Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Introduction

The story of Joseph (Yūsuf) is a rich narrative found in both the Bible (Genesis chapters 37–50) and the Qur’ān (Sūrat Yūsuf, Chapter 12). Although the two accounts share a common outline – Joseph’s dreams, his brothers’ betrayal, his slavery and rise in Egypt, temptation by his master’s wife, imprisonment, and ultimate reunion with his family – they differ in details, emphasis, and thematic depth. The Qur’ān itself extols Joseph’s tale as an especially beautiful and instructive story (“Ahsan al-qasas”, the “best of stories” network.crcna.org). This comparison is structured by major narrative segments (from Joseph’s early dreams to the family reunion) and, within each segment, by thematic categories: psychological coherence, moral/philosophical depth, and theological clarity. We will examine the episodes verse-by-verse (or story-by-story), highlighting similarities and key differences, and drawing on traditional and modern scholarship from both Islamic and Biblical perspectives. In particular, we will see that the Qur’ānic version often appears more coherent – psychologically realistic, philosophically profound, and theologically transparent – in comparison to the Biblical version alhakam.org alhakam.org. Citations from Genesis and Sūrat Yūsuf, as well as commentary, will be provided to support each point.

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