A Critical Examination of the Article “Yusuf” in the Encyclopedia of Islam

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD in Quran and Hadith Sciences, Assistant Professor at the University of Quranic Sciences and Teachings, Mashhad, Iran (Corresponding Author);

2 PhD Candidate at Mazandaran University, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Babolsar, Mazandaran Province, Iran;

Abstract

Reuven Firestone divides Yusuf’s article in the Encyclopedia of Islam into two sections: Quranic and post-Quranic texts, which is very inspiring and one of the strengths of this entry. This is because the processed story of Yusuf in the post-Quranic texts, influenced by the Old Testament, Israelites, narrative of forgers, and general literature, differs significantly from the story of Yusuf in the Quran. Although Firestone mentions the difference between the story of Yusuf Siddiq in the Quran and the Old Testament, he has not been able to follow up on this difference accurately. This present study employs a descriptive-analytical method to examine and critique this article based on the Quranic reports and their explanations in authentic Islamic hadiths. Among the criticisms made on the text of the article, which are also included in the achievements of this research, it can be mentioned whether Yusuf’s brothers sold him to the caravan? Was Prophet Yaqub’s (AS) reaction to Yusuf’s separation crying and mourning? Was he unaware of Yusuf being alive? Why didn’t Yusuf Siddiq come out of prison and did request the court on the ladies’ cutting their own hands from Pharaoh after interpreting the dream of the king of Egypt? Why is there no mention of Aziz of Egypt after the confession of those women and the beloved wife of Egypt about Yusuf’s innocence in the presence of the king of Egypt, and the king of Egypt chooses Yusuf Siddiq instead of him? Is Yusuf still Aziz of Egypt after the migration of the family of Yaqub to Egypt? If Yusuf is the ruler (king) of Egypt at this time, why didn’t his father, mother, and brothers prostrate to him; instead, according to the customs and traditions of the court of kings, the servants of the Egyptian court prostrated and paid respect to Yusuf, his father, and mother when they sat on the throne (“He raised his parents onto the throne”)?

Keywords

References

  1. The Holy Quran, Translated by Abd al-Mohammad Ayati, Tehrna: Soroush, 1368 SH (1989 CE).

    1. The Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments), London, 1954 CE.
    2. Alm al-Huda, Ali bin al-Hussein, Tanzih al-Anbiya 'alayhim al-Salam (The Purification of the Prophets, Peace Be Upon Them), Qom: Sharif Razi, n.d.
    3. Asqalani, Ahmad bin Ali, Ta'rif Ahl al-Taqdis bi Maratib al-Mawsufin bi al-Tadlis (Introduction to the Degrees of Those Described with Fabrication), Amman: Maktabat al-Manar, 1403 AH (1983 CE).
    4. Ayashi, Mohammad bin Masoud, Al-Tafsir (The Interpretation of Quran), Tehran: Maktabat al-Ilmiyyah al-Islamiyyah, 1380 SH (2001 CE).
    5. Ehsani, Keyvan, Farhad Amrayi, and Reza Molazadeh Yamchi, Naqd va Arzyabi-e Maqaleh 'Yusuf va Zulaykha' Daraye Dairat al-Ma'arif-e Lidan (Critique and Evaluation of the Article Yusuf and Zuleikha' in the Encyclopedia Leiden), Shubheh-Pazhuhishi-e Motale'at-e Quran, No. 6, 1401 SH (2022 CE).
    6. Farzand-e Vahy, Jamal and Nezam Jamsheedi, “Naqd-e Maqaleh 'Yusuf' dar Dairat al-Ma'arif-e Jodaeika” (Critique of the Article 'Joseph' in the Encyclopedia Judaica), Quran Pazhohi Khavaran (Orientalists’ Quran Studies), No. 26, 1389 SH (2010 CE).
    7. Firestone, Reuven, “Yusuf”, Encyclopedia of Islam (2002 CE), Volume XI, The Netherlands: Leiden, Brill, page 352-
    8. Hilli, Hassan bin Yusuf, Khulasah al-Aqwāl fi Ma'rifat al-Rijāl (The Summary of Statements in Knowing the Narrators), Edited by Seyyed Mohammad Sadeq Bahar al-Ulum, Najaf Ashraf: Haideriyyah Press, 1381 SH (1962 CE).
    9. Ibn Babawayh, Mohammad bin Ali, Al-Amali (The Dictations), Tehran: Ketabchi Publications, 1376 SH (1997 CE).
    10. Ibn Babawayh, Mohammad bin Ali, Ilal al-Shara'i (The Reasons of Legal Rulings), Qom: Davari Publishing, 1385 SH (2006 CE).
    11. Ibn Babawayh, Mohammad bin Ali, Al-Khisal (The Characteristics), Edited by Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Qom: Association of Seminary Teachers, 1362 SH (1983 CE).
    12. Ibn Babawayh, Mohammad bin Ali, Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah (Perfection of Religion and Completion of Blessings), Edited by Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Tehran: Islamiyyah, 1395 SH (2016 CE).
    13. Khoei, Sayyid Abu al-Qasim, Mu'jam Rijal al-Hadith (Dictionary of Hadith Narrators), Al-Khoei Islamic Institute, n.d).
    14. Leaman, Oliver, (2006 CE), The Quran: An Encyclopedia, New York: Routledge, 1st
    15. Lesani-Fesharki, Mohammad Ali and Mohsen Rajabi Qodsi, Qisseh Yusuf Sadiq (Series of Educational and Research Works on Quranic Stories 2), Tehran: 114 (Upcoming).
    16. Lesani-Fesharki, Mohammad Ali, "Kargah Tafsir-e Qisseh Yusuf Siddiq:" (Workshop on the Interpretation of the Story of Joseph the Truthful), Karaj: Basharat-e Tasnim Institute, 1395 SH (2016 CE) (https://quranlsn.ir/multimedia/course/?id=3).
    17. Maqatil bin Sulayman, Tafsir (The Interpretation of Quran), Edited by Abdullah Mahmoud Shihatah, Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1423 AH (2002 CE).
    18. Ma'rifat, Mohammad Hadi, Tafsir va Mofassiran (Interpretation and Interpreters), Qom: Tameed, 1395 SH (2016 CE).
    19. Mibudi, Ahmad bin Ahmad, Kashf al-Asrar wa ‘Uddat al-Abrar (Revealing Secrets and Number of Righteous People) (Known as Tafsir Khwaja Abdullah Ansari), Tehran: Amir Kabir, 1371 SH (1992 CE).
    20. Mirarab, Faraj Allah, Barrasi Ed’iyae Iqtibas al-Quran az ‘Ahdayn (Investigating the Claims of Quran Quotation from Old and New Testaments), Qom: Islamic Sciences and Culture Research Institute, 1399 SH (2020 CE).
    21. Mohammad Qasimi, Hamid, Israeliat va Tathir-e An bar Dastanha-ye Anbiya dar Tafsir-e Quran (Israelites and Their Influence on the Stories of Prophets in Quranic Interpretations), Tehran: Soroush, 1390 SH (2011 CE).
    22. Mufid, Mohammad bin Mohammad, Al-Ikhtisas (The Specifications), Qom: The International Congress on the Millennium of al-Sheikh al-Mufid, 1413 AH (1993 CE).
    23. Qomi, Ali bin Ibrahim, Tafsir (The Interpretation of Quran), Qom: Dar al-Kitab, 1363 SH (1984 CE).
    24. Qurtubi, Mohammad bin Ahmad, Al-Jami' li Ahkam al-Quran (The Comprehensive Compilation of Quranic Rulings), Cairo: Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyyah, 1384 AH (2005 CE).
    25. Rad, Ali, Ahadith-e Jamal-e Yusuf dar Manabe'e Ahl-e Sunnat: Asib-Shenasi va Tarikh-Gozari (The Hadiths of the Beauty of Joseph in Sunni Sources: Pathology and Chronology), Ulum-e Hadith, No. 82, 1395 SH (2016 CE).
    26. Rad, Ali, Paradigm-e Jamal-e Yusuf (A.S.) dar Tafsir-e Quran: Az Angare ta Goftaman (The Paradigm of Beauty of Joseph in the Interpretation of the Quran: From Metaphor to Discourse), Mashhad: Astan Quds Razavi Publishing Institute, 1398 SH (2019 CE).
    27. Rad, Ali, Ravayat-e Ziba'i-ye Yusuf (A.S.) dar Manabe'e Hadithi-ye Imamiye: Mostanadat va Asib-ha (The Narration of the Beauty Joseph in Imami Hadith Sources: Authenticity and Challenges), Pazhuheshnameh-e Imamia, No. 4, 1395 SH (2016 CE).
    28. Samarqandi, Nasr bin Mohammad, Bahr al-'Ulum (The Ocean of Knowledge), Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1416 AH (1995 CE).
    29. Simpson, William Kelly, (2003), Tale of the Two Brothers, The Literature of Ancient Egypt, Translated by: R.O. Faulkner and Edward F. Wente, Yale University Press: New Harven and London.
    30. Suyuti, Jalal al-Din, Al-Durr al-Mansur fi Tafsir bi al-Mathur (The Scattered Pearls in the Interpretation by the Transmitted Authentic Source), Qom: Public Library of Ayatollah Mara’shi Najafi, 1404 AH (1985 CE).
    31. Tabari, Mohammad bin Jareer, Jami al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran (The Comprehensive Elucidation in the Interpretation of the Quran), Beirut: Dar al-Ma'arifah, 1412 AH (1992 CE).
    32. Tabarsi, Fadl bin Hassan, Majma al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran (The Collection of Elucidation in the Interpretation of the Quran), Tehran: Naser Khosrow, 1372 SH (1993 CE).
    33. Tabatabai, Sayyid Mohammad Hussein, Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran (The Balance in the Interpretation of the Quran), Beirut: Al-A’lami Institute for Publications, 1390 AH (1970 CE).
    34. Tusi, Mohammad bin Hassan, Al-Amali (The Dictations), Qom: Dar al-Thaqafah, 1414 AH (1994 CE).
    35. Zahabi, Mohammad Hussein, Al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassirun (Interpretation and Interpreters), Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Araabi, n.d.
    36. Zamakhshari, Mahmoud bin ‘Umar, Al-Kashshaf 'an Haqaiq Ghawamid al-Tanzil wa 'Uyun al-Aqawil fi Wujuh al-Ta'wil (The Unveiling of the Truths of the Ambiguities of Revelation and the Sources of Interpretation), Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-Arabi, 1407 AH (1986 CE).
The Qur’an from Orientalists Point of View
Volume 18, Issue 34 - Serial Number 34
(Registration No. 124/ 5086 Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance) Volume 34, Spring and Summer 2023
September 2023
Pages 225-256

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 26 November 2022
  • Revise Date: 13 December 2022
  • Accept Date: 21 June 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics