1. Alif-Lâm-Râ. [These letters are one of
the miracles of the Qur'an, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings].
These are the Verses of the Clear Book (the Qur'ân that makes clear the
legal and illegal things, legal laws, a guidance and a blessing).
2. Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic
Qur'ân in order that you may understand.
3. We relate unto you (Muhammad  ) the best of
stories through Our Revelations unto you, of this Qur'ân. And before this (i.e. before
the coming of Divine Inspiration to you), you were among those who knew nothing about it
(the Qur'ân).
4. (Remember) when Yûsuf (Joseph) said to his
father: "O my father! Verily, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the
moon, I saw them prostrating themselves to me."
5. He (the father) said: "O my son! Relate
not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Shaitân
(Satan) is to man an open enemy!
6. "Thus will your Lord choose you and
teach you the interpretation of dreams (and other things) and perfect His Favour on you
and on the offspring of Ya'qûb (Jacob), as He perfected it on your fathers, Ibrahîm
(Abraham) and Ishâque (Isaac) aforetime! Verily, your Lord is All-Knowing,
All-Wise."
7. Verily, in Yûsuf (Joseph) and his brethren,
there were Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) for
those who ask.
8. When they said: "Truly, Yûsuf (Joseph)
and his brother (Benjamin) are loved more by our father than we, but we are 'Usbah (a
strong group). Really, our father is in a plain error.
9. "Kill Yûsuf (Joseph) or cast him out to
some (other) land, so that the favour of your father may be given to you alone, and after
that you will be righteous folk (by intending repentance before committing the sin)."
10. One from among them said: "Kill not
Yûsuf (Joseph), but if you must do something, throw him down to the bottom of a well, he
will be picked up by some caravan of travellers."
11. They said: "O our father! Why do you
not trust us with Yûsuf (Joseph), - when we are indeed his well-wishers?"
12. "Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy
himself and play, and verily, we will take care of him."
13. He [Ya'qûb (Jacob)] said: "Truly, it
saddens me that you should take him away. I fear lest a wolf should devour him, while you
are careless of him."
14. They said: "If a wolf devours him,
while we are 'Usbah (a strong group) (to guard him), then surely, we are the
losers."
15. So, when they took him away, they all
agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well, and We inspired in him:"Indeed,
you shall (one day) inform them of this their affair, when they know (you) not."
16. And they came to their father in the early
part of the night weeping.
17. They said:"O our father! We went
racing with one another, and left Yûsuf (Joseph) by our belongings and a wolf devoured
him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth."
18. And they brought his shirt stained with
false blood. He said: "Nay, but your ownselves have made up a tale. So (for me)
patience is most fitting. And it is Allâh (Alone) Whose help can be sought against that
which you assert."
19. And there came a caravan of travellers;
they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket (into the well). He said:
"What good news! Here is a boy." So they hid him as merchandise (a slave). And
Allâh was the All-Knower of what they did.
20. And they sold him for a low price, - for a
few Dirhams (i.e. for a few silver coins). And they were of those who regarded him
insignificant.
21. And he (the man) from Egypt who bought him,
said to his wife: "Make his stay comfortable, may be he will profit us or we shall
adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Yûsuf (Joseph) in the land, that We might
teach him the interpretation of events. And Allâh has full power and control over His
Affairs, but most of men know not.
22. And when he [Yûsuf (Joseph)] attained his
full manhood, We gave him wisdom and knowledge (the Prophethood), thus We reward the Muhsinûn
(doers of good - see V.2:112).
23. And she, in whose house he was, sought to
seduce him (to do an evil act), she closed the doors and said: "Come on, O you."
He said: "I seek refuge in Allâh (or Allâh forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my
master! He made my stay agreeable! (So I will never betray him). Verily, the Zâlimûn (wrong
and evil-doers) will never be successful."
24. And indeed she did desire him and he would
have inclined to her desire, had he not seen the evidence of his Lord. Thus it was, that
We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our
chosen, guided slaves.
25. So they raced with one another to the door,
and she tore his shirt from the back. They both found her lord (i.e. her husband) at the
door. She said: "What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil
design against your wife, except that he be put in prison or a painful torment?"
26. He [Yûsuf (Joseph)] said: "It was she
that sought to seduce me," - and a witness of her household bore witness (saying):
"If it be that his shirt is torn from the front, then her tale is true and he is a
liar!
27. "But if it be that his shirt is torn
from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!"
28. So when he (her husband) saw his [(Yûsuf's
(Joseph)] shirt torn at the back; (her husband) said: "Surely, it is a plot of you
women! Certainly mighty is your plot!
29. "O Yûsuf (Joseph)! Turn away from
this! (O woman!) Ask forgiveness for your sin. Verily, you were of the sinful."
30. And women in the city said: "The wife
of Al-'Azîz is seeking to seduce her (slave) young man, indeed she loves him violently;
verily we see her in plain error."
31. So when she heard of their accusation, she
sent for them and prepared a banquet for them; she gave each one of them a knife (to cut
the foodstuff with), and she said [(to Yûsuf (Joseph)]: "Come out before them."
Then, when they saw him, they exalted him (at his beauty) and (in their astonishment) cut
their hands. They said: "How perfect is Allâh (or Allâh forbid)! No man is this!
This is none other than a noble angel!"
32. She said: "This is he (the young man)
about whom you did blame me (for his love), and I did seek to seduce him, but he refused.
And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and will
be one of those who are disgraced."
33. He said:"O my Lord! Prison is more to
my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I
will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or
those who do deeds) of the ignorants."
34. So his Lord answered his invocation and
turned away from him their plot. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
35. Then it appeared to them, after they had
seen the proofs (of his innocence) to imprison him for a time.
36. And there entered with him two young men in
the prison. One of them said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a dream) pressing wine."
The other said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head and
birds were eating thereof." (They said): "Inform us of the interpretation of
this. Verily, we think you are one of the Muhsinûn (doers of good - see
V.2:112)."
37. He said: "No food will come to you (in
wakefulness or in dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its
interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has taught me.
Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in Allâh and are
disbelievers in the Hereafter (i.e. the Kan'âniûn of Egypt who were polytheists
and used to worship sun and other false deities).
38. "And I have followed the religion of
my fathers , - Ibrahîm (Abraham), Ishâque (Isaac) and Ya'qûb (Jacob),
and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allâh. This is
from the Grace of Allâh to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither
believe in Allâh, nor worship Him).
39. "O two companions of the prison! Are
many different lords (gods) better or Allâh, the One, the Irresistible?
40. "You do not worship besides Him but
only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allâh has sent
down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allâh. He has commanded
that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion,
but most men know not.
41. "O two companions of the prison! As
for one of you, he (as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord (king or master) to
drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head. Thus
is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire."
42. And he said to the one whom he knew to be
saved: "Mention me to your lord (i.e. your king, so as to get me out of the
prison)." But Shaitân (Satan) made him forget to mention it to his Lord [or
Satan made [(Yûsuf (Joseph)] to forget the remembrance of his Lord (Allâh) as to ask for
His Help, instead of others]. So [Yûsuf (Joseph)] stayed in prison a few (more) years.
43. And the king (of Egypt) said: "Verily,
I saw (in a dream) seven fat cows, whom seven lean ones were devouring - and of seven
green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream, if it be
that you can interpret dreams."
44. They said: "Mixed up false dreams and
we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams."
45. Then the man who was released (one of the
two who were in prison), now at length remembered and said: "I will tell you its
interpretation, so send me forth."
46. (He said): "O Yûsuf (Joseph), the man
of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring,
and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people,
and that they may know."
47. [(Yûsuf (Joseph)] said: "For seven
consecutive years, you shall sow as usual and that (the harvest) which you reap you shall
leave in ears, (all) - except a little of it which you may eat.
48. "Then will come after that, seven hard
(years), which will devour what you have laid by in advance for them, (all) except a
little of that which you have guarded (stored).
49. "Then thereafter will come a year in
which people will have abundant rain and in which they will press (wine and oil)."
50. And the king said: "Bring him to
me." But when the messenger came to him, [Yûsuf (Joseph)] said: "Return to your
lord and ask him, 'What happened to the women who cut their hands? Surely, my Lord
(Allâh) is Well-Aware of their plot.'"
51. (The King) said (to the women): "What
was your affair when you did seek to seduce Yûsuf (Joseph)?" The women said:
"Allâh forbid! No evil know we against him!" The wife of Al-'Azîz said:
"Now the truth is manifest (to all), it was I who sought to seduce him, and he is
surely of the truthful."
52. [Then Yûsuf (Joseph) said: "I asked
for this enquiry] in order that he (Al-'Azîz) may know that I betrayed him not in secret.
And, verily! Allâh guides not the plot of the betrayers.
53. "And I free not myself (from the
blame). Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His
Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
54. And the king said: "Bring him to me
that I may attach him to my person." Then, when he spoke to him, he said:
"Verily, this day, you are with us high in rank and fully trusted."
55. [Yûsuf (Joseph)] said: "Set me over
the storehouses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge" (as a
minister of finance in Egypt, in place of Al-'Aziz who was dead at that time).
56. Thus did We give full authority to Yûsuf
(Joseph) in the land, to take possession therein, as when or where he likes. We bestow of
Our Mercy on whom We please, and We make not to be lost the reward of Al-Muhsinûn (the
good doers - see V.2:112).
57. And verily, the reward of the Hereafter is
better for those who believe and used to fear Allâh and keep their duty to Him (by
abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds and by performing all kinds of righteous
good deeds).
58. And Yûsuf's (Joseph) brethren came and
they entered unto him, and he recognized them, but they recognized him not.
59. And when he had furnished them forth with
provisions (according to their need), he said: "Bring me a brother of yours from your
father; (he meant Benjamin). See you not that I give full measure, and that I am the best
of the hosts?
60. "But if you bring him not to me, there
shall be no measure (of corn) for you with me, nor shall you come near me."
61. They said: "We shall try to get
permission (for him) from his father, and verily, we shall do it."
62. And [Yûsuf (Joseph)] told his servants to
put their money (with which they had bought the corn) into their bags, so that they might
know it when they go back to their people, in order that they might come back.
63. So, 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, and we shall get our measure and truly we will
guard him."
64. He said: "Can I entrust him to you
except as I entrusted his brother [Yûsuf (Joseph)] to you aforetime? But Allâh is the
Best to guard, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy."
65. And when they opened their bags, they found
their money had been returned to them. They said: "O our father! What (more) can we
desire? This, our money has been returned to us, so we shall get (more) food for our
family, and we shall guard our brother and add one more measure of a camel's load. This
quantity is easy (for the king to give)."
66. He [Ya'qûb (Jacob)] said: "I will not
send him with you until you swear a solemn oath to me in Allâh's Name, that you will
bring him back to me unless you are yourselves surrounded (by enemies, etc.)," And
when they had sworn their solemn oath, he said: "Allâh is the Witness over what we
have said."
67. And he said: "O my sons! Do not enter
by one gate, but enter by different gates, and I cannot avail you against Allâh at all.
Verily! The decision rests only with Allâh. In him, I put my trust and let all those that
trust, put their trust in Him."
68. And when they entered according to their
father's advice, it did not avail them in the least against (the Will of) Allâh, it was
but a need of Ya'qûb's (Jacob) inner-self which he discharged. And verily, he was endowed
with knowledge because We had taught him, but most men know not.
69. And when they went in before Yûsuf
(Joseph), he betook his brother (Benjamin) to himself and said: "Verily!I am your
brother, so grieve not for what they used to do."
70. So when he had furnished them forth with
their provisions, he put the (golden) bowl into his brother's bag, then a crier cried:
"O you (in) the caravan! Surely, you are thieves!"
71. They, turning towards them, said:
"What is it that you have missed?"
72. They said: "We have missed the
(golden) bowl of the king and for him who produces it is (the reward of) a camel load; I
will be bound by it."
73. They said: "By Allâh! Indeed you know
that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!"
74. They [Yûsuf's (Joseph) men] said:
"What then shall be the penalty of him, if you are (proved to be) liars."
75. They [Yûsuf's (Joseph) brothers] said:
"The penalty should be that he, in whose bag it is found, should be held for the
punishment (of the crime). Thus we punish the Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.)!"
76. So he [Yûsuf (Joseph)] began (the search)
in their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of his brother's bag.
Thus did We plan for Yûsuf (Joseph). He could not take his brother by the law of the king
(as a slave), except that Allâh willed it. (So Allâh made the brothers to bind
themselves with their way of "punishment, i.e. enslaving of a thief.") We raise
to degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing
(Allâh).
77. They [(Yûsuf's (Joseph) brothers] said:
"If he steals, there was a brother of his [Yûsuf (Joseph)] who did steal before
(him)." But these things did Yûsuf (Joseph) keep in himself, revealing not the
secrets to them. He said (within himself): "You are in worst case, and Allâh knows
best the truth of what you assert!"
78. They said: "O ruler of the land!
Verily, he has an old father (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place.
Indeed we think that you are one of the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112)."
79. He said: "Allâh forbid, that we
should take anyone but him with whom we found our property. Indeed (if we did so), we
should be Zâlimûn (wrong-doers)."
80. So, when they despaired of him, they held a
conference in private. The eldest among them said: "Know you not that your father did
take an oath from you in Allâh's Name, and before this you did fail in your duty with
Yûsuf (Joseph)? Therefore I will not leave this land until my father permits me, or
Allâh decides my case (by releasing Benjamin) and He is the Best of the judges.
81. "Return to your father and say, 'O our
father! Verily, your son (Benjamin) has stolen, and we testify not except according to
what we know, and we could not know the unseen!
82. "And ask (the people of) the town
where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned, and indeed we are telling the
truth."
83. He [Ya'qûb (Jacob)] said: "Nay, but
your ownselves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May
be Allâh will bring them (back) all to me. Truly He! only He is All-Knowing,
All-Wise."
84. And he turned away from them and said:
"Alas, my grief for Yûsuf (Joseph)!" And he lost his sight because of the
sorrow that he was suppressing.
85. They said: "By Allâh! You will never
cease remembering Yûsuf (Joseph) until you become weak with old age, or until you be of
the dead."
86. He said: "I only complain of my grief
and sorrow to Allâh, and I know from Allâh that which you know not.
87. "O my sons! Go you and enquire about
Yûsuf (Joseph) and his brother, and never give up hope of Allâh's Mercy. Certainly no
one despairs of Allâh's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve."
88. Then, when they entered unto him [Yûsuf
(Joseph)], they said: "O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit us and our family,
and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us.
Truly, Allâh does reward the charitable."
89. He said: "Do you know what you did
with Yûsuf (Joseph) and his brother, when you were ignorant?"
90. They said: "Are you indeed Yûsuf
(Joseph)?" He said: "I am Yûsuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin).
Allâh has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allâh with obedience to Him
(by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is
patient, then surely, Allâh makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers -
see V.2:112) to be lost."
91. They said: "By Allâh! Indeed Allâh
has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners."
92. He said: "No reproach on you this day,
may Allâh forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!
93. "Go with this shirt of mine, and cast
it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all your
family."
94. And when the caravan departed, their father
said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Yûsuf (Joseph), if only you think me not a
dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."
95. They said: "By Allâh! Certainly, you
are in your old error."
96. Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings
arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said:
"Did I not say to you, 'I know from Allâh that which you know not.' "
97. They said: "O our father! Ask
forgiveness (from Allâh) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners."
98. He said: "I will ask my Lord for
forgiveness for you, verily He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."
99. Then, when they entered unto Yûsuf
(Joseph), he betook his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allâh wills,
in security."
100. And he raised his parents to the throne
and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the
interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to
me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life,
after Shaitân (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my
Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He! Only He is the
All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
101. "My Lord! You have indeed bestowed
on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator
of the heavens and the earth! You are my Walî (Protector, Helper, Supporter,
Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one
submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous."
102. This is of the news of the Ghaib (unseen)
which We reveal by Inspiration to you (O Muhammad ). You were not (present) with them
when they arranged their plan together, and (also, while) they were plotting.
103. And most of mankind will not believe even
if you desire it eagerly.
104. And no reward you (O Muhammad ) ask of
them (those who deny your Prophethood) for it, it(the Qur'ân) is no less than a Reminder
and an advice unto the 'Alamîn (men and jinns).
105. And how many a sign in the heavens and
the earth they pass by, while they are averse therefrom.
106. And most of them believe not in Allâh
except that they attribute partners unto Him [i.e. they are Mushrikûn -polytheists
- see Verse 6: 121].
107. Do they then feel secure from the coming
against them of the covering veil of the Torment of Allâh, or of the coming against them
of the (Final) Hour, all of a sudden while they perceive not?
108. Say (O Muhammad ): "This is my
way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure
knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e to the
Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be
Allâh (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikûn
(polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who
worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to Allâh)."
109. And We sent not before you (as
Messengers) any but men, whom We inspired from among the people of townships. Have they
not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those who were before them?
And verily, the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who fear Allâh and obey Him
(by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds). Do you
not then understand?
110. (They were reprieved) until, when the
Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied (by their people), then came to
them Our Help, and whomsoever We willed were delivered. And Our Punishment cannot be
warded off from the people who are Mujrimûn (criminals, disobedients to Allâh,
sinners, disbelievers, polytheists).
111. Indeed in their stories, there is a
lesson for men of understanding. It (the Qur'an) is not a forged statement but a
confirmation of the Allâh's existing Books [the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel) and
other Scriptures of Allâh] and a detailed explanation of everything and a guide and a
Mercy for the people who believe. |
