بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمـٰنِ الرَّحيمِ الر ۚ تِلكَ آياتُ الكِتابِ المُبينِ
Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses of the clear, enlightening Scripture.
إِنّا أَنزَلناهُ قُرآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُم تَعقِلونَ
We revealed it as an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand.
نَحنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيكَ أَحسَنَ القَصَصِ بِما أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ هـٰذَا القُرآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبلِهِ لَمِنَ الغافِلينَ
Through this Quran, we narrate to you the most accurate of stories, although you were previously unaware.
إِذ قالَ يوسُفُ لِأَبيهِ يا أَبَتِ إِنّي رَأَيتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوكَبًا وَالشَّمسَ وَالقَمَرَ رَأَيتُهُم لي ساجِدينَ
Joseph said to his father, “O my father, I saw eleven stars, and the sun, and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me.”
قالَ يا بُنَيَّ لا تَقصُص رُؤياكَ عَلىٰ إِخوَتِكَ فَيَكيدوا لَكَ كَيدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيطانَ لِلإِنسانِ عَدُوٌّ مُبينٌ
He responded, “O my son, don’t disclose your vision to your brothers, lest they conspire against you. For Satan is man’s outright enemy.
وَكَذٰلِكَ يَجتَبيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأويلِ الأَحاديثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعمَتَهُ عَلَيكَ وَعَلىٰ آلِ يَعقوبَ كَما أَتَمَّها عَلىٰ أَبَوَيكَ مِن قَبلُ إِبراهيمَ وَإِسحاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ
Your Lord will choose you, teach you the interpretation of narratives, and complete His favor upon you and upon Jacob’s lineage, as He completed it before upon your forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
لَقَد كانَ في يوسُفَ وَإِخوَتِهِ آياتٌ لِلسّائِلينَ
In the story of Joseph and his brothers, there are signs for those who inquire.
إِذ قالوا لَيوسُفُ وَأَخوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلىٰ أَبينا مِنّا وَنَحنُ عُصبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبانا لَفي ضَلالٍ مُبينٍ
They grumbled, “Our father is more affectionate to Joseph and his brother than to us, despite our greater number. Our father is clearly misguided.”
اقتُلوا يوسُفَ أَوِ اطرَحوهُ أَرضًا يَخلُ لَكُم وَجهُ أَبيكُم وَتَكونوا مِن بَعدِهِ قَومًا صالِحينَ
“Kill Joseph, or throw him out to a distant land, so that your father’s attention will be exclusively yours. After which, you can be people of righteousness.”
قالَ قائِلٌ مِنهُم لا تَقتُلوا يوسُفَ وَأَلقوهُ في غَيابَتِ الجُبِّ يَلتَقِطهُ بَعضُ السَّيّارَةِ إِن كُنتُم فاعِلينَ
One of them suggested, “Don’t kill Joseph, but if you are committed to doing something, throw him into the bottom of a well. Some passing caravan may pick him up.”
قالوا يا أَبانا ما لَكَ لا تَأمَنّا عَلىٰ يوسُفَ وَإِنّا لَهُ لَناصِحونَ
They said, “O our father, why don’t you trust us with Joseph, while we are truly his well-wishers?
أَرسِلهُ مَعَنا غَدًا يَرتَع وَيَلعَب وَإِنّا لَهُ لَحافِظونَ
Let him join us tomorrow for play and fun. We will surely protect him.”
قالَ إِنّي لَيَحزُنُني أَن تَذهَبوا بِهِ وَأَخافُ أَن يَأكُلَهُ الذِّئبُ وَأَنتُم عَنهُ غافِلونَ
He replied, “It saddens me that you should take him away. I fear a wolf might devour him while you’re negligent of him.”
قالوا لَئِن أَكَلَهُ الذِّئبُ وَنَحنُ عُصبَةٌ إِنّا إِذًا لَخاسِرونَ
They replied, “If a wolf were to devour him while we’re a strong group, then we would be truly losers.”
فَلَمّا ذَهَبوا بِهِ وَأَجمَعوا أَن يَجعَلوهُ في غَيابَتِ الجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوحَينا إِلَيهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمرِهِم هـٰذا وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ
So, when they took him and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well, We inspired him: “You will inform them of this deed of theirs when they don’t realize.”
وَجاءوا أَباهُم عِشاءً يَبكونَ
And they came to their father at night, crying.
قالوا يا أَبانا إِنّا ذَهَبنا نَستَبِقُ وَتَرَكنا يوسُفَ عِندَ مَتاعِنا فَأَكَلَهُ الذِّئبُ ۖ وَما أَنتَ بِمُؤمِنٍ لَنا وَلَو كُنّا صادِقينَ
They said, “O our father, we were racing each other and left Joseph with our belongings, and a wolf ate him. But you won’t believe us, even if we are truthful.”
وَجاءوا عَلىٰ قَميصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قالَ بَل سَوَّلَت لَكُم أَنفُسُكُم أَمرًا ۖ فَصَبرٌ جَميلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ المُستَعانُ عَلىٰ ما تَصِفونَ
And they presented his shirt, stained with false blood. He said, “Rather, your souls lured you into something. Yet patience is beautiful. May God’s help be sought against what you claim.”
وَجاءَت سَيّارَةٌ فَأَرسَلوا وارِدَهُم فَأَدلىٰ دَلوَهُ ۖ قالَ يا بُشرىٰ هـٰذا غُلامٌ ۚ وَأَسَرّوهُ بِضاعَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ بِما يَعمَلونَ
A passing caravan arrived, and they sent their water drawer. He lowered his bucket and said, “Oh, good news! Here is a boy!” And they concealed him as merchandise, but God knew well what they did.
وَشَرَوهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخسٍ دَراهِمَ مَعدودَةٍ وَكانوا فيهِ مِنَ الزّاهِدينَ
They sold him for a low price, a few coins, so little did they value him.
وَقالَ الَّذِي اشتَراهُ مِن مِصرَ لِامرَأَتِهِ أَكرِمي مَثواهُ عَسىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنا أَو نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذٰلِكَ مَكَّنّا لِيوسُفَ فِي الأَرضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأويلِ الأَحاديثِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غالِبٌ عَلىٰ أَمرِهِ وَلـٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ
The man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, “Make his stay comfortable; perhaps he can benefit us, or we might adopt him as a son.” And thus, We established Joseph in the land, and We taught him the interpretation of events. God’s command is always executed, but most people don’t know.
وَلَمّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيناهُ حُكمًا وَعِلمًا ۚ وَكَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي المُحسِنينَ
Upon reaching his maturity, We gifted him with wisdom and knowledge. This is how We reward those who do good.
وَراوَدَتهُ الَّتي هُوَ في بَيتِها عَن نَفسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الأَبوابَ وَقالَت هَيتَ لَكَ ۚ قالَ مَعاذَ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ رَبّي أَحسَنَ مَثوايَ ۖ إِنَّهُ لا يُفلِحُ الظّالِمونَ
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, “Come to me!” He responded, “God forbid! He is my master, he treats me well, and the wrongdoers never succeed.”
وَلَقَد هَمَّت بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِها لَولا أَن رَأىٰ بُرهانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ لِنَصرِفَ عَنهُ السّوءَ وَالفَحشاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُخلَصينَ
She desired him, and he desired her had he not seen his Lord’s evidence. Thus, We diverted evil and indecency from him; he was one of Our devoted servants.
وَاستَبَقَا البابَ وَقَدَّت قَميصَهُ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلفَيا سَيِّدَها لَدَى البابِ ۚ قالَت ما جَزاءُ مَن أَرادَ بِأَهلِكَ سوءًا إِلّا أَن يُسجَنَ أَو عَذابٌ أَليمٌ
They raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind. They encountered her husband at the door, to whom she cried, “What’s the penalty for someone who intended harm to your family, if not imprisonment or a severe punishment?”
قالَ هِيَ راوَدَتني عَن نَفسي ۚ وَشَهِدَ شاهِدٌ مِن أَهلِها إِن كانَ قَميصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَت وَهُوَ مِنَ الكاذِبينَ
He said, “It was she who tried to seduce me.” A witness from her family suggested, “If his shirt is torn from the front, then she told the truth, and he is the liar.
وَإِن كانَ قَميصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَت وَهُوَ مِنَ الصّادِقينَ
But if his shirt is torn from the back, she has lied, and he is the truthful one.”
فَلَمّا رَأىٰ قَميصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيدِكُنَّ ۖ إِنَّ كَيدَكُنَّ عَظيمٌ
Seeing his shirt torn from the back, he said, “This is one of your cunning tricks. Your scheming is indeed considerable.”
يوسُفُ أَعرِض عَن هـٰذا ۚ وَاستَغفِري لِذَنبِكِ ۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الخاطِئينَ
“Joseph, overlook this. And you, woman, ask forgiveness for your sin. You are certainly in the wrong.”
وَقالَ نِسوَةٌ فِي المَدينَةِ امرَأَتُ العَزيزِ تُراوِدُ فَتاها عَن نَفسِهِ ۖ قَد شَغَفَها حُبًّا ۖ إِنّا لَنَراها في ضَلالٍ مُبينٍ
Some women in the city said, “The governor’s wife is trying to seduce her servant; she is deeply in love with him. We see her as clearly misguided.”
فَلَمّا سَمِعَت بِمَكرِهِنَّ أَرسَلَت إِلَيهِنَّ وَأَعتَدَت لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَأً وَآتَت كُلَّ واحِدَةٍ مِنهُنَّ سِكّينًا وَقالَتِ اخرُج عَلَيهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمّا رَأَينَهُ أَكبَرنَهُ وَقَطَّعنَ أَيدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلنَ حاشَ لِلَّهِ ما هـٰذا بَشَرًا إِن هـٰذا إِلّا مَلَكٌ كَريمٌ
Upon hearing their whispers, she invited them over, prepared a feast for them, and gave each of them a knife. She then commanded, “Come out before them!” When they saw him, they marveled at him and cut their hands, exclaiming, “God preserve us! This is not a human! This is none other than a noble angel.”
قالَت فَذٰلِكُنَّ الَّذي لُمتُنَّني فيهِ ۖ وَلَقَد راوَدتُهُ عَن نَفسِهِ فَاستَعصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَم يَفعَل ما آمُرُهُ لَيُسجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكونًا مِنَ الصّاغِرينَ
She said, “This is the one for whom you blamed me for. Yes, I tried to seduce him, but he firmly resisted. If he doesn’t do as I command him, he will be imprisoned and will become humiliated.”
قالَ رَبِّ السِّجنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمّا يَدعونَني إِلَيهِ ۖ وَإِلّا تَصرِف عَنّي كَيدَهُنَّ أَصبُ إِلَيهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِنَ الجاهِلينَ
He said, “My Lord, prison is more desirable to me than what they call me to. Unless You divert their plot from me, I might incline toward them and become of the ignorant.”
فَاستَجابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنهُ كَيدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّميعُ العَليمُ
His Lord answered his prayer and averted their scheme from him. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
ثُمَّ بَدا لَهُم مِن بَعدِ ما رَأَوُا الآياتِ لَيَسجُنُنَّهُ حَتّىٰ حينٍ
It seemed good to them, after they had seen the proofs, to imprison him for a time.
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ السِّجنَ فَتَيانِ ۖ قالَ أَحَدُهُما إِنّي أَراني أَعصِرُ خَمرًا ۖ وَقالَ الآخَرُ إِنّي أَراني أَحمِلُ فَوقَ رَأسي خُبزًا تَأكُلُ الطَّيرُ مِنهُ ۖ نَبِّئنا بِتَأويلِهِ ۖ إِنّا نَراكَ مِنَ المُحسِنينَ
Two young men entered the prison with him. One of them said, “I saw myself pressing wine.” The other said, “I saw myself carrying bread on my head, from which birds were eating. Tell us its interpretation, for we see you as a man of virtue.”
قالَ لا يَأتيكُما طَعامٌ تُرزَقانِهِ إِلّا نَبَّأتُكُما بِتَأويلِهِ قَبلَ أَن يَأتِيَكُما ۚ ذٰلِكُما مِمّا عَلَّمَني رَبّي ۚ إِنّي تَرَكتُ مِلَّةَ قَومٍ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم بِالآخِرَةِ هُم كافِرونَ
He replied, “I will inform you of their interpretation before your meal arrives. This is from the knowledge that my Lord has taught me. I have departed from the creed of people who don’t believe in God and deny the Hereafter.
وَاتَّبَعتُ مِلَّةَ آبائي إِبراهيمَ وَإِسحاقَ وَيَعقوبَ ۚ ما كانَ لَنا أَن نُشرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيءٍ ۚ ذٰلِكَ مِن فَضلِ اللَّهِ عَلَينا وَعَلَى النّاسِ وَلـٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَشكُرونَ
“I adhere to the faith of my forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s not for us to associate partners with God. This is from God’s grace upon us and upon humanity, yet most people are not thankful.”
يا صاحِبَيِ السِّجنِ أَأَربابٌ مُتَفَرِّقونَ خَيرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الواحِدُ القَهّارُ
“My fellow inmates, are many different lords better, or God, the One, the Supreme?
ما تَعبُدونَ مِن دونِهِ إِلّا أَسماءً سَمَّيتُموها أَنتُم وَآباؤُكُم ما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِها مِن سُلطانٍ ۚ إِنِ الحُكمُ إِلّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلّا تَعبُدوا إِلّا إِيّاهُ ۚ ذٰلِكَ الدّينُ القَيِّمُ وَلـٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ
You are only worshiping names that you and your fathers have invented, without having any authority from God. The command rests solely with God. He decreed that you worship none but Him. This is the right religion, but most people don’t know.
يا صاحِبَيِ السِّجنِ أَمّا أَحَدُكُما فَيَسقي رَبَّهُ خَمرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا الآخَرُ فَيُصلَبُ فَتَأكُلُ الطَّيرُ مِن رَأسِهِ ۚ قُضِيَ الأَمرُ الَّذي فيهِ تَستَفتِيانِ
O my fellow prisoners, one of you will serve his master wine, while the other will be crucified, and birds will eat from his head. The issue you inquired about has been decided.”
وَقالَ لِلَّذي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ ناجٍ مِنهُمَا اذكُرني عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنساهُ الشَّيطانُ ذِكرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجنِ بِضعَ سِنينَ
He said to the one he thought would be released, “Mention me to your master.” But Satan caused him to forget his lord’s mention, so he remained in prison for some years.
وَقالَ المَلِكُ إِنّي أَرىٰ سَبعَ بَقَراتٍ سِمانٍ يَأكُلُهُنَّ سَبعٌ عِجافٌ وَسَبعَ سُنبُلاتٍ خُضرٍ وَأُخَرَ يابِساتٍ ۖ يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ أَفتوني في رُؤيايَ إِن كُنتُم لِلرُّؤيا تَعبُرونَ
The king said, “I saw seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green spikes of grain and others dry. O nobles, interpret my vision for me, if you can interpret visions.”
قالوا أَضغاثُ أَحلامٍ ۖ وَما نَحنُ بِتَأويلِ الأَحلامِ بِعالِمينَ
They replied, “A jumble of dreams, and we don’t know the interpretation of dreams.”
وَقالَ الَّذي نَجا مِنهُما وَادَّكَرَ بَعدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنا أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأويلِهِ فَأَرسِلونِ
Then the one of the two who was saved, remembered after a period of time, and said, “I will tell you its interpretation, so send me.”
يوسُفُ أَيُّهَا الصِّدّيقُ أَفتِنا في سَبعِ بَقَراتٍ سِمانٍ يَأكُلُهُنَّ سَبعٌ عِجافٌ وَسَبعِ سُنبُلاتٍ خُضرٍ وَأُخَرَ يابِساتٍ لَعَلّي أَرجِعُ إِلَى النّاسِ لَعَلَّهُم يَعلَمونَ
“Joseph, O truthful one, explain to us seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green spikes of grain and others dry, that I may return to the people, so they may know.”
قالَ تَزرَعونَ سَبعَ سِنينَ دَأَبًا فَما حَصَدتُم فَذَروهُ في سُنبُلِهِ إِلّا قَليلًا مِمّا تَأكُلونَ
He said, “You will cultivate for seven consecutive years, and what you harvest, leave it in its spikes, except for a little which you will eat.”
ثُمَّ يَأتي مِن بَعدِ ذٰلِكَ سَبعٌ شِدادٌ يَأكُلنَ ما قَدَّمتُم لَهُنَّ إِلّا قَليلًا مِمّا تُحصِنونَ
“Then will follow seven difficult years which will consume what you saved for them, except for a little of what you have stored.”
ثُمَّ يَأتي مِن بَعدِ ذٰلِكَ عامٌ فيهِ يُغاثُ النّاسُ وَفيهِ يَعصِرونَ
“Then, after that, there will come a year in which the people will receive abundant rain and will press.”
وَقالَ المَلِكُ ائتوني بِهِ ۖ فَلَمّا جاءَهُ الرَّسولُ قالَ ارجِع إِلىٰ رَبِّكَ فَاسأَلهُ ما بالُ النِّسوَةِ اللّاتي قَطَّعنَ أَيدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبّي بِكَيدِهِنَّ عَليمٌ
The king said, “Bring him to me!” And when the messenger came to him, he said, “Return to your master and ask him about the women who cut their hands. My Lord is fully aware of their scheming.”
قالَ ما خَطبُكُنَّ إِذ راوَدتُنَّ يوسُفَ عَن نَفسِهِ ۚ قُلنَ حاشَ لِلَّهِ ما عَلِمنا عَلَيهِ مِن سوءٍ ۚ قالَتِ امرَأَتُ العَزيزِ الآنَ حَصحَصَ الحَقُّ أَنا راوَدتُهُ عَن نَفسِهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصّادِقينَ
Then, when they were asked, “What was your aim when you tried to seduce Joseph, “What was your motive when you tried to seduce Joseph?” They responded, “God forbid! We know of no ill conduct on his part.” The governor’s wife then confessed, “Now the truth has now emerged; it was I who sought to seduce him, and he is truthful.”
ذٰلِكَ لِيَعلَمَ أَنّي لَم أَخُنهُ بِالغَيبِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهدي كَيدَ الخائِنينَ
“This is so he may know that I didn’t betray him in his absence, and that God doesn’t guide the scheming of the betrayers.”
وَما أُبَرِّئُ نَفسي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفسَ لَأَمّارَةٌ بِالسّوءِ إِلّا ما رَحِمَ رَبّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبّي غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ
“I don’t claim innocence for myself. The soul is predisposed to evil, except those my Lord bestows mercy upon. My Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”
وَقالَ المَلِكُ ائتوني بِهِ أَستَخلِصهُ لِنَفسي ۖ فَلَمّا كَلَّمَهُ قالَ إِنَّكَ اليَومَ لَدَينا مَكينٌ أَمينٌ
The king said, “Bring him to me. I will appoint him exclusively for myself.” When he talked to him, he said, “Today, you are with us established and trusted.”
قالَ اجعَلني عَلىٰ خَزائِنِ الأَرضِ ۖ إِنّي حَفيظٌ عَليمٌ
He proposed, “Appoint me over the land’s storehouses; I am a reliable and knowledgeable custodian.”
وَكَذٰلِكَ مَكَّنّا لِيوسُفَ فِي الأَرضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنها حَيثُ يَشاءُ ۚ نُصيبُ بِرَحمَتِنا مَن نَشاءُ ۖ وَلا نُضيعُ أَجرَ المُحسِنينَ
Thus, We established Joseph in the land, granting him the freedom to reside wherever he desired. We bestow Our mercy upon whom We will, and We never let the reward of the righteous be lost.
وَلَأَجرُ الآخِرَةِ خَيرٌ لِلَّذينَ آمَنوا وَكانوا يَتَّقونَ
But, the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and maintain righteousness.
وَجاءَ إِخوَةُ يوسُفَ فَدَخَلوا عَلَيهِ فَعَرَفَهُم وَهُم لَهُ مُنكِرونَ
Joseph’s brothers came, and he recognized them when they arrived, but they didn’t recognize him.
وَلَمّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهازِهِم قالَ ائتوني بِأَخٍ لَكُم مِن أَبيكُم ۚ أَلا تَرَونَ أَنّي أوفِي الكَيلَ وَأَنا خَيرُ المُنزِلينَ
While preparing their supplies, he said, “Bring me your brother from your father’s side. Don’t you see that I give full measure and am the best of hosts?”
فَإِن لَم تَأتوني بِهِ فَلا كَيلَ لَكُم عِندي وَلا تَقرَبونِ
“If you don’t bring him to me, you will receive no supplies from me, and you won’t be permitted near me.”
قالوا سَنُراوِدُ عَنهُ أَباهُ وَإِنّا لَفاعِلونَ
They replied, “We will convince his father to send him with us, and we will surely do it.”
وَقالَ لِفِتيانِهِ اجعَلوا بِضاعَتَهُم في رِحالِهِم لَعَلَّهُم يَعرِفونَها إِذَا انقَلَبوا إِلىٰ أَهلِهِم لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ
He then instructed his servants, “Place their money back into their saddlebags, so they may recognize it when they return to their family, that they might return.”
فَلَمّا رَجَعوا إِلىٰ أَبيهِم قالوا يا أَبانا مُنِعَ مِنَّا الكَيلُ فَأَرسِل مَعَنا أَخانا نَكتَل وَإِنّا لَهُ لَحافِظونَ
Upon their return to their father, they pleaded, “Father, we will be denied further supplies unless you send our brother with us. Indeed, we are his protectors.”
قالَ هَل آمَنُكُم عَلَيهِ إِلّا كَما أَمِنتُكُم عَلىٰ أَخيهِ مِن قَبلُ ۖ فَاللَّهُ خَيرٌ حافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرحَمُ الرّاحِمينَ
He replied, “Shall I entrust him to you, when I had previously entrusted his brother to you? But God is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.”
وَلَمّا فَتَحوا مَتاعَهُم وَجَدوا بِضاعَتَهُم رُدَّت إِلَيهِم ۖ قالوا يا أَبانا ما نَبغي ۖ هـٰذِهِ بِضاعَتُنا رُدَّت إِلَينا ۖ وَنَميرُ أَهلَنا وَنَحفَظُ أَخانا وَنَزدادُ كَيلَ بَعيرٍ ۖ ذٰلِكَ كَيلٌ يَسيرٌ
When they opened their bags, they discovered their money had been restored to them. They exclaimed, “Father, what more could we desire? This is our money, returned to us in full. Now, we can give food to our family, safeguard our brother, and acquire an additional load of provisions. That extra load is easily obtainable for us.”
قالَ لَن أُرسِلَهُ مَعَكُم حَتّىٰ تُؤتونِ مَوثِقًا مِنَ اللَّهِ لَتَأتُنَّني بِهِ إِلّا أَن يُحاطَ بِكُم ۖ فَلَمّا آتَوهُ مَوثِقَهُم قالَ اللَّهُ عَلىٰ ما نَقولُ وَكيلٌ
He responded, “I won’t send him with you, until you swear by God, that you will bring him back to me, unless you become surrounded.” And when they gave him their promise, he said, “God is the overseer of what we say.”
وَقالَ يا بَنِيَّ لا تَدخُلوا مِن بابٍ واحِدٍ وَادخُلوا مِن أَبوابٍ مُتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَما أُغني عَنكُم مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيءٍ ۖ إِنِ الحُكمُ إِلّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيهِ تَوَكَّلتُ ۖ وَعَلَيهِ فَليَتَوَكَّلِ المُتَوَكِّلونَ
He said, “My sons, don’t enter from one gate, but enter from different gates. I cannot avail you against God at all. The decree belongs solely to God. I trust in Him, and upon Him, those who trust should trust.”
وَلَمّا دَخَلوا مِن حَيثُ أَمَرَهُم أَبوهُم ما كانَ يُغني عَنهُم مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيءٍ إِلّا حاجَةً في نَفسِ يَعقوبَ قَضاها ۚ وَإِنَّهُ لَذو عِلمٍ لِما عَلَّمناهُ وَلـٰكِنَّ أَكثَرَ النّاسِ لا يَعلَمونَ
Despite entering as their father had instructed them, it didn’t alter God’s plan. But it was a need in Jacob’s soul. He was endowed with knowledge from what We had taught him, but most people don’t know.
وَلَمّا دَخَلوا عَلىٰ يوسُفَ آوىٰ إِلَيهِ أَخاهُ ۖ قالَ إِنّي أَنا أَخوكَ فَلا تَبتَئِس بِما كانوا يَعمَلونَ
When they presented themselves to Joseph, he drew his brother close to him, and he whispered, “I am your brother, so don’t be disheartened by their behavior.”
فَلَمّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهازِهِم جَعَلَ السِّقايَةَ في رَحلِ أَخيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا العيرُ إِنَّكُم لَسارِقونَ
As he prepared their provisions, he discreetly placed the goblet in his brother’s saddlebag. Then a herald shouted, “O people of the caravan! You are surely thieves!”
قالوا وَأَقبَلوا عَلَيهِم ماذا تَفقِدونَ
Upon being summoned, they were asked, “What have you lost?”
قالوا نَفقِدُ صُواعَ المَلِكِ وَلِمَن جاءَ بِهِ حِملُ بَعيرٍ وَأَنا بِهِ زَعيمٌ
“We lost the king’s goblet,” they replied. “Whoever brings it will receive a camel-load, and I guarantee it.”
قالوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَد عَلِمتُم ما جِئنا لِنُفسِدَ فِي الأَرضِ وَما كُنّا سارِقينَ
They responded, “By God, you surely know that we didn’t come to cause disorder in the land, and we aren’t thieves.”
قالوا فَما جَزاؤُهُ إِن كُنتُم كاذِبينَ
They were further asked, “What should be his penalty if you are proven to be lying?”
قالوا جَزاؤُهُ مَن وُجِدَ في رَحلِهِ فَهُوَ جَزاؤُهُ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي الظّالِمينَ
They replied, “His penalty—if it’s found in his bag—will be that he will become yours. This is how we penalize the wrongdoers.”
فَبَدَأَ بِأَوعِيَتِهِم قَبلَ وِعاءِ أَخيهِ ثُمَّ استَخرَجَها مِن وِعاءِ أَخيهِ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ كِدنا لِيوسُفَ ۖ ما كانَ لِيَأخُذَ أَخاهُ في دينِ المَلِكِ إِلّا أَن يَشاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ نَرفَعُ دَرَجاتٍ مَن نَشاءُ ۗ وَفَوقَ كُلِّ ذي عِلمٍ عَليمٌ
He began with their bags before his brother’s, and eventually, he retrieved it from his brother’s bag. Thus did We devise a plan for Joseph. He couldn’t have detained his brother under the king’s law, unless God had so willed. We raise in ranks whom We will, and above every possessor of knowledge, there is One more knowledgeable.
قالوا إِن يَسرِق فَقَد سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِن قَبلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّها يوسُفُ في نَفسِهِ وَلَم يُبدِها لَهُم ۚ قالَ أَنتُم شَرٌّ مَكانًا ۖ وَاللَّهُ أَعلَمُ بِما تَصِفونَ
They exclaimed, “If he has stolen, a brother of his committed theft before.” But Joseph kept this to himself and didn’t disclose it to them. He said, “You’re in a worse position, and God knows best what you describe.”
قالوا يا أَيُّهَا العَزيزُ إِنَّ لَهُ أَبًا شَيخًا كَبيرًا فَخُذ أَحَدَنا مَكانَهُ ۖ إِنّا نَراكَ مِنَ المُحسِنينَ
They pleaded, “O Noble one, he has an elderly father, so take one of us in his place. We see you as a good-doer.”
قالَ مَعاذَ اللَّهِ أَن نَأخُذَ إِلّا مَن وَجَدنا مَتاعَنا عِندَهُ إِنّا إِذًا لَظالِمونَ
He replied, “God forbid that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property. Otherwise, we would be unjust.”
فَلَمَّا استَيأَسوا مِنهُ خَلَصوا نَجِيًّا ۖ قالَ كَبيرُهُم أَلَم تَعلَموا أَنَّ أَباكُم قَد أَخَذَ عَلَيكُم مَوثِقًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمِن قَبلُ ما فَرَّطتُم في يوسُفَ ۖ فَلَن أَبرَحَ الأَرضَ حَتّىٰ يَأذَنَ لي أَبي أَو يَحكُمَ اللَّهُ لي ۖ وَهُوَ خَيرُ الحاكِمينَ
When they despaired of him, they withdrew to confer privately. Their eldest said, “Don’t you remember that your father received a solemn pledge from you before God, and how you were previously lax towards Joseph? I won’t leave this land until my father permits me, or God decides for me. He is the best of judges.”
ارجِعوا إِلىٰ أَبيكُم فَقولوا يا أَبانا إِنَّ ابنَكَ سَرَقَ وَما شَهِدنا إِلّا بِما عَلِمنا وَما كُنّا لِلغَيبِ حافِظينَ
“Go back to your father, and say, ‘O our father, your son committed theft, and we testify only to what we know, and we couldn’t guard against the unforeseen.’”
وَاسأَلِ القَريَةَ الَّتي كُنّا فيها وَالعيرَ الَّتي أَقبَلنا فيها ۖ وَإِنّا لَصادِقونَ
“Also, ask about the town where we’ve been, the caravan in which we returned; we are being truthful.”
قالَ بَل سَوَّلَت لَكُم أَنفُسُكُم أَمرًا ۖ فَصَبرٌ جَميلٌ ۖ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأتِيَني بِهِم جَميعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ العَليمُ الحَكيمُ
He said, “Rather, your souls lured you to something. Yet, patience is beautiful. Perhaps God will bring them all back to me. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
وَتَوَلّىٰ عَنهُم وَقالَ يا أَسَفىٰ عَلىٰ يوسُفَ وَابيَضَّت عَيناهُ مِنَ الحُزنِ فَهُوَ كَظيمٌ
Then he turned away from them, lamenting, “Oh, my grief for Joseph!” His eyes turned white from grief, and he became depressed.
قالوا تَاللَّهِ تَفتَأُ تَذكُرُ يوسُفَ حَتّىٰ تَكونَ حَرَضًا أَو تَكونَ مِنَ الهالِكينَ
They exclaimed, “By God, you won’t stop remembering Joseph until you ruin your health, or until you pass away.”
قالَ إِنَّما أَشكو بَثّي وَحُزني إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ ما لا تَعلَمونَ
He replied, “I only express my distress and anguish to God, and I know from God what you don’t know.”
يا بَنِيَّ اذهَبوا فَتَحَسَّسوا مِن يوسُفَ وَأَخيهِ وَلا تَيأَسوا مِن رَوحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لا يَيأَسُ مِن رَوحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا القَومُ الكافِرونَ
“O my sons, go and search for Joseph and his brother, and never despair of God’s mercy. None despairs of God’s mercy except the disbelieving people.”
فَلَمّا دَخَلوا عَلَيهِ قالوا يا أَيُّهَا العَزيزُ مَسَّنا وَأَهلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئنا بِبِضاعَةٍ مُزجاةٍ فَأَوفِ لَنَا الكَيلَ وَتَصَدَّق عَلَينا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجزِي المُتَصَدِّقينَ
Upon entering his presence, they pleaded, “Your Excellency, adversity has touched us and our family, and we brought only a paltry sum. Please, give us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, God rewards the charitable.”
قالَ هَل عَلِمتُم ما فَعَلتُم بِيوسُفَ وَأَخيهِ إِذ أَنتُم جاهِلونَ
He asked, “Do you remember what you did with Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?”
قالوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يوسُفُ ۖ قالَ أَنا يوسُفُ وَهـٰذا أَخي ۖ قَد مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَينا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصبِر فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُضيعُ أَجرَ المُحسِنينَ
They exclaimed, “Could you possibly be Joseph?” He confirmed, “I am Joseph, and this is my brother. God has indeed been gracious to us. Whoever is righteous and patient—God never wastes the reward of the good-doers.”
قالوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَد آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَينا وَإِن كُنّا لَخاطِئينَ
They admitted, “By God, truly God has preferred you over us, and we were indeed at fault.”
قالَ لا تَثريبَ عَلَيكُمُ اليَومَ ۖ يَغفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُم ۖ وَهُوَ أَرحَمُ الرّاحِمينَ
He responded, “There will be no blame on you today. May God forgive you, for He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
اذهَبوا بِقَميصي هـٰذا فَأَلقوهُ عَلىٰ وَجهِ أَبي يَأتِ بَصيرًا وَأتوني بِأَهلِكُم أَجمَعينَ
“Take my shirt, and lay it over my father’s face, and he will regain his sight. And bring your entire family to me.”
وَلَمّا فَصَلَتِ العيرُ قالَ أَبوهُم إِنّي لَأَجِدُ ريحَ يوسُفَ ۖ لَولا أَن تُفَنِّدونِ
As the caravan departed, their father said, “I can sense the scent of Joseph, even though you think I’m senile.”
قالوا تَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفي ضَلالِكَ القَديمِ
They replied, “By God, you are still in your old delusions.”
فَلَمّا أَن جاءَ البَشيرُ أَلقاهُ عَلىٰ وَجهِهِ فَارتَدَّ بَصيرًا ۖ قالَ أَلَم أَقُل لَكُم إِنّي أَعلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ ما لا تَعلَمونَ
When the bearer of good news arrived, he placed it on his face, and he regained his sight. He said, “Didn’t I tell you that I know from God what you don’t know?”
قالوا يا أَبانَا استَغفِر لَنا ذُنوبَنا إِنّا كُنّا خاطِئينَ
They pleaded, “O our father, seek forgiveness for our transgressions; we were indeed in the wrong.”
قالَ سَوفَ أَستَغفِرُ لَكُم رَبّي ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفورُ الرَّحيمُ
He replied, “I will seek your forgiveness from my Lord. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
فَلَمّا دَخَلوا عَلىٰ يوسُفَ آوىٰ إِلَيهِ أَبَوَيهِ وَقالَ ادخُلوا مِصرَ إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنينَ
When they entered Joseph’s presence, he embraced his parents and said, “Enter Egypt, God willing, in peace and safety.”
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيهِ عَلَى العَرشِ وَخَرّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقالَ يا أَبَتِ هـٰذا تَأويلُ رُؤيايَ مِن قَبلُ قَد جَعَلَها رَبّي حَقًّا ۖ وَقَد أَحسَنَ بي إِذ أَخرَجَني مِنَ السِّجنِ وَجاءَ بِكُم مِنَ البَدوِ مِن بَعدِ أَن نَزَغَ الشَّيطانُ بَيني وَبَينَ إِخوَتي ۚ إِنَّ رَبّي لَطيفٌ لِما يَشاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ العَليمُ الحَكيمُ
He then elevated his parents upon the throne, and they fell down in prostration to him. He said, “O my father, this fulfills my previous vision; my Lord made it come true. He has been good to me, releasing me from prison and bringing you from the desert after Satan had stirred up strife between me and my brothers. My Lord is Most Kind to whom He wills. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
رَبِّ قَد آتَيتَني مِنَ المُلكِ وَعَلَّمتَني مِن تَأويلِ الأَحاديثِ ۚ فاطِرَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ أَنتَ وَلِيّي فِي الدُّنيا وَالآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّني مُسلِمًا وَأَلحِقني بِالصّالِحينَ
“My Lord, You’ve granted me some authority and taught me some interpretation of events—the Originator of the heavens and the earth. You’re my Protector in this world and the Hereafter. Receive my soul in submission, and unite me with the righteous.”
ذٰلِكَ مِن أَنباءِ الغَيبِ نوحيهِ إِلَيكَ ۖ وَما كُنتَ لَدَيهِم إِذ أَجمَعوا أَمرَهُم وَهُم يَمكُرونَ
These are some of the narratives that We reveal to you. You weren’t present with them when they conspired and agreed on their plan.
وَما أَكثَرُ النّاسِ وَلَو حَرَصتَ بِمُؤمِنينَ
Despite your eagerness, most people aren’t believers.
وَما تَسأَلُهُم عَلَيهِ مِن أَجرٍ ۚ إِن هُوَ إِلّا ذِكرٌ لِلعالَمينَ
You ask for no compensation for it. It is merely a reminder to all of humanity.
وَكَأَيِّن مِن آيَةٍ فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ يَمُرّونَ عَلَيها وَهُم عَنها مُعرِضونَ
How many signs in the heavens and on earth do they pass by, yet they turn away from them?
وَما يُؤمِنُ أَكثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلّا وَهُم مُشرِكونَ
Most of them don’t believe in God without associating others with Him.
أَفَأَمِنوا أَن تَأتِيَهُم غاشِيَةٌ مِن عَذابِ اللَّهِ أَو تَأتِيَهُمُ السّاعَةُ بَغتَةً وَهُم لا يَشعُرونَ
Are they confident that an encompassing calamity from God won’t come upon them, or that the Hour won’t come upon them suddenly while they don’t realize?
قُل هـٰذِهِ سَبيلي أَدعو إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ عَلىٰ بَصيرَةٍ أَنا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَني ۖ وَسُبحانَ اللَّهِ وَما أَنا مِنَ المُشرِكينَ
Say, “This is my way: I call to God with insight—I and those who follow me. Praise be to God, and I am not among the polytheists.”
وَما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ إِلّا رِجالًا نوحي إِلَيهِم مِن أَهلِ القُرىٰ ۗ أَفَلَم يَسيروا فِي الأَرضِ فَيَنظُروا كَيفَ كانَ عاقِبَةُ الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِهِم ۗ وَلَدارُ الآخِرَةِ خَيرٌ لِلَّذينَ اتَّقَوا ۗ أَفَلا تَعقِلونَ
We sent none before you, except men whom We inspired, chosen from among the people of the towns. Didn’t they travel through the earth and observe the aftermath of those who preceded them? The home of the Hereafter is better for the righteous. Will you not, then, use reason?
حَتّىٰ إِذَا استَيأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم قَد كُذِبوا جاءَهُم نَصرُنا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَشاءُ ۖ وَلا يُرَدُّ بَأسُنا عَنِ القَومِ المُجرِمينَ
When the messengers despaired, and thought that they were denied, Our help came to them. We save whom We will, and Our wrath can’t be repelled from the criminal people.
لَقَد كانَ في قَصَصِهِم عِبرَةٌ لِأُولِي الأَلبابِ ۗ ما كانَ حَديثًا يُفتَرىٰ وَلـٰكِن تَصديقَ الَّذي بَينَ يَدَيهِ وَتَفصيلَ كُلِّ شَيءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحمَةً لِقَومٍ يُؤمِنونَ
In their stories, there are lessons for those of understanding. It is not an invented tale, but a confirmation of what preceded it, a detailed explanation of everything, and guidance and mercy for those who believe.