Where the Quran contradicts Genesis

The Principle of Priority

The Old Testament account in Genesis is around a thousand years before the Quran. There is manuscript evidence (E.g., Dead Sea Scrolls, 250-400 BC) that confirms the Genesis story we have today was already well established long before Islam appeared on the historical stage. The first manuscripts for the Quran are around 650 AD. The principle of priority means that earlier sources are often more reliable in historical terms as they are closer to the source.

Thus, when the Quran tells a different version, the question is:

Why should a 7th-century revision replace an already well-preserved account?

The account of Genesis stories in the Bible is older and more internally consistent than the Quran, which is far removed in time, geographical area, and theology from the Old Testament used by Jews and Christians before Muslims first appeared in the 7th century AD. 

The Quranic version of Genesis and other Old Testament stories introduces changes that do not align with the preserved Hebrew Scriptures, suggesting a later retelling influenced by oral and pagan traditions rather than actual divine revelation. These discrepancies indicate that the Quran revises earlier biblical history rather than preserving or restoring it. 

1. Creation Order and Timeline

The Bible has a strict chronological order, while the Quran presents a more thematic and less linear account.

Genesis 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The Quran mentions creation in six periods (not necessarily 24-hour days), but the order is less detailed and not always chronological. Surah 7:54 says SIX days, while the interpretation of Surah 41:9-12 could be seen as EIGHT days.

Quran 7:54 – “Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days…”

Quran 41:9-12 – “Say, “Do you reject the One who created the earth in two days? And you attribute equals to Him? That is the Lord of the Universe. He placed stabilizers over it; and blessed it; and planned its provisions in four days, equally to the seekers. Then He turned to the sky, and it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth, “Come, willingly or unwillingly.” They said, “We come willingly”. So, He completed them as seven universes in two days, and He assigned to each universe its laws. And We decorated the lower universe with lamps, and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

2. God’s name is Yahweh

The name of God is a main topic in the Bible. He is known predominantly by the name Yahweh, which is a scholarly attempt to restore the ancient, original pronunciation of God's name.

Genesis 2:4 YLT

These are births of the heavens and of the earth in their being prepared, in the day of Jehovah God’s making earth and heavens;

In the Quran, the word for God in Arabic is “Allah” and in the Hadith, he has 99 names.

Sahih al-Bukhari 7392 Book 97, Hadith 21 - “Allah's Messenger said, "Allah has ninety-nine Names, one-hundred less one; and he who memorised them all by heart will enter Paradise." To count something means to know it by heart.”

The relationship with Yahweh is often described as a covenant or a father-child relationship. The relationship with Allah is one of master-slave. Allah is completely transcendent and remote from creation. Yahweh loves His creation so much that He became incarnate as a man, Jesus Christ, to save humanity from sin.

3. Creation of Man

The Bible emphasises the breath of life from God; the Quran emphasises the material origin and stages of development.

Genesis 2:7 ESV

then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

In the Quran, man is created from clay, dust, or a drop of fluid, depending on the verse.

Qur'an 23:12–14 – “We created man from an extract of clay…”

Qur'an 76:2 – “We created man from a drop of mingled fluid…”

The Quran completely drops the detail of Eve being created from the rib of Adam, as well as her name!

4. The Seventh Day of Rest

Islam leaves out the seventh day of rest, and Muslims often will say that God does not need to rest. The Bible clearly teaches that God stopped working on the seventh day. It is the Fourth Commandment that God gave to Moses, and Muslims don’t keep it.

Genesis 2:1–3 ESV

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Exodus 20:8–11 ESV

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Mark 2:27 ESV

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

The verses below sound pious but don’t really help to explain why we have a seven-day week.

Quran 10:3 - Your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then settled over the Throne, governing all things. There is no intercessor except after His permission. Such is God, your Lord—so serve Him. Will you not reflect?

Quran 50:38 - We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, and no fatigue touched Us.

The Quran fails to recognise the covenant importance of the Sabbath and that it was not God who needed a rest but that it was for the benefit of mankind. Jesus confirms that God intended it for man.

5. The Temptation of Adam

The story in the Bible covers Genesis 2-3.

Genesis 2:17 ESV

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Romans 16:20 ESV

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

It is mentioned in Surah 2:35-39, Surah 7:19-27 & Surah 20:120-121. The Quranic version of this story completely changes the entire narrative of the Bible. The Quran references the previous story, but either doesn’t have the source or deliberately changes it to suit an Islamic narrative. There are many critical differences that impact the major themes of original sin, salvation, and forgiveness.

The Quran seems to change the location of the Garden of Eden from the earth to heaven. The language used suggests it is a heavenly realm rather than an earthly one.

The forbidden tree is clearly identified by name in the Bible, but this is missing in the Quran.

The Quran never mentions Eve by name, only referring to “his spouse” or the “two of them”.

In the Quran, it is Satan who directly tempts, leaving out the serpent.

In the Quran, both are deceived at the same time, rather than Eve first and then Adam. This minimises Eve’s role in the fall.

In the Quran, Adam and Eve are immediately forgiven but expelled from heaven to live on the earth. This contradicts a core teaching of the Bible that sin came into the world through the original sin of Adam and Eve.

The Quran thus entirely omits the curse placed upon Adam and Eve, but also leaves out God’s promise in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Theologically, this is important, and Paul hints at this fulfillment in Romans 16:20.

6. Adam Naming the Animals

The Bible says that Adam named all the animals, which showed his dominion and uniqueness over the rest of creation.

Genesis 2:19–20 ESV

Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam, there was not found a helper fit for him.

The Quran clearly contradicts the original Bible account.

Surah 2:30-33 - When your Lord said to the angels, “I am placing a successor on earth.” They said, “Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?” He said, “I know what you do not know.” And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then he presented them to the angels, and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are sincere.” They said, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is you who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise.” He said, “O Adam, tell them their names.” And when he told them their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”

In the Quran it is changed that it is Allah who directly teaches Adam the names and then instructs him to relay them to the angels. This is an attempt to lessen the free will of Adam who had the intellect to name the animals and God had left it for him to carry out due to the authority God had given to him.

7. Cain and Abel

The biblical story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:1-16 is the first manifestation of this fallen nature that requires “the seed of the woman” to reverse the curse. Abel's offering of an animal sacrifice is thus a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is called the "Lamb of God."

The Quran story is different.

Surah 5:27-31 - And relate to them the true story of Adam's two sons: when they offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, but it was not accepted from the other. He Said, “I will kill you.” He Said, “God accepts only from the righteous. If you extend your hand to kill me, I will not extend my hand to kill you; for I fear God, Lord of the Worlds. I would rather you bear my sin and your sin, and you become among the inmates of the Fire. Such is the reward for the evildoers.” Then His soul prompted him to kill his brother, so he killed him, and became one of the losers. Then God sent a raven digging the ground, to show him how to cover his brother's corpse. He said, “Woe to me! I was unable to be like this raven, and bury my brother's corpse.” So he became full of regrets.

The Quran misses out details and adds to the story.

The Quran does not explicitly name the two brothers in the text, referring to them as "the two sons of Adam."

The Quran shortens the story and adds in a legendary story about a raven. The detail of the crow teaching Cain how to bury his brother has no basis in the Bible or any other known extra-biblical source.

The Quran's account of Cain and Abel is not a faithful retelling of the Biblical narrative but rather a derivative work that borrows familiar characters and reinterprets them through a different theological lens.

8. Noah’s Flood

Genesis explicitly states that all three of Noah's sons and their wives were saved from the flood. The flood story found in Genesis is largely confirmed in the New Testament by Jesus and other writings.

The Quran states that one of Noah’s sons drowned as he failed to board the ark.

Surah 11:42-43 - And it sailed with them through waves like mountains. And Nuh (Noah) called to his son, who was apart, "O my son, come aboard with us and do not be with the disbelievers." [But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Nuh] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah, except for whomever He has mercy upon." And the wave came between them, and he was among the drowned.

This is a direct contradiction of the Biblical account. The Quran also leaves out a lot of other details, such as the covenant with God and the rainbow in the sky.

Genesis 6:8 ESV

But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.

Hebrews 11:7 ESV

By faith, Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

1 Peter 3:20–21 ESV

because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

2 Peter 2:5 ESV

if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

1 Peter 3:20–22 ESV

because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

9. Lot’s Wife

In Genesis, we read that Lot’s wife disobeyed the command of the angels to not to linger and look back the destruction of Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus briefly mentions about Lot’s wife a stark warning about the danger of looking back or clinging to the world when God's judgment is imminent.

Genesis 19:26 ESV

But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Luke 17:32 ESV

Remember Lot’s wife.

The Quran focuses on Lot as a prophet and condemns the actions of the people, while his wife is mentioned as an unbeliever who was destroyed. The Quran mentions this story in multiple places.

Surah 26:171 - Except for an old woman among those who tarried.

Surah 66:10 - Allah has set forth for the unbelievers the parable of the wives of Noah and Lot. They were wedded to two of Our righteous servants, but each acted treacherously with her husband, and their husbands could be of no avail to them against Allah. The two of them were told: “Enter the Fire with all the others who enter it.”

The Quran states that Lot’s wife was killed because she aligned herself with the evil doers and stayed behind. There is no mention if her being turned into a pillar of salt.

10. Abraham is commanded by God to sacrifice his son

Genesis 22:1–18 ESV

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they both went off together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of that God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Surah 37:101-113

So We gave him good news of a clement boy. Then, when he was old enough to accompany him, he said, “O My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you; see what you think.” He said, “O my Father, do as you are commanded; you will find me, God willing, one of the steadfast.” Then, when they had submitted, and he put his forehead down. We called out to him, “O Abraham! You have fulfilled the vision.” Thus We reward the doers of good. This was certainly an evident test. And We redeemed him with a great sacrifice. And We left with him for later generations. Peace be upon Abraham. Thus We reward the doers of good. He was one of Our believing servants. And We gave him good news of Isaac, a prophet, one of the righteous. And We blessed him, and Isaac. But among their descendants are some who are righteous, and some who are clearly unjust to themselves.

The most significant difference is that the Quran identifies the son to be sacrificed as Ishmael, not Isaac, as in the Bible. Islam needs to change this and the location to justify the Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).

The Islamic world is divided:

Majority View: Most Islamic scholars and commentators (like Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Tabari) say it was Ishmael.

Minority View: Some early narrators and hadith chains (including Ka'b al-Ahbar, Ibn Abbas, and Abu Hurayrah) mention Isaac.

In the Quran, the command comes to Abraham in a dream or a vision, and Abraham then consults his son, who readily agrees to be sacrificed. This flatly contradicts the Bible, where Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Ishmael was the son of the covenant.

The Quran thus misses the central point of the original story, which was that this was a foreshadowing designed to point toward Christ. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved son; God the Father sacrificed His beloved Son.

11. Joseph’s Dream of Greatness

The Bible and Quran accounts describe the same celestial imagery—sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing to Joseph—symbolising his family.

Genesis 37:8–11 ESV

His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

The Qur’an presents only one dream (the celestial one), while the Bible records two dreams:

Sheaves of grain bowing to Joseph’s sheaf (Missing from the Quran)

The celestial bodies bowing to Joseph

The Quran says that Joseph shared only with his father and then warns him not to tell his brothers. Genesis tells us that Joseph shared the dream with his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him, and his brothers’ hate for him.

12. Joseph in the Pit

The Bible tells the story in Genesis 37:18-36 and the Quran in Surah 12:8-20. There are a multitude of differences!

Who intervenes? - The Bible names Reuben and Judah, while the Quran just says “one of them”

What was Joseph thrown into? - The Bible says it was a dry pit, while the Quran says, “bottom of the well”.

Who sold Joseph into slavery? - The Bible says the brothers sold him directly to Ishmaelites/Midianites, while the Quran says that travellers find him, conceal him, and then sell him for little money.

The Bible mentions Joseph being sold for 20 shekels of silver (weight). The Quran says the payment was dirhams (coins), as being the payment when Joseph was sold into slavery. This is, however, a severe historical error since the very first coins were only invented several centuries after his time. It also shows the Quran writer is willing to change the “previous scriptures” to suit his audience.

Joseph’s bloody garment- The Bible says it was dipped in a goat’s blood. The Quran says it was “false blood”.

13. Jacob’s Reaction to Joseph’s Bloody Robe

The Bible and the Quran are again in sharp disagreement.

Genesis 37:33–35 ESV

And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus, his father wept for him.

In the Bible, Jacob has been completely deceived by the bloody garment and is grief-stricken by the belief that Joseph is dead.

Surah 12:18 - And they brought his shirt, with fake blood on it. He said, “Your souls enticed you to do something. But patience is beautiful, and God is my Help against what you describe.”

Surah 12:83 - He said, “Rather, your souls have contrived something for you. Patience is a virtue. Perhaps God will bring them all back to me. He is the Knowing, the Wise.”

In the Quran, it portrays Jacob as spiritually discerning that his sons are lying and patiently trusts God that all his sons will return.

In Genesis, Jacob grieves but does not go blind as the Quran claims. In the Quran, Jacob grieves until his eyes turn white/blind (Surah 12:84). The Quran also adds a miracle-like blindness detail about the shirt of Joseph which is not in the Bible. It’s either based on a myth or made up.

Christians see this as evidence of the Quran using an earlier source but corrupting the story to suit its own narrative.

14. Joseph and Potiphar's Wife

The story is largely borrowed from the Genesis account, but then changed for an Islamic narrative.

Genesis 39:6–20 ESV

So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him, he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time, his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her, or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.” As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.

Surah 12:23-35

She in whose house he was living tried to seduce him. She shut the doors, and said, “I am yours.” He said, “God forbid! He is my Lord. He has given me a good home. Sinners never succeed.”

She desired him, and he desired her, had he not seen the proof of his Lord. It was thus that We diverted evil and indecency away from him. He was one of Our loyal servants.

As they raced towards the door, she tore his shirt from behind. At the door, they ran into her husband. She said, “What is the penalty for him who desired to dishonor your wife, except imprisonment or a painful punishment?”

He said, “It was she who tried to seduce me.” A witness from her household suggested: “If his shirt is torn from the front: then she has told the truth, and he is the liar.

But if his shirt is torn from the back: then she has lied, and he is the truthful.”

And when he saw that his shirt was torn from the back, he said, “This is a woman's scheme. Your scheming is serious indeed.”

“Joseph, turn away from this. And you, woman, ask forgiveness for your sin; you are indeed in the wrong.”

Some ladies in the city said, “The governor's wife is trying to seduce her servant. She is deeply in love with him. We see she has gone astray.”

And when she heard of their gossip, she invited them, and prepared for them a banquet, and she gave each one of them a knife. She said, “Come out before them.” And when they saw him, they marveled at him, and cut their hands. They said, “Good God, this is not a human, this must be a precious angel.”

She said, “Here he is, the one you blamed me for. I did try to seduce him, but he resisted. But if he does not do what I tell him to do, he will be imprisoned, and will be one of the despised.”

He said, “My Lord, prison is more desirable to me than what they call me to. Unless You turn their scheming away from me, I may yield to them, and become one of the ignorant.”

Thereupon his Lord answered him, and diverted their scheming away from him. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

Then it occurred to them, after they had seen the signs, to imprison him for a while.

The Quran changes the story so that Joseph’s innocence is proved so that her husband knows the truth. There are also a banquet scene and his imprisonment - which still happens despite Joseph being said in the Quran to be innocent! It makes no sense.

15. Joseph in Prison

The Bible account is found in Genesis 40:1–23. The story is also summarised much later in Psalm 105, but a long time before the Quran was written.

Psalm 105:17–19 ESV

he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.

Surah 12:36–42

Two youth entered the prison with him. One of them said, “I see myself pressing wine.” The other said, “I see myself carrying bread on my head, from which the birds are eating. Tell us their interpretation—we see that you are one of the righteous.”

He said, “No food is served to you, but I have informed you about it before you have received it. That is some of what my Lord has taught me. I have forsaken the tradition of people who do not believe in God; and regarding the Hereafter, they are deniers.”

“And I have followed the faith of my forefathers, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. It is not for us to associate anything with God. This is by virtue of God’s grace upon us and upon the people, but most people do not give thanks.

“O My fellow inmates, are diverse lords better, or God, the One, the Supreme?”

“You do not worship, besides Him, except names you have named, you and your ancestors, for which God has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to none but God. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. This is the right religion, but most people do not know.

“O my fellow inmates! One of you will serve his master wine; while the other will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. Thus the matter you are inquiring about is settled.”

42. And he said to the one he thought would be released, “Mention me to your master.” But Satan caused him to forget mentioning him to his master, so he remained in prison for several years.

The dreams differ in their imagery, and in the original Bible account, there is no mention of Joseph preaching monotheism to the prisoners.

A major error in the Quran is seen in the mention of “crucifixion” here. The Arabic word "ṣalaba" used in the Quran refers specifically to Roman-style crucifixion—nailing or binding a person to a cross or tree. There is no Biblical or historical evidence that Egyptians practiced this form of execution during Joseph’s time. The Bible (Genesis 40:19) mentions the baker being hung on a tree, not crucified. The Hebrew word used is "talah", meaning "to hang," which is a different execution method. Thus, from this perspective, the Quran’s account is seen as borrowing a later concept and retroactively applying it to an earlier historical setting.

16. Joseph’s Dream in Prison

Genesis 40:12–19 ESV

Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. In three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. In three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

Surah 12:36-42

36. Two youth entered the prison with him. One of them said, “I see myself pressing wine.” The other said, “I see myself carrying bread on my head, from which the birds are eating. Tell us their interpretation—we see that you are one of the righteous.”

37. He said, “No food is served to you, but I have informed you about it before you have received it. That is some of what my Lord has taught me. I have forsaken the tradition of people who do not believe in God; and regarding the Hereafter, they are deniers.”

38. “And I have followed the faith of my forefathers, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. It is not for us to associate anything with God. This is by virtue of God’s grace upon us and upon the people, but most people do not give thanks.

39. “O My fellow inmates, are diverse lords better, or God, the One, the Supreme?”

40. “You do not worship, besides Him, except names you have named, you and your ancestors, for which God has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to none but God. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. This is the right religion, but most people do not know.

41. “O my fellow inmates! One of you will serve his master wine; while the other will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. Thus the matter you are inquiring about is settled.”

42. And he said to the one he thought would be released, “Mention me to your master.” But Satan caused him to forget mentioning him to his master, so he remained in prison for several years.

There are similarities in the two accounts, although not the same. The Quran simplifies and alters the dream imagery.

In the Bible, Joseph is a servant who is favoured by God to interpret dreams by asking God to reveal the interpretation to him. The Quran has Joseph as a preacher of Islamic monotheism who delivers a long sermon.

17. Joseph’s Rise to Power

While in prison, Joseph interprets the cupbearer and baker’s dreams (Genesis 40:1–23). The Quran mentions an almost identical story in Surah 12:36–42.

Years later, Pharaoh dreams of cows and ears of grain, the cupbearer remembers Joseph, and he interprets (Genesis 41:1–32).

The Quran mentions that the King dreams of cows and grain, and Joseph interprets (Surah 12:43–49). The Quran does NOT use the title “Pharaoh”. It depends on when the events of Joseph took part, but anachronism or later redaction is expected to help readers understand the text.

In the Bible, Pharaoh makes Joseph second-in-command (Genesis 41:39–44). In the Quran, the King makes Joseph only a high official over storehouses (Surah 12:54–55). The Quran greatly diminishes the promotion of Joseph from the Genesis account

Psalm 105 is attributed to David. See 1 Chronicles 16:8-22. He mentions about the King releasing Joseph and his high position which agrees more with the Genesis account.

Psalm 105:16–22 ESV

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.

18. Brothers come to Egypt

The Genesis account is that Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt, and they are recognised by Joseph. He hides a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack to test them.

Genesis 44:1–13 ESV

Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’ ” When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.” He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

The Quran has most of the details but confuses the story.

Surah 12:70–76

70. Then, when he provided them with their provisions, he placed the drinking-cup in his brother’s saddlebag. Then an announcer called out, “O people of the caravan, you are thieves.”

71. They said, as they came towards them, “What are you missing?”

72. They said, “We are missing the king’s goblet. Whoever brings it will have a camel-load; and I personally guarantee it.”

73. They said, “By God, you know we did not come to cause trouble in the land, and we are not thieves.”

74. They said, “What shall be his punishment, if you are lying?”

75. They said, “His punishment, if it is found in his bag: he will belong to you. Thus we penalize the guilty.”

76. So he began with their bags, before his brother's bag. Then he pulled it out of his brother’s bag. Thus We devised a plan for Joseph; he could not have detained his brother under the king’s law, unless God so willed. We elevate by degrees whomever We will; and above every person of knowledge, there is one more learned.

The Quran says that Joseph asked his brothers what the punishment should be and they declare that the guilty one will be enslaved.

This contradicts the Bible which says the steward (under Joseph’s instruction) declares the punishment under Egyptian law. This was a lesser punishment than that suggested by the brothers (Death)!

The Quran suggests that Joseph did not have the authority to take Benjamin whereas the Bible says that Joseph is a ruler of Egypt and has full authority.

19. Joseph Reveals His Identity

Joseph reveals himself, saying God sent him to preserve life

Genesis 45:4–8 ESV

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

The Quran account is different.

Surah 12:89-92

89. He said, “Do you realize what you did with Joseph and his brother, in your ignorance?”

90. They said, “Is that you, Joseph?” He said, “I am Joseph, and this is my brother. God has been gracious to us. He who practices piety and patience—God never fails to reward the righteous.”

91. They said, “By God, God has preferred you over us. We were definitely in the wrong.”

92. He said, “There is no blame upon you today. God will forgive you. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”

There are three key differences. You have to ask what the motives were with the Quran to change the original story by amending and leaving out some details.

Emphasis: The Quran highlights Joseph's moral superiority and prophetic piety, while the Bible emphasises God's sovereign plan to save Israel.

Confession: The brothers in the Quran explicitly confess, "we have been sinners," and acknowledge Joseph's elevated status. In the Bible, they are speechless with dismay and are comforted by Joseph.

Details: The Quran does not mention Joseph weeping loudly or ordering his Egyptian attendants out of the room, as the Bible does.

20. Family Reunion

Jacob goes to Egypt and is reunited with Joseph.

Genesis 46:28–30 ESV

He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Surah 12:99–100

He welcomed his parents ˹graciously˺ and said, “Enter Egypt, Allah willing, in security.” 

Then he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration.

He said, “O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality.

He has certainly been good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you ˹all˺ from the desert after Satan had induced ˹estrangement˺ between me and my brothers. 

There are two key differences.

Prostration: The Quran says Joseph's parents and brothers prostrated to him in reverence. The Bible makes no mention of this and would reserve such an act for God alone.

Presentation to Pharaoh: The Quran omits the scene where Joseph presents his father, Jacob, to Pharaoh, which is included in the biblical account.

It is hard to determine the motivation to add or leave out details from the original story but the position of Joseph is again minimised.