Introduction to
Surah
12. Yûsuf
In the Name of Allâh, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
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 SAW)
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) [<>ã
<>], 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 SAW
). 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 SAW)
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
SAW): "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.[]
