What we know about the place in Egypt where Prophet Yusuf lived

A major controversy has erupted over the place where Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) lived in Egypt thousands of years ago.

Some claim that he lived in the area of Kom Oshim in Fayoum, southwest of Egypt while others think that he lived in the area of Luxor, which was called Tiba (Thebes); the location of the headquarters of the government and the residence of the ruler Akhenaten back then.

There is also another view tthat he lived in the area of Edfu Aswan. However, the fact remain that Prophet Yusuf lived in the area of Jushan or Wadi al-Tumailat (Al Tumailat valley) which is an area between the provinces of Al Sharqeya and Al Ismailia.

Archaeologist Dr. Abdel Rahim Rihan, Director General of Research and Archaeological Studies and Scientific Publications of the Sea and Sinai, told Al Arabiya that Yusuf’s stay in Egypt was during the sixteenth Dynasty of King Ibbabi I who was mentioned in the Old Testament (Turah) as “Fotifar” and Egypt’s Aziz in the Quran.

An antique plaque of a tombstone was found with the engraving of his name “Foti Fara” which belongs to the seventeenth Dynasty. This royal family ruled shortly after the massive drought that happened in Egypt, which is mentioned in the Quran and the Turah.

Therefore, Prophet Yusuf and his brothers are thought to have lived in Egypt closer to the year 1600 BC during the Hyksos invaders descended into the region.

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Archaeologist Dr. Abdel Rahim Rihan says that the word Israel means (Worshiper of God) which is synonymous to the Arabic name Abd Allah. The Holy Quran refers to the descendants of the prophets as, “those who were blessed - the descendants of the prophets, Adam as well as those whom were carried with Noah and the offspring of Abraham and Israel” (Quran: Maryam 58).

Yusuf and his brothers are also mentioned in the Quran as the sons of Israel referring to their father Allah’s Prophet Jacob (Yacoub). The sons of Israel, including Yusuf, lived together in Egypt in the land of Jushan or Gasan, now known as Wadi al-Tumailat, a farming valley that extends from the city of Zagazig in al-Sharqeya to the west of al-Ismailia.

Their stay in Egypt lasted until the birth of Prophet Moses (Mussa), the son of Imran. Mussa bin Imran bin Yashr bin Qahith bin Lawi bin Yacoub was born to Lawi (Levi), one of Yusuf’s brothers. Dr. Rihan explained that the title of the ruler of Egypt during the Hyksos invaders’ rule was “king”, while the title “Pharaoh” was granted to any ruler not one in particular.

This highlights the miracle of the Holy Quran which refers to the governor of Egypt when talking about the story of prophet Moses and the exodus ruler as pharaoh, not king. The verse is “we tell you the true story of Moses and the pharaoh for those who believe” (Quran: Al Qasas 3 ).

The reference for the ruler in the Quran, during the migration of Yusuf to Egypt, is king. This is what the verse says: “The king said I see in my dreams seven fat cows feeding on seven skinny ones and seven green grains and others parched,” (Quran: Yusuf 43) and in “The king said bring him (Joseph) to me, I will take him under my wing” (Quran: Yusuf 54).

They confirm that Prophet Yusuf, and his brothers, lived in Egypt during the era of the Hyksos invaders.