This sura (chapter) is about the Old Testament Joseph, not the one that was the father of Jesus. You know, the technicolor dream coat Joseph, as in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. (See also post 59 about Joseph in the Bible section.) Once again Muhammad uses Bible stories to make his point(s). The opening verse suggests to me that this is an effort to present these stories in the people’s native Arabic language (the originals being in Hebrew): “These are the verses of the Scripture that makes things clear––We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an so that you [people] may understand.”
“In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy”
(the standard invocation)
Muhammad then proceeds to tell the story of Joseph, which in the Bible begins in Genesis 37 (and I think is one of the most entertaining stories in the Bible). Muhammad puts his own spin on the story, as usual, but it basically parallels the Biblical version. Joseph is a favorite of his father Jacob (aka Israel) and he has a dream which his brothers and father understand to mean that they will bow down to Joseph some day. This produces more resentment in the brothers. They put Joseph into a well and tell their father that he was killed by a wolf, showing him Joseph’s shirt (Muhammad actually doesn’t mention Joseph’s multicolored coat). In the Bible version the brothers sell Joseph to a passing caravan, but in this telling the caravan finds Joseph in the well and takes him.
So Joseph ends up in Egypt. But his master’s wife tries to seduce him. Here Muhammad gets creative with the Biblical story. In the Bible Joseph refuses her advances and she accuses him of attacking her, so her husband has him put in prison. In the Quran version Joseph tries to run, but she grabs his shirt and tears it in the back. When she accuses Joseph the husband is advised that if the shirt is torn in front it means he attacked her, but if it is torn in back it meant she was ‘attacking’ him. Since it is torn in back the husband assigns the guilt to his wife instead of Joseph. An interesting twist! And another:
The wife tries to justify herself by throwing a banquet for the other women of the city (in the Quran version), to show them how beautiful Joseph is. Indeed, “they were stunned by his beauty, and cut their hands, exclaiming, ‘Great God! He cannot be mortal! He must be a precious angel!’” (12:31) So the wife feels justified for trying to seduce him, but Joseph remains chaste, refusing their advances. And despite Joseph’s innocence they decide to imprison him “for a while.”
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife by Murillo, 1645
In prison two fellow inmates share their dreams with him (as in the Bible). One dreamt of pressing grapes, and the other of carrying bread on his head and the birds eating it. Joseph first gives a mini-sermon about worshipping only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It always strikes me as odd when Muhammad speaks thus of the Jews, given the present conflict between Jews and Muslims: Muhammad repeatedly says they all worship the One True God! They should be brothers, not adversaries. Anyway… Joseph tells the one he will be again be serving wine to his master, while the other will be executed and birds will peck at his head. (I’ll bet he wished he hadn’t asked!) Joseph asks the one to ‘Mention me to your master’ but Satan makes him forget, leaving Joseph in prison.
Eventually the king (Pharaoh) has a dream about seven fat cows being swallowed by seven lean cows. Joseph is able to interpret the dream as meaning that there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of hardship. Muhammad also has Pharaoh investigating the charge against Joseph and the women exonerate him.
So Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of the nation’s storehouses so they can save up grain for the seven lean years. When the famine hits Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy grain. They don’t recognize him. They trade some goods for grain, but Joseph arranges for their goods to be put back in their saddlebags, thinking this will encourage them to come back. Joseph also tells them they must bring their youngest brother back with them if they are to receive more grain. Keep in mind that the youngest, Benjamin, was Joseph’s full brother, of the same mother; the other were half-brothers.
In the Biblical version the brothers return home and find their goods in their bags and are afraid, thinking they will be accused of treachery. In the Quran they take this as a good sign, because they can use the same goods to purchase more grain. Also in the Biblical version Joseph keeps his brother Simeon as a hostage; not mentioned in the Quran.
When they return with Benjamin Joseph takes him aside and reveals himself as his brother. Joseph then plants the king’s cup in Benjamin’s bag. When they search for the cup and find it in Benjamin’s bag Joseph uses that as an excuse to keep Benjamin in Egypt.
The other sons return to Jacob and tell him what has happened. It seems this makes Jacob go blind: “His eyes went white with grief.” Once more they return to Joseph who finally reveals himself to his brothers. He gives them his shirt to take back to Jacob. When Jacob puts the shirt on his face his sight is restored. (This is not in the Bible version.)
Jacob goes down to Egypt and Joseph’s dream is finally fulfilled: the whole family bows down to him. The story ends with Joseph praising God for how He worked everything out for the good of all: “My Lord is most subtle in achieving what He will; He is the All Knowing, the Truly Wise.” (12:100)
Joseph Recognized by Brothers, c.1800, Francois Gerard, 1770-1817.
And what is Muhammad’s point in telling this story? Or from Muhammad’s perspective: what was the point of God telling me this story?
However eagerly you may want them to, most men will not believe. You ask no reward from them for this: it is a reminder for all people and there are many signs in the heavens and the earth that they pass by and give no heed to– most of them will only believe in God while also joining others with Him. (12:103-106)
Muhammad takes this as encouragement not to lose heart: God is working His will even if people refuse to believe. And he reiterates the point he repeats throughout the Quran: God is one and alone and you should not “join others with him.” A criticism of the Christians who elevate Jesus to the status of God, perhaps? A few verses later he says, “Say, ‘This is my way: based on clear evidence, I, and all who follow me, call [people] to God– glory be to God!– I do not join others with Him.’” (12:108) Again the warning not to “join others with Him.” And to Muhammad these stories of Joseph and other Biblical patriarchs are “clear evidence” of what he is teaching. Do you agree? Are ancient stories, even when found in a revered book, to be considered ‘clear evidence?’ The Hindus have stories of the gods that are even older: do you consider them ‘clear evidence?’ I suspect not.
Muhammad concludes this sura thusly:
There is a lesson in the stories of such people for those who understand. This revelation is no fabrication: it is a confirmation of the truth of what was sent before it; an explanation of everything; a guide and a blessing for those who believe. (12:111)
So, has Muhammad and his telling of the story of Joseph convinced you? If not, he’ll keep trying as the Quran continues!
(scroll down to make comments and ask questions)Thinking Exercises:
1. In Muhammad’s telling Joseph is so wonderful the women can’t resist him. Do you think Muhammad is simply describing how attractive Joseph was, or is this his commentary on women, that they are so lustful that they can’t be trusted? Might this relate to Islamic restrictions on women, since they can’t resist men? Shouldn’t it be men who wear the veils instead of women?
2. Joseph collects the surplus grain during the plentiful years, rather than teaching the people to store it up for themselves. This makes the people dependent on the government during the lean years. Is this a good model for government?
3. Muhammad describes his recitation (Qur’an) as being ‘a confirmation of the truth of what was sent before it’, referring to Bible stories like that of Joseph. If Muslims think Jews worship the One God, and that their stories are true, then why the conflict between Jews and Muslims?
One response to “Q012. Sura 12: Joseph”
Very interesting, Doug!