Aside from the story mentioned in Surah Yusuf and a few verses pertaining to the religion of Ya’qub (AS) being Islam, very little else is mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah regarding Ya’qub (AS). From the Judeo-Christian traditions, we are told that Ya’qub (AS) married two of his cousins and from these two, as well as two slave girls, he (AS) was blessed with one daughter and twelve sons, one of whom was Yusuf (AS). On his deathbed, Ya’qub (AS) took a covenant from his own sons:

2:133

“Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, “What will you worship after me?” They said, “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac – one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”” (2:133)

Yusuf (AS) was from an honourable lineage. Regarding this, the Prophet (SAW) said “The most honourable of men was Yusuf (AS), the Prophet of Allah, the son of a Prophet of Allah, who was the son of a Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the khalil of Allah (i.e. Ibrahim (AS))” (Bukhari).

Much of Yusuf’s story can be found in the 12th chapter of the Qur’an, Surah Yusuf. This details his (AS) life from beginning to end. When he (AS) was a child, he saw a dream in which eleven stars and the sun and moon were prostrating to him. His father warned him not to relate this dream to his brothers, for he knew of their jealousy and worried they might harm Yusuf (AS). (12:4-5)

The affection that Ya’qub (AS) showed Yusuf (AS) was noticed by his half-brothers, all of whom were born to different mothers than Yusuf (AS). Their jealousy led to a plot to kill Yusuf (AS) in the hopes their father may then show them the affection they felt they were due. After committing this murder, they promised to be from among the righteous. However, one of the wisest of the brothers decided it would be better to have Yusuf (AS) sent away. (12:8-10)

Having agreed on a plan, the brothers worked on persuading Ya’qub (AS) to let them take Yusuf (AS) out to play. The father was not at ease with this as he suspected something, but he (AS) had tawakkul in Allah (SWT) and eventually agreed. The brothers took Yusuf (AS) and cast him down a well, having removed his shirt and stained it with the blood of an animal. They brought the shirt back to Ya’qub (AS) as evidence that a wolf had eaten Yusuf (AS). (12:18) According to some traditions, Ya’qub (AS) saw the shirt and remarked “What a merciful wolf! He ate up my son without tearing his shirt!” He (AS) knew they were lying, but being a father, could not help but worry.

Thrown into the well, Yusuf (AS) initially pleaded with his brothers to let him out, but Allah (SWT) set him at ease. In the meantime, a caravan of travellers arrived at the well and lowered a bucket to retrieve water. Seeing his chance, Yusuf (AS) held onto the bucket and was pulled out. Rather than letting him go, the travellers imprisoned him and sold him (AS) as a slave in Egypt. (12:19) In the slave market, the beauty and youth of Yusuf (AS) attracted the highest bidders, and al-‘Aziz, a powerful official of high ranking, purchased him. Realising he had not purchased a mere slave, but someone who probably came from a noble family, he put Yusuf (AS) in charge of his own household. (12:20-21)

The wife of the chief minister was named Zulaykha, and gradually she began to desire him; she tried to seduce him. (12:23-24) Yusuf’s refusal only increased her desire. As he (AS) moved to the door to try to escape, she ran after him and grabbed hold of his shirt. As they reached the door, it opened suddenly and one the other side was her husband. Upon seeing them, she immediately accused Yusuf (AS) of trying to seduce her, suggesting that she was innocent of any lewd behaviour. (12:25) Yusuf (AS) denied this and to determine the matter, it was suggested that Yusuf’s shirt be examined, upon which the tear was seen to be at the back of the shirt, meaning that Yusuf (AS) was indeed innocent. (12:26-29)

Zulaykha held a large banquet in an attempt to redeem herself, to show to the ladies of society that they too would not have been able to resist Yusuf (AS). She summoned him (AS) into the room as the women were cutting fruit, and upon seeing him, they began cutting through the fruit into their hands, so intoxicated were they with his beauty. The temptation was now magnified for Yusuf (AS) and he asked Allah (SWT) for a way out, and indeed He granted him a way out. (12:31-34)

Yusuf (AS) was imprisoned. He entered prison around the same time as two other men, the king’s cook and the king’s cupbearer. In prison, Allah (SWT) granted Yusuf (AS) the ability to interpret dreams. After a time, both men had dreams they were anxious to have interpreted. They could see the taqwq and light visible on Yusuf’s face, so they trusted him. He (AS) invited them both to tawheed and then gave his interpretations of both dreams. He (AS) asked the man he believed would be released to mention his case to the king, but upon being released the cupbearer forgot, and Yusuf (AS) remained in prison for some years. The king heard of Yusuf’s ability to interpret dreams and sent for him. Yusuf (AS), being the noble and pure soul he was, refused to leave prison until his honour was cleared. The king sent for the women who accused Yusuf (AS), all of whom proclaimed his innocence, admitting they were the wrongdoers.

The kings dream was regarding seven good years of crops followed by seven years of drought. Yusuf (AS) had been placed in charge of managing the crops and used his authority wisely, so that when the drought arrived, there was plenty of crops even for the people of surrounding regions. Among those seeking crops were ten of Yusuf’s brothers. (12:58-62) Binyamin, Yusuf’s younger brother had stayed behind, and Yusuf (AS) desired to see him. He (AS) refused to provide rations for Binyamin as he was not present, and he secretly returned the money they had used to purchase the crops in the hope they would come back for more and bring Binyamin with them. (12:63-67)

When the brothers returned with Binyamin, Yusuf (AS) hosted them at a banquet where he secretly revealed his identity to Binyamin, devising a plan to keep him with him. He then spoke to the other brothers in their native tongue, and they realised who he (AS) was. Yusuf (AS) forgave them and gave them his shirt to put on the face of Ya’qub (AS) to heal his eyesight. This put their father at peace, and eventually, Yusuf (AS) reunited his whole family. (12:81-100)