What did Ibn Kathir say about Prophet Yūsuf?
The single most complete prophetic biography in the Qurʾan — told in a single surah. Ibn Kathir unpacks the whole arc: the dream, the betrayal, the prison, the rise in Egypt, the reunion.
10 passages from 6 books in the library
Ibn Kathir traces Yūsuf's whole arc — from the dream, through betrayal and prison, to power in Egypt. He relates that Yūsuf rose to become "the ruler of Egypt in both religious and worldly affairs," held "in high esteem" and granted "authority over all of Egypt." Ibn Kathir recounts the king approaching him to interpret the dream of "seven fat cows eaten" by lean ones, and later, when Yūsuf's family departed Egypt, "they brought with them the coffin of Joseph" — preserving his remains for burial with his ancestors as Yūsuf had requested.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 6 books by Ibn Kathir, Ibn Battuta, and Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
-
"Then Yusuf asked the king of Egypt for permission to take his father to be buried with his ancestors,"
-
"across the lands. At that time, Yusuf was the ruler of Egypt in both religious and worldly affairs."
-
"Pharaoh held Yusuf in high esteem, granting him authority over all of Egypt, adorning him with"
-
"He approached Yusuf, saying, Yusuf, O truthful one, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
-
"No one is allowed to travel to the Levant without a permit from Egypt, or to Egypt without a permit"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
-
"mentioned in their scripture. When they left Egypt, they brought with them the coffin of Joseph,"
-
"in Egypt. Ibn Abd al-Hakam noted that from that time, the women of Egypt dominated their men,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"There is also a letter from Muhammad bin Yusuf to Abdul Rahman bin Yusuf, which begins with"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"as though I was speaking to him, saying, You are Yusuf? He replied, Yes, I am Yusuf who"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
-
"Yusuf and most of the army marched out, but some soldiers stayed behind. Yusuf wrote to"
Want a different angle?
Type your question below — JM Scholar will ground its answer in the same sources.