Joseph of Egypt in the Qur’an and the Bible

بسمالله الرحمن الرحيم

Most of you probably had no idea that the story of Joseph of Egypt is found in the Qur'an. In fact, many similar stories and prophets found in the Bible are found in the Qur'an. Here is a little project I did. I think I may continue my studies of Islam for my masters degree - it was quite fascinating. I want to take on such people as Robert Spencer who preaches that all Muslims are supposed to be radical (terrorists) Muslims, which is completely and utterly wrong. While at the same time, I wish to be a messenger of my own faith during this path. It is better to build bridges of trust and understanding than to build walls of ignorance and hatred. 

The Surah of Joseph and Genesis chapters pertaining to the story of Joseph of Egypt are remarkably similar but also are different on many aspects. For example, the story of Potiphar/Aziz’s wife claiming he was trying to seduce her in the Qur’an has additional portions where other women are able to see him and claim he is an angel and irresistible while in the Bible Joseph is quickly sent to prison. There is also the part that is only in the Qur’an of Joseph’s shirt to cover Jacob’s eyes so that he may see clearly. But surprisingly there are similar details on what may seem minute details but at different times of the story – such as the idea they are spies is mentioned in the Qur’an only during the second trip back as preventative action but in the Bible the brothers are assumed from the very beginning to be spies.

I believe there is truth in both, as to which details are true it doesn’t matter but the principle that is shown on both sides that Joseph was inspired by God to help others to come unto God himself.

Below is a comparison chart. I first outlined the Qur’an’s version of the story and then matched up the Old Testament version. The Old Testament will be out of chronological order to fit the order of the Qur’ans but you will notice that it is at different times dependent on the versus given. It was placed this way to simply see the similarities and differences in key points of the story.

Surah 12 Old Testament Joseph and his brother Benjamin are viewed highly favored of Jacob. The other brothers think their father is being unfair to them and is crazy in the mind (v.8) Joseph is seventeen years (Genesis 37:2) and is favored by his father Jacob and created coat of many colours (v. 3). His brothers hate him for this (v. 4). Joseph dreams a dream and interprets it (v. 6-7). His brethren feel threatened by the dream (v. 8). It is mentioned that Joseph should be slayed or cast to a foreign land so that the favor of their father will be given to them. And afterwords they will have life long enough to repent of such an act (v.9) The brothers conspire against to kill him and put him in a pit and say some evil beast has devoured him (v. 20). One brother then mentions instead of killing him throw him into the well and he will be picked up by a caravan (v.10) Reuben says not to kill him but rather put him in the pit (v. 21-22). Judah then proposes the idea to not kill their own brother but rather to sell him to the Ishmeelite caravan (v. 26-27). The brothers go to the father and ask for permission to take Joseph out to play probably in the wilderness with them and they will watch over him (v.11-12). Then Jacob expresses his sadness with the possibility that Joseph could be devoured by wolves (v. 13). The brothers say that the wolves will eat them first before Joseph would be eaten (v. 14). Joseph is asked by Jacob to check on his brothers activities with the sheep in Shechem (v. 12-14) but later found them in Dothan (v. 15-17). So the brothers take Joseph out to “play” and drop him into the bottom of a well (v. 14) They strip him of his coat and cast him into the pit which was empty and had no water in it (v. 23-24). God then put into the heart of Joseph this, “Of a surety you shall one day tell them the truth of this their affair while they do not know you.” (v.14) The brothers stained Joseph’s shirt with false blood (v. 18). They take his coat and dip it into goat blood (v. 31). The brothers come in the early part of the night, weeping (v.16) to their father and say that they were racing and left Joseph with their things and then the wolf devoured him. They promise that it is the truth (v.17). Jacob says that it is a false tale and that patience and God’s help is what will get him past this (v. 18). Jacob recognizes the coat with blood and has no doubt that Joseph is dead (v. 33) Then a caravan came near the well. Sent their water-carrier for water and he let down his bucket into the well and find Joseph. They considered him to be a treasure from God (v. 19). The caravan of Ishmeelites going to Egypt comes near the brothers while eating bread (v. 25). The brothers sold Joseph for a miserable price - only for a few dirhams. They considered him to be dirt and therefore a cheap price (v. 20). The brothers sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver (v. 28). Reuben returns to find Joseph not in the pit and rents his coat (v. 29-30). The man who bought Joseph in Egypt (his name is later mentioned as Aziz) decided to raise him up to be an honorable person and maybe even adopt him as his son to bring them much good (v. 21). Potiphar, a captain of the guard for pharaoh, buys Joseph (37:36 and 39:1). God put Joseph in Egypt and taught him how to interpret stories and events (v.21). When Joseph was fully grown, God blessed him for his good deeds (v. 22) The Lord was with Joseph and he was prosperous (39:2-4). Joseph is made overseer of his master’s house (v. 5-6). The master’s wife locked the doors and tried to seduce Joseph. But Joseph respected his master and said, “Truly to no good come those who do wrong!” (v. 23)   Potipher’s wife tries to seduce Joseph but he refuses day by day her temptations (v. 7-10). God blessed Joseph to have strength to not give in to temptation because he is God’s servant (v. 24). Joseph and Potipher’s wife are left alone in the house (v. 11). She tore his shirt while he ran to the door. The husband quickly saw the shirt and threatened to put Joseph in prison (v. 25). Joseph’s garment is held by Potipher’s wife as he runs away from her (v. 12-13). Joseph denied the accusation and a servant became a second witness of the act and said it was the wife by the way the shirt was torn (v. 26-27). Potipher’s wife claims he tried to lay with her to other servants of the home (v. 14-16) Joseph was pardoned and the wife of Aziz is to ask for forgiveness (v. 28-29). She tells Potipher her accusation and throws Joseph into prison (v. 17-20) The women in the city hear of the event and feel Aziz’s wife was inspired by Joseph and she is beginning to go astray (v. 30). So Aziz’s wife gathers all the women together for a banquet and brings Joseph out. The women are so amazed at his presence they say, “This is none other than a noble angel!” (v. 31) Aziz’s wife now has validation for her desire to be with Joseph and and says Joseph must do what she wants him to do or he will go to prison (v. 33). Joseph would rather be in prison than commit sin. He prays to be taken away from the womens grasps (v. 33) and the Lord allowed him to escape (v. 34). The men after seeing the “Signs” decided to throw him into prison for a time (v. 35). God shows mercy to Joseph and gives him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (v. 21). Joseph was made an assistant to jail keeper and the Lord helped him to prosper (v. 22-23) There were two young men in the prison. One had a dream that he was pressing wine while the other dreamt he had bread on his head and the birds were eating it (v. 36). There was a baker and a butler of pharaoh in prison with Joseph. (40:2-3). The Butler has a dream about three branches that blossomed grapes and he turned them into wine for the pharaoh (v. 9-10). The baker has a dream he had three baskets with bread on top of his head while birds ate the top basket of bread (v. 16-17). Joseph says he will interpret the meaning of the dreams by the power God gave him. He has abondoned the ways of the those that are non believers (v. 37). He claims God’s divinity (v. 38-40). Joseph does not deny that God can interpret anything and that he has this power to do so (v. 8). Joseph interprets the dreams: The wine means he will serve his master again. The bread means he will be hung and the birds will eat of his head (v. 41). The Butler in three days will regain his position with the pharaoh (v. 12-13). The baker in three days will be hung (v. 18-19). Joseph asks the one with the one to mention this to his master but Satan made this man forget so Joseph spent a few more years in prison (v. 42). Joseph asks the butler to share these interpretations with the pharaoh (v. 14). The butler forgat Joseph and did not tell pharaoh about him (v. 23). The pharaoh has a dream of seven fat heifers, whom seven lean ones devour - and seven green ears of corn and seven other corn withered. (v. 43).He demanded to know but his priests did not know what they meant (v. 44) The pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows and seven lean cows in one dream. Then has another dream and dreams of seven good corn and seven thin corn which devoured the seven good corn (41:1-7) He called his magicians in to interpret but they could not (v. 8). One servant of the pharaoh mentioned Joseph. Joseph interprets it while still in jail as it being seven years of prosperity and then seven years of no growth of food at all (v. 47-48). Then there will be a year of abundant water and they will press wine and oil (v. 49). Joseph is mentioned by the Butler and tells him of his ability to interpret dreams (v. 9-13). Pharaoh brings Joseph out of prison and has him interpret the dream (v. 14- 24). Joseph says it is 7 years of prosperity and 7 years of famine (v. 25-30). The pharaoh wanted Joseph to come see him but wanted to know what the women that tried to seduce him have to say (v. 50) The women said there was no evil against Joseph and Aziz’s wife confesses she truly did try to seduce him (v. 51-53). The pharaoh brings Joseph to meet him and makes him a personal servant (v. 54). Pharaoh makes Joseph second in charge of Egypt (v. 39). Joseph was given Asenath to wife (v. 45). He had two sons, one named Menasseh and the other Ephraim (v. 50-52). Joseph asks to be over the store-houses of the land (v. 55). This is God’s way to manifest that He can give power to those that believe and reward in the afterlife (v. 56-57). Joseph was over all the store houses and various people bought food from Egypt (v. 54-57). Joseph’s brothers then entered his presence and did not recognize him (v. 58). Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy corn but does not let them take Benjamin (42:1-5). They did not recognize Joseph (v. 8). After Joseph says they are spies, tells them to prove it by bringing their youngest brother (Benjamin) (v. 15). Joseph gives them the provisions they need but if only they bring a brother of the same father but of a different mother (v. 59-61). Joseph sends all but one brother to get Benjamin and the one is put into jail for three days (v. 16-17). The brothers can bring food but has to come back with the Benjamin (v. 19-20). Joseph gives them the provisions they needed (v. 25-28). Joseph has his servants put what he received for trade back into his brother’s caravans that they might come back (v. 62). Joseph gives them back their money secretly (v. 27). The brothers tell their father that they need to give their brother to Joseph (v. 63-64). They find out that the trade they gave was given back and decide they can get more gain from it the Egyptians with it (v. 65). They tell their father they need to bring Benjamin back to give their other brother kept in prison to prove they are not spies (v. 30-34). They realized they had their gold back and feared greatly (v. 35). Jacob makes them promise to bring back his son (v. 66). Jacob agrees to allow Benjamin go after much convincing (43:2-14). Jacob tells them to enter into the city each by different gates as to not seem to be spies (v. 67). Joseph, remembering his dreams about them, calls them spies, but they assure that they are not (42:9-14). Reuben refers back to the idea of their sin against Joseph and it coming back to bite them (v. 22). Joseph pretends to not understand them by having an interpretor (v. 23). The brothers are told to bring double the money to pay for what may have been accused as stolen before (v. 12). When they got into Joseph’s presence again he advised his full brother to stay with him. Here he stated that they are both brothers (v. 69). Joseph asks about his father and highly favors Benjamin (v. 26- 34). Joseph put a drinking cup into his brother’s saddle bag (v. 70). Joseph told a servant to put a drinking cup into Benjamin’s saddle bag (44:2). Someone calls them out for the apparent thievery (v. 70). The brothers deny it but say if someone did steal anything it would be in their saddle bag and should be punished (v. 75). A servant of Joseph calls them out for the apparent thievery (v. 4-6). The brothers deny it but say if someone did steal anything it would be in their saddle bag and should be punished (v.7-10). Joseph finds the cup in his brother’s saddle-bag and is kept to atone for the price of what was stolen (v. 76-77). The cup was found in Benjamin’s saddle bag (v. 11-12). The other brothers plead to take one of them in his place but Joseph refuses (v. 78-79. But one brother stays behind (v. 80). Judah pleads to let Benjamin go but Joseph won’t budge (v. 14-18). Joseph tells them to bring his father to him (v. 21). But they fear Jacob would die from not having Benjamin with them. Judah wants bondsman to take his place (v. 22-34). The brothers tell Jacob what had happened (v. 81-82) but Jacob believes it not (v. 83). Jacob still grieves for Joseph’s disappearance (v. 84). Jacob tells his sons to go and inquire of Joseph and Benjamin (v. 87). The brothers return with very little capitol to pay for the price of Benjamin hoping for charity (v. 88). Joseph asks them why they treated Joseph and Benjamin the way they did? (v. 90) The brother’s inquire if he is Joseph. Joseph admits it is him and explains how merciful God has been to all of them (v. 90). Joseph admits it is him (45:3). He states God did this to preserve their families (v. 4-11). The brothers acknowledge their sin (v. 91) but Joseph says to not worry and God will forgive them (v. 92). Jacob does not believe that Joseph is alive when his sons come back to Canaan (v. 26). When he saw the wagons Joseph sent with them he believed them (v. 27-28). Joseph tells his brothers to bring his father to Egypt and cover his face with Joseph’s shirt (v. 93). The brothers put the shirt over Jacobs face and he sees clearly (v. 96) The brothers ask for Jacob to ask for forgiveness for them of what they have done (v. 97). He says he will soon (v. 98). They entered into the presence of Joseph and establishes a home for his whole family (v. 99). Jacob takes his whole family and provisions with him to Egypt and establishes a home there (46:1-7). The brothers and parents of Joseph fall down in prostration in fulfillment of the vision of his youth (v. 100).

The Good in Everything - Always

I was reading this month's home teaching lesson by President Uchtdorf titled "Looking For the Good" and many different ideas came up that I thought I would write.

I often consider myself an optimist but sometimes I just am not. And often most of us aren't. We are more prone to look for the negative in a class, a teacher, a stranger, a homeless man, a leader or sadly even a family member. Some people in and especially outside of the church love to say a few crazy things about Brigham Young. Why? Because he was very outspoken on his talks and his personal life. He lived in a time of great adaptations were needed after the murder of Joseph Smith so it seemed as though most things were extreme (compared to know). Many church policies still needed to be made, church doctrine indoctrinated and a tumult of new members of the church coming weekly to the Utah frontier. Can you imagine if other members that were close to him said some of the little things we say about him now? Look at what his own counselor, George Q Cannon, a man who probably knew Brother Brigham better than anyone else has to say about Brigham Young's death,

"I never criticized or found fault with [Brigham Young's] conduct, his counsel or his teachings at any time in my heart, much less in my words or actions. This is a pleasure to me now. The thought that never was with me was: If I criticize or fin fault with, or judge Brother Brigham, how far shall I go; if I commence, where shall I stop? I dared not to trust myself in such a course. I knew that apostasy frequently resulted from the indulgence of the spirit of criticizing and faultfinding. Other, of greater strength, wisdom and experience than myself, might do many things and escape evil consequences which I dare not do." George Q. Cannon, Journal, Jan. 17, 1878

 My point of this article is not just to say we need to sustain our church leaders, but rather to always look for the good and not ever let ourself let negative criticizing thoughts come into our mind and heart. Once we let the littlest feeling of negativity it is that much easier for greater negativity to come and eventually take over our positive outlook on an item. So before we criticize anything, let us make sure we remember that there is always something good out of them. You don't have to like them to find good. (But as you find the good, you may just start to like them).

I have found that this type of attitude makes life incredibly easier. George Q. Cannon was probably saved from his own personal apostasy through this type of attitude. Likewise, for those of us that are members of the LDS church, we would be well advised to do the same. We also find ourselves more compassionate, begin to feel the pure love of Christ for others. We can forgive and repent more quickly and effectively. We have the spirit with us. People see that there is a difference in our countenance when we look for the positive.

I often think of the atonement. I think of how people here on this earth with me forgive me for my mistakes and short comings. How much more then does my Heavenly Father forgive and love me because of his positive outlook on me? He doesn't view me as a trouble maker, but He views me as what my full potential is and always encourages me to keep moving forward no matter how hard I fall. The atonement of Jesus Christ is what allows this to work and the atonement is God's witness of His infinite love for us which we don't realize how much it really all is. So before we judge those that have made mistakes and have weaknesses - let us remember that someone views them in a much more positive manner and we should follow that example.