12. Surah Yusuf -

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Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Alif-Laaam-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaabil Mubeen
Innaaa anzalnaahu quraanan ‘Arabiyyal la ‘allakum ta’qiloon
Nahnu naqussu ‘alaika ahsanal qasasi bimaaa awhainaaa ilaika haazal quraana wa in kunta min qablihee laminal ghaafileen
Iz qaala Yoosufu li abeehi yaaa abati innee ra aytu ahada ‘ashara kawkabanw wash shamsa walqamara ra aytuhum lee saajideen
Qaala yaa bunaiya laa taqsus ru’yaaka ‘alaaa ikhwatika fayakeedoo laka kaidaa; innash Shaitaana lil insaani ‘aduwwum mubeen
Wa kazaalika yajtabeeka rabbuka wa yu’allimuka min ta’weelil ahaadeesi wa yutimmu ni’matahoo ‘alaika wa ‘alaaa Aali Ya’qooba kamaaa atammahaa ‘alaaa abawaika min qablu Ibraaheema wa Ishaaq; inna Rabbaka ‘Aleemun hakeem (section 1)
Laqad kaana fee Yoosufa wa ikhwatiheee Aayaatul lissaaa’ileen
Iz qaaloo la Yoosufu wa akhoohu ahabbu ilaaa Abeenaa minnaa wa nahnu ‘usbatun; inna abaanaa lafee dalaalim mubeen
Uqtuloo Yoosufa awitra hoohu ardany yakhlu lakum wajhu abeekum wa takoonoo mim ba’dihee qawman saaliheen
Qaalaa qaaa’ilum minhum laa taqtuloo Yoosufa wa alqoohu fee ghayaabatil jubbi yaltaqithu badus sai yaarati in kuntum faa ‘ileen
Qaaloo yaaa abaanaa maa laka laa ta’mannaa ‘alaa Yoosufa wa innaa lahoo lanaa sihoon
Arsillhu ma’anaa ghadany yarta’ wa yal’ab wa innaa lahoo la haafizoon
Qaala innee la yahzununeee an tazhaboo bihee wa akhaafu any ya’kulahuz zi’bu wa antum ‘anhu ghaafiloon
Qaaloo la in akalahuzzi’bu wa nahnu ‘usbatun innaaa izal lakhaasiroon
Falammaa zahaboo bihee wa ajma’ooo anyyaj’aloohu fee ghayaabatil jubb; wa awhainaaa ilaihi latunabbi ‘annahum bi amrihim haaza wa hum laa yash’uroon
Wa jaaa’ooo abaahum ‘ishaaa ‘any yabkoon
Qaaloo yaaa abaanaaa innaa zahabnaa nastabiqu wa taraknaa Yoosufa ‘inda mataa’inaa fa akalahuz zi’b, wa maaa anta bimu’minil lanaa wa law kunnaa saadiqeen
Wa jaaa’oo ‘alaa qameesi hee bidamin kazib qaala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amraa; fasabrun jameel; wallaahul musta’aanu ‘alaa maatasifoon
Wa jaaa’at saiyaaratun fa-arsaloo waaridahum fa adlaa dalwah; qaala yaa bushraa haaza ghulaam; wa asarroohu bi-daa’ah; wallaahu ‘aleemun bimaa ya’maloon
Wa sharawhu bisamanim bakhsin daraahima ma’doo datinw wa kaanoo feehi minaz zaahideen (section 2)
Wa qaalal lazish taraahu mim Misra limra atiheee akrimee maswaahu ‘asaaa any-yanfa’anaaa aw nattakhizahoo waladaa; wa kazaalika mak-kannaa li-Yoosufa fil ardi wa linu’allimahoo min ta’weelil ahaadees; wallaahu ghaalibun ‘alaaa amrihee wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya’lamoon
Wa lammaa balagha ashuddahooo aatainaahu hukmanw wa ‘ilmaa; wa kazaa lika najzil muhsineen
Wa raawadat hul latee huwa fee baitihaa ‘an nafsihee wa ghallaqatil abwaaba wa qaalat haita lak; qaala ma’aazal laahi innahoo rabbeee ahsana maswaay; innahoo laa yuflihuz-zaalimoon
Wa laqad hammat bihee wa hamma bihaa law laaa ar ra-aa burhaana rabbih; kazaalika linasrifa ‘anhu sooo’a walfahshaaa’; innahoo min ‘ibaadi nal mukhlaseen
Wastabaqal baaba wa qaddat qameesahoo min duburinw wa alfayaa saiyidahaa ladal baab; qaalat maa jazaaa’u man araada bi ahlika sooo’an illaaa any-yusjana aw azaabun ‘aleem
Qaala hiya raawadatnee ‘an nafsee wa shahida shaahidum min ahlihaa in kaana qameesuhoo qudda min qubulin fasadaqat wa huwa minal kaazibeen
Wa in kaana qameesuhoo qudda min duburin fakazabat wa huwa minas saadiqeen
Falammaa ra-aa qamee sahoo qudda min duburin qaala innahoo min kaidikunna inna kaidakunna ‘azeem
Yoosufu a’rid ‘an haaza wastaghfiree li zanbiki innaki kunti minal khaati’een (section 3)
Wa qaala niswatun fil madeenatim ra atul’Azeezi turaawidu fataahaa ‘an nafsihee qad shaghafahaa hubbaa; innaa lana raahaa fee dalaalim mubeen
Falammaa sami’at bimak rihinna arsalat ilaihinna wa a’tadat lahunna muttaka anw wa aatat kulla waahidatim min hunna sikkeenanw wa qaala tikh ruj ‘alaihinna falammaa ra aynahooo akbarnahoo wa qatta’na aydiyahunna wa qulna haasha lillaahi maa haaza basharaa; in haazaaa illaa malakun kareem
Qaalat fazaalikunnal lazee lumtunnanee feeh; wa laqad raawattuhoo ‘an nafsihee fasta’sam; wa la’il lam yaf’al maaa aamuruhoo la yusjananna wa la yakoonan minas saaghireen
Qaala rabbis sijnu ahabbu ilaiya mimma yad’oo naneee ‘ilaihi wa illaa tasrif ‘annee kaidahunna asbu ilaihinna wa akum minal jaahileen
Fastajaaba lahoo rabbuhoo fasarafa ‘anhu kaidahunn; innahoo huwas Samee’ul ‘Aleem (section 4)
Summa badaa lahum min ba’di maa ra-awul Aayaati layasjununnahoo hatta heen
Wa dakhala ma’a hussijna fata-yaan; qaala ahaduhumaaa inneee araaneee a’siru khamranw wa qaalal aakharu inneee araaneee ahmilu fawqa ra’see khubzan ta’kulut tairu minhu; nabbi’naa bi ta’weelih; innaa naraaka minal muhsineen
Qaala laa ya’teekumaa ta’aamun turzaqaaniheee illaa nabba’tukumaa bi ta’weelihee; qabla any ya’ti yakumaa; zaalikumaa mimmaa ‘allamanee rabbee; innee taraktu millata qawmil laa yu’minoona billaahi wahum bil aakhirati hum kaafiroon
Wattaba’tu millata aabaaa’eee Ibraaheema wa Ishaaqa wa Ya’qoob; maa kaana lanaaa an nushrika billaahi min shai’; zaalikamin fadlil laahi ‘alainaa wa ‘alan naasi wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa yashkuroon
Yaa saahibayis sijni ‘a-arbaabum mutafarriqoona khayrun amil laahul waahidul qahhaar
Maa ta’budoona min doonihee illaaa asmaaa’an sam maitumoohaaa antum wa aabaaa’ukum maaa anzalal laahu bihaa min sultan; inilhukmu illaa lillaah; amara allaa ta’budooo illaaa iyyaah; zaalikad deenul qaiyimu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya’lamoon
Yaa saahibayis sijni ammaaa ahadukumaa fa yasqee rabbahoo khamranw wa ammal aakharu fa yuslabu fata’kulut tairu mir ra’sih; qudiyal amrul lazee feehi tastaftiyaan
Wa qaala lillazee zanna annahoo najim minhumaz kurnee ‘inda rabbika fa-ansaahush Shaitaanu zikra Rabbihee falabisa fis sijni bid’a sineen (section 5)
Wa qaalal maliku inneee araa sab’a baqaraatin simaaniny ya’kuluhunna sab’un ‘ijaafunw wa sab’a sumbulaatin khudrinw wa ukhara yaabisaat; yaaa ayuhal mala-u aftoonee fee ru’yaaya in kuntum lirru’yaa ta’buroon
Qaalooo adghaasu ahlaa minw wa maa nahnu bi ta’weelil ahlaami bi’aalimeen
Wa qaalal lazee najaa minhumaa waddakara ba’da ummatin ana unabbi’ukum bi ta’weelihee fa-arsiloon
Yoosufu ayyuhas siddeequ aftinaa fee sab’i baqaraatin simaaniny ya’kuluhunna sab’un ‘ijaafunw wa sabi’i sumbulaatin khudrinw wa ukhara yaabisaatil la’alleee arji’u ilan naasi la’allahum ya’lamoon
Qaala tazra’oona sab’a sineena da aban famaa hasattum fazaroohu fee sumbu liheee illaa qaleelam mimmaa ta’kuloon
Thumma ya’tee mim ba’di zaalika sab’un shidaaduny ya’kulna maa qaddamtum lahunna illaa qaleelam mimma tuhsinoon
Thumma ya’tee mim ba’di zalika ‘aamun feehi yughaa sun naasu wa feehi ya’siroon (section 6)
Wa qaalal maliku’toonee bihee falammaa jaaa’ahur rasoolu qaalar-ji ilaa rabbika fas’alhu maa baalun niswatil laatee qatta’na aydiyahunn; inna Rabbee bikaidihinna ‘Aleem
Qaala maa khatbukunna iz raawattunna Yoosufa ‘annafsih; qulna haasha lillaahi maa ‘alimnaa ‘alaihi min sooo’; qaalatim ra atul ‘Azeezil ‘aana hashasal haqq, ana raawat tuhoo ‘an nafsihee wa innahoo laminas saadiqeen
Zaalika liya’lama annee lam akhunhu bilghaibi wa annal laaha laa yahdee kaidal khaaa’ineen (End Juz 12)
Wa maa ubarri’u nafsee; innan nafsa la ammaaratum bissooo’i illaa maa rahima Rabbee; inna Rabbee Ghafoorur Raheem
Wa qaalal maliku’ toonee biheee astakhlishu linafsee falammaa kallamahoo qaala innakal yawma ladainaa makeenun ameen
Qaalaj ‘alnee ‘alaa khazaaa’inil ardi innee hafeezun ‘aleem
Wa kazaalika makkannaa li Yoosufa fil ardi yatabawwa’u minhaa haisu yashaaaa’; nuseebu birahmatinaa man nashaaa’u wa laa nudee’u ajral muhsineen
Wa la ajrul Aakhirati khairul lillazeena aamanoo wa kaanoo yattaqoon (section 7)
Wa jaaa’a ikhwatu Yoosufa fadakhaloo ‘alaihi fa’arafahum wa hum lahoo munkiroon
Wa lammaa jahhazahum bijahaazihim qaala’ toonee bi akhil lakum min abeekum; alaa tarawna anneee oofil kaila wa ana khairul munzileen
Fa il lam taatoonee bihee falaa kaila lakum ‘indee wa laa taqraboon
Qaaloo sanuraawidu ‘anhu abaahu wa innaa lafaa’iloon
Wa qaala lifityaanihij ‘aloo bidaa’atahum fee rihaalihim la’allahum ya’rifoonahaaa izan qalabooo ilaaa ahlihim la’allahum yarji’oon
Falammaa raja’ooo ilaaa abeehim qaaloo yaaa abaanaa muni’a minnal kailu fa arsil ma’anaaa akhaanaa naktal wa innaa lahoo lahaafizoon
Qaala hal aamanukum ‘alaihi illaa kamaa amintukum ‘alaaa akheehi min qabl; fal laahu khairun haafizanw wa Huwa arhamur Raahimeen
Wa lammaa fatahoo mataa ‘ahum wajadoo bidaa’atahum ruddat ilaihim qaaloo yaaa abaanaa maa nabghee; haazihee bida ‘atunaa ruddat ilainaa wa nameeru ahlanaa wa nahfazu akhaanaa wa nazdaadu kaila ba’eer; zaalika kailuny yaseer
Qaala lan ursilahoo ma’akum hattaa tu’tooni mawsiqam minal laahee lataa tunnanee biheee illaaa ai yuhaata bikum falammaaa aatawhu mawsiqahum qaalal laahu ‘alaa maa naqoolu Wakeel
Wa qaala yaa baniyya laa tadkhuloo mim baabinw waa hidinw wadkhuloo min abwaabim mutafarriqah; wa maaa ughnee ‘ankum minal laahi min shai’in; inil hukmu illaa lillaahi ‘alaihi tawakkaltu wa ‘alaihi fal yatawakkalil Mutawakkiloon
Wa lammaa dakhaloo min haisu amarahum aboohum maa kaana yughnee ‘anhum minal laahi min shai’in illaa haajatan fee nafsi Ya’qooba qadaahaa; wa innahoo lazoo ‘ilmil limaa ‘allamnaahu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya’lamoon (section 8)
Wa lammaa dakhaloo ‘alaa Yoosufa aawaaa ilaihi akhaahu qaala inneee ana akhooka falaa tabta’is bimaa kaanoo ya’maloon
Falammaa jahhazahum bijahaazihim ja’alas siqaayata fee rahli akheehi summa azzana mu’azzinun ayyatuhal’eeru innakum lasaariqoon
Qaaloo wa aqbaloo ‘alaihim maazaa tafqidoon
Qaaloo nafqidu suwaa’al maliki wa liman jaaa’a bihee himlu ba’eerinw wa ana bihee za’eem
Qaaloo tallaahi laqad ‘alimtum maa ji’na linufsida fil ardi wa maa kunnaa saariqeen
Qaaloo famaa jazaaa’u hooo in kuntum kaazibeen
Qaaloo jazaaa’uhoo manw wujida fee rahlihee fahuwa jazaaa’uh; kazaalika najziz zaalimeen
Fabada-a bi-aw’iyatihim qabla wi’aaa’i akheehi summas takhrajahaa minw wi ‘aaa’i akheeh; kazaalika kidnaa li Yoosuf; maa kaana liyaakhuza akhaahu fee deenil maliki illaaa any yashaaa’al laah; narfa’u darajaatim man nashaaa’; wa fawqa kulli zee ‘ilmin ‘Aleem
Qaaloo iny yasriq faqad saraqa akhul lahoo min qabl; fa asarrahaa Yoosufu fee nafsihee wa lam yubdihaa lahum; qaala antum sharrum makaananw wallaahu a’lamu bimaa tasifoon
Qaaloo yaaa ayyuhal ‘Azeezu inna lahooo aban shaikhan kabeeran fakhuz ahadanaa makaanahoo innaa naraaka minal muhsineen
Qaala ma’aazal laahi an naakhuza illaa manw wajadnaa mataa’anaa ‘indahoo innaaa izal lazaalimoon (section 9)
Falammas tay’asoo minhu khalasoo najiyyan qaala kabeeruhum alam ta’lamoo anna abaakum qad akhaza ‘alaikum mawthiqam min Allahi wa min qablu maa farrattum fee Yoosufa falan abrahal arda hattaa ya’zana leee abeee aw yahkumal laahu lee wa huwa khairul haakimeen
Irji’ooo ilaaa abeekum faqooloo yaaa abaanaaa innab naka saraq; wa maa shahidnaaa illaa bimaa ‘alimnaa wa maa kunnaa lilghaibi haafizeen
Was’alil qaryatal latee kunnaa feehaa wal’eeral lateee aqbalnaa feehaa wa innaa lasaadiqoon
Qaala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amran fasabrun jameelun ‘asal laahu any yaa tiyanee bihim jamee’aa; innahoo Huwal ‘Aleemul Hakeem
Wa tawallaa ‘anhum wa qaala yaaa asafaa ‘alaa Yoosufa wabyaddat ‘aynaahu minal huzni fahuwa kazeem
Qaaloo tallaahi tafta’u tazkuru Yoosufa hattaa takoona haradan aw takoona minal haalikeen
Qaala innamaaa ashkoo bassee wa huzneee ilal laahi wa a’lamu minal laahi maa laa ta’lamoon
Yaa baniyyaz haboo fatahassasoo miny Yoosufa wa akheehi wa laa tai’asoo mir rawhil laahi innahoo laa yai’asu mir rawhil laahi illal qawmul kaafiroon
Falammaa dakhaloo ‘alaihi qaaloo yaaa ayyuhal ‘Azeezu massanaa wa ahlanad durru wa ji’naa bi bidaa ‘im muzjaatin fa awfi lanal kaila wa tasaddaq ‘alainaa innal laaha yajzil mutasaddiqeen
Qaala hal ‘alimtum maa fa’altum bi Yoosufa wa akheehi iz antum jaahiloon
Qaaloo ‘a innaka la anta Yoosufu qaala ana Yoosufu wa haazaaa akhee qad mannal laahu ‘alainaa innahoo mai yattaqi wa yasbir fa innal laaha laa yudee’u ajral muhsineen
Qaaloo tallaahi laqad aatharakal laahu ‘alainaa wa in kunnaa lakhaati’een
Qaala laa tathreeba ‘alaikumul yawma yaghfirul laahu lakum wa Huwa arhamur raahimeen
Izhaboo biqameesee haazaa fa alqoohu ‘alaa wajhi abee ya’ti baseeranw wa’toonee bi ahlikum ajma’een (section 10)
Wa lammaa fasalatil ‘eeru qaala aboohum innee la ajidu reeha Yoosufa law laaa an tufannidoon
Qaaloo tallaahi innaka lafee dalaalikal qadeem
Falammaaa an jaaa’albasheeru alqaahu ‘alaa wajhihee fartadda baseeran qaala alam aqul lakum inneee a’lamu minal laahi maa laa ta’lamoon
Qaaloo yaaa abaanas taghfir lanaa zunoobanaa innaa kunnaa khaati’een
Qaala sawfa astaghfiru lakum Rabbeee innahoo Huwal Ghafoorur Raheem
Falammaa dakhaloo ‘alaa Yoosufa aawaaa ilaihi abawaiyhi wa qaalad khuloo Misra inshaaa’al laahu aamineen
Wa raf’a abawaihi ‘alal ‘arshi wa kharroo lahoo sujjadaa; wa qaala yaaa abati haaza taaweelu ru’yaaya min qablu qad ja’alahaa Rabbee haqqaa; wa qad ahsana beee iz akhrajanee minas sijni wa jaaa’a bikum minal badwi mim ba’di an nazaghash Shaitaanu bainee wa baina ikhwatee; inna Rabbee lateeful limaa yashaaa’; innahoo Huwal ‘Aleemul Hakeem
Rabbi qad aataitanee minal mulki wa ‘allamtanee min taaweelil ahaadees; faati ras samaawaati wal ardi Anta waliyyee fid dunyaa wal Aakhirati tawaffanee muslimanw wa alhiqnee bissaaliheen
Zaalika min ambaaa’il ghaibi nooheehi ilaika wa maa kunta ladaihim iz ajma’ooo amrahum wa hum yamkuroon
Wa maa aksarun naasi wa law harasta bimu’mineen
Wa maa tas’aluhum ‘alaihi min ajr; in huwa illaa zikrul lil’aalameen (section 11)
Wa ka ayyim min Aayatin fis samaawaati wal ardi yamurroona ‘alaihaa wa hum ‘anhaa mu’ridoon
Wa maa yu’minu aksaru hum billaahi illaa wa hum mushrikoon
Afa aminooo an taatiya hum ghaashiyatum min ‘azaabil laahi aw taatiyahumus Saa’atu baghtatanw wa hum laa yash’uroon
Qul haazihee sabeeleee ad’ooo ilal laah; ‘alaa baseera tin ana wa manit taba’anee wa Subhaanal laahi wa maaa ana minal mushrikeen
Wa maaa arsalnaa min qablika illaa rijaalan nooheee ilaihim min ahlil quraa; afalam yaseeroo fil ardi fa yanzuroo kaifa kaana ‘aaqibatul lazeena min qablihim; wa la Daarul Aakhirati Khairul lillazeenat taqaw; afalaa ta’qiloon
Hattaaa izas tai’asar Rusulu wa zannooo annahum qad kuziboo jaaa’ahum nas runaa fanujjiya man nashaaa’u wa laa yuraddu ba’suna ‘anil qawmil mujrimeen
Laqad kaana fee qasasihim ‘ibratul li ulil albaab; maa kaana hadeethany yuftaraa wa laakin tasdeeqal lazee baina yadaihi wa tafseela kulli shai’inw wa hudanw wa rahmatal liqawminy yu’minoon

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the Verses of the Clear Book.
We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand.
We narrate to you the most accurate history, by revealing to you this Quran. Although, prior to it, you were of the unaware.
When Joseph said to his father, “O my father, I saw eleven planets, and the sun, and the moon; I saw them bowing down to me.”
He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers, lest they plot and scheme against you. Satan is man’s sworn enemy.
And thus your Lord will choose you, and will teach you the interpretation of events, and will complete His blessing upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He has completed it before upon your forefathers Abraham and Isaac. Your Lord is Knowing and Wise.
In Joseph and his brothers are lessons for the seekers.
When they said, “Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, although we are a whole group. Our father is obviously in the wrong.
“Kill Joseph, or throw him somewhere in the land, and your father‘s attention will be yours. Afterwards, you will be decent people.”
One of them said, “Do not kill Joseph, but throw him into the bottom of the well; some caravan may pick him up—if you must do something.”
They said, “Father, why do you not trust us with Joseph, although we care for him?”
“Send him with us tomorrow, that he may roam and play; we will take care of him.”
He said, “It worries me that you would take him away. And I fear the wolf may eat him while you are careless of him.”
They said, “If the wolf ate him, and we are many, we would be good for nothing.”
So they went away with him, and agreed to put him at the bottom of the well. And We inspired him, “You will inform them of this deed of theirs when they are unaware.”
And they came to their father in the evening weeping.
They said, “O father, we went off racing one another, and left Joseph by our belongings; and the wolf ate him. But you will not believe us, even though we are being truthful.”
And they brought his shirt, with fake blood on it. He said, “Your souls enticed you to do something. But patience is beautiful, and Allah is my Help against what you describe.”
A caravan passed by, and they sent their water-carrier. He lowered his bucket, and said, “Good news. Here is a boy.” And they hid him as merchandise. But Allah was aware of what they did.
And they sold him for a cheap price—a few coins—they considered him to be of little value.
The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, “Take good care of him; he may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.” We thus established Joseph in the land, to teach him the interpretation of events. Allah has control over His affairs, but most people do not know.
When he reached his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the righteous.
She in whose house he was living tried to seduce him. She shut the doors, and said, “I am yours.” He said, “Allah 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 Allah, 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.
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 Allah; 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 Allah. This is by virtue of Allah’s grace upon us and upon the people, but most people do not give thanks.
“O My fellow inmates, are diverse lords better, or Allah, the One, the Supreme?”
“You do not worship, besides Him, except names you have named, you and your ancestors, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to none but Allah. 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.”
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 king said, “I see seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green spikes, and others dried up. O elders, explain to me my vision, if you are able to interpret visions.”
They said, “Jumbles of dreams, and we know nothing of the interpretation of dreams.”
The one who was released said, having remembered after a time, “I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me out.”
“Joseph, O man of truth, inform us concerning seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green spikes, and others dried up, so that I may return to the people, so that they may know.”
He said, “You will farm for seven consecutive years. But whatever you harvest, leave it in its spikes, except for the little that you eat.”
Then after that will come seven difficult ones, which will consume what you have stored for them, except for the little that you have preserved.
Then after that will come a year that brings relief to the people, and during which they will press.
The king said, “Bring him to me.” And when the envoy came to him, he said, “Go back to your master, and ask him about the intentions of the women who cut their hands; my Lord is well aware of their schemes.”
He said, “What was the matter with you, women, when you tried to seduce Joseph?” They said, “Allah forbid! We knew of no evil committed by him.” The governor’s wife then said, “Now the truth is out. It was I who tried to seduce him, and he is telling the truth.”
“This is that he may know that I did not betray him in secret, and that Allah does not guide the scheming of the betrayers.”
“Yet I do not claim to be innocent. The soul commands evil, except those on whom my Lord has mercy. Truly my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”
The king said, “Bring him to me, and I will reserve him for myself.” And when he spoke to him, he said, “This day you are with us established and secure.”
He said, “Put me in charge of the storehouses of the land; I am honest and knowledgeable.”
And thus We established Joseph in the land, to live therein wherever he wished. We touch with Our mercy whomever We will, and We never waste the reward of the righteous.
But the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and observed piety.
And Joseph’s brothers came, and entered into his presence. He recognized them, but they did not recognize him.
When he provided them with their provisions, he said, “Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I fill up the measure, and I am the best of hosts?”
“But if you do not bring him to me, you will have no measure from me, and you will not come near me.”
They said, “We will solicit him from his father. We will surely do.”
He said to his servants, “Put their goods in their saddlebags; perhaps they will recognize them when they return to their families, and maybe they will come back.”
When they returned to their father, they said, “O father, we were denied measure, but send our brother with us, and we will obtain measure. We will take care of him.”
He said, “Shall I trust you with him, as I trusted you with his brother before? Allah is the Best Guardian, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
And when they opened their baggage, they found that their goods were returned to them. They said, “Father, what more do we want? Here are our goods, returned to us. We will provide for our family, and protect our brother, and have an additional camel-load. This is easy commerce.”
He said, “I will not send him with you, unless you give me a pledge before Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you get trapped.” And when they gave him their pledge, he said, “Allah is witness to what we say.”
And he said, “O my sons, do not enter by one gate, but enter by different gates. I cannot avail you anything against Allah. The decision rests only with Allah. On Him I rely, and on Him let the reliant rely.”
And when they entered as their father had instructed them, it did not avail them anything against Allah; it was just a need in the soul of Jacob, which he carried out. He was a person of knowledge inasmuch as We had taught him, but most people do not know.
And when they entered into the presence of Joseph, he embraced his brother, and said, “I am your brother; do not be saddened by what they used to do.”
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.”
They said, as they came towards them, “What are you missing?”
They said, “We are missing the king’s goblet. Whoever brings it will have a camel-load; and I personally guarantee it.”
They said, “By Allah, you know we did not come to cause trouble in the land, and we are not thieves.”
They said, “What shall be his punishment, if you are lying?”
They said, “His punishment, if it is found in his bag: he will belong to you. Thus we penalize the guilty.”
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 Allah so willed. We elevate by degrees whomever We will; and above every person of knowledge, there is one more learned.
They said, “If he has stolen, a brother of his has stolen before.” But Joseph kept it to himself, and did not reveal it to them. He said, “You are in a worse situation, and Allah is Aware of what you allege.”
They said, “O noble prince, he has a father, a very old man, so take one of us in his place. We see that you are a good person.”
He said, “Allah forbid that we should arrest anyone except him in whose possession we found our property; for then we would be unjust.”
And when they despaired of him, they conferred privately. Their eldest said, “Don’t you know that your father received a pledge from you before Allah, and in the past you failed with regard to Joseph? I will not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah decides for me; for He is the Best of Deciders.”
“Go back to your father, and say, ‘Our father, your son has stolen. We testify only to what we know, and we could not have prevented the unforeseen.’”
“Ask the town where we were, and the caravan in which we came. We are being truthful.”
He said, “Rather, your souls have contrived something for you. Patience is a virtue. Perhaps Allah will bring them all back to me. He is the Knowing, the Wise.”
Then he turned away from them, and said, “O my bitterness for Joseph.” And his eyes turned white from sorrow, and he became depressed.
They said, “By Allah, you will not stop remembering Joseph, until you have ruined your health, or you have passed away.”
He said, “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.”
“O my sons, go and inquire about Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s comfort. None despairs of Allah’s comfort except the disbelieving people.”
Then, when they entered into his presence, they said, “Mighty governor, adversity has befallen us, and our family. We have brought scant merchandise. But give us full measure, and be charitable towards us—Allah rewards the charitable.”
He said, “Do you realize what you did with Joseph and his brother, in your ignorance?”
They said, “Is that you, Joseph?” He said, “I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has been gracious to us. He who practices piety and patience—Allah never fails to reward the righteous.”
They said, “By Allah, Allah has preferred you over us. We were definitely in the wrong.”
He said, “There is no blame upon you today. Allah will forgive you. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
“Take this shirt of mine, and lay it over my father’s face, and he will recover his sight. And bring your whole family to me.”
As the caravan set out, their father said, “I sense the presence of Joseph, though you may think I am senile.”
They said, “By Allah, you are still in your old confusion.”
Then, when the bearer of good news arrived, he laid it over his face, and he regained his sight. He said, “Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?”
They said, “Father, pray for the forgiveness of our sins; we were indeed at fault.”
He said, “I will ask my Lord to forgive you. He is the Forgiver, the Most Merciful.”
Then, when they entered into the presence of Joseph, he embraced his parents, and said, “Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe and secure.”
And he elevated his parents on the throne, and they fell prostrate before him. He said, “Father, this is the fulfillment of my vision of long ago. My Lord has made it come true. He has blessed me, when he released me from prison, and brought you out of the wilderness, after the devil had sown conflict between me and my brothers. My Lord is Most Kind towards whomever He wills. He is the All-knowing, the Most Wise.”
“My Lord, You have given me some authority, and taught me some interpretation of events. Initiator of the heavens and the earth; You are my Protector in this life and in the Hereafter. Receive my soul in submission, and unite me with the righteous.”
This is news from the past that We reveal to you. You were not present with them when they plotted and agreed on a plan.
But most people, for all your eagerness, are not believers.
You ask them no wage for it. It is only a reminder for all mankind.
How many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by, paying no attention to them?
And most of them do not believe in Allah unless they associate others.
Do they feel secure that a covering of Allah’s punishment will not come upon them, or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly, while they are unaware?
Say, “This is my way; I invite to Allah, based on clear knowledge—I and whoever follows me. Glory be to Allah; and I am not of the polytheists.”
We did not send before you except men, whom We inspired, from the people of the towns. Have they not roamed the earth and seen the consequences for those before them? The Home of the Hereafter is better for those who are righteous. Do you not understand?
Until, when the messengers have despaired, and thought that they were rejected, Our help came to them. We save whomever We will, and Our severity is not averted from the guilty people.
In their stories is a lesson for those who possess intelligence. This is not a fabricated tale, but a confirmation of what came before it, and a detailed explanation of all things, and guidance, and mercy for people who believe.