Shared story · 8 min

Joseph

“The best of stories”: a pit, a prison, a palace and forgiveness.

Joseph (peace be upon him) has a whole chapter of the Qur'an, surah 12, and fourteen chapters of Genesis. It is the longest shared story, and the gentlest.

In the Torah and the rabbis

Judah offers himself in his brother's place (Genesis 44). Joseph tells his brothers: “God did send me before you to preserve life” (45:5), and later, “ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (50:20, JPS 1917).

In the Gospels and Christian tradition

Christian readers have long seen in Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and raised up to save them, a picture of Christ.

In the Qur'an

Jacob (peace be upon him) knows at once the brothers are lying and chooses “patience most fitting” (12:18). Joseph forgives them: “No blame will there be upon you today” (12:92). He ends by naming God al-Laṭīf, the Subtle, who works in ways no one sees (12:100).

Same and different

Dreams, jealous brothers, the pit, Egypt, temptation refused, prison, dreams explained, a rise to power, forgiveness and a family reunited: the same in both. The Qur'an calls it “the best of stories” (12:3).

We never picture any prophet or Mary. Each panel is checked by a reader from that tradition before this page goes public.

Names in this story

اللَّطِيفُ

Name 30 · deep diveal-LaṭīfThe Subtle and Gentle, who reaches the finest of things

الْغَفُورُ

Name 34al-GhafūrThe All-Forgiving, whose forgiveness is vast

Joseph

Names in this story

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