سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ

الۤرۚ تِلۡكَ ءَایَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِینِ (۱)

Alif. Lam. Ra. THESE ARE MESSAGES of a revelation clear in itself and clearly showing the truth:

إِنَّاۤ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَ ٰ⁠ نًا عَرَبِیࣰّا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ (۲)

behold, We have bestowed it from on high as a discourse in the Arabic tongue, so that you might encompass it with your reason.

نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ بِمَاۤ أَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ إِلَیۡكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلِینَ (۳)

In the measure that We reveal this Qur'an unto thee, [O Prophet,] We explain it to thee in the best possible way, seeing that ere this thou wert indeed among those who are unaware [of what revelation is].

إِذۡ قَالَ یُوسُفُ لِأَبِیهِ یَـٰۤأَبَتِ إِنِّی رَأَیۡتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوۡكَبࣰا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ رَأَیۡتُهُمۡ لِی سَـٰجِدِینَ (۴)

LO! Thus spoke Joseph unto his father: "O my father! Behold, I saw [in a dream] eleven stars, as well as the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves before me!"

قَالَ یَـٰبُنَیَّ لَا تَقۡصُصۡ رُءۡیَاكَ عَلَىٰۤ إِخۡوَتِكَ فَیَكِیدُوا۟ لَكَ كَیۡدًاۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِینࣱ (۵)

[Jacob] replied: "O my dear son! Do not relate thy dream to thy brothers lest [out of envy] they devise an evil scheme against thee; verily, Satan is man's open foe!

وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ یَجۡتَبِیكَ رَبُّكَ وَیُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأۡوِیلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِیثِ وَیُتِمُّ نِعۡمَتَهُۥ عَلَیۡكَ وَعَلَىٰۤ ءَالِ یَعۡقُوبَ كَمَاۤ أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰۤ أَبَوَیۡكَ مِن قَبۡلُ إِبۡرَ ٰ⁠هِیمَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِیمٌ حَكِیمࣱ (۶)

For, [as thou hast been shown in thy dream,] even thus will thy Sustainer elect thee, and will impart unto thee some understanding of the inner meaning of happenings, and will bestow the full measure of His blessings upon thee and upon the House of Jacob -even as, aforetime, He bestowed it in full measure upon thy forefathers Abraham and Isaac. Verily, thy Sustainer is all-knowing, wise!"

۞ لَّقَدۡ كَانَ فِی یُوسُفَ وَإِخۡوَتِهِۦۤ ءَایَـٰتࣱ لِّلسَّاۤىِٕلِینَ (۷)

Indeed, in [the story of] Joseph and his brothers there are messages for all who search [after truth].

إِذۡ قَالُوا۟ لَیُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰۤ أَبِینَا مِنَّا وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ مُّبِینٍ (۸)

NOW [Joseph's brothers] spoke [thus to one another:] "Truly, Joseph and his brother [Benjamin] are dearer to our father than we, even though we are so many. Behold, our father is surely suffering from an aberration!"

ٱقۡتُلُوا۟ یُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضࣰا یَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِیكُمۡ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمࣰا صَـٰلِحِینَ (۹)

[Said one of them:] "Slay Joseph, or else drive him away to some [faraway] land, so that your father's regard may be for you alone: and after this is done, you will be [free to repent and to live once again as] righteous people!"

قَالَ قَاۤىِٕلࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُوا۟ یُوسُفَ وَأَلۡقُوهُ فِی غَیَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ یَلۡتَقِطۡهُ بَعۡضُ ٱلسَّیَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَـٰعِلِینَ (۱۰)

Another of them said: "Do not slay Joseph, but -rather - if you must do something - cast him into the dark depths of this well, [whence] some caravan may pick him up."

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأۡمَ۬نَّا عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ (۱۱)

[On this they agreed; and thereupon] they spoke [thus to their father]: "O our father! Wherefore wilt thou not trust us with Joseph, seeing that we are indeed his well-wishers?

أَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعَنَا غَدࣰا یَرۡتَعۡ وَیَلۡعَبۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ (۱۲)

Let him go out with us tomorrow, that he may enjoy himself and play: and, verily, we shall guard him well!"

قَالَ إِنِّی لَیَحۡزُنُنِیۤ أَن تَذۡهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن یَأۡكُلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَأَنتُمۡ عَنۡهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ (۱۳)

[Jacob] answered: "Behold, it grieves me indeed [to think] that you might take him with you, for I dread lest the wolf devour him at a moment when you are heedless of him!"

قَالُوا۟ لَىِٕنۡ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّاۤ إِذࣰا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ (۱۴)

Said they: "Surely, if the wolf were to devour him notwithstanding that we are so many-then, behold, we ought ourselves to perish!"

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَجۡمَعُوۤا۟ أَن یَجۡعَلُوهُ فِی غَیَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّۚ وَأَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ إِلَیۡهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمۡرِهِمۡ هَـٰذَا وَهُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُونَ (۱۵)

And so, when they went away with him, they decided to cast him into the dark depths of the well. And We revealed [this] unto him: "Thou wilt yet remind them of this their deed at a time when they shall not perceive [who thou art]!"

وَجَاۤءُوۤ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَاۤءࣰ یَبۡكُونَ (۱۶)

And at nightfall they came to their father, weeping,

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَاۤ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَكۡنَا یُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُۖ وَمَاۤ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنࣲ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِینَ (۱۷)

[and] said: "O our father! Behold, we went off racing with one another, and left Joseph behind with our things; and thereupon the wolf devoured him! But [we know that] thou wouldst not believe us even though we speak the truth" -

وَجَاۤءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِیصِهِۦ بِدَمࣲ كَذِبࣲۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرࣰاۖ فَصَبۡرࣱ جَمِیلࣱۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ (۱۸)

and they produced his tunic with false blood upon it. [But Jacob] exclaimed: "Nay, but it is your [own] minds that have made [so terrible] a happening seem a matter of little account to you! But [as for myself,] patience in adversity is most goodly [in the sight of God]; and it is to God [alone] that I pray to give me strength to bear the misfortune which you have described to me."

وَجَاۤءَتۡ سَیَّارَةࣱ فَأَرۡسَلُوا۟ وَارِدَهُمۡ فَأَدۡلَىٰ دَلۡوَهُۥۖ قَالَ یَـٰبُشۡرَىٰ هَـٰذَا غُلَـٰمࣱۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَـٰعَةࣰۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِیمُۢ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُونَ (۱۹)

AND THERE CAME a caravan; and they sent forth their drawer of water, and he let down his bucket into the well - [and when he saw Joseph] he exclaimed: "Oh, what a lucky find, this boy!" And they hid him with a view to selling him: but God had full knowledge of all that they were doing.

وَشَرَوۡهُ بِثَمَنِۭ بَخۡسࣲ دَرَ ٰ⁠هِمَ مَعۡدُودَةࣲ وَكَانُوا۟ فِیهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّ ٰ⁠هِدِینَ (۲۰)

And they sold him for a paltry price - a mere few silver coins: thus low did they value him.

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِی ٱشۡتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصۡرَ لِٱمۡرَأَتِهِۦۤ أَكۡرِمِی مَثۡوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰۤ أَن یَنفَعَنَاۤ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدࣰاۚ وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِیُوسُفَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأۡوِیلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِیثِۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰۤ أَمۡرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ (۲۱)

And the man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay [with us] honourable; he may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus We gave unto Joseph a firm place on earth; and [We did this] so that We might impart unto him some understanding of the inner meaning of happenings. For, God always prevails in whatever be His purpose: but most people know it not.

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥۤ ءَاتَیۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمࣰا وَعِلۡمࣰاۚ وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ نَجۡزِی ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ (۲۲)

And when he reached full manhood, We bestowed upon him the ability to judge [between right and wrong], as well as [innate] knowledge: for thus do We reward the doers of good.

وَرَ ٰ⁠وَدَتۡهُ ٱلَّتِی هُوَ فِی بَیۡتِهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلۡأَبۡوَ ٰ⁠بَ وَقَالَتۡ هَیۡتَ لَكَۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّیۤ أَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَایَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا یُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ (۲۳)

And [it so happened that] she in whose house he was living [conceived a passion for him and] sought to make him yield himself unto her; and she bolted the doors and said, "Come thou unto me!" [But Joseph] answered: "May God preserve me! Behold, goodly has my master made my stay [in this house]! Verily, to no good end come they that do [such] wrong!"

وَلَقَدۡ هَمَّتۡ بِهِۦۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوۡلَاۤ أَن رَّءَا بُرۡهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ لِنَصۡرِفَ عَنۡهُ ٱلسُّوۤءَ وَٱلۡفَحۡشَاۤءَۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِینَ (۲۴)

And, indeed, she desired him, and he desired her; [and he would have succumbed] had he not seen [in this temptation] an evidence of his Sustainer's truth: thus [We willed it to be] in order that We might avert from him all evil and all deeds of abomination -for, behold, he was truly one of Our servants.

وَٱسۡتَبَقَا ٱلۡبَابَ وَقَدَّتۡ قَمِیصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرࣲ وَأَلۡفَیَا سَیِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلۡبَابِۚ قَالَتۡ مَا جَزَاۤءُ مَنۡ أَرَادَ بِأَهۡلِكَ سُوۤءًا إِلَّاۤ أَن یُسۡجَنَ أَوۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِیمࣱ (۲۵)

And they both rushed to the door; and she [grasped and] rent his tunic from behind-and [lo!] they met her lord at the door! Said she: "What ought to be the punishment of one who had evil designs on [the virtue of] thy wife - [what] but imprisonment or a [yet more] grievous chastisement?"

قَالَ هِیَ رَ ٰ⁠وَدَتۡنِی عَن نَّفۡسِیۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدࣱ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَاۤ إِن كَانَ قَمِیصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلࣲ فَصَدَقَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِینَ (۲۶)

[Joseph] exclaimed: "It was she who sought to make me yield myself unto her!" Now one of those present, a member of her own household, suggested this: If his tunic has been torn from the front, then she is telling the truth, and he is a liar;

وَإِن كَانَ قَمِیصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرࣲ فَكَذَبَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِینَ (۲۷)

but if his tunic has been torn from behind, then she is lying, and he is speaking the truth."

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِیصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرࣲ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَیۡدِكُنَّۖ إِنَّ كَیۡدَكُنَّ عَظِیمࣱ (۲۸)

And when (her husband] saw that his tunic was torn from behind, he said: "Behold, this is [an instance] of your guile, O womankind! Verily, awesome is your guile!

یُوسُفُ أَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ هَـٰذَاۚ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرِی لِذَنۢبِكِۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَاطِـِٔینَ (۲۹)

[But,] Joseph, let this pass! And thou, [O wife,] ask forgiveness for thy sin-for, verily, thou hast been greatly at fault!"

۞ وَقَالَ نِسۡوَةࣱ فِی ٱلۡمَدِینَةِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ ٱلۡعَزِیزِ تُرَ ٰ⁠وِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۖ قَدۡ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّاۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ مُّبِینࣲ (۳۰)

NOW the women of the city spoke [thus to one another]: "The wife of this nobleman is trying to induce her slave-boy to yield himself unto her! Her love for him has pierced her heart; verily, we see that she is undoubtedly suffering from an aberration!

فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتۡ بِمَكۡرِهِنَّ أَرۡسَلَتۡ إِلَیۡهِنَّ وَأَعۡتَدَتۡ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـࣰٔا وَءَاتَتۡ كُلَّ وَ ٰ⁠حِدَةࣲ مِّنۡهُنَّ سِكِّینࣰا وَقَالَتِ ٱخۡرُجۡ عَلَیۡهِنَّۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَیۡنَهُۥۤ أَكۡبَرۡنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعۡنَ أَیۡدِیَهُنَّ وَقُلۡنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنۡ هَـٰذَاۤ إِلَّا مَلَكࣱ كَرِیمࣱ (۳۱)

Thereupon, when she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them, and prepared for them a sumptuous repast, and handed each of them a knife and said [to Joseph]: "Come out and show thyself to them!" And when the women saw him, they were greatly amazed at his beauty, and [so flustered were they that] they cut their hands [with their knives], exclaiming, "God save us! This is no mortal man! This is nought but a noble angel!"

قَالَتۡ فَذَ ٰ⁠لِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِی لُمۡتُنَّنِی فِیهِۖ وَلَقَدۡ رَ ٰ⁠وَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ فَٱسۡتَعۡصَمَۖ وَلَىِٕن لَّمۡ یَفۡعَلۡ مَاۤ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَیُسۡجَنَنَّ وَلَیَكُونࣰا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِینَ (۳۲)

Said she: "This, then, is he about whom you have been blaming me! And, indeed, I did try to make him yield himself unto me, but he remained chaste. Now, however, if he does not do what I bid him, he shall most certainly be imprisoned, and shall most certainly find himself among the despised!

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجۡنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَیَّ مِمَّا یَدۡعُونَنِیۤ إِلَیۡهِۖ وَإِلَّا تَصۡرِفۡ عَنِّی كَیۡدَهُنَّ أَصۡبُ إِلَیۡهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِینَ (۳۳)

Said he: "O my Sustainer! Prison is more desirable to me than [compliance with] what these women invite me to: for, unless Thou turn away their guile from me, I might yet yield to their allure and become one of those who are unaware [of right and wrong]."

فَٱسۡتَجَابَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ فَصَرَفَ عَنۡهُ كَیۡدَهُنَّۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ (۳۴)

And his Sustainer responded to his prayer, and freed him from the threat of their guile: verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-knowing.

ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلۡـَٔایَـٰتِ لَیَسۡجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِینࣲ (۳۵)

For, presently it occurred to the nobleman and his household _ [even] after they had seen all the signs [of Joseph's innocence] - that they might as well imprison him for a time.

وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجۡنَ فَتَیَانِۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَاۤ إِنِّیۤ أَرَىٰنِیۤ أَعۡصِرُ خَمۡرࣰاۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّیۤ أَرَىٰنِیۤ أَحۡمِلُ فَوۡقَ رَأۡسِی خُبۡزࣰا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلطَّیۡرُ مِنۡهُۖ نَبِّئۡنَا بِتَأۡوِیلِهِۦۤۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ (۳۶)

NOW two young men happened to go to prison at the same time as Joseph. One of them said: "Behold, I saw myself [in a dream] pressing wine." And the other said: "Behold, I saw myself [in a dream] carrying bread on my head, and birds were eating thereof." [And both entreated Joseph:] "Let us know the real meaning of this! Verily, we see that thou art one of those who know well [how to interpret dreams].

قَالَ لَا یَأۡتِیكُمَا طَعَامࣱ تُرۡزَقَانِهِۦۤ إِلَّا نَبَّأۡتُكُمَا بِتَأۡوِیلِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن یَأۡتِیَكُمَاۚ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِی رَبِّیۤۚ إِنِّی تَرَكۡتُ مِلَّةَ قَوۡمࣲ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمۡ كَـٰفِرُونَ (۳۷)

[Joseph] answered: "Ere there comes unto you the meal which you are [daily] fed, I shall have informed you of the real meaning of your dreams, [so that you might know what is to come] before it comes unto you: for this is [part] of the knowledge which my Sustainer has imparted to me. "Behold, I have left behind me the ways of people who do not believe in God, and who persistently refuse to acknowledge the truth of the life to come;

وَٱتَّبَعۡتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَاۤءِیۤ إِبۡرَ ٰ⁠هِیمَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَ وَیَعۡقُوبَۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَاۤ أَن نُّشۡرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَیۡءࣲۚ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَیۡنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یَشۡكُرُونَ (۳۸)

and I follow the creed of my forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is not conceivable that we should [be allowed to] ascribe divinity to aught beside God: this is [an outcome] of God's bounty unto us and unto all mankind -but most people are ungrateful.

یَـٰصَـٰحِبَیِ ٱلسِّجۡنِ ءَأَرۡبَابࣱ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَیۡرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَ ٰ⁠حِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّارُ (۳۹)

"O my companions in imprisonment! Which is more reasonable: [belief in the existence of numerous divine] lords, each of them different from the other" -or [in] the One God, who holds absolute sway over all that exists?

مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَّاۤ أَسۡمَاۤءࣰ سَمَّیۡتُمُوهَاۤ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَاۤؤُكُم مَّاۤ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلۡطَـٰنٍۚ إِنِ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۤا۟ إِلَّاۤ إِیَّاهُۚ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ ٱلدِّینُ ٱلۡقَیِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ (۴۰)

"All that you worship instead of God is nothing but [empty] names which you have invented - you and your forefathers- [and] for which God has bestowed no warrant from on high. Judgment [as to what is right and what is wrong] rests with God alone-[and] He has ordained that you should worship nought but Him: this is the [one] ever-true faith; but most people know it not

یَـٰصَـٰحِبَیِ ٱلسِّجۡنِ أَمَّاۤ أَحَدُكُمَا فَیَسۡقِی رَبَّهُۥ خَمۡرࣰاۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلۡـَٔاخَرُ فَیُصۡلَبُ فَتَأۡكُلُ ٱلطَّیۡرُ مِن رَّأۡسِهِۦۚ قُضِیَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ ٱلَّذِی فِیهِ تَسۡتَفۡتِیَانِ (۴۱)

"[And now,] O my companions in imprisonment, [I shall tell you the meaning of your dreams:] as for one of you two, he will [again] give his lord [the King] wine to drink; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and birds will eat off his head. [But whatever be your future,] the matter on which you have asked me to enlighten you has been decided [by God]."

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِی ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجࣲ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱذۡكُرۡنِی عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ ذِكۡرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِی ٱلسِّجۡنِ بِضۡعَ سِنِینَ (۴۲)

And [thereupon Joseph] said unto the one of the two whom he considered saved: "Mention me unto thy lord [when thou art free]!" But Satan caused him to forget to mention [Joseph] to his lord, and so he remained in prison a few [more] years.

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ إِنِّیۤ أَرَىٰ سَبۡعَ بَقَرَ ٰ⁠تࣲ سِمَانࣲ یَأۡكُلُهُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافࣱ وَسَبۡعَ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضۡرࣲ وَأُخَرَ یَابِسَـٰتࣲۖ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلۡمَلَأُ أَفۡتُونِی فِی رُءۡیَـٰیَ إِن كُنتُمۡ لِلرُّءۡیَا تَعۡبُرُونَ (۴۳)

AND [one day] the King said: Behold, I saw [in a dream] seven fat cows being devoured by seven emaciated ones, and seven green ears [of wheat] next to [seven] others that were withered. O you nobles! Enlighten me about [the meaning of] my dream, if you are able to interpret dreams!"

قَالُوۤا۟ أَضۡغَـٰثُ أَحۡلَـٰمࣲۖ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِتَأۡوِیلِ ٱلۡأَحۡلَـٰمِ بِعَـٰلِمِینَ (۴۴)

They answered: " [This is one of] the most involved and confusing of dreams, and we have no deep knowledge of the real meaning of dreams."

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِی نَجَا مِنۡهُمَا وَٱدَّكَرَ بَعۡدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا۠ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأۡوِیلِهِۦ فَأَرۡسِلُونِ (۴۵)

At that, the one of the two [erstwhile prisoners] who had been saved, and [who suddenly] remembered [Joseph] after all that time, spoke [thus]: "It is I who can inform you of the real meaning of this [dream]; so let me go [in search of it]."

یُوسُفُ أَیُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّیقُ أَفۡتِنَا فِی سَبۡعِ بَقَرَ ٰ⁠تࣲ سِمَانࣲ یَأۡكُلُهُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافࣱ وَسَبۡعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضۡرࣲ وَأُخَرَ یَابِسَـٰتࣲ لَّعَلِّیۤ أَرۡجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَعۡلَمُونَ (۴۶)

[And he went to see Joseph in the prison and said to him:] "Joseph, O thou truthful one! Enlighten us about [the meaning of a dream in which] seven fat cows were being devoured by seven emaciated ones, and seven green ears [of wheat appeared] next to [seven] others that were withered - so that I may return [with thy explanation] unto the people [of the court, and] that they may come to know [what manner of man thou art]!"

قَالَ تَزۡرَعُونَ سَبۡعَ سِنِینَ دَأَبࣰا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمۡ فَذَرُوهُ فِی سُنۢبُلِهِۦۤ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّمَّا تَأۡكُلُونَ (۴۷)

[Joseph] replied: "You shall sow for seven years as usual; but let all [the grain] that you harvest remain [untouched] in its ear, excepting only a little, whereof you may eat:

ثُمَّ یَأۡتِی مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ سَبۡعࣱ شِدَادࣱ یَأۡكُلۡنَ مَا قَدَّمۡتُمۡ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّمَّا تُحۡصِنُونَ (۴۸)

for, after that [period of seven good years] there will come seven hard [years] which will devour all that you shall have laid up for them, excepting only a little of that which you shall have kept in store.

ثُمَّ یَأۡتِی مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ عَامࣱ فِیهِ یُغَاثُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَفِیهِ یَعۡصِرُونَ (۴۹)

And after that there will come a year in which the people will be delivered from all distress, and in which they will press [oil and wine as before]."

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱئۡتُونِی بِهِۦۖ فَلَمَّا جَاۤءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرۡجِعۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسۡـَٔلۡهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسۡوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِی قَطَّعۡنَ أَیۡدِیَهُنَّۚ إِنَّ رَبِّی بِكَیۡدِهِنَّ عَلِیمࣱ (۵۰)

And [as soon as Joseph's interpretation. was conveyed to him,] the King said: "Bring him before me!" But when the [King's] messenger came unto him, [Joseph] said: "Go back to thy lord and ask him [first to find out the truth] about those women who cut their hands-for, behold, [until now it is] my Sustainer [alone who] has full knowledge of their guile!"

قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُنَّ إِذۡ رَ ٰ⁠وَدتُّنَّ یُوسُفَ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۚ قُلۡنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمۡنَا عَلَیۡهِ مِن سُوۤءࣲۚ قَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ ٱلۡعَزِیزِ ٱلۡـَٔـٰنَ حَصۡحَصَ ٱلۡحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَ ٰ⁠وَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِینَ (۵۱)

[Thereupon the King sent for those women; and when they came,] he asked: "What was it that you hoped to achieve when you sought to make Joseph yield himself unto you?" The women answered: "God save us! We did not perceive the least evil [intention] on his part!" [And] the wife of Joseph's former master exclaimed: "Now has the truth come to light! It was I who sought to make him yield himself unto me - whereas he, behold, was indeed speaking the truth!"

ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ لِیَعۡلَمَ أَنِّی لَمۡ أَخُنۡهُ بِٱلۡغَیۡبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یَهۡدِی كَیۡدَ ٱلۡخَاۤىِٕنِینَ (۵۲)

[When Joseph learned what had happened, he said: "I asked for] this, so that [my former master] might know that I did not betray him behind his back, and that God does not bless with His guidance the artful schemes of those who betray their trust.

۞ وَمَاۤ أُبَرِّئُ نَفۡسِیۤۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفۡسَ لَأَمَّارَةُۢ بِٱلسُّوۤءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّیۤۚ إِنَّ رَبِّی غَفُورࣱ رَّحِیمࣱ (۵۳)

And yet, I am not trying to absolve myself: for, verily, man's inner self does incite [him] to evil, and saved are only they upon whom my Sustainer bestows His grace. Behold, my Sustainer is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!"

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱئۡتُونِی بِهِۦۤ أَسۡتَخۡلِصۡهُ لِنَفۡسِیۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلۡیَوۡمَ لَدَیۡنَا مَكِینٌ أَمِینࣱ (۵۴)

And the King said: "Bring him unto me, so that I may attach him to my own person." And when he had spoken with him, [the King] said: "Behold, [from] this day thou shalt be of high standing with us, invested with all trust!"

قَالَ ٱجۡعَلۡنِی عَلَىٰ خَزَاۤىِٕنِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنِّی حَفِیظٌ عَلِیمࣱ (۵۵)

[Joseph] replied: "Place in my charge the store-houses of the land; behold, I shall be a good and knowing keeper.

وَكَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِیُوسُفَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ یَتَبَوَّأُ مِنۡهَا حَیۡثُ یَشَاۤءُۚ نُصِیبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَاۤءُۖ وَلَا نُضِیعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ (۵۶)

And thus We established Joseph securely in the land [of Egypt]: he had full mastery over it, [doing] whatever he willed. [Thus do] We cause Our grace to alight upon whomever We will; and We do not fail to requite the doers of good.

وَلَأَجۡرُ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ یَتَّقُونَ (۵۷)

But in the eyes of those who have attained to faith and have always been conscious of Us, a reward in the life to come is a far greater good [than any reward in this world].

وَجَاۤءَ إِخۡوَةُ یُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِ فَعَرَفَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ (۵۸)

AND [after some years,] Joseph's brothers came [to Egypt] and presented themselves before him: and he knew them [at once], whereas they did not recognize him.

وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمۡ قَالَ ٱئۡتُونِی بِأَخࣲ لَّكُم مِّنۡ أَبِیكُمۡۚ أَلَا تَرَوۡنَ أَنِّیۤ أُوفِی ٱلۡكَیۡلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَیۡرُ ٱلۡمُنزِلِینَ (۵۹)

And when he had provided them with their provisions, he said: "[When you come here next,] bring unto me that brother of yours from your father's side. Do you not see that I have given [you] full measure and have been the best of hosts?

فَإِن لَّمۡ تَأۡتُونِی بِهِۦ فَلَا كَیۡلَ لَكُمۡ عِندِی وَلَا تَقۡرَبُونِ (۶۰)

But if you do not bring him unto me, you shall never again receive a single measure [of grain] from me, nor shall you [be allowed to] come near me!"

قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَ ٰ⁠وِدُ عَنۡهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَـٰعِلُونَ (۶۱)

They answered: "We shall try to persuade his father to part with him, and, verily, we shall do [our utmost]!"

وَقَالَ لِفِتۡیَـٰنِهِ ٱجۡعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمۡ فِی رِحَالِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَعۡرِفُونَهَاۤ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَهۡلِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَرۡجِعُونَ (۶۲)

And [Joseph] said to his servants: "Place their merchandise in their camel-packs, so that they may find it there when they come home, and hence be the more eager to return.

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَبِیهِمۡ قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلۡكَیۡلُ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَاۤ أَخَانَا نَكۡتَلۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ (۶۳)

And so, when they returned to their father, [Joseph's brothers] said: "O our father! All grain is [to be] withheld from us [in the future unless we bring Benjamin with us]: send, therefore, our brother with us, so that we may obtain our measure (of grain]; and, verily, we shall guard him well!"

قَالَ هَلۡ ءَامَنُكُمۡ عَلَیۡهِ إِلَّا كَمَاۤ أَمِنتُكُمۡ عَلَىٰۤ أَخِیهِ مِن قَبۡلُ فَٱللَّهُ خَیۡرٌ حَـٰفِظࣰاۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّ ٰ⁠حِمِینَ (۶۴)

[Jacob] replied: "Shall I trust you with him in the same way as I trusted you with his brother (Joseph] aforetime? [Nay,] but God's guardianship is better [than yours], for He is the most merciful of the merciful!"

وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمۡ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمۡ رُدَّتۡ إِلَیۡهِمۡۖ قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا مَا نَبۡغِیۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتۡ إِلَیۡنَاۖ وَنَمِیرُ أَهۡلَنَا وَنَحۡفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزۡدَادُ كَیۡلَ بَعِیرࣲۖ ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ كَیۡلࣱ یَسِیرࣱ (۶۵)

Thereupon, when they opened their packs, they discovered that their merchandise had been returned to them; [and] they said: "O our father! What more could we desire? Here is our merchandise: it has been returned to us! [If thou send Benjamin with us,] we shall (again] be able to bring food for our family, and shall guard our brother [well], and receive in addition another camel-load of grain That [which we have brought the first time] was but a scanty measure."

قَالَ لَنۡ أُرۡسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ تُؤۡتُونِ مَوۡثِقࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأۡتُنَّنِی بِهِۦۤ إِلَّاۤ أَن یُحَاطَ بِكُمۡۖ فَلَمَّاۤ ءَاتَوۡهُ مَوۡثِقَهُمۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِیلࣱ (۶۶)

Said [Jacob]: "I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge, before God, that you will indeed bring him back unto me, unless you yourselves be encompassed [by death]!" And when they had given him their solemn pledge, [Jacob] said: "God is witness to all that we say!"

وَقَالَ یَـٰبَنِیَّ لَا تَدۡخُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بَابࣲ وَ ٰ⁠حِدࣲ وَٱدۡخُلُوا۟ مِنۡ أَبۡوَ ٰ⁠بࣲ مُّتَفَرِّقَةࣲۖ وَمَاۤ أُغۡنِی عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَیۡءٍۖ إِنِ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِۖ عَلَیۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُۖ وَعَلَیۡهِ فَلۡیَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلُونَ (۶۷)

And he added: "O my sons! Do not enter [the city all] by one gate, but enter by different gates. Yet [even so,] I can be of no avail whatever to you against [anything that may be willed by] God: judgment [as to what is to happen] rests with none but God. In Him have I placed my trust: for, all who have trust [in His existence] must place their trust in Him alone."

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ أَمَرَهُمۡ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ یُغۡنِی عَنۡهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَیۡءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةࣰ فِی نَفۡسِ یَعۡقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَاۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلۡمࣲ لِّمَا عَلَّمۡنَـٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ (۶۸)

But although they entered [Joseph's city] in the way their father had bidden them, this proved of no avail whatever to them against [the plan of] God [His request] had served only to satisfy Jacob's heartfelt desire [to protect them]: for, behold, thanks to what We had imparted unto him, he was indeed endowed with the knowledge [that God's will must always prevail]; but most people know it not.

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰۤ إِلَیۡهِ أَخَاهُۖ قَالَ إِنِّیۤ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبۡتَىِٕسۡ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ (۶۹)

AND WHEN [the sons of Jacob] presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his brother [Benjamin] unto himself, saying [to him in secret]: "Behold, I am thy brother! So grieve thou not over their past doings!"

فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمۡ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَایَةَ فِی رَحۡلِ أَخِیهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَیَّتُهَا ٱلۡعِیرُ إِنَّكُمۡ لَسَـٰرِقُونَ (۷۰)

And [later,] when he had provided them with their provisions, he placed the [King's] drinking-cup in his brother's camel-pack. And [as they were leaving the city,] a herald called out: "O you people of the caravan! Verily, you are thieves!

قَالُوا۟ وَأَقۡبَلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِم مَّاذَا تَفۡقِدُونَ (۷۱)

Turning towards the herald and his companions, the brothers asked: "What is it that you miss?"

قَالُوا۟ نَفۡقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلۡمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَاۤءَ بِهِۦ حِمۡلُ بَعِیرࣲ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِیمࣱ (۷۲)

They answered: "We miss the King's goblet; and he who produces it shall receive a camel-load [of grain as reward]!" And [the herald added:] "I pledge myself to this _ [promise]!"

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُم مَّا جِئۡنَا لِنُفۡسِدَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـٰرِقِینَ (۷۳)

Said [the brothers]: "By God! Well do you know that we have not come to commit deeds of corruption in this land, and that we have not been thieving!"

قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَ ٰ⁠ۤؤُهُۥۤ إِن كُنتُمۡ كَـٰذِبِینَ (۷۴)

[The Egyptians] said: "But what shall be the requital of this [deed] if you are [proved to be] liars?"

قَالُوا۟ جَزَ ٰ⁠ۤؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِی رَحۡلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَ ٰ⁠ۤؤُهُۥۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ نَجۡزِی ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ (۷۵)

[The brothers] replied: "Its requital? He in whose camel-pack [the cup] is found-he shall be [enslaved as] a requital thereof! Thus do we [ourselves] requite the doers of [such] wrong.

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوۡعِیَتِهِمۡ قَبۡلَ وِعَاۤءِ أَخِیهِ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَخۡرَجَهَا مِن وِعَاۤءِ أَخِیهِۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ كِدۡنَا لِیُوسُفَۖ مَا كَانَ لِیَأۡخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِی دِینِ ٱلۡمَلِكِ إِلَّاۤ أَن یَشَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُۚ نَرۡفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتࣲ مَّن نَّشَاۤءُۗ وَفَوۡقَ كُلِّ ذِی عِلۡمٍ عَلِیمࣱ (۷۶)

Thereupon [they were brought before Joseph to be searched; and] he began with the bags of his half-brothers before the bag of his brother [Benjamin]: and in the end he brought forth the drinking Cups out of his brother's bag. In this way did We contrive for Joseph [the attainment of his heart's desire]: under the King's law, he would [otherwise] not have been able to detain his brother, had not God so willed. We do raise to [high] degrees [of knowledge] whomever We will - but above everyone who is endowed with knowledge there is One who knows all.

۞ قَالُوۤا۟ إِن یَسۡرِقۡ فَقَدۡ سَرَقَ أَخࣱ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا یُوسُفُ فِی نَفۡسِهِۦ وَلَمۡ یُبۡدِهَا لَهُمۡۚ قَالَ أَنتُمۡ شَرࣱّ مَّكَانࣰاۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ (۷۷)

[As soon as the cup came to light out of Benjamin's bag, the brothers] exclaimed: "If he has stolen-well, a brother of his used to steal afore-time!" Thereupon Joseph said to himself, without revealing his thought to them: "You are far worse in this respect, and God is fully aware of what you are saying.

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلۡعَزِیزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥۤ أَبࣰا شَیۡخࣰا كَبِیرࣰا فَخُذۡ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥۤۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ (۷۸)

They said: "O thou great one! Behold, he has a father, a very old man: detain, therefore, one of us in his stead. Verily, we see that thou art a doer of good!"

قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأۡخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدۡنَا مَتَـٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥۤ إِنَّاۤ إِذࣰا لَّظَـٰلِمُونَ (۷۹)

He answered: "May God preserve us from [the sin of] detaining any other than him with whom we have found our property-for then, behold, we would indeed be evildoers!"

فَلَمَّا ٱسۡتَیۡـَٔسُوا۟ مِنۡهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِیࣰّاۖ قَالَ كَبِیرُهُمۡ أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمۡ قَدۡ أَخَذَ عَلَیۡكُم مَّوۡثِقࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبۡلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمۡ فِی یُوسُفَۖ فَلَنۡ أَبۡرَحَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ حَتَّىٰ یَأۡذَنَ لِیۤ أَبِیۤ أَوۡ یَحۡكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِیۖ وَهُوَ خَیۡرُ ٱلۡحَـٰكِمِینَ (۸۰)

And so, when they lost all hope of [moving] him, they withdrew to take counsel [among themselves]. The eldest of them said: "Do you not remember that your father has bound you by a solemn pledge before God - and how, before that, you had failed with regard to Joseph? Hence, I shall not depart from this land till my father gives me leave or God passes judgment in my favour: for He is the best of all judges.

ٱرۡجِعُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَبِیكُمۡ فَقُولُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَاۤ إِنَّ ٱبۡنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدۡنَاۤ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمۡنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلۡغَیۡبِ حَـٰفِظِینَ (۸۱)

[And as for you others,] return to your father and say: `O our father! Behold, thy son has stolen-but we [can] bear witness to no more than what has become known to us; and [although we gave you our pledge,] we could not guard against something that [lay hidden in the future and, hence,] was beyond the reach of our perception.

وَسۡـَٔلِ ٱلۡقَرۡیَةَ ٱلَّتِی كُنَّا فِیهَا وَٱلۡعِیرَ ٱلَّتِیۤ أَقۡبَلۡنَا فِیهَاۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ (۸۲)

And ask thou in the town in which we were [at the time], and of the people of the caravan with whom we travelled hither, and [thou wilt find that] we, are indeed telling the truth!"'

قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرࣰاۖ فَصَبۡرࣱ جَمِیلٌۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن یَأۡتِیَنِی بِهِمۡ جَمِیعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ ٱلۡحَكِیمُ (۸۳)

[AND WHEN they returned to their father and told him what had happened,] he exclaimed: "Nay, but it is your [own] minds that have made [so terrible] a happening seem a matter of little account to you! But [as for myself,] patience in adversity is most goodly; God may well bring them all [back] unto me: verily, He alone is all-knowing, truly wise!"

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ وَقَالَ یَـٰۤأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ وَٱبۡیَضَّتۡ عَیۡنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلۡحُزۡنِ فَهُوَ كَظِیمࣱ (۸۴)

But he turned away from them and said: "O woe is me for Joseph!"-and his eyes became dim from the grief with which he was filled.

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفۡتَؤُا۟ تَذۡكُرُ یُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوۡ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَـٰلِكِینَ (۸۵)

Said [his sons]: "By God! Thou wilt never cease to remember, Joseph till thou art broken in body and spirit or art dead!"

قَالَ إِنَّمَاۤ أَشۡكُوا۟ بَثِّی وَحُزۡنِیۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (۸۶)

He answered: "It is only to God that I complain of my deep grief and my sorrow: for I know, from God, something that you do not know.

یَـٰبَنِیَّ ٱذۡهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن یُوسُفَ وَأَخِیهِ وَلَا تَا۟یۡـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا یَا۟یۡـَٔسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ (۸۷)

[Hence,] O my sons, go forth and try to obtain some tidings of Joseph and his brother; and do not lose hope of God's life-giving mercy: verily, none but people who deny the truth can ever lose hope of God's life-giving mercy.

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِ قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلۡعَزِیزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهۡلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئۡنَا بِبِضَـٰعَةࣲ مُّزۡجَىٰةࣲ فَأَوۡفِ لَنَا ٱلۡكَیۡلَ وَتَصَدَّقۡ عَلَیۡنَاۤۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَجۡزِی ٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقِینَ (۸۸)

[AND THE SONS of Jacob went back to Egypt and to Joseph;] and when they presented themselves before him, they said: "O thou great one! Hardship has visited us and our folk, and so we have brought but scanty merchandise; but give us a full measure [of grain], and be charitable to us: behold, God rewards those who give in charity!"

قَالَ هَلۡ عَلِمۡتُم مَّا فَعَلۡتُم بِیُوسُفَ وَأَخِیهِ إِذۡ أَنتُمۡ جَـٰهِلُونَ (۸۹)

Replied he: "Do you remember what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were still unaware [of right and wrong]?"

قَالُوۤا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ یُوسُفُۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ یُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَاۤ أَخِیۖ قَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَیۡنَاۤۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن یَتَّقِ وَیَصۡبِرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یُضِیعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ (۹۰)

They exclaimed: "Why - is it indeed thou who art Joseph?" He answered: "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. God has indeed been gracious unto us. Verily, if one is conscious of Him and patient in adversity behold, God does not fail to requite the doers of good!"

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدۡ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَیۡنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـٰطِـِٔینَ (۹۱)

[The brothers] said: "By God! Most certainly has God raised thee high above us, and we were indeed but sinners!"

قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِیبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡیَوۡمَۖ یَغۡفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّ ٰ⁠حِمِینَ (۹۲)

Said he: "No reproach shall be uttered today against you. May God forgive you your sins: for He is the most merciful of the merciful!

ٱذۡهَبُوا۟ بِقَمِیصِی هَـٰذَا فَأَلۡقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِ أَبِی یَأۡتِ بَصِیرࣰا وَأۡتُونِی بِأَهۡلِكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِینَ (۹۳)

[And now] go and take this tunic of mine and lay it over my father's face, and he will recover his sight. And thereupon come [back] to me with all your family."

وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلۡعِیرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمۡ إِنِّی لَأَجِدُ رِیحَ یُوسُفَۖ لَوۡلَاۤ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ (۹۴)

AND AS SOON as the caravan [with which Jacob's sons were travelling] was on its way, their father said [to the people around him]: "Behold, were it not that you might consider me a dotard, [I would say that] I truly feel the breath of Joseph [in the air]!"

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِی ضَلَـٰلِكَ ٱلۡقَدِیمِ (۹۵)

They answered: "By God! Thou art indeed still lost in thy old aberration!"

فَلَمَّاۤ أَن جَاۤءَ ٱلۡبَشِیرُ أَلۡقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦ فَٱرۡتَدَّ بَصِیرࣰاۖ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّیۤ أَعۡلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (۹۶)

But when the bearer of good tidings came [with Joseph's tunic], he laid it over his face; and he regained his sight, [and] exclaimed: "Did I not tell you, `Verily, I know, from God, something that you do not know'?"

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا ٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِـِٔینَ (۹۷)

[His sons] answered: "O our father! Ask God to forgive us our sins, for, verily, we were sinners."

قَالَ سَوۡفَ أَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَكُمۡ رَبِّیۤۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِیمُ (۹۸)

He said: "I shall ask my Sustainer to forgive you: He alone is truly forgiving, a true dispenser of grace!"

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰۤ إِلَیۡهِ أَبَوَیۡهِ وَقَالَ ٱدۡخُلُوا۟ مِصۡرَ إِن شَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِینَ (۹۹)

AND WHEN they [all arrived in Egypt and] presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his parents unto himself, saying, "Enter Egypt! If God so wills, you shall be secure [from all evil]!"

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَیۡهِ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدࣰاۖ وَقَالَ یَـٰۤأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأۡوِیلُ رُءۡیَـٰیَ مِن قَبۡلُ قَدۡ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّی حَقࣰّاۖ وَقَدۡ أَحۡسَنَ بِیۤ إِذۡ أَخۡرَجَنِی مِنَ ٱلسِّجۡنِ وَجَاۤءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡبَدۡوِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ بَیۡنِی وَبَیۡنَ إِخۡوَتِیۤۚ إِنَّ رَبِّی لَطِیفࣱ لِّمَا یَشَاۤءُۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ ٱلۡحَكِیمُ (۱۰۰)

And he raised his parents to the highest place of honour; and they [all] fell down before Him, prostrating themselves in adoration. Thereupon [Joseph] said: "O my father! This is the real meaning of my dream of long ago, which my Sustainer has made come true. And He was indeed good to me when He freed me from the prison, and [when] He brought you [all unto me] from the desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. Verily, my Sustainer is unfathomable in [the way He brings about] whatever He wills: verily, He alone is all-knowing, truly wise!

۞ رَبِّ قَدۡ ءَاتَیۡتَنِی مِنَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ وَعَلَّمۡتَنِی مِن تَأۡوِیلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِیثِۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَنتَ وَلِیِّۦ فِی ٱلدُّنۡیَا وَٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِۖ تَوَفَّنِی مُسۡلِمࣰا وَأَلۡحِقۡنِی بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ (۱۰۱)

"O my Sustainer! Thou hast indeed bestowed upon me something of power, and hast imparted unto me some knowledge of the inner meaning of happenings. Originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art near unto me in this world and in the life to come: let me die as one who has surrendered himself unto Thee, and make me one with the righteous!"

ذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَاۤءِ ٱلۡغَیۡبِ نُوحِیهِ إِلَیۡكَۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَیۡهِمۡ إِذۡ أَجۡمَعُوۤا۟ أَمۡرَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ یَمۡكُرُونَ (۱۰۲)

THIS ACCOUNT of something that was beyond the reach of thy perception We [now] reveal unto thee, [O Prophet:] for thou wert not with Joseph's brothers when they resolved upon what they were going to do and wove their schemes [against him].

وَمَاۤ أَكۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِینَ (۱۰۳)

Yet - however strongly thou mayest desire it -most people will not believe [in this revelation],

وَمَا تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ عَلَیۡهِ مِنۡ أَجۡرٍۚ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ (۱۰۴)

although thou dost not ask of them any reward for it: it is but [God's] reminder unto all mankind.

وَكَأَیِّن مِّنۡ ءَایَةࣲ فِی ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ یَمُرُّونَ عَلَیۡهَا وَهُمۡ عَنۡهَا مُعۡرِضُونَ (۱۰۵)

But [then] -how many a sign is there in the heavens and on earth which they pass by [unthinkingly], and on which they turn their backs!

وَمَا یُؤۡمِنُ أَكۡثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشۡرِكُونَ (۱۰۶)

And most of them do not even believe in God without [also] ascribing divine powers to other beings beside Him.

أَفَأَمِنُوۤا۟ أَن تَأۡتِیَهُمۡ غَـٰشِیَةࣱ مِّنۡ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡ تَأۡتِیَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغۡتَةࣰ وَهُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُونَ (۱۰۷)

Do they, then, feel free from the fear that there might fall upon them the overwhelming terror of God's chastisement, or that the Last Hour might come upon them of a sudden, without their being aware [of its approach]?

قُلۡ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِیلِیۤ أَدۡعُوۤا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِیرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِیۖ وَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَاۤ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِینَ (۱۰۸)

Say [O Prophet]: "This is my way: Resting upon conscious insight accessible to reason, I am calling [you all] unto God - I and they who follow me." And [say:] "Limitless is God in His glory; and I am not one of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him!"

وَمَاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالࣰا نُّوحِیۤ إِلَیۡهِم مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡقُرَىٰۤۗ أَفَلَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ ٱتَّقَوۡا۟ۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ (۱۰۹)

And [even] before thy time, We never sent [as Our apostles] any but [mortal] men, whom We inspired, [and whom We always chose] from among the people of the [very] communities [to whom the message was to be brought]. Have, then, they [who reject this divine writ] never journeyed about the earth and beheld what happened in the end to those [deniers of the truth] who lived before them?-and [do they not know that] to those who are conscious of God the life in the hereafter is indeed better [than this world]? Will they not, then, use their reason?

حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا ٱسۡتَیۡـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوۤا۟ أَنَّهُمۡ قَدۡ كُذِبُوا۟ جَاۤءَهُمۡ نَصۡرُنَا فَنُجِّیَ مَن نَّشَاۤءُۖ وَلَا یُرَدُّ بَأۡسُنَا عَنِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ (۱۱۰)

[All the earlier apostles had to suffer persecution for a long time;] but at last -when those apostles had lost all hope and saw themselves branded as liars - Our succour attained to them: whereupon everyone whom We Milled [to be saved] was saved [and the deniers of the truth were destroyed]: for, never can Our punishment be averted from people who are lost in sin.

لَقَدۡ كَانَ فِی قَصَصِهِمۡ عِبۡرَةࣱ لِّأُو۟لِی ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِیثࣰا یُفۡتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصۡدِیقَ ٱلَّذِی بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡهِ وَتَفۡصِیلَ كُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ وَهُدࣰى وَرَحۡمَةࣰ لِّقَوۡمࣲ یُؤۡمِنُونَ (۱۱۱)

Indeed, in the stories of these men there is a lesson for those who are endowed with insight. [As for this revelation,] it could not possibly be a discourse invented [by man]: nay indeed, it is [a divine writ] confirming the truth of whatever there still remains [of earlier revelations], clearly spelling out everything, and [offering] guidance and grace unto people who will believe.