More Books by The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr)

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Surah 112
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The Qur'an (Yusuf Ali tr) : Surah 12
Surah 12
Yusuf (Joseph)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. Alif Lam Ra. These are the Symbols (or Verses) of the Perspicuous Book.


3. We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Quran: before this, thou too wast among those who knew it not.



6. "Thus will thy Lord choose thee and teach thee the interpretation of stories (and events) and perfect His favor to thee and to the posterity of Jacob--even as He perfected it to thy fathers Abraham and Isaac aforetime! For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom."

7. Verily in Joseph and his brethren are Signs (or Symbols) for Seekers (after Truth).

8. They said: "Truly Joseph and his brother are loved more by our father than we: but we are a goodly body! Really our father is obviously wandering (in his mind)!

9. "Slay ye Joseph or cast him out to some (unknown) land, that so the favor of your father may be given to you alone: (There will be time enough) for you to be righteous after that!"


11. They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph--seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers?




15. So they did take him away, and they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well: and We put into his heart (this Message): "Of a surety thou shalt (one day) tell them the truth of this their affair while they know (thee) not."

16. Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping.

17. They said: "Oh our father! we went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things: and the wolf devoured him... But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth."

18. They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you. (For me) patience is most fitting: against that which ye assert, it is Allah (alone) whose help can be sought"...

19. Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)... He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man! So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth well all that they do!

20. The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price--for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!

21. The man in Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honorable: maybe he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did we establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of stories (and events). And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.





26. He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me--from my (true) self." And one of her household saw (this) and bore witness, (thus)--"If it be that his shirt is rent form the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar!


28. So when he saw his shirt--that it was torn at the back--(her husband) said: "Behold! it is a snare of you women! Truly, mighty is your snare!


30. Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) 'Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave from his (true) self: truly hath he inspired her with violent love: we see she is evidently going astray."

31. When (Zulaikha) heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them: she gave each of them a knife; and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them. When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their hands: they said "Allah preserve us! no mortal is this! This is none other than a noble angel!"

32. She said: "There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did seek to seduce him from his (true) self but he did firmly save himself guiltless! And now, if he doth not my bidding, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and (what is more) be in the company of the vilest!"

33. He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: unless thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."

34. So his Lord heard him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: verily He heareth and knoweth (all things).

35. Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the Signs, (that it was best) to imprison him for a time.

36. Now with him there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: "I see myself (in a dream) pressing wine." Said the other: "I see myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head, and birds are eating thereof." "Tell us" (they said) "the truth and meaning thereof: for we see thou art one that doth good (to all)."

37. He said: "Before any food comes (in due course) to feed either of you, I will surely reveal to you the truth and meaning of this ere it come to pass: that is part of the (Duty) which my Lord hath taught me. I have (I assure you) abandoned the ways of a people that believe not in Allah and that (even) deny the Hereafter.

38. "And I follow the ways of my fathers--Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah: that (comes) of the grace of Allah to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful.

39. "O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are many lords differing among themselves better, or Allah, the One, Supreme and Irresistible?

40. "If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named--ye and your fathers--for which Allah hath sent you no authority: the Command is for none but Allah: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not...

41. "O my two companions of the prison! as to one of you, he will pour out the wine for his lord to drink: as for the other, he will hang from the cross, and the birds will eat from off his head. (So) hath been decreed that matter whereof ye twain do enquire..."


43. The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom seven lean ones devour--and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions."



46. "O Joseph!" (he said), "O man of truth! expound to us (the dream) of seven fat kine whom seven lean ones devour, and of seven green ears of corn and (seven) others withered: that I may return to the people, and that they may understand."




50. So the king said: "Bring ye him unto me." But when the messenger came to him, (Joseph) said: "Go thou back to thy lord, and ask him, 'What is the state of mind of the ladies who cut their hands?' for my Lord is certainly well aware of their snare."


52. "This (say I), in order that he may know that I have never been false to him in his absence, and that Allah will never guide the snare of the false ones.

53. "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human soul) is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely certainly my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

54. So the king said: "Bring him unto me; I will take him specially to serve about my own person." Therefore when he had spoken to him, he said: "Be assured this day, thou art, before our own Presence, with rank firmly established and fidelity fully proved!"

55. (Joseph) said: "Set me over the storehouses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance)."




59. And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for


60. "Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall be ye (even) come near me."

61. They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his father: indeed we shall do it."

62. And (Joseph) told his servants to put their stock in trade (with which they had bartered) into their saddlebags, so they should know it only when they returned to their people, in order that they might come


63. Now when they returned to their father, they said: "O our father! no more measure of grain shall we get (unless we take our brother): so send our brother with us, that we may get our measure; and we will indeed take every care of him."


65. Then when they opened their baggage, they found their stock in trade had been returned to them. They said: "O our father! what (more) can we desire? This our stock in trade has been returned to us: so we shall get (more) food for our family; we shall take care of our brother; and add (at the same time) a full camel's load (of grain to our provisions): this is but a small quantity."

66. (Jacob) said: "Never will I send him with you until ye swear a solemn oath to me, in Allah's name, that ye will be sure to bring him back to me unless ye are yourselves hemmed in (and made powerless)." And when they had sworn their solemn oath, he said: "Over all that we say, be Allah the Witness and Guardian!"

67. Further he said; "O my sons! enter not all by one gate: enter ye by different gates. Not that I can profit you aught against Allah (with my advice): none can command except Allah: on Him do I put my trust and let all that trust put their trust on Him."

68. And when they entered in the manner their father had enjoined, it did not profit them in the least against (the Plan of) Allah: it was but a necessity of Jacob's soul, which he discharged. For he was, by Our instruction, full of knowledge (and experience): but most men know



70. At length when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he put the drinking cup into his brother's saddlebag. Then shouted out a Crier: "O ye (in) the Caravan! Behold! ye are thieves, without doubt!"

71. They said, turning towards them: "What is it that ye miss?"




75. They said: "The penalty should be that he in whose saddle bag it is found, should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime). Thus it is we punish the wrongdoers!"

76. So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother: at length He brought it out of his brother's baggage. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the king except that Allah willed it (so). We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.


78. They said: "O exalted one! Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable, (who will grieve for him): so take one of us in his place: for we see that thou art (gracious) in doing good."



81. "Turn ye back to your father, and say, 'O our father! Behold! thy son committed theft: we bear witness only to what we know, and we could not well guard against the unseen!


83. Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good enough) for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe Allah will bring them (back) all to me (in the end): for He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom."


85. They said: "By Allah! (never) wilt thou cease to remember Joseph until though reach the last extremity of illness, or until thou die!"

86. He said: "I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah and I know from Allah that which ye know not...


88. Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph's) presence they said: "O exalted one! distress has seized us and our family; we have (now) brought but scanty capital: So pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to us: for Allah doth reward the charitable."

89. He said: "Know ye how ye dealt with Joseph, and his brother, not knowing (what ye were doing)?"

90. They said: "Art thou indeed, Joseph?" He said: "I am Joseph, and this is my brother: Allah has indeed been gracious to us (all): behold, he that is righteous and patient--never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right."

91. They said: "By Allah! indeed has Allah preferred thee above us, and we certainly have been guilty of sin!"




95. They said: "By Allah! truly thou art in thine old wandering mind."

96. Then when the bearer of the good news came, he cast (the shirt) over his face, and he forthwith regained clear sight. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'Know from Allah that which ye know not?'"


98. He said: "Soon will I ask my Lord for forgiveness for you: for He is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Merciful."



101. "O my Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on me some power, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams and events, O Thou Creator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter, take thou my soul (at death) as one submitting to Thy Will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous."

102. Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee: nor wast thou (present) with them when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.

103. Yet no faith will the greater part of mankind have, however ardently thou dost desire it.

104. And no reward dost thou ask of them for this: it is no less than a Message for all creatures.


106. And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (others as partners) with Him!

107. Do they then feel secure from the coming against them of the covering veil of the wrath of Allah--or of the coming against them of the (final) Hour all of a sudden while they perceive not?

108. Say thou: "This my way: I do invite unto Allah--on evidence clear as the seeing with one's eyes--I and whoever follows me: Glory to Allah! and never will I join gods with Allah!"

109. Nor did We send before thee (as Messengers) any but men, whom We did inspire--(men) living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? But the home of the Hereafter is best, for those who do right. Will ye not then understand?

110. (Respite will be granted) until, when the apostles give up hope (of their people) and (come to) think that they were treated as liars, there reaches them Our help. And those whom We will are delivered into safety. But never will be warded off Our punishment from those who are in sin.

111. There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it--a detailed exposition of all things, and a Guide and a Mercy to any such as believe.
