The 12th chapter of the Holy Quran is Surah Yusuf. Yusuf (AS) was a prophet of Bani Israel people (Israelites). He was the son of Yaqub (Jacob). He dreamed at the age of 9 that 11 stars, the sun and the moon prostrate before him. This dream shows his fate. When he became the ruler of Egypt, his brothers who had thrown him into a well prostrated before him and honored him after many years.
Surah Yusuf is a Makki chapter (was revealed in Mecca). It is in the 12th and 13th Juzes of the Quran and has 111 verses. It is the 53rd Surah revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
This chapter relates the story of Prophet Yusuf (AS) in details and according to verse 3, it is Ahsan al-Qasas (the most beautiful of stories). That is because it achieves the objective of Quranic stories, namely learning lessons, at the highest level.
The story begins with Yusuf’s (AS) dream. Then it elaborates on the brothers’ envy and their throwing him into the well. Other parts of the story include saving Yusuf from the well and selling him in Egypt, Zuleikha falling in love with him, his imprisonment, his interpretation of the ruler of Egypt’s dream, his becoming the ruler of Egypt, and the trips by his brothers and father to Egypt.
The goal of this chapter is giving the lesson that God will give the highest dignity and blessings to those who remain steadfast and maintain their Ikhlas (pure intention) in the face of hardships and difficulties.
Allameh Tabatabei, in his Al-Mizan Quran Exegesis, says that the main objective of Surah Yusuf is demonstrating how God loves and helps those who have faith and a pure heart and that if one has true faith, God, the Almighty, will help him and honor him in the most difficult situations.
Among the most important lessons of this Surah is invitation to patience, fortitude and steadfastness in the face of difficulties and hardships and remaining abstinent and pure in the face of worldly desires. In that case, God has promised that He will reward the good-doers and good people.
