Surah Yusuf; its name, number of verses, order in the Quran, and the reason for the revelation of it
Selections from the Book The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq…
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
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First: its name and number of verses:
The only name for this Surah is (Yusuf). Ibn Hajar mentioned in the book Al-Isaba in the translation of Rafi’ ibn Malik al-Zarqi on the authority of Ibn Ishaq that Abu Rafi’ ibn Malik was the first to come to Medina with Surat Yusuf, meaning after he pledged allegiance to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the Day of Aqaba.
Its name is evident because the entire Surah revolves around the story of Yusuf (Joseph), and his story is not mentioned elsewhere in the Quran. His name is mentioned only in Surah Al-An'am and Surah A'raf.
It is a Meccan Surah according to the opinion that doesn't consider other opinions. It is the fifty-third Surah in the chronological order of revelation according to the majority. The Quran does not mention the story of any prophet in as much detail as the story of Joseph, peace be upon him, in this Surah.
It consists of 111 verses, unanimously agreed upon by the scholars in different regions.
And Al-Zarkashi said in Al-Burhan: "Undoubtedly, the Arabs often take names based on a rare or Arabized person who possesses some characteristic or quality related to the thing named. It may be more precise or earlier in perception than the one who names it. They name the entire speech or long poem with what is most famous in it. Based on this, the names of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an were given."
This Surah revolves around the story of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf), peace be upon him, making it unique among the chapters of the Quran. It is specifically dedicated to him, and he is the most mentioned prophet in this Surah. Thus, it is fitting to be named after him.
Second: The order of the surah in the Qur’an:
Surah Yusuf, peace be upon him, is the twelfth surah in the order of the Quran. It is also located in the twelfth section of the Quran. The surah consists of one hundred and eleven verses, and the only surah with a similar number of verses is Surah Al-Isra.
Considerations point to the numerical alignment between the surah's number, its placement in a specific section, and the number of verses, corresponding to the sons of Jacob. With one hundred and eleven verses, it hints at the number of Joseph's brothers, and the noble story itself spans one hundred verses plus one. The remaining ten verses are dedicated to additional commentary and details.
Third: The reason for the revelation of the Surah:
The scholars mentioned reasons for the revelation of the Surah, including:
A. Al-Hakim narrated on the authority of Saad bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, regarding the words of Allah Almighty: {We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories} [Yusuf: 3]. He said: “The Qur’an was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he recited it to them for a while, and they said: O Messenger of Allah, if only you would narrate it to us. So Allah Almighty revealed: {Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book} [Yusuf: 1], and then he recited to His saying: {We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories} [Yusuf: 3]. So he recited to them for a while, and they said: O Messenger of Allah, if only you would told us. Then Allah Almighty revealed: {Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book} [Al-Zumar: 23]. All of this is commanded by the Qur’an'' Al-Hakim said: This hadith has an authentic chain of narration, but they did not narrate it.
B. On the authority of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, he said: The Jews asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and they said: Tell us about the matter of Jacob and his sons and the matter of Joseph, so Allah Almighty revealed: {Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book (1) Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an} [Yusuf: 1-3].
It is narrated that the Jews asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about the story of Yusuf, and as a result, this Surah was revealed. It is also narrated that the Jews instructed the disbelievers of Mecca to ask the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about the reason why the Children of Israel settled in Egypt, and then this Surah was revealed.
C- The Surah Yusuf is said to have been revealed during a period of grief over the deaths of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who had been protecting him. This was a time when the polytheists intensified their harm towards the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, They took advantage of the death of his uncle and the absence of his righteous wife who used to console and comfort him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, experiencing increased persecution from the Quraysh, even permitted his companions to migrate to Abyssinia. The oppression, trials, and torture inflicted upon the followers of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Prophet himself, had reached an unbearable level. During this difficult time, Surah Yusuf was revealed as a source of solace for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions. The Surah narrates the story of Prophet Joseph, who endured significant trials, hardships, and afflictions. However, in the end, he successfully overcame all these challenges, and his story concluded with a favorable outcome. The Surah aimed to console and reassure the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions, encouraging them to endure with patience and trust in Allah's promise. It conveyed the message that, just as Prophet Joseph emerged triumphant after facing adversity, they too would eventually achieve victory, with the divine help of Allah. Therefore, Allah Almighty said at the end of it: {[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals} [Yusuf: 110].
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq, pp. 22-25.
- Liberation and Enlightenment, Al-Taher bin Ashour, Dar Al-Tunisia, first edition, 1984 AD, (12/197-198).
- Signs for those who ask, analytical and objective interpretation, Dr. Nasser Al-Omar, Al-Resala Foundation, first edition, 1429 AH/2008 AD, p. 22.
- Al-Mustadrak on the Two Sahihs, Abu Abdullah Al-Hakim, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, first edition, 1411 AH, (2/409).
- Surah Yusuf, Uniques and Benefits, Muhammad Khaled, p. 4.
- Al-Muharrar Al-Wajeez, (3/230), narrated by Al-Dahhak.
- Proof in the sciences of the Qur’an, Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi, Dar Ihya al-Kutub al-Arabi, first edition, 1957 AD, (1/270).
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:
