يوسف

Introduction to the Story of Joseph 1–3

Ayah 1

Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the clear Book.

Ayah 2

Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’ān that you might understand.

Ayah 3

We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’ān although you were, before it, among the unaware.

Joseph's Dream 4–6

Ayah 4

[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."

Ayah 5

He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

Ayah 6

And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives [i.e., events or dreams] and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise."

The Brothers' Jealousy 7–10

Ayah 7

Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, [such as]

Ayah 8

When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.

Ayah 9

Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance [i.e., attention] of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people."

Ayah 10

Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."

The Brothers Persuade Jacob 11–14

Ayah 11

They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors?

Ayah 12

Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians."

Ayah 13

[Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware."

Ayah 14

They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."

Joseph Thrown in the Well 15–18

Ayah 15

So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well... But We inspired to him, "You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity]."

Ayah 16

And they came to their father at night, weeping.

Ayah 17

They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."

Ayah 18

And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allāh is the one sought for help against that which you describe."

Joseph Sold into Egypt 19–22

Ayah 19

And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him, [taking him] as merchandise; and Allāh was Knowing of what they did.

Ayah 20

And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

Ayah 21

And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

Ayah 22

And when he [i.e., Joseph] reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.

Joseph and the Minister's Wife 23–24

Ayah 23

And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."

Ayah 24

And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof [i.e., sign] of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.

The Evidence of the Torn Shirt 25–29

Ayah 25

And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"

Ayah 26

[Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." And a witness from her family testified, "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars.

Ayah 27

But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."

Ayah 28

So when he [i.e., her husband] saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of your [i.e., women's] plan. Indeed, your plan is great [i.e., vehement].

Ayah 29

Joseph, ignore this. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you were of the sinful."

The Banquet of the City Women 30–32

Ayah 30

And women in the city said, "The wife of al-ʿAzeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."

Ayah 31

So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allāh! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."

Ayah 32

She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased."

Joseph Chooses Prison 33–35

Ayah 33

He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."

Ayah 34

So his Lord responded to him and averted from him their plan. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Ayah 35

Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] should surely imprison him for a time.

Two Prisoners' Dreams 36–38

Ayah 36

And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."

Ayah 37

He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.

Ayah 38

And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with Allāh. That is from the favor of Allāh upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.

Joseph Preaches Monotheism in Prison 39–40

Ayah 39

O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allāh, the One, the Prevailing?

Ayah 40

You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

Joseph Forgotten in Prison 41–42

Ayah 41

O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."

Ayah 42

And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and he [i.e., Joseph] remained in prison several years.

The King's Dream 43–45

Ayah 43

And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."

Ayah 44

They said, "[It is but] a mixture of false dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."

Ayah 45

But the one who was freed and remembered after a time said, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth."

Joseph Interprets the King's Dream 46–49

Ayah 46

[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."

Ayah 47

[Joseph] said, "You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.

Ayah 48

Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you advanced [i.e., saved] for them, except a little from which you will store.

Ayah 49

Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes]."

Joseph's Innocence Proven 50–53

Ayah 50

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."

Ayah 51

Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allāh! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-ʿAzeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.

Ayah 52

That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.

Ayah 53

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

Joseph Over Egypt's Storehouses 54–57

Ayah 54

And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you are today established [in position] and trusted."

Ayah 55

[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."

Ayah 56

And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.

Ayah 57

And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allāh.

The Brothers Come to Egypt 58–62

Ayah 58

And the brothers of Joseph came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown.

Ayah 59

And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of accommodators?

Ayah 60

But if you do not bring him to me, no measure will there be [hereafter] for you from me, nor will you approach me."

Ayah 61

They said, "We will attempt to dissuade his father from [keeping] him, and indeed, we will do [it]."

Ayah 62

And [Joseph] said to his servants, "Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return."

Jacob Sends Benjamin 63–66

Ayah 63

So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."

Ayah 64

He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allāh is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."

Ayah 65

And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."

Ayah 66

[Jacob] said, "Never will I send him with you until you give me a promise [i.e., oath] by Allāh that you will bring him [back] to me, unless you should be surrounded [i.e., overcome by enemies]." And when they had given their promise, he said, "Allāh, over what we say, is Entrusted."

Jacob's Advice and Allah's Decree 67–68

Ayah 67

And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] Allāh at all. The decision is only for Allāh; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who would rely [indeed] rely."

Ayah 68

And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allāh at all except [it was] a need [i.e., concern] within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.

Joseph's Plan to Keep Benjamin 69–72

Ayah 69

And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]."

Ayah 70

So when he had furnished them with their supplies, he put the [gold measuring] bowl into the bag of his brother. Then an announcer called out, "O caravan, indeed you are thieves."

Ayah 71

They said while approaching them, "What is it you are missing?"

Ayah 72

They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."

The Search of the Brothers' Bags 73–76

Ayah 73

They said, "By Allāh, you have certainly known that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, and we have not been thieves."

Ayah 74

They [the accusers] said, "Then what would be its recompense if you should be liars?"

Ayah 75

[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."

Ayah 76