Surah Yusuf (سورة يوسف) with Urdu Translation

Yusuf (Arabic: يُوسُف‎, Yūsuf, "Joseph") is the 12th chapter (Surah) of the Quran and has 111 Ayahs (verses). It is preceded by sūrah Hud and followed by Ar-Ra’d (The thunder). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the supposed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it was revealed toward the end of the Makkan period, which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina. It is said to have been revealed in a single sitting and is unique in this respect. The text narrates the story of Yusuf (Joseph) who is considered a prophet in Islam, whose life and mission it recounts.

Unlike the accounts of other Islamic prophets, different elements and aspects of which are related in different surahs, the life-history of Yusuf, is narrated in this surah only, in full and in chronological order. This surah, which also tells of the truth, according to Muslims, contained in dreams, presents many principles of how to serve Islam by relating the life-history of a prophet, who became the most renowned and respected figure in the country to which he had been sold as a slave.

The surah was first translated into Latin by Thomas van Erpe in 1617 and later in the 17th century published synoptically in Arabic and Latin as part of the Lutheran efforts at translating the Qur'an.

It has been narrated by Imam Jafar al Sadiq, a great-grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), that the individual who recites Surah Yūsuf or Yusuf or Yousuf during every day or every night will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement with beauty resembling the beauty of Yousaf. He will not fear the Day of Judgement and will be among the best of the believers.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have encouraged the teaching of Surah Yūsuff to slaves, claiming that "whenever a Muslim recites it and teaches it to his family and slaves, Allah would ease for him the pangs of death and make it so that no Muslim would envy him"

Major themes:
The faith of the Prophets:
The faiths of the Prophets before Muhammad were the same as his. Prophets Ibrahim, Ishaaq, Ya'qoob (Yaqoob) and Yūsuf invited the people to the same message as Muhammad (PBUH).

Character of a Muslim:
Has awareness of Allah and accountability of one's deeds Pursues one's goals while remaining under the limits prescribed by the Divine Law
Believes that success and failure are entirely in the hands of God, whatever Allah wills happen and no one can prevent it Applies their efforts towards the truth and puts one's trust in Allah Confidence and courage Throughout the story of Yūsuf, Allah taught the believers that a person who possesses true Islamic character can master the world with the strength of their character. The example of the Prophet Yousuf shows that a person of high and pure character can overcome severe circumstances and be successful.

Objectives of this Surah:
To provide proof that Muhammad's Prophethood and his knowledge is not based on unsubstantiated information, rather but was gained through revelation.
It applies the theme of the story to the people of Quraysh (The tribe of the leaders in Makah) and warns that the conflict between them and the Prophet would end in his victory over them. As stated in verse 7: "Indeed there are signs in this story of Yūsuf and his brothers for the inquirers"

Surah Yousuf is a part of Qasas ul Anbiya where Allah tells the story of previous Prophets so that people could learn lessons from their lives as well. This surah is one of the ideal stories from the Quran (Furqan or Mushaf) for Muslim Kids and adults to reap moral benefits in addition to earning reward. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Teach your relatives the recitation of Surat Yusuf, for, any Muslim who recites it or teaches it to his family and slaves, Allah shall ease for him the agony of death, and give him the strength that will prevent him from envying a fellow Muslim’ - [Ibn Asakir]