1. A.L.R. These are the
symbols (or Verses) of the
perspicuous Book.
2. We have sent it down as an
Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye
may learn wisdom.
3. We do relate unto thee the
most beautiful of stories, in
that We reveal to thee this
(portion of the) Qur'an: before
this, thou too was among those
who knew it not.
4. Behold! Joseph said to his
father: "O my father! I did see
eleven stars and the sun and the
moon: I saw them prostrate
themselves to me!"
5. Said (the father): "My (dear)
little son! relate not thy
vision to thy brothers, lest
they concoct a plot against
thee: for Satan is to man an
avowed enemy!
6. "Thus will thy Lord choose
thee and teach thee the
interpretation of stories (and
events) and perfect His favour
to thee and to the posterity of
Jacob - even as He perfected it
to thy fathers Abraham and Isaac
aforetime! for Allah is full of
knowledge and wisdom."
7. Verily in Joseph and his
brethren are signs (or symbols)
for seekers (after Truth).
8. They said: "Truly Joseph and
his brother are loved more by
our father than we: But we are a
goodly body! really our father
is obviously wandering (in his
mind)!
9. "Slay ye Joseph or cast him
out to some (unknown) land, that
so the favour of your father may
be given to you alone: (there
will be time enough) for you to
be righteous after that!"
10. Said one of them: "Slay not
Joseph, but if ye must do
something, throw him down to the
bottom of the well: he will be
picked up by some caravan of
travellers."
11. They said: "O our father!
why dost thou not trust us with
Joseph,- seeing we are indeed
his sincere well-wishers?
12. "Send him with us tomorrow
to enjoy himself and play, and
we shall take every care of
him."
13. (Jacob) said: "Really it
saddens me that ye should take
him away: I fear lest the wolf
should devour him while ye
attend not to him."
14. They said: "If the wolf were
to devour him while we are (so
large) a party, then should we
indeed (first) have perished
ourselves!"
15. So they did take him away,
and they all agreed to throw him
down to the bottom of the well:
and We put into his heart (this
Message): 'Of a surety thou
shalt (one day) tell them the
truth of this their affair while
they know (thee) not'
16. Then they came to their
father in the early part of the
night, weeping.
17. They said: "O our father! We
went racing with one another,
and left Joseph with our things;
and the wolf devoured him....
But thou wilt never believe us
even though we tell the truth."
18. They stained his shirt with
false blood. He said: "Nay, but
your minds have made up a tale
(that may pass) with you, (for
me) patience is most fitting:
Against that which ye assert, it
is Allah (alone) Whose help can
be sought"..
19. Then there came a caravan of
travellers: they sent their
water-carrier (for water), and
he let down his bucket (into the
well)...He said: "Ah there! Good
news! Here is a (fine) young
man!" So they concealed him as a
treasure! But Allah knoweth well
all that they do!
20. The (Brethren) sold him for
a miserable price, for a few
dirhams counted out: in such low
estimation did they hold him!
21. The man in Egypt who bought
him, said to his wife: "Make his
stay (among us) honourable: may
be he will bring us much good,
or we shall adopt him as a son."
Thus did We establish Joseph in
the land, that We might teach
him the interpretation of
stories (and events). And Allah
hath full power and control over
His affairs; but most among
mankind know it not.
22. When Joseph attained His
full manhood, We gave him power
and knowledge: thus do We reward
those who do right.
23. But she in whose house he
was, sought to seduce him from
his (true) self: she fastened
the doors, and said: "Now come,
thou (dear one)!" He said:
"(Allah) forbid! truly (thy
husband) is my lord! he made my
sojourn agreeable! truly to no
good come those who do wrong!"
24. And (with passion) did she
desire him, and he would have
desired her, but that he saw the
evidence of his Lord: thus (did
We order) that We might turn
away from him (all) evil and
shameful deeds: for he was one
of Our servants, sincere and
purified.
25. So they both raced each
other to the door, and she tore
his shirt from the back: they
both found her lord near the
door. She said: "What is the
(fitting) punishment for one who
formed an evil design against
thy wife, but prison or a
grievous chastisement?"
26. He said: "It was she that
sought to seduce me - from my
(true) self." And one of her
household saw (this) and bore
witness, (thus):- "If it be that
his shirt is rent from the
front, then is her tale true,
and he is a liar!
27. "But if it be that his shirt
is torn from the back, then is
she the liar, and he is telling
the truth!"
28. So when he saw his shirt,-
that it was torn at the back,-
(her husband) said: "Behold! It
is a snare of you women! truly,
mighty is your snare!
29. "O Joseph, pass this over!
(O wife), ask forgiveness for
thy sin, for truly thou hast
been at fault!"
30. Ladies said in the City:
"The wife of the (great) 'Aziz
is seeking to seduce her slave
from his (true) self: Truly hath
he inspired her with violent
love: we see she is evidently
going astray."
31. When she heard of their
malicious talk, she sent for
them and prepared a banquet for
them: she gave each of them a
knife: and she said (to Joseph),
"Come out before them." When
they saw him, they did extol
him, and (in their amazement)
cut their hands: they said,
"(Allah) preserve us! no mortal
is this! this is none other than
a noble angel!"
32. She said: "There before you
is the man about whom ye did
blame me! I did seek to seduce
him from his (true) self but he
did firmly save himself
guiltless!....and now, if he
doth not my bidding, he shall
certainly be cast into prison,
and (what is more) be of the
company of the vilest!"
33. He said: "O my Lord! the
prison is more to my liking than
that to which they invite me:
Unless Thou turn away their
snare from me, I should (in my
youthful folly) feel inclined
towards them and join the ranks
of the ignorant."
34. So his Lord hearkened to him
(in his prayer), and turned away
from him their snare: Verily He
heareth and knoweth (all
things).
35. Then it occurred to the men,
after they had seen the signs,
(that it was best) to imprison
him for a time.
36. Now with him there came into
the prison two young men. Said
one of them: "I see myself (in a
dream) pressing wine." said the
other: "I see myself (in a
dream) carrying bread on my
head, and birds are eating,
thereof." "Tell us" (they said)
"The truth and meaning thereof:
for we see thou art one that
doth good (to all)."
37. He said: "Before any food
comes (in due course) to feed
either of you, I will surely
reveal to you the truth and
meaning of this ere it befall
you: that is part of the (duty)
which my Lord hath taught me. I
have (I assure you) abandoned
the ways of a people that
believe not in Allah and that
(even) deny the Hereafter.
38. "And I follow the ways of my
fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob; and never could we
attribute any partners whatever
to Allah. that (comes) of the
grace of Allah to us and to
mankind: yet most men are not
grateful.
39. "O my two companions of the
prison! (I ask you): are many
lords differing among themselves
better, or the One Allah,
Supreme and Irresistible?
40. "If not Him, ye worship
nothing but names which ye have
named,- ye and your fathers,-
for which Allah hath sent down
no authority: the command is for
none but Allah. He hath
commanded that ye worship none
but Him: that is the right
religion, but most men
understand not...
41. "O my two companions of the
prison! As to one of you, he
will pour out the wine for his
lord to drink: as for the other,
he will hang from the cross, and
the birds will eat from off his
head. (so) hath been decreed
that matter whereof ye twain do
enquire"...
42. And of the two, to that one
whom he consider about to be
saved, he said: "Mention me to
thy lord." But Satan made him
forget to mention him to his
lord: and (Joseph) lingered in
prison a few (more) years.
43. The king (of Egypt) said: "I
do see (in a vision) seven fat
kine, whom seven lean ones
devour, and seven green ears of
corn, and seven (others)
withered. O ye chiefs! Expound
to me my vision if it be that ye
can interpret visions."
44. They said: "A confused
medley of dreams: and we are not
skilled in the interpretation of
dreams."
45. But the man who had been
released, one of the two (who
had been in prison) and who now
bethought him after (so long) a
space of time, said: "I will
tell you the truth of its
interpretation: send ye me
(therefore)."
46. "O Joseph!" (he said) "O man
of truth! Expound to us (the
dream) of seven fat kine whom
seven lean ones devour, and of
seven green ears of corn and
(seven) others withered: that I
may return to the people, and
that they may understand."
47. (Joseph) said: "For seven
years shall ye diligently sow as
is your wont: and the harvests
that ye reap, ye shall leave
them in the ear,- except a
little, of which ye shall eat.
48. "Then will come after that
(period) seven dreadful (years),
which will devour what ye shall
have laid by in advance for
them,- (all) except a little
which ye shall have (specially)
guarded.
49. "Then will come after that
(period) a year in which the
people will have abundant water,
and in which they will press
(wine and oil)."
50. So the king said: "Bring ye
him unto me." But when the
messenger came to him, (Joseph)
said: "Go thou back to thy lord,
and ask him, 'What is the state
of mind of the ladies who cut
their hands'? For my Lord is
certainly well aware of their
snare."
51. (The king) said (to the
ladies): "What was your affair
when ye did seek to seduce
Joseph from his (true) self?"
The ladies said: "(Allah)
preserve us! no evil know we
against him!" Said the 'Aziz's
wife: "Now is the truth manifest
(to all): it was I who sought to
seduce him from his (true) self:
He is indeed of those who are
(ever) true (and virtuous).
52. "This (say I), in order that
He may know that I have never
been false to him in his
absence, and that Allah will
never guide the snare of the
false ones.
53. "Nor do I absolve my own
self (of blame): the (human)
soul is certainly prone to evil,
unless my Lord do bestow His
Mercy: but surely my Lord is
Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful."
54. So the king said: "Bring him
unto me; I will take him
specially to serve about my own
person." Therefore when he had
spoken to him, he said: "Be
assured this day, thou art,
before our own presence, with
rank firmly established, and
fidelity fully proved!
55. (Joseph) said: "Set me over
the store-houses of the land: I
will indeed guard them, as one
that knows (their importance)."
56. Thus did We give established
power to Joseph in the land, to
take possession therein as,
when, or where he pleased. We
bestow of our Mercy on whom We
please, and We suffer not, to be
lost, the reward of those who do
good.
57. But verily the reward of the
Hereafter is the best, for those
who believe, and are constant in
righteousness.
58. Then came Joseph's brethren:
they entered his presence, and
he knew them, but they knew him
not.
59. And when he had furnished
them forth with provisions
(suitable) for them, he said:
"Bring unto me a brother ye
have, of the same father as
yourselves, (but a different
mother): see ye not that I pay
out full measure, and that I do
provide the best hospitality?
60. "Now if ye bring him not to
me, ye shall have no measure (of
corn) from me, nor shall ye
(even) come near me."
61. They said: "We shall
certainly seek to get our wish
about him from his father:
Indeed we shall do it."
62. And (Joseph) told his
servants to put their
stock-in-trade (with which they
had bartered) into their
saddle-bags, so they should know
it only when they returned to
their people, in order that they
might come back.
63. Now when they returned to
their father, they said: "O our
father! No more measure of grain
shall we get (unless we take our
brother): So send our brother
with us, that we may get our
measure; and we will indeed take
every care of him."
64. He said: "Shall I trust you
with him with any result other
than when I trusted you with his
brother aforetime? But Allah is
the best to take care (of him),
and He is the Most Merciful of
those who show mercy!"
65. Then when they opened their
baggage, they found their
stock-in-trade had been returned
to them. They said: "O our
father! What (more) can we
desire? this our stock-in-trade
has been returned to us: so we
shall get (more) food for our
family; We shall take care of
our brother; and add (at the
same time) a full camel's load
(of grain to our provisions).
This is but a small quantity.
66. (Jacob) said: "Never will I
send him with you until ye swear
a solemn oath to me, in Allah.s
name, that ye will be sure to
bring him back to me unless ye
are yourselves hemmed in (and
made powerless). And when they
had sworn their solemn oath, he
said: "Over all that we say, be
Allah the witness and guardian!"
67. Further he said: "O my sons!
enter not all by one gate: enter
ye by different gates. Not that
I can profit you aught against
Allah (with my advice): None can
command except Allah. On Him do
I put my trust: and let all that
trust put their trust on Him."
68. And when they entered in the
manner their father had
enjoined, it did not profit them
in the least against (the plan
of) Allah. It was but a
necessity of Jacob's soul, which
he discharged. For he was, by
our instruction, full of
knowledge (and experience): but
most men know not.
69. Now when they came into
Joseph's presence, he received
his (full) brother to stay with
him. He said (to him): "Behold!
I am thy (own) brother; so
grieve not at aught of their
doings."
70. At length when he had
furnished them forth with
provisions (suitable) for them,
he put the drinking cup into his
brother's saddle-bag. Then
shouted out a crier: "O ye (in)
the caravan! behold! ye are
thieves, without doubt!"
71. They said, turning towards
them: "What is it that ye miss?"
72. They said: "We miss the
great beaker of the king; for
him who produces it, is (the
reward of) a camel load; I will
be bound by it."
73. (The brothers) said: "By
Allah. well ye know that we came
not to make mischief in the
land, and we are no thieves!"
74. (The Egyptians) said: "What
then shall be the penalty of
this, if ye are (proved) to have
lied?"
75. They said: "The penalty
should be that he in whose
saddle-bag it is found, should
be held (as bondman) to atone
for the (crime). Thus it is we
punish the wrong- doers!"
76. So he began (the search)
with their baggage, before (he
came to) the baggage of his
brother: at length he brought it
out of his brother's baggage.
Thus did We plan for Joseph. He
could not take his brother by
the law of the king except that
Allah willed it (so). We raise
to degrees (of wisdom) whom We
please: but over all endued with
knowledge is one, the
All-Knowing.
77. They said: "If he steals,
there was a brother of his who
did steal before (him)." But
these things did Joseph keep
locked in his heart, revealing
not the secrets to them. He
(simply) said (to himself): "Ye
are the worse situated; and
Allah knoweth best the truth of
what ye assert!"
78. They said: "O exalted one!
Behold! he has a father, aged
and venerable, (who will grieve
for him); so take one of us in
his place; for we see that thou
art (gracious) in doing good."
79. He said: "(Allah) forbid
that we take other than him with
whom we found our property:
indeed (if we did so), we should
be acting wrongfully.
80. Now when they saw no hope of
his (yielding), they held a
conference in private. The
leader among them said: "Know ye
not that your father did take an
oath from you in Allah.s name,
and how, before this, ye did
fail in your duty with Joseph?
Therefore will I not leave this
land until my father permits me,
or Allah commands me; and He is
the best to command.
81. "Turn ye back to your
father, and say, 'O our father!
behold! thy son committed theft!
we bear witness only to what we
know, and we could not well
guard against the unseen!
82. "'Ask at the town where we
have been and the caravan in
which we returned, and (you will
find) we are indeed telling the
truth.'"
83. Jacob said: "Nay, but ye
have yourselves contrived a
story (good enough) for you. So
patience is most fitting (for
me). Maybe Allah will bring them
(back) all to me (in the end).
For He is indeed full of
knowledge and wisdom."
84. And he turned away from
them, and said: "How great is my
grief for Joseph!" And his eyes
became white with sorrow, and he
fell into silent melancholy.
85. They said: "By Allah.
(never) wilt thou cease to
remember Joseph until thou reach
the last extremity of illness,
or until thou die!"
86. He said: "I only complain of
my distraction and anguish to
Allah, and I know from Allah
that which ye know not...
87. "O my sons! go ye and
enquire about Joseph and his
brother, and never give up hope
of Allah.s Soothing Mercy: truly
no one despairs of Allah.s
Soothing Mercy, except those who
have no faith."
88. Then, when they came (back)
into (Joseph's) presence they
said: "O exalted one! distress
has seized us and our family: we
have (now) brought but scanty
capital: so pay us full measure,
(we pray thee), and treat it as
charity to us: for Allah doth
reward the charitable."
89. He said: "Know ye how ye
dealt with Joseph and his
brother, not knowing (what ye
were doing)?"
90. They said: "Art thou indeed
Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph,
and this is my brother: Allah
has indeed been gracious to us
(all): behold, he that is
righteous and patient,- never
will Allah suffer the reward to
be lost, of those who do right."
91. They said: "By Allah. indeed
has Allah preferred thee above
us, and we certainly have been
guilty of sin!"
92. He said: "This day let no
reproach be (cast) on you: Allah
will forgive you, and He is the
Most Merciful of those who show
mercy!
93. "Go with this my shirt, and
cast it over the face of my
father: he will come to see
(clearly). Then come ye (here)
to me together with all your
family."
94. When the caravan left
(Egypt), their father said: "I
do indeed scent the presence of
Joseph: Nay, think me not a
dotard."
95. They said: "By Allah. truly
thou art in thine old wandering
mind."
96. Then when the bearer of the
good news came, He cast (the
shirt) over his face, and he
forthwith regained clear sight.
He said: "Did I not say to you,
'I know from Allah that which ye
know not?'"
97. They said: "O our father!
ask for us forgiveness for our
sins, for we were truly at
fault."
98. He said: "Soon will I ask my
Lord for forgiveness for you:
for he is indeed Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful."
99. Then when they entered the
presence of Joseph, he provided
a home for his parents with
himself, and said: "Enter ye
Egypt (all) in safety if it
please Allah."
100. And he raised his parents
high on the throne (of dignity),
and they fell down in
prostration, (all) before him.
He said: "O my father! this is
the fulfilment of my vision of
old! Allah hath made it come
true! He was indeed good to me
when He took me out of prison
and brought you (all here) out
of the desert, (even) after
Satan had sown enmity between me
and my brothers. Verily my Lord
understandeth best the mysteries
of all that He planneth to do,
for verily He is full of
knowledge and wisdom.
101. "O my Lord! Thou hast
indeed bestowed on me some
power, and taught me something
of the interpretation of dreams
and events,- O Thou Creator of
the heavens and the earth! Thou
art my Protector in this world
and in the Hereafter. Take Thou
my soul (at death) as one
submitting to Thy will (as a
Muslim), and unite me with the
righteous."
102. Such is one of the stories
of what happened unseen, which
We reveal by inspiration unto
thee; nor wast thou (present)
with them then when they
concerted their plans together
in the process of weaving their
plots.
103. Yet no faith will the
greater part of mankind have,
however ardently thou dost
desire it.
104. And no reward dost thou ask
of them for this: it is no less
than a message for all
creatures.
105. And how many Signs in the
heavens and the earth do they
pass by? Yet they turn (their
faces) away from them!
106. And most of them believe
not in Allah without associating
(other as partners) with Him!
107. Do they then feel secure
from the coming against them of
the covering veil of the wrath
of Allah,- or of the coming
against them of the (final) Hour
all of a sudden while they
perceive not?
108. Say thou: "This is my way:
I do invite unto Allah,- on
evidence clear as the seeing
with one's eyes,- I and whoever
follows me. Glory to Allah. and
never will I join gods with
Allah."
109. Nor did We send before thee
(as apostles) any but men, whom
we did inspire,- (men) living in
human habitations. Do they not
travel through the earth, and
see what was the end of those
before them? But the home of the
hereafter is best, for those who
do right. Will ye not then
understand?
110. (Respite will be granted)
until, when the apostles give up
hope (of their people) and (come
to) think that they were treated
as liars, there reaches them Our
help, and those whom We will are
delivered into safety. But never
will be warded off our
punishment from those who are in
sin.
111. There is, in their stories,
instruction for men endued with
understanding. It is not a tale
invented, but a confirmation of
what went before it,- a detailed
exposition of all things, and a
guide and a mercy to any such as
believe. |