Yusuf is the one surah of the Qur'an told as a single continuous story from beginning to end, which makes it easier to memorise than its 111 verses suggest — you are following a plot, not a list. This map marks the seven turns the story takes.
At this pace the whole surah takes 37 study days.
Study days are days you actually sit down to memorise — miss one and the plan simply moves with you.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ…مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
The surah announces itself as the best of stories; Yusuf tells his father the dream of the eleven stars.
Study days 1-2
لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٌۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ…بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍۢ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍۢ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
The plot, the false blood on the shirt, the caravan, and the sale for a few dirhams.
Study days 3-7
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ…مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍۢ
Yusuf raised in Egypt, the temptation, the torn shirt, the women of the city, and his choice of prison.
Study days 7-12
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ…ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
He calls his cellmates to tawhid before interpreting for them, and asks one of them to remember him.
Study days 12-14
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍۢ سِمَانٍۢ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ…وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
Seven fat cows and seven lean; the truth comes out, and Yusuf asks for the treasury of the land.
Study days 15-19
وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ…عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِى يَأْتِ بَصِيرًۭا وَأْتُونِى بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Two journeys for grain, the cup in Binyamin's bag, Ya'qub's grief, and the shirt sent back to Kan'an.
Study days 20-31
وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّى لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ…يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ
The dream fulfilled, the prayer to die a Muslim, and the surah's word to the Prophet's own listeners.
Study days 32-37
Every apparent disaster in this story — the well, the house, the prison — turns out to be the road to the promise, which is why it was revealed in the year the Prophet lost both his protectors.
A short walk through all 7 sections of this surah, in the order you will memorise them.
Book a first lesson with a Quran teacher and bring this schedule with you. Many of our teachers offer that first lesson free.
shehnaz m.
Teaches: Hifz-(Memorization), Arabic Language, Tajweed Rules, Classical Arabic
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