Why Quran mentions the story of Yusuf as the best of stories?

Sources

• ✓ 12:3 · Yusuf

  12:3 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلْغَٰفِلِينَ

  We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 12:3

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 12:3

  This Surah Yusuf is from the Makkan period. A narration reported by al-Thalabi and others, through the chain of Salam ibn Sulaym (or Salim) al-Madaini, is considered weak and abandoned due to the poor reliability of its narrators, as noted by Abu Hatim. This narration, attributed to the Prophet ﷺ through Ubayy ibn Ka'b, encourages teaching Surah Yusuf to servants (arqiya), promising ease in the agonies of death and protection from envy among Muslims. However, the chain of transmission is generally rejected by scholars and considered unreliable. Al-Bayhaqi reports in his book "Ad-Dala'il" that a group of Jews accepted Islam after hearing the Prophet ﷺ recite Surah Yusuf because they found it in agreement with what they possessed, a report originating from Al-Kalbi, from Abu Salih, from Ibn Abbas. Regarding the letters at the beginning of the Surah (the muqatta'at), their commentary has been given earlier in the tafsir of the first Surah al-Baqarah. When Allah says: "These are the verses of the clear Book," this means these are the signs and verses of the Qur'an, which is described as clear, manifest, and elucidative. It clarifies matters that may be obscure or ambiguous, explaining and illustrating them. The statement: "Indeed, We have revealed it as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand" highlights that the Arabic language, being the most eloquent, clear, wide-ranging, and expressive language, best conveys the meanings that resonate with souls. Thus, the most honored book was revealed in the most noble language, sent down by the noblest messengers and delivered by the most honorable angels. It was revealed in the most honored place on earth—Makkah—and its revelation commenced in the most honored month, Ramadan, making it perfect in all respects. Therefore, Allah says: "We relate to you the best of stories by revealing to you this Qur'an," referring to the divine inspiration granted to the Prophet ﷺ enabling him to convey the best narratives. The context of this verse's revelation includes reports collected by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, stating that the companions asked the Prophet ﷺ to tell them stories, leading to these verses being revealed. Multiple chains involving Amr ibn Qais and others from Ibn Abbas and companions confirm this. Different companions expressed boredom with the recitation alone and asked the Prophet ﷺ to narrate stories, leading Allah to reveal verses emphasizing the excellence of the Qur'an's narratives and speech. An important theme relevant to this verse is the praise and sufficiency of the Qur'an, which Imam Ahmad transmitted in reports where Umar ibn al-Khattab brought the Prophet a book obtained from some of the People of the Book. The Prophet ﷺ became angry and declared that he had come with a pure, clear book that did not require consulting other scriptures. He said that if Moses were alive, he would follow Muhammad. A detailed story is narrated where Umar encountered a man from Al-Abdi tribe who possessed a manuscript from the Torah, which Umar tried repeatedly to have accepted, but was ordered by the Prophet ﷺ to erase and not read or teach. The Prophet warned against following altered scriptures, affirming the Qur'an’s finality and purity. Though some transmitted reports around this matter are weak or odd, authenticated chains also exist with similar content, including accounts preserved by Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Isma'ili and others describing incidents during Umar's caliphate where attempts to introduce altered Books were thwarted. These reports collectively underline the Qur'an’s clear and complete status as the final revelation, superior to all former scriptures, conveyed in the clearest language, entrusted to the final and noblest messenger, and preserved against tampering or addition. And Allah knows best.