Which Prophet Was Imprisoned, and Where?
من هو النبي الذي سُجن، وأين كان سجنه؟
Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon him, was imprisoned in Egypt.
هو النبي يوسف عليه السلام، وكان سجنه في مصر.
1. Why Yusuf Chose Prison Over Sin | لماذا آثر يوسف السجن على المعصية
Yusuf was imprisoned after being pressured toward sin by the wife of the Egyptian noble in whose house he lived. Rather than yield, he turned to Allah in prayer: "My Lord, I would rather be in jail than do what they invite me to. And if You do not turn their cunning away from me, I might yield to them and fall into ignorance" (Surah Yusuf 12:33). His imprisonment was the direct result of choosing obedience to Allah over worldly pressure.
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ (سورة يوسف: 33)
سُجن يوسف عليه السلام بعد أن راودته امرأة العزيز عن نفسه، وكان يقيم في بيتها، فأبى ولجأ إلى ربه داعيًا: (قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ) (يوسف 12: 33). فكان سجنه ثمرة إيثاره طاعة الله على الإذعان لما أرادوه منه.
2. Prison Became Part of Yusuf's Rise | السجن طريق إلى التمكين
While imprisoned, Yusuf interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners, a skill that Allah had blessed him with. Years later, this same skill led directly to his release when he was called upon to interpret the king's dream, and ultimately to his appointment over the treasuries of the land. His hardship in prison became, by Allah's decree, the very path through which he rose to a position of authority in Egypt.
وفي السجن عبّر يوسف عليه السلام رؤيا كلٍّ من صاحبيه، وهو علم علّمه الله إياه، ثم كان هذا العلم بعد سنين سبب خروجه حين دُعي لتعبير رؤيا الملِك، ثم سبب تولّيه خزائن الأرض. فصارت محنته في السجن، بقدر الله، هي الطريق الذي ارتقى به إلى مكانته في مصر.
3. A Lesson in Patience Through Hardship | الصبر على البلاء لا يضيع
Yusuf's story is often cited as one of the clearest Quranic examples that hardship endured for Allah's sake is never wasted. He chose years of imprisonment over a single act of disobedience, and Allah later raised him to a position from which he could provide for the very brothers who had once betrayed him. His story is read as a reminder that patience through unjust hardship carries its reward with Allah, even when that reward is delayed.
قصة يوسف عليه السلام من أوضح ما يُستشهد به من القرآن على أن ما يُحتمل من البلاء في سبيل الله لا يضيع؛ فقد آثر سنوات السجن على معصية واحدة، ثم رفعه الله إلى منزلة كفل منها إخوته الذين غدروا به من قبل. فقصته تذكير بأن الصبر على الظلم له أجره عند الله وإن تأخر.
4. Yusuf's Own Request for Responsibility | طلب يوسف الولاية بنفسه
After his release, Yusuf did not simply wait to be granted authority. He asked for it directly, on the strength of the character his years of trial and imprisonment had proven: "Put me in charge of the storehouses of the land, for I am truly reliable and knowledgeable" (Surah Yusuf 12:55). The very qualities that had kept him faithful in prison, trustworthiness and sound judgment, became his own stated qualification for high office.
قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَىٰ خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ (سورة يوسف: 55)
ولما خرج يوسف عليه السلام من السجن لم يقعد ينتظر أن تُعرض عليه الولاية، بل طلبها صريحًا، معتمدًا على ما أظهرته سنوات البلاء والسجن من خُلقه: (قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَىٰ خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ) (يوسف 12: 55). فكانت الصفتان اللتان ثبّتتاه في السجن، الأمانة وحسن التدبير، هما ما احتجّ به لنيل المنصب الرفيع.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which prophet was imprisoned in the Quran?
Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon him, was imprisoned in Egypt.
Why was Yusuf imprisoned?
He was imprisoned after refusing to yield to the sin he was pressured toward, as described in Surah Yusuf 12:33.
How did Yusuf's imprisonment lead to his rise in Egypt?
His ability to interpret dreams, first shown to fellow prisoners, later led to his release and his appointment over the treasuries of Egypt.
What position did Yusuf ask for after his release?
He asked to be placed in charge of the storehouses of Egypt, describing himself as reliable and knowledgeable, in Surah Yusuf 12:55.