Betrayal and Redemption Between Divine Assurance and Human Agency: Surah Yusuf and The Kite Runner

Abstract

This paper examines how betrayal and redemption are conceptualized in Surah Yusuf (Quran 12) and Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. It evaluates how a sacred and a secular text portray moral transgression and restoration. Surah 12:92 depicts betrayal as a vehicle for divine revelation, with salvation achieved through Allah’s mercy and predetermined reconciliation, exemplified by Yusuf’s unconditional forgiveness of his brothers. In contrast, betrayal in The Kite Runner is situated within political and cultural contexts, framing Amir’s guilt and reconciliation as outcomes of human choice, moral responsibility, and personal transformation. Drawing on Quranic exegesis, literary criticism, and psychological theory, this study shows that redemption can emerge through divine or human action. The comparative analysis highlights the enduring relevance of these themes, suggesting that both theological and cultural narratives illuminate human fallibility and the capacity for change through forgiveness. This work contributes to comparative literature by reframing redemption not as a universal moral process but as a phenomenon mediated by either divine assurance or secular contingency.