<Sorah
Yusuf>
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful.
4.Behold Yusuf said to his
father: “O father! I did seen eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them
prostrate themselves to me!” 5. Said (the father ): “My (dear) little son!
Relate not thy vision to thy brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee:
for Satan is to man an avowed enemy! 6.:Thus will thy Lord choose thee and
teach thee the interpretation of stories (and events) and perfect His favor to
thee and 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 Yusuf 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 mid)! 9. “Slay ye Yusuf 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!“ 10. Said one
of them: “Slay not Yusuf, but if ye must do something, throw him down to the
bottom of the well: he will be picked up by some caravan of travelers, “ 11. They said: “O our father! Why dost thou
not trust us with Yusuf seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers? 12.
“Send him with us to-morrow to enjoy himself and play. And we shall take every
care of him.” 13. (Jacob) said: “Really it saddens me that ye should take him
away : I fear lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him,” 14.
They said: “If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party,
then should we indeed (first) have perished ourselves!” 15. So they did take
him away, and they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well : and
We pt 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: “O our gather! We went racing
with one another, and left Yusuf 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 tail (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 travelers: they sent their water-carrier (for water),
and he let down his bucket (in to the well)…. He said: “Ah there! Good news!
Here is a (fine) young man! “so they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah
know well all that they do! 20. The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price,-
for a few darhams 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: may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son.
“Thus did We establish Yusuf 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. 22. When Yusuf attained
his full manhood. We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who
do right. 23. But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his
(true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: “Now come, thou (dear one)! “He
said: “Allah forbid! Truly (thy husband) is my lord! He made my sojourn agreeable!
Truly to no food come those who do wrong!” 24. And (with passion) did she
desire him, and he would have desired her, but that he saw the evidence of his
Lord: thus (did We order) that We might turn away from him (all) evil and
shameful deeds: for he was one of Our servants. Sincere and purified. 25. So
they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back:
they both found her lord near the door, She said: “what is the (fitting)
punishment for one who formed an evil design against thy wife, but prison or a
grievous chastisement?” 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 from the front, then is her tale true,
and he is a liar! 27. “But if it be that his shirt torn from the back, then is
she the liar, and he is telling the truth!” 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! 29.”O Yusuf, pass this over! (O wife), ask
forgiveness for thy sin, for truly thou hast been at fault!” 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 she 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 Yusuf), “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 moral is this! This is none other than a
Nobile 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 of 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 mu youthful
folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant” . 34.So
his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their
snare: verily He heareth 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 my self (in a dream) pressing wine,” Said the other: “ I see myself (in a
dream) carrying bread on my head and birds are eating therof,” “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 befall
you : that is part of the (Duty) which my Lord hath taught me. I have (I assure
you) abandoned the ways 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 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 the One Allah, 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 down 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, “…42.And of the two to that one whom he considered about to be
saved, he said: “Mention me to they lord.” But Satan made him forget to mention
him to his lord: and (Yusuf) Lingered in prison a few (more) years, 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.”
44.They said: “A confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the
interpretation of dreams,” 45.But the man who had been released, one of the two
(who had been in prison) and who now bethought him after (so long) a space of
time, said: “I will Tell you the truth of its interpretation: send ye me (there
for)” 46. “O Yusuf!” (he said) “O man of
truth! Expound to us (the dream) of seven tat kine whom seven lean ones devour,
and of seven green ears of corn and (seven ) other ears withered: that I may
return to the people, and that they may understand,” 47. (Yusuf) said: “For
seven years shall ye diligently sow as is you wont: and the harvests that ye
reap, ye shall leave them in the ear, -except a little, of which ye shall eat,
48. “Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will
devour what ye shall have laid by in and Vance for them, (all) except a little
which ye shall have (specially) guarded. 49. “Then will come after that
(period) a year in which the people will have abundant water. And in which they
will press (wine and oil). “ 50.So the king said: “Bring ye him unto me, “But
when the messenger came to him, (Yusuf) 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.’ 51. (The King) said (to the ladies):
“What was your affair when ye did seek to seduce Yusuf from his (true) self?”
the ladies said: “Allah preserve us! No evil know we against him! “Said the
Aziz’s wife: “Now is the truth manifest (to all): it was I who sought to seduce
him from his (true) self: he is indeed of those who are (ever) true (and virtuous).
52. “This (say I), in order that he may
know that! 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 is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,” 54. So the king said: “Bring him unto me: I will
take him specially to serve about my won 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. (Yusuf) said” “Set me
over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them , as one that knows
(their importance),” 56. Thus did we give established power to Yusuf in the
land, to take possession therein as, when , or where he pleased. We bestow of
Our mercy on whom We Please and We Suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those
who do good. 57. But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those
who believe, and are constant in right-cousness. 58.Then came Yusuf’s brethren:
they entered his presence, and he knew them, but they knew him not. 59. And
when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he said:
“Bring unto me a brother ye have, of the same father as yourselves, (but a
different mother): see ye not that I pay out full measure, and that I do
provide the best hospitality? 60. “Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have
no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall 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 (Yusuf) told his
servants to put their stock-in-trade (with which they had bartered) into their
saddle-begs, so they should know it only when they returned to their people, in
order that they might come back, 63. Now when they returned to their father
they said: “O our father! No more measure of grain shall we get (unless we take
out our brother): so send our brother with us, that we may get our measure: and
we will indeed take every care of him.” 64.He said: “Shall I trust you with him
with any result other than when I trusted you with his brother aforetime? But
Allah is the best to take care (of him) and He is the Most Merciful of those
who show mercy!” 56. 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 gats. Not that I can profit you aught against Allah (with
my advice): none cam command except Allah: on Him do I put my trust: and let
all that trust put their trust in 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 not. 69. Now when they came into Yusuf’s presence, he received his
(full) brother to stay with him, He said (to him): “Behold! I am thy (own)
brother: so grieve not at aught of their doings.” 70.At length when he had
furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he put the drinking
cup into his brothers saddle-bag. Then shouted out a Crier: “ O ye (in) the
Carvan! Behold! Ye are thieves, without doubt!” 71. They said, turning towards
them: “What is it that ye miss?’ 72. They said: “We moss the great beaker of
the king: for him who produces it, is (the reward of) a camel load: I will be
bound by it. 73. (The brothers) said: “By Allah! Well ye know that we came not
to make mischief in the land and we are no thieves!” 74. “(The Egyptians) said:
“What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?” 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
wrong-doers!” 76. So he began (the 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 Yusuf, 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, 77.They said: “if he
steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him), “But these
things did Yusuf keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them.
He (simply)said (to himself): “Ye are the worse situated; and Allah knoweth
best the truth of what ye assert!” 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.” 79. He said: “Allah
forbid that we take other than him with whom we found our property: indeed (if we
did so) , we should be acting wrongfully. 80.Now when they saw no hope of his
(yielding) , The leader among them said: “Know ye not that your father did take
an oath from you in Allah’s name, and how, before this, ye did fail in your
duty with Yusuf? Therefore will I not leave this land until my father permits
me, or Allah commands me: and He is the best to command. 81.”Turn ye back to
your father and say, “O our father! We bear witness only to what we know and we
could not well guard against the unseen! 82. “Ask at the town where we have
been and the carvan in which we retuned and (you will find) we are indeed telling
the truth.” 83.Jacob said: “Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good
enough) for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring
them (beck) all to me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and
wisdom.” 84. And he turned away from them, and said: “How great is my grief for
Yusuf!” and this eyes became white with sorrow, and he fell into silent
melancholy. 85. They said: “By Allah! (Never) wilt thou cease to remember Yusuf
until thou 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…..87. “O my sons! Go ye and enquire about Yusuf
and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s soothing Mercy: truly no one
despairs of Allah’s soothing Mercy. Except those who have no faith.” 88. Then,
when they came (back) into (Yusuf) 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 the), and treat it as charity to us: for Allah doth
reward the charitable,” 89. He said: “Know Ye how ye dealt with Yusuf and his
brother, not knowing (what ye were doing)?” 90.They said : “Art thou indeed
Yusuf?” he said “I am Yusuf, 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!” 92. He said: “This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: Allah
will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy! 93. “Go
with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will come to see
(clearly). Then come ye (here) to me together with all your family,” 94. When
the Caravan left (Egypt), their father said: “I do indeed scent the presence of
Yusuf: nay, think me not a dotard.” 95. They said: “by Allah! Truly thou art in
thin old wandering mind.” 96. Then when the bearer of the food news came, he
cast (the shirt) over his face, and he forth with regained clear sight. He
said: “Did I not say to you, ‘I know
from Allah that which ye know not?” 97.They
said: “O our father! Ask for us forgiveness for our sins, for we were truly at
fault.” 98. He said: “Soon will I ask my Lord for forgiveness for you: for He
is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” 99.Then when they entered the presence
of Yusuf, he provided a home for his parent with himself, and said: “Enter ye
Egypt (all) in safety if it place Allah.” 100. And he raised his parents high
on the throne (of dignity), and they fell down in prostration, (all) before
him. He said: “O my father! This is the fulfillment of my vision of old! Allah
hath made it come true! He was indeed good to me when He took me out of prison
and brought you (all here) out of the desert, (even) after Satan had sown
enmity between me and my brothers, Verily lmy Lord understandeth best the mysteries of all that He planneth to
do. For verily He is full of knowledge and wisdom. 101. “O my Lord! Thou hast
indeed bestowed on my some p0wer, and taught me some thing 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 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 happen 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.
