Lost Verses 1. Al-Fatihah 2. Al-Baqarah 3. Ali 'Imran 4. An-Nisa 5. Al-Ma'idah 6. Al-An'am 7. Al-A'raf 8. Al-Anfal 9. At-Tawbah 10. Yunus 11. Hud 12. Yusuf 13. Ar-Ra'd 14. Ibrahim 15. Al-Hijr 16. An-Nahl 17. Al-Isra 18. Al-Kahf 19. Maryam 20. Taha 21. Al-Anbya 22. Al-Hajj 23. Al-Mu'minun 24. An-Nur 25. Al-Furqan 26. Ash-Shu'ara 27. An-Naml 28. Al-Qasas 29. Al-'Ankabut 30. Ar-Rum 31. Luqman 32. As-Sajdah 33. Al-Ahzab 34. Saba 35. Fatir 36. Ya-Sin 37. As-Saffat 38. Sad 39. Az-Zumar 40. Ghafir 41. Fussilat 42. Ash-Shuraa 43. Az-Zukhruf 44. Ad-Dukhan 45. Al-Jathiyah 46. Al-Ahqaf 47. Muhammad 48. Al-Fath 49. Al-Hujurat 50. Qaf 51. Adh-Dhariyat 52. At-Tur 53. An-Najm 54. Al-Qamar 55. Ar-Rahman 56. Al-Waqi'ah 57. Al-Hadid 58. Al-Mujadila 59. Al-Hashr 60. Al-Mumtahanah 61. As-Saf 62. Al-Jumu'ah 63. Al-Munafiqun 64. At-Taghabun 65. At-Talaq 66. At-Tahrim 67. Al-Mulk 68. Al-Qalam 69. Al-Haqqah 70. Al-Ma'arij 71. Nuh 72. Al-Jinn 73. Al-Muzzammil 74. Al-Muddaththir 75. Al-Qiyamah 76. Al-Insan 77. Al-Mursalat 78. An-Naba 79. An-Nazi'at 80. 'Abasa 81. At-Takwir 82. Al-Infitar 83. Al-Mutaffifin 84. Al-Inshiqaq 85. Al-Buruj 86. At-Tariq 87. Al-A'la 88. Al-Ghashiyah 89. Al-Fajr 90. Al-Balad 91. Ash-Shams 92. Al-Layl 93. Ad-Duhaa 94. Ash-Sharh 95. At-Tin 96. Al-'Alaq 97. Al-Qadr 98. Al-Bayyinah 99. Az-Zalzalah 100. Al-'Adiyat 101. Al-Qari'ah 102. At-Takathur 103. Al-'Asr 104. Al-Humazah 105. Al-Fil 106. Quraysh 107. Al-Ma'un 108. Al-Kawthar 109. Al-Kafirun 110. An-Nasr 111. Al-Masad 112. Al-Ikhlas 113. Al-Falaq 114. An-Nas Abrogated Verses

۞لَّقَدۡ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخۡوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٞ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ

Certainly in (the story of) Joseph and his brothers (there) are signs for the ones who ask.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference - Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

ءَايَٰتٞ

signs

Variant Reading

ءَايَتٞ

a sign

Hafs reads the word in the plural form 'āyāt' (signs), whereas the variant (e.g., Ibn Kathir) reads it in the singular form 'āyat' (a sign), based on the presence or absence of the alif (represented by the dagger alif in the Uthmani script).

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

10

قَالَ قَآئِلٞ مِّنۡهُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُواْ يُوسُفَ وَأَلۡقُوهُ فِي غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ يَلۡتَقِطۡهُ بَعۡضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَٰعِلِينَ

A speaker among them said, ‘Do not kill Joseph, but cast him to the bottom of the well, (and) some caravan will pick him up – if you are going to do (anything).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference - Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

غَيَٰبَتِ

bottom

Variant Reading

غَيَٰبَٰتِ

invisible cavities

Hafs reads the word in the singular form 'ghayābati' (bottom/depth), whereas the variant reads it in the plural form 'ghayābāti' (invisible cavities/depths).

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

12

أَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعَنَا غَدٗا يَرۡتَعۡ وَيَلۡعَبۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ

Send him out with us tomorrow to enjoy (himself) and jest. Surely we shall indeed watch over him.’

Diacritical Difference (dots) - Change of Person
Diacritical Difference (dots) Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

يَرۡتَعۡ وَيَلۡعَبۡ

enjoy (himself) and jest

Variant Reading

نَّرۡتَعِ وَنَلۡعَبۡ

we may eat well and play

The prefix letters change from ya' (third person 'he') to nun (first person 'we'), shifting the subject of enjoyment and play from Joseph alone to all the brothers.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Qunbul, Susi

15

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُواْ بِهِۦ وَأَجۡمَعُوٓاْ أَن يَجۡعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمۡرِهِمۡ هَٰذَا وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

When they had taken him away, and agreed to put him in the bottom of the well, We inspired him: ‘You will indeed inform them about this affair (of theirs), though they will not realize (who you are).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference - Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Singular to Plural / Plural to Singular
Original (Hafs)

غَيَٰبَتِ

bottom

Variant Reading

غَيَٰبَٰتِ

invisible cavities

The word is read as a singular noun (ghayābat) in Hafs, meaning 'bottom' or 'depth', whereas the variant reads it as a plural noun (ghayābāt), meaning 'depths' or 'invisible cavities'.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Warsh

19

وَجَآءَتۡ سَيَّارَةٞ فَأَرۡسَلُواْ وَارِدَهُمۡ فَأَدۡلَىٰ دَلۡوَهُۥۖ قَالَ يَٰبُشۡرَىٰ هَٰذَا غُلَٰمٞۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَٰعَةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَعۡمَلُونَ

A caravan came, and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, ‘Good news! This is a young boy (here).’ And they hid him as merchandise, but God knew what they were doing.

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference - Addition / Omission of Word
Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Addition / Omission of Word
Original (Hafs)

يَٰبُشۡرَىٰ

Good news!

Variant Reading

يَٰبُشْرٰ۪يَ

glad tidings for me!

The variant adds the first-person possessive pronoun suffix (ya mutakallim), changing the general exclamation 'O good news!' to a personalized 'O my good news!' (glad tidings for me).

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

20

وَشَرَوۡهُ بِثَمَنِۭ بَخۡسٖ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعۡدُودَةٖ وَكَانُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّـٰهِدِينَ

And they sold him for a small price, a number of dirhams, (for) they had no interest in him.

Historical Error
This verse explicitly describes Joseph being sold for "a number of dirhams." The dirham is a coined currency derived from the Greek drachma, which did not exist during the patriarchal era or the Middle Kingdom/Hyksos period of Egypt. The use of a post-Alexandrian currency in an ancient Near Eastern narrative constitutes a clear, anachronistic historical error.
23

وَرَٰوَدَتۡهُ ٱلَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيۡتِهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلۡأَبۡوَٰبَ وَقَالَتۡ هَيۡتَ لَكَۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّيٓ أَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَايَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

She, in whose house he was, tried to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, ‘Come here, you!’ He said, ‘God’s refuge! Surely he is my lord, and he has given me a good dwelling place. Surely the evildoers do not prosper.’

Competing Codex
Abdullah bin Masud Read as Abdullah bin Masud

Sahih al-Bukhari 4692

هَيْتَ لَكَ

Haita laka (Come you)

Hadith Context:

حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ وَإِنَّمَا نَقْرَؤُهَا كَمَا عُلِّمْنَاهَا ‏{‏مَثْوَاهُ‏}‏ مُقَامُهُ ‏{‏أَلْفَيَا‏}‏ وَجَدَا ‏{‏أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ‏}‏ ‏{‏أَلْفَيْنَا‏}‏ وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ‏{‏بَلْ عَجِبْتَ وَيَسْخَرُونَ‏}‏

Narrated Abu Wail: `Abdullah bin Mas`ud recited "Haita laka (Come you)," and added, "We recite it as we were taught it[omitted from the english translation: {mathwahu} means his staying place, {alfaya} means they both found, and instead of {alfaw aba'ahum} (they found their fathers) we recite {alfayna} (we found). And from Ibn Mas'ud: {bal 'ajibta wa yaskharun} (Nay, you marveled and they mock).]

24

وَلَقَدۡ هَمَّتۡ بِهِۦۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرۡهَٰنَ رَبِّهِۦۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصۡرِفَ عَنۡهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلۡفَحۡشَآءَۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ

Certainly she was obsessed with him, and he would have been obsessed with her, if (it had) not (been) that he saw a proof of his Lord. (It happened) in this way in order that We might turn evil and immorality away from him. Surely he was one of Our devoted servants.

Vowel Difference (harakat) - Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Vowel Difference (harakat) Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ

devoted

Variant Reading

ٱلۡمُخۡلِصِينَ

sincere

The word changes from a passive participle (al-mukhlaṣīn, meaning chosen or purified) in Hafs to an active participle (al-mukhliṣīn, meaning sincere) in the variant due to a change in the vowel on the letter lam from fatha to kasra.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi

Borrowed Mythology & Plagiarism
The verse claims Joseph "would have inclined to her" had he not seen a "proof of his Lord." This divergence from the Biblical account of Joseph's steadfast moral resistance is directly lifted from Jewish Midrashic traditions (e.g., Talmud Sotah 36b), which similarly recount Joseph being on the verge of yielding until the sudden image of his father appeared to him as a sign.
26

قَالَ هِيَ رَٰوَدَتۡنِي عَن نَّفۡسِيۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٞ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٖ فَصَدَقَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ

He said, ‘She tried to seduce me!’ (Just then) a witness of her household bore witness: ‘If his shirt is torn from the front, she has been truthful, and he is one of the liars.

Borrowed Mythology & Plagiarism
The introduction of a "witness of her household" who proposes the test of the torn shirt—identified in authoritative Tafsir (like At-Tabari) as a speaking infant in the cradle—is absent from the Biblical text. This narrative device is directly plagiarized from late Jewish midrashic literature, specifically the Sefer ha-Yashar, which features an 11-month-old baby miraculously speaking to suggest this exact same forensic test.
28

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٖ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيۡدِكُنَّۖ إِنَّ كَيۡدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٞ

So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said, ‘Surely it is a plot of you women! Surely your plot is grave.

Devalues Women
By having the husband declare, "Surely it is a plot of you women! Surely your plot is grave (Kaydukunna 'Azeem)," the Quran uses the actions of Potiphar's wife to establish a universalized stereotype of women as inherently deceptive and conniving. Islamic Tafsir frequently leverages this statement to generalize the "mighty plotting" of all women, thereby institutionalizing a negative, gendered generalization that degrades women's moral standing.
31

فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتۡ بِمَكۡرِهِنَّ أَرۡسَلَتۡ إِلَيۡهِنَّ وَأَعۡتَدَتۡ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـٔٗا وَءَاتَتۡ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٖ مِّنۡهُنَّ سِكِّينٗا وَقَالَتِ ٱخۡرُجۡ عَلَيۡهِنَّۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيۡنَهُۥٓ أَكۡبَرۡنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعۡنَ أَيۡدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلۡنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنۡ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٞ كَرِيمٞ

When she heard their cunning (gossip), she sent for them, and prepared a banquet for them, and gave each one of them a knife. Then she said (to Joseph), ‘Come forth to (wait on) them.’ When they saw him, they admired him, and cut their hands, and said, ‘God preserve (us)! This is no (mere) mortal. This is nothing but a splendid angel!’

Vowel Difference (harakat) - Different Word entirely
Vowel Difference (harakat) Different Word entirely
Original (Hafs)

مُتَّكَـٔٗا

a banquet

Variant Reading

مُتۡكٗا

citrus fruits

The Hafs reading 'muttaka'an' means a banquet or a place to recline. The variant reading 'mutkan' alters the vowels and drops the hamza (while sharing the same consonantal rasm), changing the word to mean a citron or citrus fruit, which contextually aligns with giving them knives to cut it.

Read by:

Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan

Borrowed Mythology & Plagiarism
The narrative of the Egyptian women becoming so entranced by Joseph's beauty that they inadvertently cut their hands with knives is not found in the Bible. Instead, this account is a direct borrowing from Jewish apocryphal and midrashic literature, such as the Midrash Tanchuma (Vayeshev 5) and the Sefer ha-Yashar, which the Quran then presents as literal historical truth.
33

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجۡنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدۡعُونَنِيٓ إِلَيۡهِۖ وَإِلَّا تَصۡرِفۡ عَنِّي كَيۡدَهُنَّ أَصۡبُ إِلَيۡهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡجَٰهِلِينَ

He said, ‘My Lord, prison is preferable to me than what they invite me to. But unless You turn their plot away from me, I shall give in to them, and I shall become one of the ignorant.’

Vowel Difference (harakat) - Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Vowel Difference (harakat) Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

ٱلسِّجۡنُ

prison

Variant Reading

ٱلسَّجۡنُ

imprisonment

Changing the vowel on the letter seen from a kasrah to a fatha changes the word from a concrete noun meaning the physical place ('prison') to a verbal noun/masdar indicating the action itself ('imprisonment').

Read by:

Rawh, Ruways

49

ثُمَّ يَأۡتِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَامٞ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعۡصِرُونَ

Then, after that, will come a year in which the people will have rain, and in which they will press.’

Diacritical Difference (dots) - Change of Person
Diacritical Difference (dots) Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

يَعۡصِرُونَ

they will press

Variant Reading

تَعۡصِرُونَ

you press

The prefix letter changes from ya' (two dots below, denoting the 3rd person plural 'they') to ta' (two dots above, denoting the 2nd person plural 'you').

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

Historical Error
This verse promises a year where the people of Egypt will have "rain" (yughathu). This demonstrates a geographical blunder, as ancient Egyptian agriculture depended almost entirely on the annual flooding of the Nile River from sources further south, not on local rainfall. The author of the Quran mistakenly projects the meteorological realities of the Arabian peninsula onto Egypt.
56

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنۡهَا حَيۡثُ يَشَآءُۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

In this way We established Joseph in the land. He settled in it wherever he pleased. We smite whomever We please with Our mercy, and We do not let the reward of the doers of good go to waste.

Diacritical Difference (dots) - Change of Person
Diacritical Difference (dots) Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

يَشَآءُ

he pleased

Variant Reading

نَشَآءُ

We so willed

The verb shifts from the third-person singular ('he pleased', referring to Joseph) to the first-person plural ('We so willed', referring to Allah) due to a change in the diacritical dots on the initial letter (ya to na).

Read by:

Bazzi, Qunbul

62

وَقَالَ لِفِتۡيَٰنِهِ ٱجۡعَلُواْ بِضَٰعَتَهُمۡ فِي رِحَالِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَعۡرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

He said to his young men, ‘Put their merchandise (back) in their packs, so that they will recognize it when they turn back to their family, (and) so that they will return (here).’

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference - Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

لِفِتۡيَٰنِهِ

his young men

Variant Reading

لِفِتْيَتِهِ

his few young assistants

The word changes from 'fityān' (a plural of multitude) to 'fityah' (a plural of paucity), shifting the meaning to specifically indicate a smaller number ('a few') of young men or assistants.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

63

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمۡ قَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلۡكَيۡلُ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكۡتَلۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ

When they returned to their father, they said, ‘Our father! The measure was refused us, so send our brother (back) with us, (and) we shall get the measure. Surely we shall indeed watch over him.’

Diacritical Difference (dots) - Change of Person
Diacritical Difference (dots) Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

نَكۡتَلۡ

we shall get the measure

Variant Reading

يَكْتَلۡ

he can obtain measure

The verb's prefix changes from a Nun (indicating first person plural 'we') to a Ya (indicating third person singular 'he'), shifting the subject who will receive the measure from all the brothers to specifically their younger brother.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

64

قَالَ هَلۡ ءَامَنُكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبۡلُ فَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٌ حَٰفِظٗاۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّـٰحِمِينَ

He said, ‘Shall I trust you with him as I trusted you with his brother before? God is the best Watcher, and He (is) the most compassionate of the compassionate.’

Vowel Difference (harakat) - Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Vowel Difference (harakat) Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

حَٰفِظٗا

Watcher

Variant Reading

حِفْظٗا

preservation

The word changes from the active participle 'ḥāfiẓan' (Watcher/Protector) in Hafs to the verbal noun 'ḥifẓan' (preservation) in the variant reading, sharing the same Uthmani rasm (حفظا).

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hafs, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad

76

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوۡعِيَتِهِمۡ قَبۡلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَخۡرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدۡنَا لِيُوسُفَۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأۡخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ ٱلۡمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ نَرۡفَعُ دَرَجَٰتٖ مَّن نَّشَآءُۗ وَفَوۡقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلۡمٍ عَلِيمٞ

So he began with their packs before (searching) his brother’s pack, (and) then he brought it out of his brother’s pack. In this way We plotted for (the sake of) Joseph. He was not one to take his brother, in (accord with) the religion of the king, unless God had (so) pleased. We raise in rank whomever We please, and above everyone who has knowledge is the One who knows.

Vowel Difference (harakat) - Grammatical Case Change | Diacritical Difference (dots) - Change of Person
Vowel Difference (harakat) Grammatical Case Change
Original (Hafs)

دَرَجَٰتٖ

in rank

Variant Reading

دَرَجَٰتِ

the degrees (ranks) of

The Hafs reading uses tanween (darajātin), acting as an adverbial specification ('We raise whom We please in rank/degrees'), while the variant drops the tanween to form an Idafah possessive construction ('We raise the degrees of whomever').

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

Diacritical Difference (dots) Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

نَرۡفَعُ

We raise

Variant Reading

يَرۡفَعُ

He elevates

The prefix letter changes from nun (one dot above) to ya (two dots below), shifting the verb from first-person plural (majestic 'We') to third-person singular ('He').

Read by:

Rawh, Ruways

Theological Defect
This verse attributes the act of plotting and deception directly to God, using the word 'kidnā' (We plotted/schemed) to describe how Allah orchestrated the ruse to accuse Joseph's brother of theft. By portraying God as the active author of a deceitful stratagem to circumvent the king's law, the text introduces a theological defect wherein divine action is characterized by trickery and manipulation, contrary to the absolute holiness and truthfulness of the Divine nature.
99

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَبَوَيۡهِ وَقَالَ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مِصۡرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ

When they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself and said, ‘Enter Egypt, if God pleases, secure.’

Contradicts the Bible
The text states that Joseph received both of his 'parents' in Egypt, which contradicts the Biblical account. According to Genesis 35:19, Joseph's mother, Rachel, died in Canaan while giving birth to Benjamin, long before the migration to Egypt. Classical commentators like Al-Tabari defend the literal reading that his mother was alive, which explicitly denies established Biblical history.
100

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيۡهِ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ وَخَرُّواْ لَهُۥ سُجَّدٗاۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأۡوِيلُ رُءۡيَٰيَ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقّٗاۖ وَقَدۡ أَحۡسَنَ بِيٓ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَنِي مِنَ ٱلسِّجۡنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡبَدۡوِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَ إِخۡوَتِيٓۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٞ لِّمَا يَشَآءُۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

He raised his parents on the throne, and they (all) fell down before him in prostration. And he said, ‘My father! This is the interpretation of my vision from before. My Lord has made it (come) true. He has been good to me, when He brought me out of the prison, and when He brought you out of the desert, after Satan had caused strife between me and my brothers. Surely my Lord is astute to whatever He pleases. Surely He – He is the Knowing, the Wise.

Contradicts the Bible
This verse claims that both of Joseph's parents were raised on the throne and bowed to him to fulfill his childhood vision. This contradicts Genesis 35:19, which establishes that Joseph's mother, Rachel, had already died. The Quran forces a literal fulfillment of the dream's 'sun and moon' metaphor by erroneously placing his deceased mother in Egypt, directly contradicting the Biblical narrative.
102

ذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيۡكَۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيۡهِمۡ إِذۡ أَجۡمَعُوٓاْ أَمۡرَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ يَمۡكُرُونَ

That is one of the stories of the unseen. We inspired you (with) it. You were not with them when they agreed on their plan and were scheming.

Borrowed Mythology & Plagiarism
The text claims the story of Joseph is a revelation of the 'unseen' (al-ghayb) that Muhammad could not have otherwise known, presenting it as miraculous proof of his prophethood. However, this narrative was already extensively documented in the Biblical book of Genesis and was well-known in Jewish and Syriac Christian traditions, demonstrating that the material was appropriated from pre-existing scripture rather than being genuinely 'unseen' knowledge.
109

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالٗا نُّوحِيٓ إِلَيۡهِم مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓۗ أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَيَنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ خَيۡرٞ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوۡاْۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ

We have not sent (anyone) before you except men whom We inspired from the people of the towns. Have they not traveled on the earth and seen how the end was for those who were before them? The Home of the Hereafter is indeed better for those who guard (themselves). Do you not understand?

Diacritical Difference (dots) - Active to Passive / Passive to Active | Diacritical Difference (dots) - Change of Person
Diacritical Difference (dots) Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

نُّوحِيٓ

We inspired

Variant Reading

يُوح۪ىٰٓ

it is revealed

The Hafs reading uses the first-person plural active verb 'We inspired', whereas the variant uses the third-person singular passive verb 'it is revealed', marked by a change in diacritical dots (nun to ya) and vowels.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Shu'bah, Susi, Warsh

Diacritical Difference (dots) Change of Person
Original (Hafs)

تَعۡقِلُونَ

you understand

Variant Reading

يَعۡقِلُونَ

they reason

The prefix of the verb changes from a 'taa' (second person plural, 'you') to a 'yaa' (third person plural, 'they').

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qunbul, Susi

110

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسۡتَيۡـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓاْ أَنَّهُمۡ قَدۡ كُذِبُواْ جَآءَهُمۡ نَصۡرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَآءُۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأۡسُنَا عَنِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

– Until, when the messengers had given up hope, and thought that they had been lied to, Our help came to them, and those whom We pleased were rescued. But Our violence was not turned back from the people who were sinners.

Vowel Difference (harakat) - Change Meaning (general semantic shift) | Graphical/Basic Letter Difference - Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Vowel Difference (harakat) Change Meaning (general semantic shift)
Original (Hafs)

كُذِبُواْ

lied to

Variant Reading

كُذِّبُواْ

deemed liars

The change from Form I passive (كُذِبُوا - were lied to) to Form II passive (كُذِّبُوا - were deemed liars) occurs by adding a shaddah, shifting the meaning from the messengers thinking they were given false promises to them thinking their people completely rejected them as liars.

Read by:

Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan, Qalun, Qunbul, Rawh, Ruways, Susi, Warsh

Graphical/Basic Letter Difference Active to Passive / Passive to Active
Original (Hafs)

فَنُجِّيَ

were rescued

Variant Reading

فَنُۨجِے

We save

The verb changes from a passive form (were rescued) in Hafs to an active, first-person plural form (We save) in the variant, while maintaining the same base Uthmani skeleton.

Read by:

Abu Al-Harith, Bazzi, Duri Abu 'Amr, Duri Al-Kisa'i, Ibn Jummaz, Ibn Wardan, Idris, Ishaq, Khalaf, Khallad, Qalun, Qunbul, Susi, Warsh

Competing Codex

Sahih al-Bukhari 3389

كُذِبُوا

read in such a way as to mean that the apostles thought that Allah did not help them

Hadith Context:

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرَأَيْتِ قَوْلَهُ ‏{‏حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِّبُوا‏}‏ أَوْ كُذِبُوا‏.‏ قَالَتْ بَلْ كَذَّبَهُمْ قَوْمُهُمْ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدِ اسْتَيْقَنُوا أَنَّ قَوْمَهُمْ كَذَّبُوهُمْ وَمَا هُوَ بِالظَّنِّ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ يَا عُرَيَّةُ، لَقَدِ اسْتَيْقَنُوا بِذَلِكَ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَلَعَلَّهَا أَوْ كُذِبُوا‏.‏ قَالَتْ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ، لَمْ تَكُنِ الرُّسُلُ تَظُنُّ ذَلِكَ بِرَبِّهَا وَأَمَّا هَذِهِ الآيَةُ قَالَتْ هُمْ أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَصَدَّقُوهُمْ، وَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَلاَءُ، وَاسْتَأْخَرَ عَنْهُمُ النَّصْرُ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَتْ مِمَّنْ كَذَّبَهُمْ مِنْ قَوْمِهِمْ، وَظَنُّوا أَنَّ أَتْبَاعَهُمْ كَذَّبُوهُمْ جَاءَهُمْ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ‏{‏اسْتَيْأَسُوا‏}‏ افْتَعَلُوا مِنْ يَئِسْتُ‏.‏ ‏{‏مِنْهُ‏}‏ مِنْ يُوسُفَ‏.‏ ‏{‏لاَ تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ‏}‏ مَعْنَاهُ الرَّجَاءُ‏.‏

Narrated `Urwa:I asked `Aisha the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) about the meaning of the following Verse: -- "(Respite will be granted) 'Until when the apostles give up hope (of their people) and thought that they were denied (by their people)..............."(12.110) `Aisha replied, "Really, their nations did not believe them." I said, "By Allah! They were definite that their nations treated them as liars and it was not a matter of suspecting." `Aisha said, "O 'Uraiya (i.e. `Urwa)! No doubt, they were quite sure about it." I said, "May the Verse be read in such a way as to mean that the apostles thought that Allah did not help them?" Aisha said, "Allah forbid! (Impossible) The Apostles did not suspect their Lord of such a thing. But this Verse is concerned with the Apostles' followers who had faith in their Lord and believed in their apostles and their period of trials was long and Allah's Help was delayed till the apostles gave up hope for the conversion of the disbelievers amongst their nation and suspected that even their followers were shaken in their belief, Allah's Help then came to them

Abdullah bin Abbas Read as Abdullah bin Abbas

Sahih al-Bukhari 4525

حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا

(Respite will be granted) until when the Apostles gave up hope (of their people) and thought that they were denied (by their people).

Hadith Context:

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ ‏{‏حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا‏}‏ خَفِيفَةً، ذَهَبَ بِهَا هُنَاكَ، وَتَلاَ ‏{‏حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ‏}‏ فَلَقِيتُ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ مِنْ شَىْءٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ كَائِنٌ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ، وَلَكِنْ لَمْ يَزَلِ الْبَلاَءُ بِالرُّسُلِ حَتَّى خَافُوا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَنْ مَعَهُمْ يُكَذِّبُونَهُمْ، فَكَانَتْ تَقْرَؤُهَا ‏{‏وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِّبُوا‏}‏ مُثَقَّلَةً‏.‏

Narrated Ibn Abu Mulaika: Ibn `Abbas recited: "(Respite will be granted) until when the Apostles gave up hope (of their people) and thought that they were denied (by their people). There came to them Our Help ...." (12.110) reading Kudhibu without doubling the sound 'dh', and that was what he understood of the Verse. Then he went on reciting: "..even the Apostle and those who believed along with him said: When (will come) Allah's Help? Yes, verily, Allah's Help is near." (2.214) Then I met `Urwa bin Az-Zubair and I mentioned that to him. He said, "Aisha said, 'Allah forbid! By Allah, Allah never promised His Apostle anything but he knew that it would certainly happen before he died. But trials were continuously presented before the Apostles till they were afraid that their followers would accuse them of telling lies. So I used to recite:-- "Till they (come to) think that they were treated as liars." reading 'Kudh-dhibu with double 'dh

Sahih al-Bukhari 4525

وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِّبُوا

Till they (come to) think that they were treated as liars.

Hadith Context:

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ ‏{‏حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا‏}‏ خَفِيفَةً، ذَهَبَ بِهَا هُنَاكَ، وَتَلاَ ‏{‏حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ‏}‏ فَلَقِيتُ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ مِنْ شَىْءٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ كَائِنٌ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ، وَلَكِنْ لَمْ يَزَلِ الْبَلاَءُ بِالرُّسُلِ حَتَّى خَافُوا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَنْ مَعَهُمْ يُكَذِّبُونَهُمْ، فَكَانَتْ تَقْرَؤُهَا ‏{‏وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِّبُوا‏}‏ مُثَقَّلَةً‏.‏

Narrated Ibn Abu Mulaika: Ibn `Abbas recited: "(Respite will be granted) until when the Apostles gave up hope (of their people) and thought that they were denied (by their people). There came to them Our Help ...." (12.110) reading Kudhibu without doubling the sound 'dh', and that was what he understood of the Verse. Then he went on reciting: "..even the Apostle and those who believed along with him said: When (will come) Allah's Help? Yes, verily, Allah's Help is near." (2.214) Then I met `Urwa bin Az-Zubair and I mentioned that to him. He said, "Aisha said, 'Allah forbid! By Allah, Allah never promised His Apostle anything but he knew that it would certainly happen before he died. But trials were continuously presented before the Apostles till they were afraid that their followers would accuse them of telling lies. So I used to recite:-- "Till they (come to) think that they were treated as liars." reading 'Kudh-dhibu with double 'dh

Urwa bin Az-Zubair Read as Urwa bin Az-Zubair

Sahih al-Bukhari 4696

كُذِبُوا

they were betrayed (kudhibu, lightened reading)

Hadith Context:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، فَقُلْتُ لَعَلَّهَا ‏{‏كُذِبُوا‏}‏ مُخَفَّفَةً‏.‏ قَالَتْ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ‏ نَحْوَهُ

Narrated `Urwa:"I told her (`Aisha): (Regarding the above narration), they (Apostles) were betrayed (by Allah)." She said: Allah forbid or said similarly[omitted from the english translation: I said, "Perhaps it is {kudhibu} recited lightly (without a shadda)."]