Joseph
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Alif Lam Ra These are the verses of the Book that makes things clear. Indeed, We have revealed this Koran in Arabic that you could understand. In Our revelation of this recitation to you, We reveal to you the best of narratives, though until now you were among the unaware.
When Joseph said to his father, ‘My father, indeed, I had a vision of eleven stars and the sun and the moon. I saw them prostrating themselves before me.’
He said, ‘My son, say nothing to your brothers of your vision, lest they devise a plan against you. Indeed, Satan is openly an enemy of man. Thus your Lord will choose you and will instruct you to interpret signs and perfect His favor to you and the House of Jacob as He perfected it for your forefathers Abraham and Isaac before you. Indeed, your Lord is knowing and wise.’ Certainly in Joseph and his brothers are signs for the inquiring.
When they said, ‘Surely Joseph and his brothers are dearer to our father than we, though we are a clan. Indeed, our father is clearly confused.’
‘Kill Joseph or cast him abroad, and then our father’s favor will be all for us, and after that we shall be a pious group.’
From among them, one said, ‘Do not kill Joseph, rather toss him down to the bottom of a pit, if you must do something. Per chance some caravan will find him.’
They said, ‘Our father, why would you not trust us with Joseph. Indeed, we are his best friends. Send him with us tomorrow so that he may enjoy himself and play, and indeed we will guard him well.’
He said, ‘Indeed, I am reluctant to have him go off with you, and I fear a wolf could devour him while you pay him no mind.’
They said, ‘If a wolf could devour him though we are a crowd, then we should surely be losers.’
So when they went off with him and agreed that they would cast him down to the bottom of a pit, We conveyed to him, ‘You will remind them of this affair of theirs when they will fail to recognize you.’
Tearfully they came to their father at dusk. They said, ‘Our father, we went off racing, leaving Joseph with our goods and the wolf devoured him, though you may not believe us, even though we speak the truth.’ And they brought his shirt having false blood on it.
He said, ‘No, your souls have tempted you in this affair. Sublime patience and Allah, whose help is sought may comfort me in what you claim.’
And a caravan passed by and they sent out their water boy, and when he let down his bucket he said, ‘Good luck, here is a boy.’ And they hid him as a treasure, and Allah knew what they did. And they sold him for a small sum, a few pieces of silver, and they cared nothing for him.
And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, ‘Make his stay comfortable. Perhaps he will prove useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ Thus We provided security in that land, that We might teach him to interpret events. And Allah orchestrates the events, though most men know nothing of it. And as he reached maturity We bestowed him with wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the righteous.
And she, in whose house he stared, requested a disgraceful act from him. She secured the doors and said, ‘Come.’
He said, ‘I seek the safety of Allah. Indeed, my Lord has treated me kindly. Wrongdoers never prosper.’ And she certainly desired him and he would have desired her had he not been shown obvious signs from his Lord. Thus We warded off from him evil and indecency. Indeed, he was one of our faithful servants.
And as they raced each other to the door she tore his shirt from behind and they met her husband at the door. She said, ‘What is done with one who plans wickedness with your wife, except prison or a severe punishment?’
He said, ‘It was she who asked of me a scandalous thing.’ And a by-stander from her own family said, ‘If his shirt is torn from the front she is speaking the truth and he is one of the liars. And if his shirt is torn from behind she is telling a lie and he is the truthful one.’
So when he saw his shirt torn from behind he said, ‘Indeed, this is the cunning of women. Indeed, your deceit is great.’
‘O, Joseph, put this behind you. And you, ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you are one of the guilty.’
And the women in the city said, ‘The magistrate’s wife is seeking her slave to consent to her. He has certainly captivated her with love. We surely see her obviously deluded.’
And when she heard of their coy languages she offered them invitations and prepared for them a knife and said, ‘Come out to us.’ And when they saw him they were stunned and cut their hands saying, ‘Perfection is Allah’s. This is no mortal. Here is nothing but a gracious angel.’
She said, ‘This is the one who has caused your ridicule. I desired him to yield to me, but abstinence was his choice. Yet if he will not do as I bid, he shall certainly be imprisoned and shall certainly be held in shame.’
He said, ‘My Lord, prison itself would be better than what they suggest. Without Your protection from their schemes I may yield to their temptation and become one of the lost.’ So his Lord heard his prayer and confounded their schemes against him. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Knower.
And even after they had seen the evidence it seemed reasonable to them to imprison him for some time. And two young men went to prison with him. One of them said, ‘I dreamed I was preserving wine.’ And the other said, ‘I dreamed that my head held bread from which the birds were eating. Reveal the interpretation to us for we see you are one with potential.’
He said, ‘The next meal that you are given shall not arrive till after I declare the interpretation before it can come to pass. Such is the knowledge my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I reject the religion of people who do not believe in Allah and deny the hereafter, and I follow the religion of my forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We are aware never to associate anything with Allah, thanks to Allah’s mercy bestowed on us and among mankind, but most men give no thanks.’
‘My two prison inmates, ‘Are multiple gods better than the One, Allah, the All-Mighty? Those whom you invoke besides Him are mere names you have coined, you and your forefathers. Allah has ordained no authority to them. The judgment rests with Allah alone. He has deemed that you worship none but Him. That is the true faith, but most men do not know it.
‘My two fellow inmates, as for one of you, he shall serve his lord wine to drink, and as for the other, he shall be crucified and the birds will eat from his hand. This is the ordained outcome regarding what you inquired.’ And he said to the one he knew to be freed of the pair, ‘Remember me in the presence of the king.’ But Satan caused him to forget to mention him to his lord, so he remained in prison for some years.
And the king said, ‘Indeed, I had a vision of seven fattened cows being consumed by seven lean ones and of seven green ears of corn with others dry. Tell me, my counselors, the meaning of my dream if you can decipher dreams. ‘
They said, ‘Random dreams. Besides we are not trained in the interpretation of dreams.’
And after all these years the one who was freed from the pair, remembered and said, ‘I can discover its meaning, so allow me to depart.’
‘Joseph, man of truth, expound for us regarding seven fattened cows consumed by seven lean ones and seven green ears of corn with others dry, so that I may return to the people and make it known.’
He said, ‘You must sow for seven consecutive years, but what you reap shall leave in the ear except for the little which will consume all that you have saved in preparation for them, except for a little that you have stored. Then after that there shall come a year when the people shall have rain so that they shall press the grape.’
And the king said, ‘Bring him to me.’
So when the messengers came to him he said, ‘Go to your lord and ask him about the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my lord knows their cunning.’
He said, ‘What occurred when you sought to entice Joseph?’
They said, ‘Perfection is Allah’s. We know of no guilt on his part.’
The wife of the magistrate said, ‘Now the truth is known. I asked from him a disgraceful act, and he is clearly the truthful one.’
‘From this he may be assured that I was never secretly untrustworthy. Though I am not above temptation, indeed, the soul is prone to evil, yet my Lord bestows mercy. Indeed, my Lord is forgiving, merciful.’
And the king said, ‘Bring him to me, as I may require a personal servant.’ And after he had spoken with him he said, ‘Indeed, you stand today in our presence as one honorable and faithful.’
He said, ‘Appoint me over the granaries in this land. Indeed, I excel in prudence.’
Thus We gave authority to Joseph through the land. He oversaw whatever he chose. We bestow Our Mercy on whosoever We please, and We do not squander the rewards of the righteous. Better are the rewards of the hereafter for those who believe and are conscientious.
And Joseph’s brothers came and presented themselves before him, and he knew them though they did not recognize him. And when he had provided them with provisions he said, ‘Bring to me your brother from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of hosts? But if you choose not to bring him you shall have no allotment from me, and you may have no audience.’
They said, ‘We will bid our father to fulfill this request for him. This we will surely do.’
He said to his servants, ‘Put their coins in their bags, so they will find it when they return to their family and then come back again.’
When they returned to their father they said, ‘Our father, further allotments are denied unless we return with our brother to request the allotment. We will surely guard him well.’
He said, ‘I can trust you with him no more than I trusted you with his brother before. But Allah is the best Guardian, and He is more merciful than any who show mercy.’
And when they opened their belongings they found their coins returned to them. They said, ‘What do we lack. Here are our coins returned to us. We shall purchase provisions for our families and safe guard our brother and we shall get an additional allotment for one camel. This shall be easy to acquire.’
He said, ‘I will not send him with you until you promise a covenant in Allah’s name that you will bring him back to me unless you are entrapped.’ And when they declared to him their covenant, he said, ‘Allah is the witness of what we say.’ And he said, ‘My sons, do not go in by a single gate, but go in through separate gates. I cannot protect you in matters with Allah. Indeed, the determination is Allah’s alone. In Him I have faith, and in Him let all the faithful put their trust.’
And when they entered as their father had bidden, his counsel would have availed them nothing were it at odds with the decree of ‘Allah. It was but a fear in Jacob’s soul which he assuaged, and indeed, he was a fount of knowledge because We had granted him wisdom, but most men are unaware.
And when they went in before Joseph, he took his brother aside saying, ‘I am your brother, so do not be concerned by what they do.’
And when he provided them with provisions he placed a drinking cup in his brothers’ pack. Then a crier called out, ‘Travelers, you are truly thieves.’
They turned and cried, ‘What have you lost?’
They said, ‘The king’s cup is missing.’
‘Whoever uncovers it shall have a camel’s load, and I am accountable for it.’
They said, ‘By Allah, you know for sure we did not come to cause grief in this land, and we are not thieves.’
They said, ‘But if it is proven you are lying, what shall the penalty be?’
They said, ‘The penalty for it shall be he himself in whose pack it is found. Thus do we punish evildoers.’
So he began with their sacks and when he came to his brother’s bag he brought it out from his belongings. Thus did we intervene on Joseph’s behalf. He could not have laid claim to his brother by the king’s law unless Allah willed otherwise. By degrees We raise whoever We please and above everyone who attains knowledge there is the One all-knowing.
They said, ‘If he did steal, a brother of his stole before.’
But Joseph kept the secret in his heart and revealed nothing to them. He thought, ‘You are in a sorry state, and Allah well knows what you assert.’
They said, ‘Your Grace, he has a father who is now aged, so retain one of us instead of him. Indeed, we see you are one of the most gracious.’
He said, ‘Allah forbid that We should restrain any but him who was found with our property, for then we would surely be unjust.’
So when hope of persuading him was lost, they went aside to converse in private. The eldest of them said, ‘Do you not remember how your father accepted your covenant in Allah’s name, and how you broke your promise long ago concerning Joseph. Therefore, I will not depart from this place until my father grants permission or Allah’s judgment is closer to me. He is the best of judges. Return to your father and say, “Our father, indeed, your son has committed a theft. We cannot testify beyond what we know, and we could not prepare for the unforeseen. Inquire in the town where we were and among the caravan in which we traveled. Indeed, we speak the truth.”’
He said, ‘No, your minds have accepted the evidence at face value. Sublime patience. Per chance Allah will bring them all together for me. Indeed, He alone knows and understands.’ And he turned away from them and said, ‘How I miss that Joseph,’ and his eyes turned white with the grief he held within.
They said, ‘By Allah, will you never cease to dwell on Joseph until your health is ruined or you are with the dead.’
He said, ‘I share my pain and sorrow only with Allah, and from Allah I know what you know not. Go, my sons, and inquire about Joseph and his brother. And do not distrust the prudence of Allah. Indeed, none but unbelievers question Allah’s prudence.
And when they came before him they said, ‘Our Grace, calamities have befallen us and our family and we have brought little money, but grant us some measure and if you are charitable to us then, indeed, Allah rewards the charitable.’
He said, ‘Do you acknowledge what you did to Joseph and his brother in your ignorance.’
They said, ‘Are you truly Joseph?’
He said, ‘I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allah has been gracious to us. Indeed, to those who are conscientious and patient, surely Allah does not squander the rewards of the righteous.’
They said, ‘By Allah, truly Allah has chosen you over us and certainly we were the sinners.’
He said, ‘None shall rebuke you today. May Allah forgive you. He is the most merciful of the merciful. Take my shirt and place it on my father’s face. He will be able to see, then come to me with all your people.’
And when the caravan departed their father said, ‘I can surely feel the presence of Joseph, though you may think me deranged.’
They said, ‘By Allah you have indeed slipped into your old delusions.’
Then, when the bearer of good news came he laid it on his face and his vision was restored. He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you know not.’
They said, ‘Our father, ask forgiveness of our sins for us, indeed, we have been sinners.’
He said, ‘I will seek forgiveness for you from my Lord, indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’
When they then came before Joseph, he brought his parents to him and said, ‘Enter into Egypt and security, if Allah wills.’
And as he and his parents approached the throne they fell soon prostrate before him and he said, ‘My father, here is the reality of my earlier vision. My Lord has brought it to be, and He was kind to me when He freed me from prison and brought you from the desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is merciful to whom He pleases. He is knowing and wise.
‘My Lord, You have granted me power and taught me the interpretation of prophecies – the Creator of the heavens and earth. You are my Guardian in this world and in the hereafter. Allow me to die as a muslim and unite me with the righteous.’
This revelation which We reveal to you pertains to what was hidden. You were not in their presence when they devised their affair and laid their plans. And most men will have no faith, despite all you efforts. And you seek no price from them for this. It is nothing else but a reminder to all people. And how many wonders in the heavens and the earth, they pass by and pay them no heed.
And most of them will not believe in Allah without ascribing others. Does this give them security in the face of Allah’s wrath or the approaching Horn which shall come suddenly while they are unaware. Say, ‘This is my way. I call on Allah with certainty as do those who follow me. Glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the idolaters.’
And before you We have only sent men from among the people of their town with Our revelations. Have they never travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly their home in the hereafter is better for the conscientious. Will you not now understand?
And when the messengers despaired and were convinced that they were rejected, Our help arrived and whosoever We pleased was delivered. And Our wrath is never averted from the guilty people. Certainly, in their history is a lesson for thoughtful men.
This is no contrived tale, but a confirmation of what is before it, a clear explanation of things, a guide and a blessing to the people who believe.