Joseph — Al Muntakhab Translation – Parallel Quran

1 Joseph's Vision

الۤرۚ تِلۡكَ ءَایَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِینِ ۝١

A. (Alef), L. (Lam), R. (Raa), the Surah opens with these letters introductory front the Arabic Alphabet to draw attention to the miracle of the Quran which though written in the people's tongue, cannot be emulated. These are divinely discoursed verses flowing with the precision and grace that are symbolic of the Book -the Quran- the spirit of truth that guides into all truth

alif-lam-ra til'ka āyātu l-kitābi l-mubīn

إِنَّاۤ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ قُرۡءَ ٰنًا عَرَبِیࣰّا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ۝٢

it is a Book We have revealed in Arabic literary form, that you people may hopefully comprehend its inimitability and employ the faculty of reason in forming conclusions

innā anzalnāhu qur'ānan ʿarabiyyan laʿallakum taʿqilūn

نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ بِمَاۤ أَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ إِلَیۡكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلِینَ ۝٣

Bearing upon your present circumstances, We relate to you O Muhammad a most engaging story thought and felt in superlatives. It constitutes an integral part of the Quran We reveal to you, notwithstanding that before it you were unmindful of divine knowledge, true events and illumination and enlightenment

naḥnu naquṣṣu ʿalayka aḥsana l-qaṣaṣi bimā awḥaynā ilayka hādhā l-qur'āna wa-in kunta min qablihi lamina l-ghāfilīn

إِذۡ قَالَ یُوسُفُ لِأَبِیهِ یَـٰۤأَبَتِ إِنِّی رَأَیۡتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوۡكَبࣰا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ رَأَیۡتُهُمۡ لِی سَـٰجِدِینَ ۝٤

For once Yusuf said to his father -Ya'qub (Jacob)- "O my father, a vividly descriptive image was presented to my mind in my sleep portraying eleven planets, the sun and the moon bowing to the ground in reverence and obeisance to me"

idh qāla yūsufu li-abīhi yāabati innī ra-aytu aḥada ʿashara kawkaban wal-shamsa wal-qamara ra-aytuhum lī sājidīn

قَالَ یَـٰبُنَیَّ لَا تَقۡصُصۡ رُءۡیَاكَ عَلَىٰۤ إِخۡوَتِكَ فَیَكِیدُوا۟ لَكَ كَیۡدًاۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِینࣱ ۝٥

His father expressed his thoughts in words with grace divine imbued; he said to him: "My son, relate not your vision to your brothers -half brothers- lest they plot against you and entice you into danger: actuated by envy, they may fall as puppets in the hands of AL-Shaytan (Satan) who is indeed an avowed enemy to man."

qāla yābunayya lā taqṣuṣ ru'yāka ʿalā ikh'watika fayakīdū laka kaydan inna l-shayṭāna lil'insāni ʿaduwwun mubīnu

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 ۝٦

"Thus", he continued, "will Allah, your Creator, choose you and impart to you the knowledge of interpreting visions and sense impressions in sleep and what they prefigure of future events, He complements his bounty and munificence to you and to the progeny of Ya'qub as much as He made all grace abound in your grandfathers Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishaq (Isaac) before. Allah, your Creator is indeed 'Alimun (Omniscient) and Hakimun (Wise)

wakadhālika yajtabīka rabbuka wayuʿallimuka min tawīli l-aḥādīthi wayutimmu niʿ'matahu ʿalayka waʿalā āli yaʿqūba kamā atammahā ʿalā abawayka min qablu ib'rāhīma wa-is'ḥāqa inna rabbaka ʿalīmun ḥakīmu

2 Brothers' plot against Joseph

۞ لَّقَدۡ كَانَ فِی یُوسُفَ وَإِخۡوَتِهِۦۤ ءَایَـٰتࣱ لِّلسَّاۤىِٕلِینَ ۝٧

Indeed, there have been in the story of Yusuf and his brothers an instructive occurrence, an example, a warning and a lesson for those who are seeking the world and its pursuits as well as for those who are in search of the truth and spiritual knowledge

laqad kāna fī yūsufa wa-ikh'watihi āyātun lilssāilīn

إِذۡ قَالُوا۟ لَیُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰۤ أَبِینَا مِنَّا وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ مُّبِینٍ ۝٨

Conspiring against him, the brothers said: "Yusuf and his brother -full brother, Benjamin- are indeed nearer to our father's heart and closer to his affection than we are, our father stands indeed manifest of error; he manifests forth a straying mind."

idh qālū layūsufu wa-akhūhu aḥabbu ilā abīnā minnā wanaḥnu ʿuṣ'batun inna abānā lafī ḍalālin mubīni

ٱقۡتُلُوا۟ یُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطۡرَحُوهُ أَرۡضࣰا یَخۡلُ لَكُمۡ وَجۡهُ أَبِیكُمۡ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦ قَوۡمࣰا صَـٰلِحِینَ ۝٩

They settled the question and pronounced judgment: "Remove Yusuf out of the way" they said, "either by death or by taking him away to some distant land, and thereafter you stand in lowliest plight repentant to Allah of your evil deed and characterize yourselves with righteous living."

uq'tulū yūsufa awi iṭ'raḥūhu arḍan yakhlu lakum wajhu abīkum watakūnū min baʿdihi qawman ṣāliḥīn

قَالَ قَاۤىِٕلࣱ مِّنۡهُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُوا۟ یُوسُفَ وَأَلۡقُوهُ فِی غَیَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّ یَلۡتَقِطۡهُ بَعۡضُ ٱلسَّیَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَـٰعِلِینَ ۝١٠

But one of them said: "Do not kill Yusuf, for such an act shall be a grave error that threatens a fatal result; throw him down the well where he would be out of sight, and there, he will be picked up by some company of merchants, travellers or others, that is if you have indeed decided to get rid of him."

qāla qāilun min'hum lā taqtulū yūsufa wa-alqūhu fī ghayābati l-jubi yaltaqiṭ'hu baʿḍu l-sayārati in kuntum fāʿilīn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا مَالَكَ لَا تَأۡمَـ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ ۝١١

And so, they asked their father: "Our father, why do you not trust us for the care of Yusuf! Our first wish in life is for his happiness and welfare."

qālū yāabānā mā laka lā tamannā ʿalā yūsufa wa-innā lahu lanāṣiḥūn

أَرۡسِلۡهُ مَعَنَا غَدࣰا یَرۡتَعۡ وَیَلۡعَبۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ ۝١٢

"Send him with us tomorrow", they said, "to enjoy himself, to eat and drink in a picnic fashion and to take part in a game affording him pleasure, and we will take care of him and see that he is not exposed to danger."

arsil'hu maʿanā ghadan yartaʿ wayalʿab wa-innā lahu laḥāfiẓūn

قَالَ إِنِّی لَیَحۡزُنُنِیۤ أَن تَذۡهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن یَأۡكُلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَأَنتُمۡ عَنۡهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ ۝١٣

"It grieves me at heart to part with him," said the father "especially when I have an uneasy sense of the probability of the boy being brutally assailed and devoured by a wolf at a moment when you are oblivious of him it."

qāla innī layaḥzununī an tadhhabū bihi wa-akhāfu an yakulahu l-dhi'bu wa-antum ʿanhu ghāfilūn

قَالُوا۟ لَىِٕنۡ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُ وَنَحۡنُ عُصۡبَةٌ إِنَّاۤ إِذࣰا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ ۝١٤

They protested, thus: "If this be true"t, they said, "and the wolf were to devour him when we are a collective mass of men, then we will have incurred privation of attributes and it would be a lost sorrow to wail our fall."

qālū la-in akalahu l-dhi'bu wanaḥnu ʿuṣ'batun innā idhan lakhāsirūn

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَجۡمَعُوۤا۟ أَن یَجۡعَلُوهُ فِی غَیَـٰبَتِ ٱلۡجُبِّۚ وَأَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ إِلَیۡهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمۡرِهِمۡ هَـٰذَا وَهُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُونَ ۝١٥

And they took him and went away, and agreed among themselves, and were united in thought, to place him at the bottom of the well -said to have been dry-. There and then We inspired just confidence and peace of mind to him -Yusuf- and inspired him with the feeling, thus: "You shall one day inform them of the evil they had committed against you at a time when they fail to recognize you nor perceive ever they shall see you again."

falammā dhahabū bihi wa-ajmaʿū an yajʿalūhu fī ghayābati l-jubi wa-awḥaynā ilayhi latunabbi-annahum bi-amrihim hādhā wahum lā yashʿurūn

وَجَاۤءُوۤ أَبَاهُمۡ عِشَاۤءࣰ یَبۡكُونَ ۝١٦

And they came back home to their father in the evening weeping their fill

wajāū abāhum ʿishāan yabkūn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَاۤ إِنَّا ذَهَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَتَرَكۡنَا یُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئۡبُۖ وَمَاۤ أَنتَ بِمُؤۡمِنࣲ لَّنَا وَلَوۡ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِینَ ۝١٧

They said to him: "O father, we went racing to compete with each other leaving Yusuf to take care of our things and there, standing alone, he was devoured by the wolf". "But you do not seem to believe us albeit we are telling the truth."

qālū yāabānā innā dhahabnā nastabiqu wataraknā yūsufa ʿinda matāʿinā fa-akalahu l-dhi'bu wamā anta bimu'minin lanā walaw kunnā ṣādiqīn

وَجَاۤءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِیصِهِۦ بِدَمࣲ كَذِبࣲۚ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرࣰاۖ فَصَبۡرࣱ جَمِیلࣱۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ ۝١٨

They brought back his garment stained with false blood. Their father said: "Indeed your minds and souls have enticed you to do something unpleasant and impelled you to feign this tale; in patience do I possess my soul and in Allah do I seek help to bear with composure what you have just described"

wajāū ʿalā qamīṣihi bidamin kadhibin qāla bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amran faṣabrun jamīlun wal-lahu l-mus'taʿānu ʿalā mā taṣifūn

وَجَاۤءَتۡ سَیَّارَةࣱ فَأَرۡسَلُوا۟ وَارِدَهُمۡ فَأَدۡلَىٰ دَلۡوَهُۥۖ قَالَ یَـٰبُشۡرَىٰ هَـٰذَا غُلَـٰمࣱۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَـٰعَةࣰۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِیمُۢ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُونَ ۝١٩

There came a caravan of merchants traveling to Egypt with merchandise. They sent on their water purveyor, the harbinger, who found a well; he let his bucket to draw water. But as he hauled up the bucket, he did not find water but a youth clinging to the rope and the bucket instead. There he announced with joy the good news of hauling up a youth, and they hid him in their merchandise, and Allah was fully aware of what they were doing

wajāat sayyāratun fa-arsalū wāridahum fa-adlā dalwahu qāla yābush'rā hādhā ghulāmun wa-asarrūhu biḍāʿatan wal-lahu ʿalīmun bimā yaʿmalūn

وَشَرَوۡهُ بِثَمَنِۭ بَخۡسࣲ دَرَ ٰهِمَ مَعۡدُودَةࣲ وَكَانُوا۟ فِیهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّ ٰهِدِینَ ۝٢٠

They sold him to a slave-dealer for a small price amounting to a small number of silver coins, and they had no interest in him

washarawhu bithamanin bakhsin darāhima maʿdūdatin wakānū fīhi mina l-zāhidīn

3 Joseph's Firmness under Temptation

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 ۝٢١

Being divinely gifted with the letter of credit nature has written upon his face honoured wherever presented, he was outbid in the slave market by a high court Egyptian official (AZIZ) who said to his wife: " Treat him kindly and with honour and respect to enjoy his stay; he may prove useful to us and helpful in effecting a purpose, or we may adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish him firmly in the land, wherefore We imparted to him the knowledge of interpreting visions and sense impressions in sleep and what they prefigure of future events. Allah prevails upon His edict which inevitably produces its intended effect and answers its purpose, but most people do not realize this fact

waqāla alladhī ish'tarāhu min miṣ'ra li-im'ra-atihi akrimī mathwāhu ʿasā an yanfaʿanā aw nattakhidhahu waladan wakadhālika makkannā liyūsufa fī l-arḍi walinuʿallimahu min tawīli l-aḥādīthi wal-lahu ghālibun ʿalā amrihi walākinna akthara l-nāsi lā yaʿlamūn

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥۤ ءَاتَیۡنَـٰهُ حُكۡمࣰا وَعِلۡمࣰاۚ وَكَذَ ٰلِكَ نَجۡزِی ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ ۝٢٢

Then when he –Yusuf- reached the stage of life wherein he had the ability for effective action and firmness of mind, character, will and purpose, We imparted to him wisdom and divine knowledge. For thus do We reward those who perfect their illustrious toils and turn their thoughts on moral excellence and benevolence

walammā balagha ashuddahu ātaynāhu ḥuk'man waʿil'man wakadhālika najzī l-muḥ'sinīn

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 ۝٢٣

The lady of the house -wife of the high official- where he lived, tried to induce him to surrender his chastity; she closed the doors and said to him: "Come to me". But he said: "Allah forbid, He is my Creator; He has been kind to me, He delivered me from harm and gave me a good home and my master gave me a hearty welcome and a hospitable reception in his house; no, but never shall heaven prosper the wrongful of actions."

warāwadathu allatī huwa fī baytihā ʿan nafsihi waghallaqati l-abwāba waqālat hayta laka qāla maʿādha l-lahi innahu rabbī aḥsana mathwāya innahu lā yuf'liḥu l-ẓālimūn

وَلَقَدۡ هَمَّتۡ بِهِۦۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوۡلَاۤ أَن رَّءَا بُرۡهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ لِنَصۡرِفَ عَنۡهُ ٱلسُّوۤءَ وَٱلۡفَحۡشَاۤءَۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِینَ ۝٢٤

She had a passionate and libidinous desire of him, a desire she meant to bring to effect physically, and he had a desire of her, a desire that was psychical. It might have been physical, had he not felt Allah in his bosom and the internal recognition of the moral quality of one's motives and actions approving the right and condemning the wrong. We stirred his mind and his heart to live in the conscientious practice of all that is good so that We guard him from evil and immorality; He was indeed one of Our sincere worshippers

walaqad hammat bihi wahamma bihā lawlā an raā bur'hāna rabbihi kadhālika linaṣrifa ʿanhu l-sūa wal-faḥshāa innahu min ʿibādinā l-mukh'laṣīn

وَٱسۡتَبَقَا ٱلۡبَابَ وَقَدَّتۡ قَمِیصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرࣲ وَأَلۡفَیَا سَیِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلۡبَابِۚ قَالَتۡ مَا جَزَاۤءُ مَنۡ أَرَادَ بِأَهۡلِكَ سُوۤءًا إِلَّاۤ أَن یُسۡجَنَ أَوۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِیمࣱ ۝٢٥

To escape the threatened evil he ran to the door: as she chased him she could only reach the hack of his garment, and in his struggle to advance forward, the back of his garment was torn. The master was just coming in and they all met at the door. To justify her action and have her revenge, she said to her husband: "What punishment should be appropriate for someone who tried to assail your wife's virtue but that he be imprisoned or suffers a condign punishment!"

wa-is'tabaqā l-bāba waqaddat qamīṣahu min duburin wa-alfayā sayyidahā ladā l-bābi qālat mā jazāu man arāda bi-ahlika sūan illā an yus'jana aw ʿadhābun alīmu

قَالَ هِیَ رَ ٰوَدَتۡنِی عَن نَّفۡسِیۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدࣱ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَاۤ إِن كَانَ قَمِیصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلࣲ فَصَدَقَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِینَ ۝٢٦

He -Yusuf- said: "She tried to incite me to an immoral act,". When the family gathered to judge the case, one of them wisely said: "if his garment is torn at the front, then she is in the right and the truth is on her side, and" he is lying

qāla hiya rāwadatnī ʿan nafsī washahida shāhidun min ahlihā in kāna qamīṣuhu qudda min qubulin faṣadaqat wahuwa mina l-kādhibīn

وَإِن كَانَ قَمِیصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرࣲ فَكَذَبَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِینَ ۝٢٧

"And", he added, "if his garment is torn at the back then she is lying and he has fact upon his side."

wa-in kāna qamīṣuhu qudda min duburin fakadhabat wahuwa mina l-ṣādiqīn

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِیصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرࣲ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَیۡدِكُنَّۖ إِنَّ كَیۡدَكُنَّ عَظِیمࣱ ۝٢٨

When her husband saw the garment torn at the back, he said: " This is one of your intrigues, you women; potent indeed is your cunning which you take for a sinister and crooked wisdom"

falammā raā qamīṣahu qudda min duburin qāla innahu min kaydikunna inna kaydakunna ʿaẓīmu

یُوسُفُ أَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ هَـٰذَاۚ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرِی لِذَنۢبِكِۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَاطِءِینَ ۝٢٩

"Yusuf", he continued, "let go this incident, and you, my wife, invoke Allah's forgiveness; you were indeed in the wrong."

yūsufu aʿriḍ ʿan hādhā wa-is'taghfirī lidhanbiki innaki kunti mina l-khāṭiīn

4 Joseph is Imprisoned

۞ وَقَالَ نِسۡوَةࣱ فِی ٱلۡمَدِینَةِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ ٱلۡعَزِیزِ تُرَ ٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۖ قَدۡ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّاۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ مُّبِینࣲ ۝٣٠

The rumour circulated among some women -the society- in the city. They said: "The wife of the court officer solicits her slave; she is much enamoured of him and inflamed with love; we see that she is indeed vitiated by error."

waqāla nis'watun fī l-madīnati im'ra-atu l-ʿazīzi turāwidu fatāhā ʿan nafsihi qad shaghafahā ḥubban innā lanarāhā fī ḍalālin mubīni

فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتۡ بِمَكۡرِهِنَّ أَرۡسَلَتۡ إِلَیۡهِنَّ وَأَعۡتَدَتۡ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَءࣰا 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 ۝٣١

When she heard of their evil intent aggravating her guilt, she invited them to her house and gave them a banquet. The seats were propped up with cushions, the table was set with delightful food and table knives were put in place, one for each. When they were served with the course whereat they use the knives, she ordered him –Yusuf- to come into the room. When the women saw him they were overwhelmed with wonder and they marvelled at his exceptional good looks with profound admiration to the extent that they missed the fruit and wounded their hands. They exclaimed " Allah forbid this is not a mortal; he is none other than a highly impressive, stately and distinguished angel."

falammā samiʿat bimakrihinna arsalat ilayhinna wa-aʿtadat lahunna muttaka-an waātat kulla wāḥidatin min'hunna sikkīnan waqālati ukh'ruj ʿalayhinna falammā ra-aynahu akbarnahu waqaṭṭaʿna aydiyahunna waqul'na ḥāsha lillahi mā hādhā basharan in hādhā illā malakun karīmu

قَالَتۡ فَذَ ٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِی لُمۡتُنَّنِی فِیهِۖ وَلَقَدۡ رَ ٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ فَٱسۡتَعۡصَمَۖ وَلَىِٕن لَّمۡ یَفۡعَلۡ مَاۤ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَیُسۡجَنَنَّ وَلَیَكُونࣰا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِینَ ۝٣٢

There and then, she said to them: "This is he on whose account you reproved me." "I wanted him to fulfill my desire but he refused, and unless he submits to my command and does what I want, he shall be put in prison and be incensed with multiplied humiliations."

qālat fadhālikunna alladhī lum'tunnanī fīhi walaqad rāwadttuhu ʿan nafsihi fa-is'taʿṣama wala-in lam yafʿal mā āmuruhu layus'jananna walayakūnan mina l-ṣāghirīn

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجۡنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَیَّ مِمَّا یَدۡعُونَنِیۤ إِلَیۡهِۖ وَإِلَّا تَصۡرِفۡ عَنِّی كَیۡدَهُنَّ أَصۡبُ إِلَیۡهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلۡجَـٰهِلِینَ ۝٣٣

"O Allah, my Creator," Said Yusuf, "l would rather be imprisoned than submit to their evil desire; and unless O Allah, You keep their intrigues away from me, I may succumb to their temptation and be one of these wrongful of actions."

qāla rabbi l-sij'nu aḥabbu ilayya mimmā yadʿūnanī ilayhi wa-illā taṣrif ʿannī kaydahunna aṣbu ilayhinna wa-akun mina l-jāhilīn

فَٱسۡتَجَابَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ فَصَرَفَ عَنۡهُ كَیۡدَهُنَّۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ ۝٣٤

Allah responded to his invocation and kept their cunning away from him; He is indeed AL-Sami' (the Omnipresent with unlimited audition) and AL-'Alim (the Omniscient)

fa-is'tajāba lahu rabbuhu faṣarafa ʿanhu kaydahunna innahu huwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīm

ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلۡءَایَـٰتِ لَیَسۡجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِینࣲ ۝٣٥

But they -the men- thought it would be in the best interests of all concerned that he be put in prison for a while, albeit they saw all the signs confirming his innocence

thumma badā lahum min baʿdi mā ra-awū l-āyāti layasjununnahu ḥattā ḥīni

5 Joseph Preaches in Prison

وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجۡنَ فَتَیَانِۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَاۤ إِنِّیۤ أَرَىٰنِیۤ أَعۡصِرُ خَمۡرࣰاۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡءَاخَرُ إِنِّیۤ أَرَىٰنِیۤ أَحۡمِلُ فَوۡقَ رَأۡسِی خُبۡزࣰا تَأۡكُلُ ٱلطَّیۡرُ مِنۡهُۖ نَبِّئۡنَا بِتَأۡوِیلِهِۦۤۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ ۝٣٦

Along with Yusuf, two young men serving in the court were dismissed and put in prison. Each of them had a dream. One of them saw himself pressing grapes to make wine and the other saw himself carrying bread on his head and the birds were eating therefrom. Impressed by Yusuf's appearance which they thought was conformable to reason and piety, they asked him: "Can you reveal to us the significance of these dreams! We do see you a man of piety and we see in you virtue in its true signification."

wadakhala maʿahu l-sij'na fatayāni qāla aḥaduhumā innī arānī aʿṣiru khamran waqāla l-ākharu innī arānī aḥmilu fawqa rasī khub'zan takulu l-ṭayru min'hu nabbi'nā bitawīlihi innā narāka mina l-muḥ'sinīn

قَالَ لَا یَأۡتِیكُمَا طَعَامࣱ تُرۡزَقَانِهِۦۤ إِلَّا نَبَّأۡتُكُمَا بِتَأۡوِیلِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن یَأۡتِیَكُمَاۚ ذَ ٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِی رَبِّیۤۚ إِنِّی تَرَكۡتُ مِلَّةَ قَوۡمࣲ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ هُمۡ كَـٰفِرُونَ ۝٣٧

"Rest assured", he said, before food is brought to you, I will have informed you of the interpretation of your dreams. This is a part of the divine knowledge Allah, my Creator has imparted to me in consequence of conforming my will to His will. I have forsaken the system of faith of a people who deny Allah and refuse to acknowledge the truth of the Hereafter

qāla lā yatīkumā ṭaʿāmun tur'zaqānihi illā nabbatukumā bitawīlihi qabla an yatiyakumā dhālikumā mimmā ʿallamanī rabbī innī taraktu millata qawmin lā yu'minūna bil-lahi wahum bil-ākhirati hum kāfirūn

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 ۝٣٨

"I followed the system of faith and worship of my fathers Ibrahim, Ishaq and Ya'qub. It was never befitting that we should incorporate with Allah other deities, this is His grace abounding in us and in mankind but most people are not impelled with the feeling of gratitude."

wa-ittabaʿtu millata ābāī ib'rāhīma wa-is'ḥāqa wayaʿqūba mā kāna lanā an nush'rika bil-lahi min shayin dhālika min faḍli l-lahi ʿalaynā waʿalā l-nāsi walākinna akthara l-nāsi lā yashkurūn

یَـٰصَـٰحِبَیِ ٱلسِّجۡنِ ءَأَرۡبَابࣱ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَیۡرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَ ٰحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّارُ ۝٣٩

"Fellow - inmates", he said, "do you honestly believe that such an immense universe could be controlled with such precision by a group of creatures diverse in kind, nature and character or by Allah AL-Wahid (the One and only) Who is AL- Qahhar (the Omnipotent, Absolute and Irresistible!)"

yāṣāḥibayi l-sij'ni a-arbābun mutafarriqūna khayrun ami l-lahu l-wāḥidu l-qahār

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 ۝٤٠

"In fact," he added, "those whom you worship besides Him are but names of objects you and your fathers have designated as gods; a system of faith and worship Allah has never authorized. Indeed, decision, command and judgement are asserted as Allah's own, He ordained that you worship no one but Him. This is the right system of faith and worship but most people do not perceive this fact."

mā taʿbudūna min dūnihi illā asmāan sammaytumūhā antum waābāukum mā anzala l-lahu bihā min sul'ṭānin ini l-ḥuk'mu illā lillahi amara allā taʿbudū illā iyyāhu dhālika l-dīnu l-qayimu walākinna akthara l-nāsi lā yaʿlamūn

یَـٰصَـٰحِبَیِ ٱلسِّجۡنِ أَمَّاۤ أَحَدُكُمَا فَیَسۡقِی رَبَّهُۥ خَمۡرࣰاۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلۡءَاخَرُ فَیُصۡلَبُ فَتَأۡكُلُ ٱلطَّیۡرُ مِن رَّأۡسِهِۦۚ قُضِیَ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ ٱلَّذِی فِیهِ تَسۡتَفۡتِیَانِ ۝٤١

"Fellow prisoners said Yusuf, "Now, you shall have the interpretation of your dreams": "As to the fellow pressing grapes, he will be released and restored to his position and will serve his master -the king- with wine, whereas the other will be crucified and the vultures will prey upon his head. There, the die is cast concerning your enquiry."

yāṣāḥibayi l-sij'ni ammā aḥadukumā fayasqī rabbahu khamran wa-ammā l-ākharu fayuṣ'labu fatakulu l-ṭayru min rasihi quḍiya l-amru alladhī fīhi tastaftiyān

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِی ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجࣲ مِّنۡهُمَا ٱذۡكُرۡنِی عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنُ ذِكۡرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِی ٱلسِّجۡنِ بِضۡعَ سِنِینَ ۝٤٢

Then said he to the inmate whom he thought would be released: "Mention my name and my story, O fellow, to the king when you are in his presence." But in the midst of the court he -the servant- yielded to the lower part of his nature which is guided by AL-Shaytan and forgot to mention to the king the story of his fellow prisoner. By consequence, Yusuf remained in confinement for a few years - said to be not less than three years-

waqāla lilladhī ẓanna annahu nājin min'humā udh'kur'nī ʿinda rabbika fa-ansāhu l-shayṭānu dhik'ra rabbihi falabitha fī l-sij'ni biḍ'ʿa sinīn

6 Joseph interprets King's Vision

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 ۝٤٣

And for once said the king to his retinue: "I saw in my dream seven fat cows eaten by seven lean and emaciated ones, and seven green ears of corn and seven others dry. Give me O counselors an opinion as it seems to you on that sense impression I had in my sleep if you are well versed in interpreting dreams."

waqāla l-maliku innī arā sabʿa baqarātin simānin yakuluhunna sabʿun ʿijāfun wasabʿa sunbulātin khuḍ'rin wa-ukhara yābisātin yāayyuhā l-mala-u aftūnī fī ru'yāya in kuntum lilrru'yā taʿburūn

قَالُوۤا۟ أَضۡغَـٰثُ أَحۡلَـٰمࣲۖ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِتَأۡوِیلِ ٱلۡأَحۡلَـٰمِ بِعَـٰلِمِینَ ۝٤٤

"These are nothing but confused dreams," they said, "nor are we conversant with the interpretation of dreams."

qālū aḍghāthu aḥlāmin wamā naḥnu bitawīli l-aḥlāmi biʿālimīn

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِی نَجَا مِنۡهُمَا وَٱدَّكَرَ بَعۡدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا۠ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأۡوِیلِهِۦ فَأَرۡسِلُونِ ۝٤٥

There and then did Yusuf's fellow prisoner who heard of the king's dream remember in the end Yusuf and his story. He said: "Permit me to withdraw and give me permission to go to where I can get you the right and true information."

waqāla alladhī najā min'humā wa-iddakara baʿda ummatin anā unabbi-ukum bitawīlihi fa-arsilūn

یُوسُفُ أَیُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّیقُ أَفۡتِنَا فِی سَبۡعِ بَقَرَ ٰتࣲ سِمَانࣲ یَأۡكُلُهُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافࣱ وَسَبۡعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضۡرࣲ وَأُخَرَ یَابِسَـٰتࣲ لَّعَلِّیۤ أَرۡجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٤٦

He asked: "Yusuf; O man of righteousness and truth, reveal to us this dream and what it prefigures: Seven fat cows were eaten by seven lean and emaciated ones, and seven green ears of corn together with seven dry ones." " Give me your opinion so that I go back to the people and inform them of what they should expect."

yūsufu ayyuhā l-ṣidīqu aftinā fī sabʿi baqarātin simānin yakuluhunna sabʿun ʿijāfun wasabʿi sunbulātin khuḍ'rin wa-ukhara yābisātin laʿallī arjiʿu ilā l-nāsi laʿallahum yaʿlamūn

قَالَ تَزۡرَعُونَ سَبۡعَ سِنِینَ دَأَبࣰا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمۡ فَذَرُوهُ فِی سُنۢبُلِهِۦۤ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّمَّا تَأۡكُلُونَ ۝٤٧

Yusuf did not only tell him of what people should expect but also suggested the safe measures to be taken. He said: "You shall sow the land in diligent labouring and when it is the season for reaping and gathering in the ripened grain, leave it in its ears and lay it up in store except a little which you will eat."

qāla tazraʿūna sabʿa sinīna da-aban famā ḥaṣadttum fadharūhu fī sunbulihi illā qalīlan mimmā takulūn

ثُمَّ یَأۡتِی مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَ ٰلِكَ سَبۡعࣱ شِدَادࣱ یَأۡكُلۡنَ مَا قَدَّمۡتُمۡ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِیلࣰا مِّمَّا تُحۡصِنُونَ ۝٤٨

"Following this episode, there shall come seven droughty years consuming all that you have saved except the little which you have to use for seed."

thumma yatī min baʿdi dhālika sabʿun shidādun yakul'na mā qaddamtum lahunna illā qalīlan mimmā tuḥ'ṣinūn

ثُمَّ یَأۡتِی مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَ ٰلِكَ عَامࣱ فِیهِ یُغَاثُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَفِیهِ یَعۡصِرُونَ ۝٤٩

"Then, there follows a year in which people shall rejoice at the abundance of rain and at the yield of grape-vines and other juicy and oily trees and they shall be busy pressing juices and extracting oils."

thumma yatī min baʿdi dhālika ʿāmun fīhi yughāthu l-nāsu wafīhi yaʿṣirūn

7 Joseph cleared of Charges

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱئۡتُونِی بِهِۦۖ فَلَمَّا جَاۤءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرۡجِعۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسۡءَلۡهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسۡوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِی قَطَّعۡنَ أَیۡدِیَهُنَّۚ إِنَّ رَبِّی بِكَیۡدِهِنَّ عَلِیمࣱ ۝٥٠

The king, now pleased, said: "Bring him to me." When the king's messenger went to fetch him, Yusuf with just confidence, said to the messenger.: "Go back to your master and ask him to re open my case and question the women who wounded their hands at the banquet and what did they have in mind to be up to trap! "Allah, my creator is indeed fully aware of their cunning."

waqāla l-maliku i'tūnī bihi falammā jāahu l-rasūlu qāla ir'jiʿ ilā rabbika fasalhu mā bālu l-nis'wati allātī qaṭṭaʿna aydiyahunna inna rabbī bikaydihinna ʿalīmu

قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُنَّ إِذۡ رَ ٰوَدتُّنَّ یُوسُفَ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۚ قُلۡنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمۡنَا عَلَیۡهِ مِن سُوۤءࣲۚ قَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ ٱلۡعَزِیزِ ٱلۡءَـٰنَ حَصۡحَصَ ٱلۡحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَ ٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِینَ ۝٥١

There and then did the king summon the women and question them. He asked: "What was your purpose and intention when you tried to solicit Yusuf?" They said: "Allah forbid, we have never known him to be morally depraved". The court official's wife, now being brought to her senses said: "Now that the truth transpired, it was I who solicited him and he has indeed been telling the truth."

qāla mā khaṭbukunna idh rāwadttunna yūsufa ʿan nafsihi qul'na ḥāsha lillahi mā ʿalim'nā ʿalayhi min sūin qālati im'ra-atu l-ʿazīzi l-āna ḥaṣḥaṣa l-ḥaqu anā rāwadttuhu ʿan nafsihi wa-innahu lamina l-ṣādiqīn

ذَ ٰلِكَ لِیَعۡلَمَ أَنِّی لَمۡ أَخُنۡهُ بِٱلۡغَیۡبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یَهۡدِی كَیۡدَ ٱلۡخَاۤىِٕنِینَ ۝٥٢

"I declare the truth", she added, "so that he knows that I did not advantage myself of his absence and betray him or relate to him falsehood. Allah does not cause the cunning of the deceitful and the dishonest attain its end."

dhālika liyaʿlama annī lam akhun'hu bil-ghaybi wa-anna l-laha lā yahdī kayda l-khāinīn

۞ وَمَاۤ أُبَرِّئُ نَفۡسِیۤۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفۡسَ لَأَمَّارَةُۢ بِٱلسُّوۤءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّیۤۚ إِنَّ رَبِّی غَفُورࣱ رَّحِیمࣱ ۝٥٣

"I'm not trying", she said, "to vindicate my wrong nor do I absolve myself of the guilt which resided in my intention. One's ego inclines one to propound evil except those who are graced with Allah's mercy, and Providence their guide; Allah, my Creator, is indeed Ghafurun (Forgiving) and Rahimun (Merciful)."

wamā ubarri-u nafsī inna l-nafsa la-ammāratun bil-sūi illā mā raḥima rabbī inna rabbī ghafūrun raḥīmu

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱئۡتُونِی بِهِۦۤ أَسۡتَخۡلِصۡهُ لِنَفۡسِیۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلۡیَوۡمَ لَدَیۡنَا مَكِینٌ أَمِینࣱ ۝٥٤

There and then did the king command that Yusuf be brought to him; he said: "I will use him as my councillor and exclusively my own". When Yusuf was granted audience with the king, the king said to him: "You are now held precious in the realm's esteem and you are granted security and authority."

waqāla l-maliku i'tūnī bihi astakhliṣ'hu linafsī falammā kallamahu qāla innaka l-yawma ladaynā makīnun amīnu

قَالَ ٱجۡعَلۡنِی عَلَىٰ خَزَاۤىِٕنِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنِّی حَفِیظٌ عَلِیمࣱ ۝٥٥

There, Yusuf said: "Now, O king, that you have faith in me, then entrust ''me with the granaries and the storehouses of the agricultural and natural products of the land and with the treasuries of the realm, and you shall find me trustworthy and capable of guarding the interests of the kingdom and knowing how to manage and administer affairs cleverly"

qāla ij'ʿalnī ʿalā khazāini l-arḍi innī ḥafīẓun ʿalīmu

وَكَذَ ٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِیُوسُفَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ یَتَبَوَّأُ مِنۡهَا حَیۡثُ یَشَاۤءُۚ نُصِیبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَاۤءُۖ وَلَا نُضِیعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ ۝٥٦

Thus did We firmly establish Yusuf in the land where he could extend his power and jurisdiction wherever he willed. We bestow our mercy on whom We will and never do We annul, withhold or withdraw the fruit people are entitled to reap from deeds of wisdom and piety

wakadhālika makkannā liyūsufa fī l-arḍi yatabawwa-u min'hā ḥaythu yashāu nuṣību biraḥmatinā man nashāu walā nuḍīʿu ajra l-muḥ'sinīn

وَلَأَجۡرُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ یَتَّقُونَ ۝٥٧

Moreover, the reward Hereafter shall be far better; it falls to those who recognized Allah with hearts impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues and constantly entertained the profound reverence dutiful to Him

wala-ajru l-ākhirati khayrun lilladhīna āmanū wakānū yattaqūn

8 Joseph helps his Brothers

وَجَاۤءَ إِخۡوَةُ یُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِ فَعَرَفَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ ۝٥٨

They went to the man in charge of the granaries -Yusuf- who knew them while they failed to recognize him

wajāa ikh'watu yūsufa fadakhalū ʿalayhi faʿarafahum wahum lahu munkirūn

وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمۡ قَالَ ٱئۡتُونِی بِأَخࣲ لَّكُم مِّنۡ أَبِیكُمۡۚ أَلَا تَرَوۡنَ أَنِّیۤ أُوفِی ٱلۡكَیۡلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَیۡرُ ٱلۡمُنزِلِینَ ۝٥٩

He supplied them with their requirement of corn; he talked with them acting as if he did not know they had a half brother he said to them: "So, you have a brother through your father. Bring him to me; do you not see that I dispense the measure to the full and that I afford welcome and extend the most generous hospitality to guests and visitors!."

walammā jahhazahum bijahāzihim qāla i'tūnī bi-akhin lakum min abīkum alā tarawna annī ūfī l-kayla wa-anā khayru l-munzilīn

فَإِن لَّمۡ تَأۡتُونِی بِهِۦ فَلَا كَیۡلَ لَكُمۡ عِندِی وَلَا تَقۡرَبُونِ ۝٦٠

"If you do not bring him," he added, "I will deny you the provision of corn which you need, nor will you be allowed to come near me."

fa-in lam tatūnī bihi falā kayla lakum ʿindī walā taqrabūn

قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَ ٰوِدُ عَنۡهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَـٰعِلُونَ ۝٦١

They said to him: "we will talk his father into our cause and persuade him into sending him with us and rest assured that that we will certainly do."

qālū sanurāwidu ʿanhu abāhu wa-innā lafāʿilūn

وَقَالَ لِفِتۡیَـٰنِهِ ٱجۡعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمۡ فِی رِحَالِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَعۡرِفُونَهَاۤ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَهۡلِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ یَرۡجِعُونَ ۝٦٢

There and then said Yusuf to his attendants who rendered the service: "Put back their money -which they paid for the corn- into their saddle-bags; they may recognize it when they go back to their people and hopefully be encouraged to come back."

waqāla lifit'yānihi ij'ʿalū biḍāʿatahum fī riḥālihim laʿallahum yaʿrifūnahā idhā inqalabū ilā ahlihim laʿallahum yarjiʿūn

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَبِیهِمۡ قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلۡكَیۡلُ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَاۤ أَخَانَا نَكۡتَلۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ ۝٦٣

When they returned to their father, they said to him: "O father we have been threatened with the denial of future corn-measures unless we be accompanied by our brother –Benjamin-, therefore, we beg you to send him with us so that we can get our supply of corn, and we solemnly promise to guard him home

falammā rajaʿū ilā abīhim qālū yāabānā muniʿa minnā l-kaylu fa-arsil maʿanā akhānā naktal wa-innā lahu laḥāfiẓūn

قَالَ هَلۡ ءَامَنُكُمۡ عَلَیۡهِ إِلَّا كَمَاۤ أَمِنتُكُمۡ عَلَىٰۤ أَخِیهِ مِن قَبۡلُ فَٱللَّهُ خَیۡرٌ حَـٰفِظࣰاۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّ ٰحِمِینَ ۝٦٤

The father said: "Shall I entrust him to you just as I entrusted his brother -Yusuf- to you before! Allah is He Who is the Tutelary Guardian and He is the most capable of extending mercy

qāla hal āmanukum ʿalayhi illā kamā amintukum ʿalā akhīhi min qablu fal-lahu khayrun ḥāfiẓan wahuwa arḥamu l-rāḥimīn

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 ۝٦٥

But when they unloaded and opened their bags, they found their money had been refunded to them and there, they said: "Look O father, what more do we want! There is our money; it has been returned to us; we will provision our family, guard our brother and add a camel's load good at need; It is but a small quantity."

walammā fataḥū matāʿahum wajadū biḍāʿatahum ruddat ilayhim qālū yāabānā mā nabghī hādhihi biḍāʿatunā ruddat ilaynā wanamīru ahlanā wanaḥfaẓu akhānā wanazdādu kayla baʿīrin dhālika kaylun yasīru

قَالَ لَنۡ أُرۡسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ تُؤۡتُونِ مَوۡثِقࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأۡتُنَّنِی بِهِۦۤ إِلَّاۤ أَن یُحَاطَ بِكُمۡۖ فَلَمَّاۤ ءَاتَوۡهُ مَوۡثِقَهُمۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِیلࣱ ۝٦٦

The father said: "I will not send him –Benjamin- with you until you have given me a binding oath with a solemn appeal to Allah in witness that you shall bring him back to me unless you are surrounded ,,. Having made an oath to him, he said to them: "There, shall Allah be our witness Who stands guard over what we discourse."

qāla lan ur'silahu maʿakum ḥattā tu'tūni mawthiqan mina l-lahi latatunnanī bihi illā an yuḥāṭa bikum falammā ātawhu mawthiqahum qāla l-lahu ʿalā mā naqūlu wakīlu

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 ۝٦٧

He -Ya'qub- in a word with grace divine imbued, advised his sons ," not to make entry through the same gate. He said to them: " O my sons, do not all enter by the same gate but segregate yourselves from one another and enter by different gates. Not that I will deprecate a misfortune that Allah has meant to befall you, it is not in mortals to command success." "Allah is He Who has the command; in Him do I trust and in Him must all the faithful put their trust."

waqāla yābaniyya lā tadkhulū min bābin wāḥidin wa-ud'khulū min abwābin mutafarriqatin wamā ugh'nī ʿankum mina l-lahi min shayin ini l-ḥuk'mu illā lillahi ʿalayhi tawakkaltu waʿalayhi falyatawakkali l-mutawakilūn

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 ۝٦٨

Albeit they entered in the manner conformable to their father's advice, it did not mean that they would have escaped a misfortune decreed by Allah, but it was only a notion in Ya'qub's mind wherefore his reason was satisfied. He was imbued with divine knowledge We had imparted to him, but most people are not so imbued nor do they perceive this fact

walammā dakhalū min ḥaythu amarahum abūhum mā kāna yugh'nī ʿanhum mina l-lahi min shayin illā ḥājatan fī nafsi yaʿqūba qaḍāhā wa-innahu ladhū ʿil'min limā ʿallamnāhu walākinna akthara l-nāsi lā yaʿlamūn

9 The youngest brother

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰۤ إِلَیۡهِ أَخَاهُۖ قَالَ إِنِّیۤ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبۡتَىِٕسۡ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ ۝٦٩

When they came to where Yusuf was, he took his full brother -Benjamin- by his side, and in a manner designed to escape observation, he declared to him his identity and actuated him with the feeling of confidence and said to him: "Do not grieve at heart over what their minds and souls had impelled them to do."

walammā dakhalū ʿalā yūsufa āwā ilayhi akhāhu qāla innī anā akhūka falā tabta-is bimā kānū yaʿmalūn

فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمۡ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَایَةَ فِی رَحۡلِ أَخِیهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَیَّتُهَا ٱلۡعِیرُ إِنَّكُمۡ لَسَـٰرِقُونَ ۝٧٠

When he was supplying them with their requirement of corn, the attendants, who were instructed earlier, put the king's cup in his brother Benjamin's saddle-bag. As all of them started to journey homeward, an announcer declared larceny; he said: "O you travellers, you are thieves."

falammā jahhazahum bijahāzihim jaʿala l-siqāyata fī raḥli akhīhi thumma adhana mu-adhinun ayyatuhā l-ʿīru innakum lasāriqūn

قَالُوا۟ وَأَقۡبَلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِم مَّاذَا تَفۡقِدُونَ ۝٧١

The brothers turned back and asked: "What is it that you have lost"

qālū wa-aqbalū ʿalayhim mādhā tafqidūn

قَالُوا۟ نَفۡقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلۡمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَاۤءَ بِهِۦ حِمۡلُ بَعِیرࣲ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِیمࣱ ۝٧٢

The attendants said: "We lost the king's cup, and we promise to reward whoever finds it a camel's load of corn", and, said the foreman, "I am, to this effect, the guarantor."

qālū nafqidu ṣuwāʿa l-maliki waliman jāa bihi ḥim'lu baʿīrin wa-anā bihi zaʿīmu

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُم مَّا جِئۡنَا لِنُفۡسِدَ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـٰرِقِینَ ۝٧٣

The brothers said: "By Allah! you people know that we did not come here to cause mischief or create discord, nor are we disposed to such conduct."

qālū tal-lahi laqad ʿalim'tum mā ji'nā linuf'sida fī l-arḍi wamā kunnā sāriqīn

قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَ ٰۤؤُهُۥۤ إِن كُنتُمۡ كَـٰذِبِینَ ۝٧٤

The attendants said: "What penalty then shall be incurred on him who is found guilty of theft if it be established that you are lying!"

qālū famā jazāuhu in kuntum kādhibīn

قَالُوا۟ جَزَ ٰۤؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِی رَحۡلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَ ٰۤؤُهُۥۚ كَذَ ٰلِكَ نَجۡزِی ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ ۝٧٥

-Being sure of their innocence-, the brothers said: "He who is found guilty of theft shall have to pay for it or else be the property of the state, and it serves him right; for thus do we treat (in Jewish Can'an) the wrongful of actions."

qālū jazāuhu man wujida fī raḥlihi fahuwa jazāuhu kadhālika najzī l-ẓālimīn

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 ۝٧٦

He –Yusuf- began the search with their sacks before searching that of his brother -Benjamin-, then he brought it out of Benjamin's saddle bags. Thus did We design a stratagem for Yusuf to outwit his brothers according to the inspired plan. He could not have detained his brother -Benjamin- by exercising judicial authority not conformable to the statutes of the realm, nor could he have applied the Jewish law of full restitution for the theft or the enslavement by the state unless Allah had willed. So it was. We raise whom We will to higher ranks and exalt them in dignity, wisdom and power. Above every one having mastery of knowledge, there is one who is endowed with more substantial knowledge; and above every one whose sum of knowledge with grace divine imbued there is AL-'Alim (the All-Knowing, the Omniscient)

fabada-a bi-awʿiyatihim qabla wiʿāi akhīhi thumma is'takhrajahā min wiʿāi akhīhi kadhālika kid'nā liyūsufa mā kāna liyakhudha akhāhu fī dīni l-maliki illā an yashāa l-lahu narfaʿu darajātin man nashāu wafawqa kulli dhī ʿil'min ʿalīmu

۞ قَالُوۤا۟ إِن یَسۡرِقۡ فَقَدۡ سَرَقَ أَخࣱ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا یُوسُفُ فِی نَفۡسِهِۦ وَلَمۡ یُبۡدِهَا لَهُمۡۚ قَالَ أَنتُمۡ شَرࣱّ مَّكَانࣰاۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ ۝٧٧

There and then said the brothers, adding insult to injury: "If he has appropriated dishonestly something belonging to someone else, a brother of his had committed theft aforetime." Yusuf swallowed his resentment and kept it down, and in words spoken aside he said: "You went further and fared worse; it shall go bad with you here and worse Hereafter, and Allah knows every falsity you devise."

qālū in yasriq faqad saraqa akhun lahu min qablu fa-asarrahā yūsufu fī nafsihi walam yub'dihā lahum qāla antum sharrun makānan wal-lahu aʿlamu bimā taṣifūn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلۡعَزِیزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥۤ أَبࣰا شَیۡخࣰا كَبِیرࣰا فَخُذۡ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥۤۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ ۝٧٨

Yusuf said: "O you noble one, he has a father who is carried through the stealing steps of age to advanced life. Take one of us in his stead, we do see you a man of piety and we see in you virtue in its true signification."

qālū yāayyuhā l-ʿazīzu inna lahu aban shaykhan kabīran fakhudh aḥadanā makānahu innā narāka mina l-muḥ'sinīn

قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأۡخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدۡنَا مَتَـٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥۤ إِنَّاۤ إِذࣰا لَّظَـٰلِمُونَ ۝٧٩

"Allah forbid", said Yusuf, "that we should take to our custody but him with whom we found our personal property or else we will be wrongful of actions."

qāla maʿādha l-lahi an nakhudha illā man wajadnā matāʿanā ʿindahu innā idhan laẓālimūn

10 Joseph discloses his Identity

فَلَمَّا ٱسۡتَیۡءَسُوا۟ 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 ۝٨٠

When they lost hope of pursuading him to change his position, they were reticent about their intentions wherefore they withdrew and conferred in secret: "Do you not know", said their eldest, "or have you forgotten that your father has bound you by an oath with a solemn appeal to Allah! what of your sense of guilt of negligence and want of reasonable care which has bereaved our father of his son Yusuf. Therefore, I have resolved never to depart from hence until my father has permitted me to do so or Allah has determined me on a course of action; He gives the law whereas all other judges just interpret it."

falammā is'tayasū min'hu khalaṣū najiyyan qāla kabīruhum alam taʿlamū anna abākum qad akhadha ʿalaykum mawthiqan mina l-lahi wamin qablu mā farraṭtum fī yūsufa falan abraḥa l-arḍa ḥattā yadhana lī abī aw yaḥkuma l-lahu lī wahuwa khayru l-ḥākimīn

ٱرۡجِعُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَبِیكُمۡ فَقُولُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَاۤ إِنَّ ٱبۡنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدۡنَاۤ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمۡنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلۡغَیۡبِ حَـٰفِظِینَ ۝٨١

"Go back to your father", he added, and say to him: your son -Benjamin- has committed a theft and we were associated with the event and we only relate what we saw with our own eyes; and when we bound ourselves by the vow, we did not indulge in prophecy to foretell future events or realize the unseen

ir'jiʿū ilā abīkum faqūlū yāabānā inna ib'naka saraqa wamā shahid'nā illā bimā ʿalim'nā wamā kunnā lil'ghaybi ḥāfiẓīn

وَسۡءَلِ ٱلۡقَرۡیَةَ ٱلَّتِی كُنَّا فِیهَا وَٱلۡعِیرَ ٱلَّتِیۤ أَقۡبَلۡنَا فِیهَاۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ ۝٨٢

"If you are in doubt of what we relate to you," they added, "then you may send whom you trust to the city whereat we were, to inquire in the matter of the larceny, and you may also ask the people with whom we travelled, and rest assured that we are telling the truth and nothing but the truth."

wasali l-qaryata allatī kunnā fīhā wal-ʿīra allatī aqbalnā fīhā wa-innā laṣādiqūn

قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَكُمۡ أَنفُسُكُمۡ أَمۡرࣰاۖ فَصَبۡرࣱ جَمِیلٌۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن یَأۡتِیَنِی بِهِمۡ جَمِیعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ ٱلۡحَكِیمُ ۝٨٣

Ya'qub said: " Indeed your minds and souls have enticed you to do something evil and impelled you to feign this tale; may Allah bring them all back to me; He is indeed AL-'Alim and AL-Hakim (the Wise)."

qāla bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amran faṣabrun jamīlun ʿasā l-lahu an yatiyanī bihim jamīʿan innahu huwa l-ʿalīmu l-ḥakīm

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ وَقَالَ یَـٰۤأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ وَٱبۡیَضَّتۡ عَیۡنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلۡحُزۡنِ فَهُوَ كَظِیمࣱ ۝٨٤

He withdrew away from them and retired from their society, weeping and expressing his feeling of grief aroused by the loss of Yusuf. He said: " what a pity it is to lose Yusuf! " and he felt profound grief and mourned passionately to the extent that his eyes turned opaque and impenetrable to sight in the train of his mental pain and deep sorrow

watawallā ʿanhum waqāla yāasafā ʿalā yūsufa wa-ib'yaḍḍat ʿaynāhu mina l-ḥuz'ni fahuwa kaẓīmu

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفۡتَؤُا۟ تَذۡكُرُ یُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوۡ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَـٰلِكِینَ ۝٨٥

His sons said to him: "For heaven's sake, shall you keep on recalling Yusuf to your memory with distressed mind and deep sorrow and weep out your eyes and heart until you are consumed by disease or perish in the wreck of sorrow!"

qālū tal-lahi tafta-u tadhkuru yūsufa ḥattā takūna ḥaraḍan aw takūna mina l-hālikīn

قَالَ إِنَّمَاۤ أَشۡكُوا۟ بَثِّی وَحُزۡنِیۤ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٨٦

"I only exercise my mind in thought", he said, "and express my grief and deep sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah what you my sons do not know."

qāla innamā ashkū bathī waḥuz'nī ilā l-lahi wa-aʿlamu mina l-lahi mā lā taʿlamūn

یَـٰبَنِیَّ ٱذۡهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن یُوسُفَ وَأَخِیهِ وَلَا تَا۟یۡءَسُوا۟ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا یَا۟یۡءَسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ ۝٨٧

" My sons " he added: "go back to your older brother and feel all of you after Yusuf and his brother -Benjamin- and do not nurse despair nor give up hope of Allah's mercy. Indeed no one despairs of Allah's mercy but those who do not pin their faith to Him nor do they justify faith as a conviction operative on their character and will."

yābaniyya idh'habū fataḥassasū min yūsufa wa-akhīhi walā tāy'asū min rawḥi l-lahi innahu lā yāy'asu min rawḥi l-lahi illā l-qawmu l-kāfirūn

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِ قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلۡعَزِیزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهۡلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئۡنَا بِبِضَـٰعَةࣲ مُّزۡجَىٰةࣲ فَأَوۡفِ لَنَا ٱلۡكَیۡلَ وَتَصَدَّقۡ عَلَیۡنَاۤۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَجۡزِی ٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقِینَ ۝٨٨

When the brothers went back and joined the eldest brother and were granted audience of the vizier –Yusuf-, they said to him, appealing to his charity: "O noble one we and our family have had a severe touch of misfortunes and the famine has levied distress upon us, and we have brought the little we could afford in exchange for the corn we need. We seek your kindness and your benevolence for the alleviation of our mental and physical distress. We should be grateful indeed if you would give us the full measure of corn and consider the extra you add as charitable alms comforting the poor; blessed indeed is he that considers the poor, for Allah rewards the benevolent."

falammā dakhalū ʿalayhi qālū yāayyuhā l-ʿazīzu massanā wa-ahlanā l-ḍuru waji'nā bibiḍāʿatin muz'jātin fa-awfi lanā l-kayla wataṣaddaq ʿalaynā inna l-laha yajzī l-mutaṣadiqīn

قَالَ هَلۡ عَلِمۡتُم مَّا فَعَلۡتُم بِیُوسُفَ وَأَخِیهِ إِذۡ أَنتُمۡ جَـٰهِلُونَ ۝٨٩

Yusuf then said: "Do you recall what you did to Yusuf and his brother. You probably did not realize the danger and the consequence of what you were doing and you did it foolhardily."

qāla hal ʿalim'tum mā faʿaltum biyūsufa wa-akhīhi idh antum jāhilūn

قَالُوۤا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ یُوسُفُۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ یُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَاۤ أَخِیۖ قَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَیۡنَاۤۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن یَتَّقِ وَیَصۡبِرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یُضِیعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِینَ ۝٩٠

They said: "Indeed you are Yusuf, are you not!" "Indeed I am," said Yusuf, "and this is my brother –Benjamin-. Allah has graced us with His divine favour and benediction, and conferred on us prosperity, for he who entertains the profound reverence dutiful to Allah and be unwearied in the face of difficulties and able to endure evil shall be greatly rewarded. Allah does not annul, withhold or withdraw the fruit people are entitled to reap from their deeds of wisdom and piety."

qālū a-innaka la-anta yūsufu qāla anā yūsufu wahādhā akhī qad manna l-lahu ʿalaynā innahu man yattaqi wayaṣbir fa-inna l-laha lā yuḍīʿu ajra l-muḥ'sinīn

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدۡ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَیۡنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـٰطِءِینَ ۝٩١

"Goodness", they said, "indeed Allah has taken you by preference out of all of us and exalted you in status, rank and fortune and characterized you by impressive disposition." "We do acknowledge our sinful deed and confess ourselves to Allah with full purpose of amendment of life."

qālū tal-lahi laqad ātharaka l-lahu ʿalaynā wa-in kunnā lakhāṭiīn

قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِیبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلۡیَوۡمَۖ یَغۡفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّ ٰحِمِینَ ۝٩٢

"Today" said, Yusuf: "I cannot blame you to weep, nor do I reproach you. To err is human, to forgive, divine. Allah forgive you, for to Him belong mercy and forgiveness; He is the most Merciful of all those who exercise mercy;"

qāla lā tathrība ʿalaykumu l-yawma yaghfiru l-lahu lakum wahuwa arḥamu l-rāḥimīn

ٱذۡهَبُوا۟ بِقَمِیصِی هَـٰذَا فَأَلۡقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِ أَبِی یَأۡتِ بَصِیرࣰا وَأۡتُونِی بِأَهۡلِكُمۡ أَجۡمَعِینَ ۝٩٣

"Go back with this shirt of mine", he added, "and lay it on my father's face. He will recover his sight, and bring me all the members of your family."

idh'habū biqamīṣī hādhā fa-alqūhu ʿalā wajhi abī yati baṣīran watūnī bi-ahlikum ajmaʿīn

11 Israel goes to Egypt

وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلۡعِیرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمۡ إِنِّی لَأَجِدُ رِیحَ یُوسُفَۖ لَوۡلَاۤ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ ۝٩٤

When the caravan was on its way homeward, Ya'qab, inspirited with the divine prerogative of intuition, had a presentiment of the event that was about to happen. He said: "I do perceive Yusuf's scent in the wind, albeit you people might think I have lost my mind."

walammā faṣalati l-ʿīru qāla abūhum innī la-ajidu rīḥa yūsufa lawlā an tufannidūn

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِی ضَلَـٰلِكَ ٱلۡقَدِیمِ ۝٩٥

But those who were around him said to him: "By Allah, you still live in your old perplexity and confused state of mind!"

qālū tal-lahi innaka lafī ḍalālika l-qadīm

فَلَمَّاۤ أَن جَاۤءَ ٱلۡبَشِیرُ أَلۡقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦ فَٱرۡتَدَّ بَصِیرࣰاۖ قَالَ أَلَمۡ أَقُل لَّكُمۡ إِنِّیۤ أَعۡلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٩٦

But when the harbinger of good presage -the eldest brother- reached home, and laid Yusuf's shirt on his father's face; there did Ya'qab recover his faculty of sight. and thus he exclaimed: "Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you people do not know!"

falammā an jāa l-bashīru alqāhu ʿalā wajhihi fa-ir'tadda baṣīran qāla alam aqul lakum innī aʿlamu mina l-lahi mā lā taʿlamūn

قَالُوا۟ یَـٰۤأَبَانَا ٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَاۤ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِءِینَ ۝٩٧

There said the ten –guilty- sons to their father: "O father, invoke Allah's forgiveness on our behalf for what We committed of sinful deeds; we were indeed wrongful of actions."

qālū yāabānā is'taghfir lanā dhunūbanā innā kunnā khāṭiīn

قَالَ سَوۡفَ أَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَكُمۡ رَبِّیۤۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِیمُ ۝٩٨

The father said: "I will invoke Allah's forgiveness; on your behalf, my Creator is indeed AL-Ghafur (the Forgiving) AL-Rahim (the Merciful)

qāla sawfa astaghfiru lakum rabbī innahu huwa l-ghafūru l-raḥīm

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ یُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰۤ إِلَیۡهِ أَبَوَیۡهِ وَقَالَ ٱدۡخُلُوا۟ مِصۡرَ إِن شَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِینَ ۝٩٩

When they all went to Egypt and were granted audience of Yusuf, he took his parents (father and stepmother- aunt who fostered him-) beside him and he said to them: "You are very welcome to reenter into Egypt where you make abode, Allah willing, safe and secure."

falammā dakhalū ʿalā yūsufa āwā ilayhi abawayhi waqāla ud'khulū miṣ'ra in shāa l-lahu āminīn

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 ۝١٠٠

And he raised aloft his parents to his -the vizier's- seat of dignity and Authority and there and then did all of them bow to the ground in respect, reverence and admiration. There, said Yusuf to his father: "O father, this is the interpretation of my vision which was brought before my mind's eyes during sleep, and Allah has verified it and made it come true". "He was gracious to me; He brought to effect my release from prison and your emigration from the desert in Can'an to settle in the city in Egypt after AL-Shaytan had sown malevolence and ill-will in my brothers' bosoms against me". "Indeed Allah, my Creator, moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform as He will; He is indeed AL-'Alim and AL-Hakim"

warafaʿa abawayhi ʿalā l-ʿarshi wakharrū lahu sujjadan waqāla yāabati hādhā tawīlu ru'yāya min qablu qad jaʿalahā rabbī ḥaqqan waqad aḥsana bī idh akhrajanī mina l-sij'ni wajāa bikum mina l-badwi min baʿdi an nazagha l-shayṭānu baynī wabayna ikh'watī inna rabbī laṭīfun limā yashāu innahu huwa l-ʿalīmu l-ḥakīm

۞ رَبِّ قَدۡ ءَاتَیۡتَنِی مِنَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ وَعَلَّمۡتَنِی مِن تَأۡوِیلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِیثِۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَنتَ وَلِیِّۦ فِی ٱلدُّنۡیَا وَٱلۡءَاخِرَةِۖ تَوَفَّنِی مُسۡلِمࣰا وَأَلۡحِقۡنِی بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِینَ ۝١٠١

To express his gratitude to Allah, he -Yusuf- came out with an invocatory prayer, thus: "O Allah, my Creator, You have graced me with pre-eminence in respect of power, dominion and authority, and You have imparted to me the knowledge of interpreting visions and what they prefigure of future events; You are the Creator, Who generated the heavens and the earth; You are my Tutelary Guardian here and Hereafter." "Disembody my soul, O Allah, impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues and join me to those whose deeds had been imprinted with wisdom and piety."

rabbi qad ātaytanī mina l-mul'ki waʿallamtanī min tawīli l-aḥādīthi fāṭira l-samāwāti wal-arḍi anta waliyyī fī l-dun'yā wal-ākhirati tawaffanī mus'liman wa-alḥiq'nī bil-ṣāliḥīn

ذَ ٰلِكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَاۤءِ ٱلۡغَیۡبِ نُوحِیهِ إِلَیۡكَۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَیۡهِمۡ إِذۡ أَجۡمَعُوۤا۟ أَمۡرَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ یَمۡكُرُونَ ۝١٠٢

Such narrative as We have inspired to you O Muhammad is an epitome of the chief points of a larger invisible work embracing unseen forces and motives, thoughts and feelings, complications and results not usually seen or perceived by people but win through in the end as Allah has planned. Nor were you O Muhammad in their circles when they ( the brothers, the retinue and the women resolved unanimously to accomplish what they had maliciously schemed

dhālika min anbāi l-ghaybi nūḥīhi ilayka wamā kunta ladayhim idh ajmaʿū amrahum wahum yamkurūn

وَمَاۤ أَكۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِینَ ۝١٠٣

Nor are most people moved by the convincing divine signs and marvels, expositions and illustrations to exercise spiritual apprehension of divine truths nor do they justify faith as a conviction operative on their character and will, even though you Muhammad are full of keen desire to guide them into all truth

wamā aktharu l-nāsi walaw ḥaraṣta bimu'minīn

وَمَا تَسۡءَلُهُمۡ عَلَیۡهِ مِنۡ أَجۡرٍۚ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝١٠٤

In fact you never ask them for a price nor do you strike a bargain with them for advantaging them of divine knowledge and practical divinity cited in the Quran which is but a divine illumination and enlightenment revealed to guide mankind into all truth

wamā tasaluhum ʿalayhi min ajrin in huwa illā dhik'run lil'ʿālamīn

12 Lesson for Prophet's Opponents

وَكَأَیِّن مِّنۡ ءَایَةࣲ فِی ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ یَمُرُّونَ عَلَیۡهَا وَهُمۡ عَنۡهَا مُعۡرِضُونَ ۝١٠٥

Countless are the convincing divine signs in the heavens and the earth but in some way people go by them unwilling to open their minds' eyes

waka-ayyin min āyatin fī l-samāwāti wal-arḍi yamurrūna ʿalayhā wahum ʿanhā muʿ'riḍūn

وَمَا یُؤۡمِنُ أَكۡثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشۡرِكُونَ ۝١٠٦

Nor do most of them recognize Allah without incorporating with Him other deities

wamā yu'minu aktharuhum bil-lahi illā wahum mush'rikūn

أَفَأَمِنُوۤا۟ أَن تَأۡتِیَهُمۡ غَـٰشِیَةࣱ مِّنۡ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡ تَأۡتِیَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغۡتَةࣰ وَهُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُونَ ۝١٠٧

Are they certain in their minds that they are secure against a destructive punishment from the realm of heaven striking them at the root or against their Hereafter which might well be planted unexpectedly and unperceivably in the now

afa-aminū an tatiyahum ghāshiyatun min ʿadhābi l-lahi aw tatiyahumu l-sāʿatu baghtatan wahum lā yashʿurūn

قُلۡ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِیلِیۤ أَدۡعُوۤا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِیرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِیۖ وَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَاۤ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِینَ ۝١٠٨

Say to them -the infidels-: "This is my way of presenting divine inducements to the people, based on clear and comprehensible evidence; inducements which I, in collaboration with those who follow me, use to invite people to the path of Allah; glory to Him, and extolled are His glorious attributes wherefore never do I incorporate with Him other deities"

qul hādhihi sabīlī adʿū ilā l-lahi ʿalā baṣīratin anā wamani ittabaʿanī wasub'ḥāna l-lahi wamā anā mina l-mush'rikīn

وَمَاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالࣰا نُّوحِیۤ إِلَیۡهِم مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡقُرَىٰۤۗ أَفَلَمۡ یَسِیرُوا۟ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَیَنظُرُوا۟ كَیۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلۡءَاخِرَةِ خَیۡرࣱ لِّلَّذِینَ ٱتَّقَوۡا۟ۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ ۝١٠٩

We never sent Messengers before you O Muhammad whom We inspired, but were men chosen from among the town dwellers whose deeds were natural to man. Have these people not journeyed through the land and looked with their minds' eyes to see what was the end of those who preceded them! Indeed the abode in Paradise is infinitely better for those who had entertained the profound reverence dutiful to Allah in life below; can you people not reflect

wamā arsalnā min qablika illā rijālan nūḥī ilayhim min ahli l-qurā afalam yasīrū fī l-arḍi fayanẓurū kayfa kāna ʿāqibatu alladhīna min qablihim waladāru l-ākhirati khayrun lilladhīna ittaqaw afalā taʿqilūn

حَتَّىٰۤ إِذَا ٱسۡتَیۡءَسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوۤا۟ أَنَّهُمۡ قَدۡ كُذِبُوا۟ جَاۤءَهُمۡ نَصۡرُنَا فَنُجِّیَ مَن نَّشَاۤءُۖ وَلَا یُرَدُّ بَأۡسُنَا عَنِ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ ۝١١٠

Our Messengers O Muhammad do face hardships and difficulties, adversities and distresses to the extent that they give up hope of their followers' constancy and begin to think that they take them for impostors. There and then the turning point is reached and Our help comes in good time. We deliver whom We will and punish whom We will and never is Our retributive punishment averted from those who grow daily more and more wicked

ḥattā idhā is'tayasa l-rusulu waẓannū annahum qad kudhibū jāahum naṣrunā fanujjiya man nashāu walā yuraddu basunā ʿani l-qawmi l-muj'rimīn

لَقَدۡ كَانَ فِی قَصَصِهِمۡ عِبۡرَةࣱ لِّأُو۟لِی ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِیثࣰا یُفۡتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصۡدِیقَ ٱلَّذِی بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡهِ وَتَفۡصِیلَ كُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ وَهُدࣰى وَرَحۡمَةࣰ لِّقَوۡمࣲ یُؤۡمِنُونَ ۝١١١

Indeed there has been an example or a great lesson in the narratives of the Messengers; a lesson lessoning those of intellect into abhorrence of impatience and despair and the abuse of divine faculties. Such narratives as have been disclosed by divine means are not a feigned tales, but an integral part of the Quran corroborating and authoritatively validating all the divine Books revealed before it in time and serving as an excellent interpretation expounding all the statutes and ordinances past and present revealed to all human beings exacting obedience from the whole. It is emblematic of the spirit of truth that guides the faithful into all truth and it is a mercy to those who lift to Allah their inward sight

laqad kāna fī qaṣaṣihim ʿib'ratun li-ulī l-albābi mā kāna ḥadīthan yuf'tarā walākin taṣdīqa alladhī bayna yadayhi watafṣīla kulli shayin wahudan waraḥmatan liqawmin yu'minūn

Export 111 verses as:

CSV JSON PDF MD TXT XML BibTeX RIS RSS Excel

← Hud The Thunder →