The Story of Joseph in the Bible and the Koran - Essay Example

15 April Comparison and Contrast of the Story of Joseph in the Bible and the Koran Introduction The story of Joseph gives a common account about similarities and differences between the Bible and the Koran. Both the versions are recorded at different times, though there have been changes and amendments in the Bible, whereas the Koran has been compiled once and is maintained in its original form. These were revelations on Prophet Muhammad which were written in his lifetime. It was compiled soon after the death of Muhammad. The Biblical story of Joseph is found in Genesis 37 through 50, whereas Sura 12 is dedicated to the same. The story is important in both as it is the longest single story in the Bible and is the most detailed account of any single Prophet in the Koran. The Koran and the Bible present similar accounts only for Joseph and Moses, whereas they widely differ in accounts of Noah, Abraham and Jonah. The story of Joseph has the main basic theme, but some of the details presented differ in some ways. The Biblical story of Joseph is presented in detail, whereas the Koran presents a broader version. The paper will analyze the differences between the two stories. These are discussed in detail; 2. The Dreams In the Bible two dreams are mentioned. The first dream is of sheaves that bow down to Joseph’s sheaf. The second dream mentions eleven stars, the Sun and the Moon bowing down before Joseph. The Koran mentions only one dream which is the second dream. There is no mention of the first dream. Furthermore, both versions vary in accounts of Joseph telling his father Jacob about the dreams. In the Koran version Jacob advised Joseph to keep the dream to himself and not tell his brothers. Jacob seems to understand the meaning of the dream and understands that Joseph has been selected by God and may possess special knowledge to interpret dreams. As per the Koran the reaction is as follows: “My little son! Relate not thy vision to thy brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee: for Satan is to man an avowed enemy! Thus thy Lord choose thee and teach thee the interpretation of stories and perfect His favor to thee and to the posterity of Jacob” (Sura 12:5-6). He believes the dream to be true. Whereas, as per the Biblical account, Jacob seems unsettled and keeps the dream under consideration that it may come true. 3. Cause for Hatred The Bible has explained the cause of hatred of Joseph’s brothers. Joseph shared his dreams with them. The brothers are jealous of his dreams and that he has been granted higher position and respect. Other reasons explained also include more affection of Jacob towards Joseph since he was born to him in his old age. As per the Bible, “because he had been born to him in his old age” (Gen 37:3). Furthermore, Joseph also brought his father bad reports about his brothers. Apart from these reasons, signs of favoritism are shown towards Joseph from his father. This specially includes the colored shirt given to him. The Koran on the other hand does not mention any colored shirt, though the favoritism is the only cause explained for the hatred of his brothers for Joseph. 4. Sending Joseph with his Brothers The Koran mentions detail account of Jacob not trusting his sons. They ask permission from him to take Joseph along with them. The Koran mentions this part in a way that Jacob had knowledge of enmity that his sons were against Joseph and their intentions were not good. He was worried but allowed his sons to take Joseph along with them after some pressure and pleading. This account is not mentioned in the Bible. Furthermore, the plan to kill Joseph or to get rid of him was not premeditated as per the Bible, whereas, as per the Koran this complete activity was planned before and the permission to take Joseph along with them was a part of this plan. 6. Selling Joseph Both the books have account of Joseph being sold into slavery. The Bible has detailed account in this act. Though, the plot is the same that Joseph was sold to a caravan headed towards Egypt. The price as per the Bible is twenty Shekels of silver, whereas the Koran mentions miserable price and does not mention exact amount. 5. News about Joseph’s Death The brothers before selling Joseph took his shirt and stained it with the blood of a goat. They present this shirt to their father. On hearing the news of Joseph’s death, Jacob acted in a different way. The Bible conveys the message that he refused to be comforted and mourned for his son. The account is presented with mourning and grief, whereas the Koran presents the matter in a different way. He rejects the story and conveys that this story is made up. Since he believed in the dreams mentioned by Joseph, the mourning and grief is missing. This reaction is shown as per the Koran, “Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is Allah (alone) Whose help can be sought” (Sura 12:18). 6. Potiphar’s House The stories in both books present the same theme, but differ in some ways. As per both, Joseph was seduced by Phtiphar’s wife and the doors were locked. As per the Koran he desired her, but a revelation was sent to him at the time forbidding him from committing this sin. As per the Koran, “She almost succumbed to him, and he almost succumbed to her, if it were not that he saw a proof from his Lord. We thus diverted evil and sin away from him, for he was one of our devoted servants” (Sura 12:24). The revelation guides him to turn away and run. The account in Bible does not convey this desire (Elkayam 159). He simply refused and ran. She held him by his robe and while running his robe came off and was left behind. As per the Bible, “She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘come to bed with me!’: But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house” (Gen 39:12). The Koran mentions it in another way. When he ran towards the doors and reached the last one, she grabbed his shirt and tore it from behind. When the door was opened Potiphar was present. Justification was given that the shirt is torn from the back and therefore, his wife is at fault and he is the victim. Joseph was asked by Potiphar to remain silent on the issue. Whereas as per the Bible Potiphar’s wife told the story to the people in the house first and then later to her husband. As per the Bible, “She called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been bought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.” (Gen 39:14). The account of Joseph being sent to jail differs in a similar way. As per the Koran Joseph was not sent to jail immediately. Instead Potiphar’s wife gathered respected woman and they were asked to cut fruit. Joseph is brought in front of them and they all cut their fingers while cutting the fruits. Potiphar’s wife mentions to all these women that she did seduce him and he saved himself. Later he was sent to prison. This account is only mentioned in the Koran. 7. Rise to Power His account in prison is different in some ways, but conveys the same theme. His interpretation of dreams for the baker and the cupbearer are almost the same with minor differences. Furthermore, as per the Bible the cupbearer did not remember him and forgot to mention him to the Pharaoh. But, in Koran the blame is on the devil (Satan) who made him to forget the mention of Joseph to the Pharaoh. The Bible has detailed account of how Joseph rose to power and saved Egypt from starvation whereas the Koran presents less detail of events before Joseph meets his brothers. 8. Sibling Rivalry The stories convey messages of moral values and are meant to be lessons for human beings. Human nature is highlighted and the main theme of the story is sibling rivalry. The eleven brothers were jealous of Joseph for being loved and favored by Jacob over all. They planned and acted to kill their brother to take revenge. The story is an account of human nature and how brothers can turn against each others. This gives a sense that how selfish and dangerous humans are and to what extent they can go to fulfill their agendas. The story mentions how jealously can lead to criminal acts and is a valuable lesson for all humanity. The Bible and the Koran conveys the part of the brothers in detail and tries to explain the reasons for this jealousy. 9. Conclusion The story in both the books are very few of the accounts that are similar themed and match each other to an extent. The story has great moral lesson and conveys the message in an interesting way. The differences mentioned are only minor. The Bible accounts the story in a very detailed manner, whereas the Koran mentions the story to give moral lessons. This can be seen at the start of the story where it is mentioned that this account is given so that moral lessons be drawn out of it and that the story contains clues for the righteous. The Bible presents this story as the story of the family of Jacob, whereas the Koran keeps most part central and concentrated to only Joseph. Works Cited Elkayam, Asher. The Quran and Biblical Origins. Indiana: Xlibris, 2009. Print. The Holy Bible, New International Version. Colorado: Biblica, 1984. Print. Read More