Page 13 - Quranic Wisdom - New.indd

Quranic Wisdom

The Best Story

n chapter twelve, the Quran narrates a story, which it calls ‘the
Ibest of stories’. It is about the Prophet Joseph, who lived in
Palestine with his father and stepbrothers. When Joseph was in
his teens, his stepbrothers became jealous of him. They contrived
to throw him into a dry well situated in a forest. But God came
to his rescue—a caravan spotted him in the well and pulled him
out. Later, they sold him as a slave in an Egyptian market. That
was how he travelled from Palestine to Egypt.

“God does not waste the reward of those who do
good, who are righteous and steadfast.” (12:90)

Luckily his master was a courtier of the Egyptian King. As
for his religion, the King was an idol worshipper, while Joseph,
who belonged to the family of Abraham, was a believer in the
oneness of God. After some years, when Joseph reached the
age of maturity, he came in contact with the King. The King,
greatly impressed by his personality and wisdom, offered him
a high office in his government. In present terms, this was the
equivalent of being the minister of agriculture. According to the
Biblical narration, the Egyptian King said: “You shall be over my
house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word;
only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Genesis
42:40)
Joseph accepted this offer and successfully managed the
agricultural affairs of the land at a time when there was a severe
drought in Egypt and the surrounding areas. People became so

12