bag would stay behind as a slave.

As the people searched the bags, they found the cup on Binyamin. The brothers were horrified. They begged Yusuf to release Binyamin, explaining that their father would be heartbroken if his youngest son did not return.

They even offered to take his place as slaves, showing how much they had grown to care for each other. Prophet Yaqoob ordered his sons to go and beg the king and return their brothers.

Years earlier, his brothers had not hesitated to abandon him, but now they were willing to sacrifice themselves for Binyamin’s sake. This was proof that they had changed.

Moved by their sincerity, Yusuf could no longer keep his identity a secret. He sent everyone else out of the room and finally revealed who he was. He said to his brothers:

“I am Yusuf, and this is my brother (Binyamin). Allah has certainly favored us. Verily, whoever fears Allah and is patient, Allah does not allow the reward of good-doers to be lost.” (Surah Yusuf, 12:90)

When his brothers realized that he was Yusuf, whom they betrayed, they were shocked, and they feared he would take revenge. They bowed their heads and asked him for forgiveness.

Prophet Yusuf's Forgiveness of His Brothers

One may think that his heart would be filled with rage for all the hardships his brothers had caused him—being thrown into the well, sold as a slave, and separated from his family for years. However, that wasn't the case. Yusuf’s heart was filled with compassion and mercy, just as Allah had shown him mercy throughout his life.

He told them not to be afraid, saying, “There is no blame on you today. May Allah forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” (Yusuf, 92)

He also gave them a piece of his cloth and told them to put it on his father's eyes, and asked them to bring his father and the rest of the family. When they put the cloth on his eye, Prophet Yaqub knew the smell of his beloved son Yusuf, and miraculously Allah returned his eyesight.

When the family was reunited, one more amazing thing happened: the dream he had when he was young finally came true! Yusuf honored his parents by sitting them down on the throne, where they all prostrated to him.

Right at this moment, he realized it and told his father that was the interpretation of his dream. This was a sign from Allah that Yusuf’s patience, faith, and forgiveness had led him to this moment. It was destined all along

Islamic Lessons from Prophet Yusuf's Story for Children

Lesson 1: Patience and Trust in Allah

No matter how difficult life gets, we should always trust Allah's plan. This was the major theme across every part of Yusuf's story. He was thrown into a well; however, he was patient, and then he was saved. He was sold into slavery, but again, he was patient until he was in charge of a household.

Then he was sent to prison, again. He was patient until he became the most powerful in Egypt. He waited for years, never complaining about his difficult situation, and never lost faith in Allah's plan. He knew that Allah was in control, and he had something better for him.

Lesson 2: Forgiveness and kindness

Despite being wronged by his brothers, Yusuf chose to forgive them. This teaches us that forgiving others is one of the most beautiful acts of kindness. It is such a wonderful quality that we should teach our kids by practicing it in our daily lives! Even when people don't treat us nicely, but then later you feel they are sincerely sorry, we should try to be kind and forgive them.

Lesson 3: Resisting Temptation

Yusuf resisted the temptation to disobey Allah, even when it would have been easy to do so. He refused to be seduced by the woman who wanted him. He feared Allah above everything, so he preferred to go to jail rather than to disobey him and commit such a sinful act.

Teach your kids that there might be situations in life where they will be faced with temptations. It would be very easy to give in. However, they must remember that Allah is always watching us and we should always be afraid to disobey him. We should always have faith, be modest and righteous, no matter what challenges we face.

Final thoughts.

The story of Prophet Yusuf teaches us that no matter how difficult our circumstances may seem, Allah has a perfect plan for each of us. Through patience, faith, and forgiveness, we can overcome any challenge and emerge stronger than before.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main lesson of Prophet Yusuf's story for kids?

The main lessons include patience during difficult times, trusting Allah's plan, the importance of forgiveness, and resisting temptation.

Where can I find Prophet Yusuf's story in the Quran?

The complete story is found in Surah Yusuf (Chapter 12), which is entirely dedicated to his life.