1. Alif. Lám. Rá.
These are the Verses of the Perspicuous Book.
2. We have sent it down as an Arabic Qurán, 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) Qurán: 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 favor 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
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 error!
9. "Slay ye Joseph or cast him out to some
(unknown) land, that so the favor 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 travelers."
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 be the losers!"
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 perceive 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 travelers: 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) honorable: 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, and she fastened the doors, and said: "Now come!" 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
indecent deeds: for he was one of Our servants, chosen.
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. 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 dearer to
my liking than that to which they invite me: unless Thou turn away their
snare from me, I should 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 them, 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 Allah he One,
Supreme and Irresistible?
40. "Whatever ye worship apart from Him is
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 inquire"...
42. And of the two, to that one whom he
considered 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 remembered 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 know."
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 was the matter with 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?" 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. 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. "Yet I do not absolve myself (of blame): the
(human) soul is certainly incites 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, of high standing
with us, invested with all trust!
55. (Joseph) said: "Set me over the store-houses
of the land: I am a good keeper, knowledgeable."
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 try to win 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 served only to satisfy Jacob's heartfelt desire. 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 judges for me; and
He is the best to judge.
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 was suppressed with silent sorrow.
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 inquire 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 illusion."
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, and they fell down in prostration, (all) before him. He said: "O
my father! this is the fulfillment 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 is Gracious to whom He
wills, 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,- with certain knowledge, - I and whoever follows me. Glory to
Allah, and never will I join gods with Allah!"
109. Nor did We send before thee messengers any
but men, whom We did inspire,- (men) from the people of the towns. 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
messengers give up hope (of their people) and (com 289 e 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.
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