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.”

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.