Yusuf

And from his own narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said in the explanation of the saying of Allah, Exalted is He, (Alif. Lam. Ra.): '(Alif. Lam. Ra.) Allah says: I am Allah, I see what you do and what you say. That which Muhammad (pbuh) recites unto you is My speech; it is also said that (Alif. Lam. Ra.) is an oath that Allah swore by. (These are verses of the Scripture that maketh plain) this surah, or verses of the Qur'an, expounds the lawful and unlawful, the commands and prohibitions.

(Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic) He says: We have sent down Gabriel with the Qur'an to Muhammad in accordance with the usage of the Arabic language, (that ye may understand) that which you were commanded to do and that in which you were prohibited from engaging.

(We narrate unto thee (Muhammad)) We clarify to you (the best of narratives) the best story of the news of Joseph and his brothers (in that We have inspired in you) with which We inspired through Gabriel (this Qur'an) in this Qur'an, (though aforetime) before Gabriel brought down the Qur'an to you (thou wast of the heedless) in relation to the event of Joseph and his brothers.

(When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream) that I dreamt during the day (eleven planets) they came down from their orbits and prostrated themselves before me, a prostration of greeting-these are his brothers who were eleven in number-(and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me) he says: and I saw the sun and the moon coming down from their orbits and prostrated themselves before me, a prostration of greeting-these are his parents: Rachel and Jacob.

(He said) Jacob confided to Joseph, saying: (O my dear son!) if you see any other dream in the future (Tell not) do not inform (thy brethren of your vision, lest they plot a plot against thee) that may lead to your peril. (Lo! Satan is for man) for the children of Adam (an open foe) with manifest enmity, and he drives them to resentful envy.

(Thus thy Lord will prefer thee) select you to be a prophet (and will teach thee the interpretation of events) the interpretation of dreams, (and will perfect his grace upon thee) by means of prophethood and Islam and will make you die as a prophet and one completely surrendered to Allah (and upon the family of Jacob) through you, i.e. He will perfect His grace on the children of Jacob through you (as he perfected it) as He perfected His grace by means of prophethood and Islam (upon thy forefathers) before you, (Abraham and Isaac. Lo! thy Lord is Knower) of His grace, (Wise) in that He perfects it; it is also said that this means: your Lord is Knower of your dream vision, Wise regarding that which will befall you.

(Verily in Joseph) in the narrative of Joseph (and his brethren are signs (of Allah's Sovereignty)) lessons (for the inquiring) about his story. This verse was revealed about a Jewish rabbi.

(When they said) i.e. when the brothers of Joseph said to one another: (Verily Joseph and his brother) Benjamin (are dearer to our father) are more preferred by our father (than we are, many though we be) though we are ten in number. (Lo! our father is in plain aberration) our father is in manifest error regarding the love of Joseph and his preference over us.

Then they said to one another: (Kill Joseph or cast him to some (other) land) in a pit, (so that your father's favour may be all for you) so that your father may turn entirely to you, (and (that) ye may afterward) after killing him (be righteous folk) repentant for killing him; it is also said that this means: your relationship with your father will improve.

(One among them) one of the brothers who is Yehuda (said: Kill not Joseph but, if ye must be doing) something to him, (fling him into the depth of the pit) in the bottom of the pit or in the darkness of the pit; (some caravan) travellers passing by (will find him) will get him out.

Then they went to their father, (They said) to their father: (O our father! Why wilt thou not trust us with Joseph, when lo! we are good friends to him) we will protect him?

(Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself) come, go and move about (and play) and have fun. (And lo! we shall take good care of him) we will be kind to him.

(He said) their father said: (Lo! in truth it saddens me that ye should take him with you) such that I do not see him, (and I fear lest the wolf devour him) because he saw in his dream a wolf attacking Joseph (while ye are heedless of him) while you are busy with playing; it is also said that this means: while you are busy with your chores.

(They said) to their father: (If the wolf should devour him when we are (so strong) a band) ten of us, (then surely we should have already perished) we should be very weak; it is also said that this means: we should be really losers by neglecting the inviolability of our father and brother.

(Then, when they led him off) after Jacob gave them permission to take him, (and were of one mind that they should place him in the depth of the pit) and they were unanimous about throwing him into the depth of the pit, (We inspired in him) We sent to him Gabriel to inform him; it is also said this means: We directly inspired him: (Thou wilt tell them) you will inform them, O Joseph, (of this deed of theirs) of this act of theirs (when they know (thee) not) when they do not realise that it is you, Joseph, until you inform them of your identity; it is also said that this means: they know not our inspiration to you.

(And they came weeping to their father in the evening) after midday.

(Saying: O our father! We went racing one with another) and hunting, (and left Joseph by our things) to guard them, (and the wolf devoured him) as you said, (and thou believest not our sayings even when we speak the Truth).

(And they came with false blood on his shirt) they stained his shirt with the blood of a goat. (He said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into) they embellished to you to do (something) regarding the peril of Joseph and you did it. ((My course is) comely patience) I have only to be patient without showing any alarm. (And Allah it is whose help is to be sought) I seek the help of Allah (in that (predicament) which ye describe) to be patient for his death, as you say. But he did not believe them because in another occasion they said that Joseph was killed by thieves.

(And there came a caravan) of travellers from Midian who were going to Egypt. They lost their way and went round and round until they passed by the land where the pit was. This land is called Dawthan, midway between Midian and Egypt, and there the caravan decided to have a break, (and they sent their water-drawer) each group of people sent their water-drawer. The pit in which Joseph was thrown was the lot of an Arab man from Midian called Malik Ibn Du'ar who was the nephew of the Prophet Shu'ayb, Allah give him peace. (He let down his pail (into the pit)) and Joseph got hold of it such that the water-drawer could not pull it back. When he looked down he saw a boy grabbing the pail of water and so he called his companions. (He said: Good luck!) �This is my good luck, O my companions!� His companions asked him: �what is it, O Malik?� He said: (Here is a youth) the most handsome of youths. They gathered and got Joseph out of the pit. (And they hid him as a treasure) they concealed from their people the fact that they found him in the pit, and instead informed them that the owners of the pit entrusted them to sell him in Egypt for them (and Allah was Aware of what they did) to Joseph, i.e. what the brothers of Joseph did to him; it is also said that this refers to the people of the caravan.

(And they sold him) the brothers of Malik Ibn Du'ar bought him (for a low price) by cheating in weight; it is also said that he was bought with false money; and it was also said that he was bought with unlawful money, (a number of silver coins) 20 silver coins; it is also said: 32 silver coins; (and they attached no value to him) they were reluctant to buy him because they did not need him; it is also said that the brothers of Joseph attached no importance to Joseph because they did not know his standing and stature with Allah, Exalted is He. It is also said that the people of the caravan attached no value to Joseph.

(And he of Egypt) the Chief Official, who was the treasurer of the king and the chief of his soldiers. His name was Potiphar (Qitfir) (who purchased him said unto his wife) Zelicha (Zulaykha): Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us) in our farm (or we may adopt him as a son). This man bought Joseph for the price of 20 silver coins, a garment and a pair of sandals. (Thus We established Joseph) We gave him authority (in the land) of Egypt (that We might teach him the interpretation of events) the interpretation of dreams. (And Allah was predominant in his career) Allah is dominant in things destined; no one can repel His destined things, (but most of mankind) the people of Egypt (know not) nor believe; it is also said that this means: most do not know that Allah is dominant in the things that He destined.

(And when he reached his prime) between 18 and 30 years old (We gave him wisdom and knowledge) understanding and prophethood. (Thus We reward the good) in speech and works, in knowledge and wisdom.

(And she, in whose house he was, asked of him an evil act. She bolted the doors) on her and Joseph (and said) to Joseph: (Come!) I am yours. (He said) Joseph said: (I seek refuge in Allah!) from such a thing. (Lo! he is my lord) The Chief Official, (who hath treated me honourably) in contrast to his own brothers. (Wrong-doers never prosper) adulterers will never be safe from or escape Allah's chastisement.

(She) the woman (verily desired him, and he) Joseph (would have desired her if it had not been that he saw the argument of his Lord) if he had not seen that the chastisement of his Lord would befall him; it is also said that this means: if he had not seen the figure of his father; and it is also said that this means: if he had not seen the proof of his Lord. (Thus it was, that We might ward off from him evil and lewdness) adultery. (Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves) who are protected from adultery.

(And they raced with one another to the door) Joseph wanting to leave and her wanting to lock the door. The woman got there first (and she tore his shirt) in two (from behind) from the waist to his feet, (and they met her lord and master) the husband of the woman; and it is said: her cousin (at the door. She said) the woman said to her husband: (What shall be his reward, who wisheth evil) adultery (to your folk, save prison or a painful doom) be severely beaten?

((Joseph) said: She it was who asked of me an evil act) it is her who called me and offered herself to me. (And in witness of her own folk testified) a man taken as judge from her own people, her brother and it is said her cousin, pronounced: (If his shirt) the shirt of Joseph (is torn from before) from the front, (then she speaketh truth) then the woman has spoken the Truth (and he is of the liars).

(And if his shirt is torn from behind) from the back, (then she hath lied) then the woman has lied (and he is of the Truthful) that she invited him to her.

(So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said) her brother said: (Lo! this is of the guile) the scheming and devising (of you women. Lo! the guile of you is very great) it touches the innocent and the sick.

Her brother then said to Joseph: (O Joseph! Turn away from this) and do not inform anyone. And then he turned to the woman and said: (and thou, (O woman), ask forgiveness for thy sin) seek your husband's forgiveness for your act. (Lo! thou art of the sinful) you cheated your husband.

However, the news of this incident spread in the city, (And women in the city) they were four women: the wife of the king's cupbearer, the wife of the king's head of prisons, the wife of the king's cook and the wife of the man in charge of the king's stable (said: The ruler's wife) Zelicha (is asking of her slave boy an ill deed) wants her slave boy to sleep with her. (Indeed he has smitten her to the heart with love. We behold her in plain aberration) she is plainly wrong in her love of her slave boy.

(And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them) an invitation (and prepared for them a cushioned couch) to lie on and then she had meat and bread brought to them (and gave to every one of them a knife) for they did not eat of meat except that which they could cut with their knives (and said) Zelicha said to Joseph: (Come out unto them!) O Joseph! (And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless!) Allah forbid! (This is not a human being. This is no other than some gracious angel) gracious in the sight of his Lord.

(She said) Zelicha said to them: (This is he on whose account you blamed me) and vilified me. (I asked of him an evil act) I wanted him to sleep with me, (but he proved continent) but he refused out of continence, (but if he do not my behest he verily shall be imprisoned, and verily shall him of those brought low) he will be humiliated in prison.

These women said to Joseph. �Obey your mistress!� (He said) Joseph said: (O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me) of adultery, (and if Thou fend not off their wiles) their scheming (from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish) who ignore Your blessing; it is also said that the foolish here refer to adulterers.

(So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He is Hearer) of prayers, (Knower) of His answer; it is also said Hearer of the ladies' talk and Knower of their scheming.

(And it seemed good to them) to the Chief Official (after they had seen the signs (of his innocence)) the torn shirt and the judgement of her brother (to imprison him for a time) a few years; it is also said that (for a time) means: until people stopped talking about it.

(And two young men) two slaves of the king: his cupbearer and his cook-he got angry with them and put them in prison-(went to prison with him) they stayed together five years. (One of them), the cupbearer, (said: I dreamed that I was pressing wine) pressing grapes to make wine and giving it to the king. This cupbearer saw in a dream that he entered a vineyard and there he saw a pleasant bough with three offshoots and on the offshoots bunches of grapes. He picked the grapes, pressed them and gave it to the King. Joseph said: �As for the vineyard, it is the job you had; the bough represents the expertise you have in your job; its pleasantness represents your position and merit in that job. The three offshoots mean that you will be released in three days and shall return to your job. The pressed grapes you gave to the king means that he will give you your job back, honour you and treat you well�. (The other) the cook, who prepared the king's bread (said I dreamed that I was carrying upon my head bread whereof the birds were eating) he saw in his dream that he was coming out of the king's kitchen carrying on his head three baskets of bread when birds came and ate from the bread on the baskets. Joseph said: �You have seen an evil thing. As for your going out of the King's kitchen, this means that you will lose your job; the three baskets means that you will stay in prison for three days. The birds eating from the baskets means that the king will get you out of prison in three days to crucify you and the birds will eat of your head�. Before Joseph interpreted their dreams for them, the two men said to him: (Announce unto us the interpretation) interpret for us our dreams, (for we see thee of those good) towards the prisoners; it is also said that this means: you are of those who are truthful in their speech.

(He said) Joseph said to them, because he wanted to inform them about his knowledge of interpreting dreams: (The food which ye are given (daily) shall not come unto you but I shall tell you the interpretation) i.e. of its colour and type (ere it cometh unto you) so can I fail to interpret your dreams? (This) the interpretation of dreams (is of that which my Lord hath taught me. Lo! I have forsaken the religion of folk) I did not follow the religion of a people (who believe not in Allah and are disbelievers in) they are deniers of (the Hereafter) resurrection after death.

(And I have followed the religion of my fathers) I held firm to the religion of my forefathers, (Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us) it was not permissible for us (to attribute aught) any idols (as partner to Allah. This) pure Religion, prophethood and Islam with which Allah has honoured us (is of the bounty of Allah unto us) a blessing that Allah blessed us with (and unto mankind) by sending us to them; it is also said that this means: this is a bounty unto the believers through the blessing of faith; (but most men) the people of Egypt (give not thanks) do not believe in this.

(O my two fellow prisoners!) He said this to the prison master as well as to the prisoners (Are diverse lords better) is the worship of numerous gods better, (or Allah the One, the Almighty?) or the worship of Allah, the One Who has no son or partner, the All-Conquering over His created beings.

(Those whom ye worship beside Him) besides Allah (are but names) lifeless idols (which ye have named, ye and your fathers) you and your fathers called them gods. (Allah hath revealed no sanction) no Scripture or proof (for them) for your worship of them. (The decision) the judgement of commands and prohibitions; it is also said that this means: judgement in the life of this world and in the Hereafter (rests with Allah only, Who hath commanded you) in all revealed Scriptures (that ye worship) that you profess the divine Oneness of (none save Him) save Allah. (This) profession of divine Oneness (is the right religion) the established Religion that He is pleased with: i.e. Islam, (but most men) the people of Egypt (know not) this nor believe in it.

Joseph them proceeded to interpret the dreams of the two prisoners, saying: (O my two fellow prisoners! As for one of you) the cupbearer, he will return to his former position and glory, (he will pour out wine for his lord) his master the king (to drink; and as for the other) the baker, he will leave prison, and (he will be crucified so that the birds will eat from his head) the two prisoner were alarmed upon hearing the interpretation of the baker's dream. Both of them hastened to say: �We have not seen any dreams!� But Joseph said to them: (Thus is the case judged concerning which ye did inquire) it will be just as I have informed you, whether you saw those dreams or not.

(And he said unto him of the twain who he knew would be released) from prison, i.e. the cupbearer: (Mention me in the presence of thy lord) your master the king; tell him that I have been wronged: my brothers sold me when I being a free man and I was put into prison while being innocent. (But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to his lord) Satan made him so preoccupied that he forgot to mention Joseph to his master, the king. It is also said that this means: Satan whispered to him: if you mention prison to the king, he will put you back in it. This is why he did not mention Joseph to the king; it is also said that the meaning of this is: Satan made Joseph forget the remembrance of his Lord and instead remembered a created being like him, (so he (Joseph) stayed in prison for some years) seven years, as a punishment for not mentioning Allah, when he had already spent five years in jail.

(And the king said: Lo! I saw in a dream seven fat kine) coming out of a river (which seven lean were eating) the seven lean kine, that were dying of lack of nourishment swallowed up the fat kine, but even then it was as if they did not eat anything, (and seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry) the dry ones coiling around the green ones such that they overshadowed their greenery and became unnoticeable. (O notables!) Meaning: the soothsayers, sorcerers and fortune-tellers, (Expound for me my vision) interpret for me my dream, (if ye can interpret dreams) if you know how to interpret dreams.

(They) i.e. the soothsayers, sorcerers and fortune-tellers (answered: Jumbled dreams!) these are false and unreal dreams. (And we are not knowing in the interpretation of dreams) we do not know how to interpret dreams.

(And he of the two who was released) from prison, i.e. the cupbearer, (and (now) at length) after seven years (remembered) remembered Joseph, (said: I am going to announce unto you the interpretation) he said to the king: I will inform you of the interpretation of your dream, (therefore send me forth) to prison for there is a man there who knows the interpretation of dreams. And he described Joseph's knowledge, clemency and goodness towards the prisoners and his expertise in interpreting dreams. And so he was sent.

When he went to him, he said: (Joseph! O thou truthful one!) O you who were truthful in interpreting the first dream, (Expound for us the seven fat kine) that came out of the river and (which seven lean) that were dying of lack of nourishment (were eating and the seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry) coiling around the seven green ears, overshadowing their greenery, (that I may return unto the people) to the king, (so that they may know) the interpretation of the king's dream. Joseph said: �Yes! I will interpret his dream. The seven fat kine are seven years of soil fertility, and the seven green ears represent abundance and low prices during these seven years. The seven dying, lean kine represent years of drought while the seven dry ears represent lack of foodstuff and high prices during these years�.

Joseph then instructed them what to do. (He said: Ye shall sow seven years as usual) each year continuously, (but that which ye reap) of crops, (leave it in the ear) and do not thresh it, this is better for its preservation, (all save a little which ye eat) all save the quantity which you need for your sustenance.

(Then after that) after the seven years of soil fertility (will come seven hard years) seven years of drought (which will devour all that ye have prepared for them) all that you have saved during the seven years of soil fertility, (save a little of that which ye have stored) kept aside.

(Then, after that) after the years of drought, (will come a year when the people) of Egypt (will have plenteous crops) foodstuffs and rain (and when they will press) wine and oils.

The Messenger went back and informed the king of it. (And the King said: Bring him unto me) bring Joseph to me. (And when the messenger) the cupbearer (came unto him) to Joseph and informed him that the king wanted to see him, (he said) Joseph said to him: (Return unto thy lord) your master, the king (and ask him what was the case of the women) he said: go and ask the king to enquire about what really happened with those women (who cut their hands) who slashed and grazed their hands. (Lo! my lord) my master (knoweth their guile) their scheming and doing.

The messenger went back and informed the king who summoned the four women: the wife of his cupbearer, the wife of his chief cook, the wife of the master of his stable and the wife of the Chief Official. These four women were the most powerful personalities after the king. (He (the king) (then sent for those women and) said: What happened when ye asked an evil act of Joseph? They answered: Allah Blameless!) God forbid! (We know) we saw (no evil of him. Said the wife of the ruler: Now the Truth is out) in favour of Joseph; it is also said that this means: now is the time to tell the truth. (I asked of him an evil act) I offered myself to him, (and he is surely of the Truthful) that he did not ask an evil act of me.

Joseph said: (This, that he) the Chief Official (may know that I betrayed him not) regarding his wife (in secret) when he was away, (and that surely Allah guideth not) neither is He pleased with nor make right (the snare of the betrayers) the work of adulterers.

At this point Gabriel said to him: �Not even when you nearly went to her, O Joseph?� Joseph said: (I do not exculpate myself) I do not exonerate my heart from nearly going towards her. (Lo! the (human) soul) the heart (enjoineth) the body (unto evil) evil works, (save that whereon my Lord hath mercy) save those whom Allah protects. (My Lord is Forgiving) He pardons, (Merciful) regarding the fact that I nearly went towards her.

(And the king said: Bring him unto me that I may attach him to my person) bring him so that I give him a privileged position instead of the Chief Official. (And when he had talked with him) and interpreted his dreams (he said) the king said to him: (Lo! thou art today in our presence) with us (established) you have prestige and position (and trusted) with what is entrusted to you; it is also said: you are trusted with the position that we give you.

(He said: Set me over the storehouses of the land) appoint me in charge of the treasury of Egypt (I am a skilled custodian) I am skilled in its estimation and know the time when people go hungry; it is also said that this means: I am trustworthy regarding that with which you have entrusted me, and also know the languages of the strangers who come to you.

(Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land) the land of Egypt. (He was the owner of it) who could go in this land (where be pleased. We reach with our mercy) with prophethood and Islam (whom We will) whoever deserves it. (We lose not) We thwart not (the reward of the good) the reward of the believers who do good in their deeds and speech.

(And the reward of the Hereafter is better) than the reward of the life of this world, (for those who believe) in Allah and all the Scriptures and messengers (and ward off (evil)) ward off disbelief, idolatry and indecencies.

(And Joseph's brethren came) to Egypt: there were ten of them (and presented themselves before him) before Joseph, (and he knew them) Joseph knew that they were his brothers (but they knew him not) they did not know he was their brother.

(And when he provided them with their provision) when he measured for them the measure they were entitled to have (he said: Bring unto me a brother of yours from your father) for you said that you had a half brother, from your father's side, who stayed behind with your father. (See you not that I fill up the measure) it is said that he means: I fill up the measure with my own hands (and I am the best of hosts?)

(And if ye bring him not unto me) your half brother from your father's side, (then there shall be no measure for you with me) in the future, (nor shall ye draw near) again.

(They said: We will try to win him from his father) we will ask his father and try to entice his father to let him come with us: (that we will surely do) we surely guarantee that we will bring him with us.

(He) Joseph (said unto his young men) his servants: (Place their merchandise) hide their money (in their saddlebags so that they may know it) such that they know the favour I am bestowing upon them; it is also said that this means: such that they realise it is their money and bring it back to me, (when they go back to their folk) when they go back to their father, (and so will come again) a second time.

(So when they went back to their father) in the land of Canaan (they said: O our father! The measure is denied us) in the future if you do not send Benjamin with us, (so send with us our brother) Benjamin (that we may obtain the measure) so that he can buy a measure for himself; or: that we may buy a measure for him, according to a different reading, (surely we will guard him well) we guarantee to bring him back to you.

(He said) Jacob said to them: (Can I entrust him) Benjamin (to you save as I entrusted his brother) Joseph (to you aforetime?) He said: can I really make you pledge and promise more than I did in the case of his brother Joseph (Allah is better at guarding) than you are, (and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy) and He is more Merciful towards him than his parents or brothers.