Maktab QuranSurah Yusuf is the Quran's only complete, continuous story told in a single surah — 111 ayahs that Allah Himself introduces as 'the best of stories' (12:3). It follows one life from a child's dream, through the well, slavery, temptation, prison and power, to the moment the dream lands in prostration decades later. Classical scholars connected its revelation to the Prophet's ﷺ hardest Makkan years — a story of patience rewarded, sent down when patience was the whole task.
Surah Yusuf is the 12th chapter of the Qur'an, a Meccan surah of 111 verses named after the Prophet Yusuf (Joseph). It is unusual in the Qur'an: a single narrative told from beginning to end in one surah, which it itself calls “the best of stories”.
Surah Yusuf at a glance
| Surah number | 12 of 114 |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ |
| Name in English | Yusuf — “Joseph” |
| Verses (ayahs) | 111 |
| Revealed in | Makkah |
| Juz | 12, 13 |
| Length in the Mushaf | about 14 pages |
The dream, and the brothers
It opens with Yusuf telling his father a dream of eleven stars, the sun and the moon prostrating to him, and his father warning him not to relate it to his brothers. The narrative follows: the plot against him, the well, the caravan, and his being sold.
Egypt, prison, and authority
The surah follows him into an Egyptian household, through the attempt on his character and his imprisonment, the interpretation of two prisoners' dreams and then the king's, and his being established in the land with authority over its stores.
The brothers return
The final movement brings his brothers to him seeking food, unaware who he is. It ends with recognition, the family reunited, his parents raised to the throne, and the dream of the opening fulfilled. The surah then closes by addressing the Prophet ﷺ directly on his own way and mission.
Telling this story to a child? Our Prophet Yusuf story for kids retells it in simple words and keeps to what the Quran itself says.
Read Surah Yusuf in full
The Arabic below is the Uthmani script, with a Roman transliteration to help you sound out each verse and the Sahih International English translation of the meaning. If you are learning to recite it, read the Arabic line first and use the transliteration only to check yourself — leaning on it slows real reading down.
Listen to Surah Yusuf (Mishary Al-Afasy)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
Alif-Laaam-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaabil Mubeen
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book.
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Innaaa anzalnaahu quraanan 'Arabiyyal la 'allakum ta'qiloon
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.
نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلْغَٰفِلِينَ
Nahnu naqussu 'alaika ahsanal qasasi bimaaa awhainaaa ilaika haazal quraana wa in kunta min qablihee laminal ghaafileen
We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَٰجِدِينَ
Iz qaala Yoosufu li abeehi yaaa abati innee ra aytu ahada 'ashara kawkabanw wash shamsa walqamara ra aytuhum lee saajideen
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا۟ لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
Qaala yaa bunaiya laa taqsus ru'yaaka 'alaaa ikhwatika fayakeedoo laka kaidaa; innash Shaitaana lil insaani 'aduwwum mubeen
He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَآ أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
Wa kazaalika yajtabeeka rabbuka wa yu'allimuka min taaweelil ahaadeesi wa yutimmu ni'matahoo 'alaika wa 'alaaa Aali Ya'qooba kamaaa atammahaa 'alaaa abawaika min qablu Ibraaheema wa Ishaaq; inna Rabbaka 'Aleemun hakeem
And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise."
۞ لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٌۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ
Laqad kaana fee Yoosufa wa ikhwatiheee Aayaatul lissaaa'ileen
Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask,
إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ
Iz qaaloo la Yoosufu wa akhoohu ahabbu ilaaa Abeenaa minnaa wa nahnu 'usbah; inna abaanaa lafee dalaalim mubeen
When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.
ٱقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًۭا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ قَوْمًۭا صَٰلِحِينَ
Uqtuloo Yoosufa awitra hoohu ardany yakhlu lakum wajhu abeekum wa takoonoo mim ba'dihee qawman saaliheen
Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people."
قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَٰعِلِينَ
Qaalaa qaaa'ilum minhum laa taqtuloo Yoosufa wa alqoohu fee ghayaabatil jubbi yaltaqithu badus sai yaarati in kuntum faa 'ileen
Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."
قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَٰصِحُونَ
Qaaloo yaaa abaanaa maa laka laa taamannaa 'alaa Yoosufa wa innaa lahoo lanaa sihoon
They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors?
أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًۭا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
Arilhu ma'anaa ghadany yarta'wa yal'ab wa innaa lahoo lahaafizoon
Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians.
قَالَ إِنِّى لَيَحْزُنُنِىٓ أَن تَذْهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَٰفِلُونَ
Qaala innee la yahzununeee an tazhaboo bihee wa akhaafu anyyaakulahuz zi'bu wa antum 'anhu ghaafiloon
[Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware."
قَالُوا۟ لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّخَٰسِرُونَ
Qaaloo la in akalahuzzi'bu wa nahnu 'usbatun innaaa izal lakhaasiroon
They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِى غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Falammaa zahaboo bihee wa ajma'ooo anyyaj'aloohu fee ghayaabatil jubb; wa awyainaaa ilaihi latunabbi 'annahum bi amrihim haaza wa hum laa yash'uroon
So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well... But We inspired to him, "You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity]."
وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمْ عِشَآءًۭ يَبْكُونَ
Wa jaaa'ooo abaahum 'ishaaa 'any yabkoon
And they came to their father at night, weeping.
قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍۢ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَٰدِقِينَ
Qaaloo yaaa abaanaaa innaa zahabnaa nastabiqu wa taraknaa Yoosufa 'inda mataa'inaa fa akhalahuz zi'b, wa maaa anta bimu'minil lanaa wa law kunnaa saadiqeen
They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍۢ كَذِبٍۢ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًۭا ۖ فَصَبْرٌۭ جَمِيلٌۭ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
Wa jaaa'oo 'alaa qamee shihee bidamin kazi' qaala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amraa; fasabrun jameel; wallaahul musta'aanu 'alaa man tasifoon
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."
وَجَآءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌۭ فَأَرْسَلُوا۟ وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَىٰ دَلْوَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ يَٰبُشْرَىٰ هَٰذَا غُلَٰمٌۭ ۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَٰعَةًۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
Wa jaaa'at saiyaaratun fa-arsaloo waaridahum fa adlaa dalwah; qaala yaa bushraa haaza ghulaam; wa asarroohu bi-daa'ah; wallaahu 'aleemum bimaa ya'maloon
And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him, [taking him] as merchandise; and Allah was knowing of what they did.
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍۢ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍۢ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
Wa sharawhu bisamanim bakhsin daraahima ma'doo datinw wa kaanoo feehi minaz zaahideen
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
Showing the first 20 of 111 verses. Read the complete surah with translation at Quran.com.
Learning Surah Yusuf
Because Yusuf is one continuous narrative, it is easier to keep in order than surahs built of separate passages — the story itself carries the sequence. The dialogue sections are where students most often blur similar phrases.
Why memorize Surah Yusuf?
Because narrative is the strongest memory glue there is. Students who struggle to hold abstract passages find Yusuf almost pulls itself along — every ayah sits inside a plot you cannot forget, which makes this the most beginner-friendly of the long surahs despite its size.
How long does Surah Yusuf take to memorize?
Honest answer: it depends on your daily portion and whether someone is correcting you. Surah Yusuf is about 193 lines of mushaf text. Here is what that means at three realistic paces — each assuming you also run the revision cycle (which is what makes it permanent):
| Pace | New memorization per day | Time to finish Surah Yusuf | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | ~3 lines | about 2 months | Busy adults, first-time memorizers |
| Steady | ~5 lines | about 6 weeks | Most students — the sweet spot |
| Focused | ~10 lines | about 3 weeks | Experienced memorizers, school holidays |
Add roughly a consolidation week at the end — the point where you can recite the whole surah to a listener without prompts. Our guide to how long the whole Quran takes uses the same arithmetic.
The smart way to memorize Surah Yusuf
Memorize it scene by scene, never page by page. The story gives you ready-made chapters: the dream (1–6), the brothers and the well (7–20), Egypt and the trial in the house (21–34), prison and the two dreams (35–42), the king's dream and release (43–57), the brothers return (58–79), the disclosure (80–93), and the reunion (94–111). Read each scene in translation first, then memorize it while the plot is fresh — the Arabic attaches to the story. One scene at a time, and always recite the previous scene before starting the next, so the seams stay strong.
A milestone plan for Surah Yusuf
At the steady pace (~5 lines a day), Surah Yusuf breaks into four milestones. Print our free planner PDF and mark them off:
| Portion | New-memorization time | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 | Ayahs 1–27 | ~9 days | Day 9 |
| Milestone 2 | Ayahs 28–54 | ~9 days | Day 18 |
| Milestone 3 | Ayahs 55–81 | ~9 days | Day 27 |
| Milestone 4 | Ayahs 82–111 | ~11 days | Day 38 |
The method: sabaq, sabqi, manzil
Serious memorization runs on the classic three-cycle system used in hifz institutes worldwide: sabaq (today's new portion), sabqi (the recent pages, revised daily until solid), and manzil (older material, cycled weekly so it never fades). Our Hifz course is built on exactly this cycle, and our free memorization planner PDF gives you printable sabaq–sabqi–manzil grids to track it.
Why memorize with a live teacher
Self-memorization has one fatal flaw: you cannot hear your own mistakes. A mispronounced letter or shortened madd, repeated twenty times during memorization, becomes near-permanent — teachers call it 'memorizing your mistakes'. In a live one-to-one lesson on our synchronized Quran screen, every slip is corrected the moment it happens, before it settles. Recitation is checked ayah by ayah, revision is scheduled for you, and the first lesson is a free trial.