About the prophethood of the brothers of Joseph

Selections from the Book The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq…

Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...

Episode  (29)

Some interpreters have argued that the term "descendants" in the first four verses refers to the eleven brothers of Joseph. According to this interpretation, after they repented for their sins and apologized to their brother Joseph for their heinous act, and he said to them: {No blame will there be upon you today} [Yusuf: 92], and after their father Jacob, peace be upon him, sought forgiveness for them, they were all bestowed with prophethood. Therefore, they are the ones referred to by the term "descendants" However, this opinion lacks strong evidence to support and establish it. On the contrary, there are strong evidences that refute it. Let me present some of them here:

- The believer from the family of Pharaoh did not mention anyone other than Joseph, peace be upon him, among the prophets who called the Egyptians to monotheism. He said to the Egyptians: {And Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs, but ‎you remained in doubt of that which he brought to you, until when ‎he died, you said, 'Never will Allah send a messenger after him} ‎‎[Ghafir: 34].‎ He specifically mentions Joseph without referring to his brothers.

Joseph's brothers conspired to kill him and eventually threw him into a well. Such actions are certainly not characteristic of those who are destined for prophethood.

- Joseph, peace be upon him, said to them, after many years of what they had done to him: {You are worse in position} [Yusuf: 77]‎.

- The term "descendants‎" was not applied to the offspring of Jacob except when they were organized into tribes in the Sinai Peninsula after the Exodus. It was not used during their time in Egypt, which lasted for more than two hundred years. This indicates that the meaning of "descendants‎" refers to the tribes that were formed from the children and descendants of each of Jacob's sons, not the names of their fathers.

What I see, and what is correct in my view, is that the term "descendants" mentioned in the Holy Quran in the context of enumerating some honorable prophets, refers to the prophets who were sent from the descendants of Jacob throughout the history of the Children of Israel in Palestine. It does not refer to the twelve sons of Jacob as some interpreters perceive.

Everything I say about the brothers of Joseph, peace be upon him, is that they were sinful and mistaken in their actions, as recorded in the verses of Surah Yusuf; They committed sins and transgressions, but later felt remorse and repented to Allah. They asked their brother Joseph, peace be upon him, and their father Jacob, peace be upon him, to ask Almighty Allah to forgive them for their sins. After that, they truly repented, corrected their ways, and became righteous believers, worshipers, and good-doers. This was the culmination of their lives.

Episode references:

- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq, pp. 623-624.

- The Words of the Jews, a collection of articles on the Jews, Muhammad Ali Dawla, Dar Al-Qalam, Syria, first edition, 2014 AD, p. 245.

- Quranic Stories, (2/254).

For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:

The Book of The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi: