Sura 12: Yousuf (Joseph) - Quran Inspector

In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

بِسْمِbis'miIn (the) nameٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) God,ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِl-raḥmāniMost Gracious,ٱلرَّحِيمِl-raḥīmiMost Merciful.

[12:1] A. L. R. These (letters) are proofs of this profound scripture.*

الٓرalif-lam-raA.L.R.تِلْكَtil'kaThese (are)ءَايَـٰتُāyātuproofs (of)ٱلْكِتَـٰبِl-kitābithe scriptureٱلْمُبِينِl-mubīni[the] profound. ﴿١﴾

*12:1 The Quranic initials constitute a major component of a great miracle (App. 1).

[12:2] We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.*

إِنَّآinnāIndeed weأَنزَلْنَـٰهُanzalnāhu[we] sent it down / revealed it,قُرْءَٰنًاqur'ānan(as) a Quranعَرَبِيًّاʿarabiyyan(in) Arabicلَّعَلَّكُمْlaʿallakumso that you [all] mayتَعْقِلُونَtaʿqilūna[you all] understand. ﴿٢﴾

*12:2 Why was the Quran revealed in Arabic? See 41:44 and Appendix 4.

[12:3] We narrate to you the most accurate history through the revelation of this Quran. Before this, you were totally unaware.

نَحْنُnaḥnuWeنَقُصُّnaquṣṣu[we] narrateعَلَيْكَʿalaykato youأَحْسَنَaḥsana(the) best (of)ٱلْقَصَصِl-qaṣaṣithe narration / account / historyبِمَآbimāin whatأَوْحَيْنَآawḥaynāwe revealedإِلَيْكَilaykato youهَـٰذَاhādhā(of) thisٱلْقُرْءَانَl-qur'ānathe Quran,وَإِنwa-inalthoughكُنتَkuntayou wereمِنminfromقَبْلِهِۦqablihibefore itلَمِنَlaminasurely amongٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَl-ghāfilīnathe unaware [ones]. ﴿٣﴾

[12:4] Recall that Joseph said to his father, "O my father, I saw eleven planets, and the sun, and the moon; I saw them prostrating before me."

إِذْidhWhenقَالَqāla[he] saidيُوسُفُyūsufuJosephلِأَبِيهِli-abīhito his father,يَـٰٓأَبَتِyāabati"O my father!إِنِّىinnīIndeed, Iرَأَيْتُra-aytu[I] sawأَحَدَaḥada one*عَشَرَʿasharaten (*eleven)كَوْكَبًاkawkabanplanet(s)وَٱلشَّمْسَwal-shamsaand the sunوَٱلْقَمَرَwal-qamaraand the moon;رَأَيْتُهُمْra-aytuhumI saw themلِىlīto meسَـٰجِدِينَsājidīna[ones] prostrating." ﴿٤﴾

[12:5] He said, "My son, do not tell your brothers about your dream, lest they plot and scheme against you. Surely, the devil is man's worst enemy.

قَالَqālaHe said,يَـٰبُنَىَّyābunayya"O my son!لَاlā(Do) notتَقْصُصْtaqṣuṣyou relate / mentionرُءْيَاكَru'yākayour dreamعَلَىٰٓʿalātoإِخْوَتِكَikh'watikayour brothersفَيَكِيدُوا۟fayakīdūlest they plan / schemeلَكَlakaagainst youكَيْدًاkaydana plot.إِنَّinnaIndeed,ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَl-shayṭānathe devil (is)لِلْإِنسَـٰنِlil'insānito the manعَدُوٌّʿaduwwunan enemyمُّبِينٌmubīnunprofound (ardent). ﴿٥﴾

[12:6] "Your Lord has thus blessed you, and has given you good news through your dream. He has perfected His blessings upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He did for your ancestors Abraham and Isaac before that. Your Lord is Omniscient, Most Wise."

وَكَذَٰلِكَwakadhālika"And thusيَجْتَبِيكَyajtabīka[He] chooses youرَبُّكَrabbukayour Lordوَيُعَلِّمُكَwayuʿallimukaand He teaches youمِنminofتَأْوِيلِtawīli(the) interpretation (of)ٱلْأَحَادِيثِl-aḥādīthithe narratives / dreamsوَيُتِمُّwayutimmuand He completesنِعْمَتَهُۥniʿ'matahuHis favors / blessingsعَلَيْكَʿalaykaupon youوَعَلَىٰٓwaʿalāand uponءَالِāli(the) family (of)يَعْقُوبَyaʿqūbaJacobكَمَآkamāasأَتَمَّهَاatammahāHe completed itعَلَىٰٓʿalāuponأَبَوَيْكَabawaykayour two forefathers / ancestorsمِنminfromقَبْلُqablubeforeإِبْرَٰهِيمَib'rāhīmaAbrahamوَإِسْحَـٰقَwa-is'ḥāqaand Isaac.إِنَّinnaIndeed,رَبَّكَrabbakayour Lord (is)عَلِيمٌʿalīmunOmniscient,حَكِيمٌḥakīmunWise." ﴿٦﴾

[12:7] In Joseph and his brothers there are lessons for the seekers.

لَّقَدْlaqadCertainlyكَانَkānathere wereفِىfīinيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephوَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓwa-ikh'watihiand his brothersءَايَـٰتٌāyātunsigns / lessonsلِّلسَّآئِلِينَlilssāilīnafor those who ask / enquirers / seekers. ﴿٧﴾

[12:8] They said, "Joseph and his brother are favored by our father, and we are in the majority. Indeed, our father is far astray.

إِذْidhWhenقَالُوا۟qālūthey said,لَيُوسُفُlayūsufu"Surely Josephوَأَخُوهُwa-akhūhuand his brother (are)أَحَبُّaḥabbumore belovedإِلَىٰٓilātoأَبِينَاabīnāour fatherمِنَّاminnāthan we,وَنَحْنُwanaḥnuwhile we (are)عُصْبَةٌʿuṣ'batuna group (majority).إِنَّinnaIndeed,أَبَانَاabānāour father (is)لَفِىlafīsurely inضَلَـٰلٍḍalālinerrorمُّبِينٍmubīninclear. ﴿٨﴾

[12:9] "Let us kill Joseph, or banish him, that you may get some attention from your father. Afterwards, you can be righteous people."*

ٱقْتُلُوا۟uq'tulū"Kill [you all]يُوسُفَyūsufaJosephأَوِawiorٱطْرَحُوهُiṭ'raḥūhucast / remove / banish him [you all]أَرْضًاarḍan(to) a landيَخْلُyakhlu(so) [it] will be solely / exclusivelyلَكُمْlakumfor you [all]وَجْهُwajhu(the) face / presence / attention (of)أَبِيكُمْabīkumyour father,وَتَكُونُوا۟watakūnūand you [all] will beمِنۢminfromبَعْدِهِۦbaʿdihiafter thatقَوْمًاqawmana peopleصَـٰلِحِينَṣāliḥīnareformers / righteous [ones]." ﴿٩﴾

*12:9 We learn from Joseph's dream that he was destined for a bright future. Thus, while his brothers met to decide his fate, his fate was already decided by God. Everything is done by God (8:17), and is already recorded (57:22).

[12:10] One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph; let us throw him into the abyss of the well. Perhaps some caravan can pick him up, if this is what you decide to do."

قَالَqāla[He] Saidقَآئِلٌqāiluna speakerمِّنْهُمْmin'humamong them,لَاlā"(Do) notتَقْتُلُوا۟taqtulū[you all] killيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephوَأَلْقُوهُwa-alqūhubut throw him [you all]فِىfīinغَيَـٰبَتِghayābati(the) bottom / abyss (of)ٱلْجُبِّl-jubithe well,يَلْتَقِطْهُyaltaqiṭ'hu[it] (may) pick him upبَعْضُbaʿḍusomeٱلسَّيَّارَةِl-sayārati[the] caravanإِنinifكُنتُمْkuntumyou [all] wereفَـٰعِلِينَfāʿilīnadoers." ﴿١٠﴾

[12:11] They said, "Our father, why do you not trust us with Joseph? We will take good care of him.

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,يَـٰٓأَبَانَاyāabānā"O our father!مَاmāWhyلَكَlakathat youلَاlānotتَأْمَ۫نَّاtamannāyou trust usعَلَىٰʿalāwithيُوسُفَyūsufaJoseph,وَإِنَّاwa-innāand indeed, we (are)لَهُۥlahufor himلَنَـٰصِحُونَlanāṣiḥūnasurely well-wishers? ﴿١١﴾

[12:12] "Send him with us tomorrow to run and play. We will protect him."

أَرْسِلْهُarsil'hu"Send himمَعَنَاmaʿanāwith usغَدًاghadantomorrow,يَرْتَعْyartaʿ(so that) he grazes / enjoysوَيَلْعَبْwayalʿaband he play.وَإِنَّاwa-innāAnd indeed, we (are)لَهُۥlahufor himلَحَـٰفِظُونَlaḥāfiẓūnasurely guardians." ﴿١٢﴾

[12:13] He said, "I worry lest you go away with him, then the wolf may devour him while you are not watching him."

قَالَqālaHe said,إِنِّىinnī"Indeed, [I]لَيَحْزُنُنِىٓlayaḥzununīsurely it saddens meأَنanthatتَذْهَبُوا۟tadhhabūyou [all] (should) take / leaveبِهِۦbihiwith himوَأَخَافُwa-akhāfuand I fearأَنanthatيَأْكُلَهُyakulahu[it] eats / devours himٱلذِّئْبُl-dhi'buthe wolfوَأَنتُمْwa-antumwhile you [all] (are)عَنْهُʿanhuof himغَـٰفِلُونَghāfilūna[ones] unaware." ﴿١٣﴾

[12:14] They said, "Indeed, if the wolf devours him, with so many of us around, then we are really losers."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,لَئِنْla-in"Surely ifأَكَلَهُakalahu[it] eats himٱلذِّئْبُl-dhi'buthe wolfوَنَحْنُwanaḥnuwhile we (are)عُصْبَةٌʿuṣ'batuna groupإِنَّآinnāindeed, weإِذًاidhanthen (would be)لَّخَـٰسِرُونَlakhāsirūnasurely losers." ﴿١٤﴾

[12:15] When they went away with him, and unanimously decided to throw him into the abyss of the well, we inspired him: "Some day, you will tell them about all this, while they have no idea."

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenذَهَبُوا۟dhahabūthey went away / leftبِهِۦbihiwith himوَأَجْمَعُوٓا۟wa-ajmaʿūand they all together / unanimously agreed / had consensusأَنanthatيَجْعَلُوهُyajʿalūhuthey put himفِىfīinغَيَـٰبَتِghayābati(the) bottom / abyss (of)ٱلْجُبِّl-jubithe well.وَأَوْحَيْنَآwa-awḥaynāAnd we inspiredإِلَيْهِilayhi[to] him,لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُمlatunabbi-annahum"Surely you will inform themبِأَمْرِهِمْbi-amrihimabout their decision / command / affairهَـٰذَاhādhāthisوَهُمْwahumwhile theyلَاlā(do) notيَشْعُرُونَyashʿurūna[they] perceive." ﴿١٥﴾

[12:16] They came back to their father in the evening, weeping.

وَجَآءُوٓwajāūAnd they cameأَبَاهُمْabāhum(to) their fatherعِشَآءًʿishāaneveningيَبْكُونَyabkūnathey weeping. ﴿١٦﴾

[12:17] They said, "Our father, we went racing with each other, leaving Joseph with our equipment, and the wolf devoured him. You will never believe us, even if we were telling the truth."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,يَـٰٓأَبَانَآyāabānā"O our father!إِنَّاinnāIndeed, weذَهَبْنَاdhahabnā[we] wentنَسْتَبِقُnastabiqu[we] racing (with each other)وَتَرَكْنَاwataraknāand we leftيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephعِندَʿindawithمَتَـٰعِنَاmatāʿināour possessions / equipment,فَأَكَلَهُfa-akalahuthen [it] ate / devoured him ٱلذِّئْبُl-dhi'buthe wolf.وَمَآwamāBut notأَنتَantayouبِمُؤْمِنٍbimu'mininever believeلَّنَاlanā[for] us,وَلَوْwalaweven ifكُنَّاkunnāwe wereصَـٰدِقِينَṣādiqīnatruthful [ones]." ﴿١٧﴾

[12:18] They produced his shirt with fake blood on it. He said, "Indeed, you have conspired with each other to commit a certain scheme. All I can do is resort to a quiet patience. May GOD help me in the face of your conspiracy."

وَجَآءُوwajāūAnd they broughtعَلَىٰʿalāoverقَمِيصِهِۦqamīṣihihis shirtبِدَمٍbidaminwith bloodكَذِبٍkadhibinfalse / fake.قَالَqālaHe said,بَلْbal"Nay,سَوَّلَتْsawwalat[it] deceived / conspiredلَكُمْlakum[to] you [all]أَنفُسُكُمْanfusukumyour soulsأَمْرًاamran(to) a matter / affair / command,فَصَبْرٌfaṣabrunso patienceجَمِيلٌjamīlunbeautiful / honorable / gracious (quite).وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd God (is)ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُl-mus'taʿānuthe One who is sought for helpعَلَىٰʿalāagainstمَاmāwhatتَصِفُونَtaṣifūnayou [all] assert / claim." ﴿١٨﴾

[12:19] A caravan passed by, and soon sent their waterer. He let down his bucket, then said, "How lucky! There is a boy here!" They took him along as merchandise, and GOD was fully aware of what they did.

وَجَآءَتْwajāatAnd [it] cameسَيَّارَةٌsayyāratuna caravanفَأَرْسَلُوا۟fa-arsalūand they sentوَارِدَهُمْwāridahumtheir water drawer / watererفَأَدْلَىٰfa-adlāthen he let downدَلْوَهُۥdalwahuhis bucket.قَالَqālaHe said,يَـٰبُشْرَىٰyābush'rā"O good news!هَـٰذَاhādhāThis (is)غُلَـٰمٌghulāmuna boy."وَأَسَرُّوهُwa-asarrūhuAnd they hid himبِضَـٰعَةًbiḍāʿatan(as) merchandise.وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd God (is)عَلِيمٌۢʿalīmunAll-Knowerبِمَاbimāof whatيَعْمَلُونَyaʿmalūnathey did. ﴿١٩﴾

[12:20] They sold him for a cheap price - a few Dirhams - for they did not have any need for him.

وَشَرَوْهُwasharawhuAnd they sold himبِثَمَنٍۭbithamaninfor a priceبَخْسٍbakhsinpaltry / cheap,دَرَٰهِمَdarāhimadirhamsمَعْدُودَةٍmaʿdūdatindetermined / numbered / limited (few),وَكَانُوا۟wakānūand they wereفِيهِfīhicomparing himمِنَminaamongٱلزَّٰهِدِينَl-zāhidīnathe ones undesirable / of low value (no need). ﴿٢٠﴾

[12:21] The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Take good care of him. Maybe he can help us, or maybe we can adopt him." We thus established Joseph on earth, and we taught him the interpretation of dreams. GOD's command is always done, but most people do not know.

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd [he] saidٱلَّذِىalladhīthe one whoٱشْتَرَىٰهُish'tarāhu[he] bought himمِنminfromمِّصْرَmiṣ'raEgyptلِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓli-im'ra-atihito his wife,أَكْرِمِىakrimī"Make comfortableمَثْوَىٰهُmathwāhuhis stay.عَسَىٰٓʿasāPerhapsأَنanthatيَنفَعَنَآyanfaʿanāhe benefits usأَوْaworنَتَّخِذَهُۥnattakhidhahuwe take himوَلَدًاwaladan(as) a son."وَكَذَٰلِكَwakadhālikaAnd thusمَكَّنَّاmakkannāwe establishedلِيُوسُفَliyūsufa[for] Josephفِىfīinٱلْأَرْضِl-arḍithe land / earthوَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥwalinuʿallimahuand that we may teach himمِنminofتَأْوِيلِtawīliinterpretation (of)ٱلْأَحَادِيثِl-aḥādīthithe reports / narratives / dreams.وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuAnd Godغَالِبٌghālibun[He] had full power / the upper handعَلَىٰٓʿalāoverأَمْرِهِۦamrihihis affairs,وَلَـٰكِنَّwalākinnabutأَكْثَرَaktharamost (of)ٱلنَّاسِl-nāsithe peopleلَاlā(do) notيَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūna[they] know. ﴿٢١﴾

[12:22] When he reached maturity, we endowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus reward the righteous.

وَلَمَّاwalammāAnd whenبَلَغَbalaghahe reachedأَشُدَّهُۥٓashuddahuhis maturity,ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُātaynāhuwe gave himحُكْمًاḥuk'manwisdomوَعِلْمًاwaʿil'manand knowledge.وَكَذَٰلِكَwakadhālikaAnd thusنَجْزِىnajzīwe rewardٱلْمُحْسِنِينَl-muḥ'sinīnathe righteous [ones]. ﴿٢٢﴾

[12:23] The lady of the house where he lived tried to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "I am all yours." He said, "May GOD protect me. He is my Lord, who gave me a good home.* The transgressors never succeed."

وَرَٰوَدَتْهُwarāwadathuAnd she sought to seduce himٱلَّتِىallatīshe whoهُوَhuwahe (was)فِىfīinبَيْتِهَاbaytihāher houseعَنʿanfromنَّفْسِهِۦnafsihihis self.وَغَلَّقَتِwaghallaqatiAnd she closed / shutٱلْأَبْوَٰبَl-abwābathe doorsوَقَالَتْwaqālatand she said,هَيْتَhayta"Come on / I am readyلَكَlaka[for] you."قَالَqālaHe said,مَعَاذَmaʿādha"Place of refuge*ٱللَّهِl-lahiGod (*God forbid).إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, He (is)رَبِّىٓrabbīmy LordأَحْسَنَaḥsanaHe made goodمَثْوَاىَmathwāyamy stay / home.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, [he]لَاlānotيُفْلِحُyuf'liḥu[he] succeedsٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَl-ẓālimūnathe wrongdoers." ﴿٢٣﴾

*12:23 Joseph worded this statement in such a way that the governor's wife thought that he was talking about her husband, when in fact he was talking about God.

[12:24] She almost succumbed to him, and he almost succumbed to her, if it were not that he saw a proof from his Lord. We thus diverted evil and sin away from him, for he was one of our devoted servants.

وَلَقَدْwalaqadAnd certainlyهَمَّتْhammatshe desiredبِهِۦbihihim,وَهَمَّwahammaand he desiredبِهَاbihāher,لَوْلَآlawlāif notأَنanthatرَّءَاraāhe sawبُرْهَـٰنَbur'hānaa proofرَبِّهِۦrabbihi(from) his Lord.كَذَٰلِكَkadhālikaThus,لِنَصْرِفَlinaṣrifathat we may divertعَنْهُʿanhufrom himٱلسُّوٓءَl-sūathe evilوَٱلْفَحْشَآءَwal-faḥshāaand the immoralities.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, heمِنْmin(was) ofعِبَادِنَاʿibādināour servantsٱلْمُخْلَصِينَl-mukh'laṣīnathose who are truly sincere / exclusively and absolutely devoted. ﴿٢٤﴾

[12:25] The two of them raced towards the door, and, in the process, she tore his garment from the back. They found her husband at the door. She said, "What should be the punishment for one who wanted to molest your wife, except imprisonment or a painful punishment?"

وَٱسْتَبَقَاwa-is'tabaqāAnd they both racedٱلْبَابَl-bāba(to) the doorوَقَدَّتْwaqaddatand she toreقَمِيصَهُۥqamīṣahuhis shirtمِنminfromدُبُرٍduburin(the) back,وَأَلْفَيَاwa-alfayāand they both foundسَيِّدَهَاsayyidahāher honor / husbandلَدَاladāatٱلْبَابِl-bābithe door.قَالَتْqālatShe said,مَاmā"What (is)جَزَآءُjazāu(the) requitalمَنْman(for one) whoأَرَادَarāda[he] intendedبِأَهْلِكَbi-ahlikafor your wife / familyسُوٓءًاsūanevilإِلَّآillāexceptأَنanthatيُسْجَنَyus'janahe be imprisonedأَوْaworعَذَابٌʿadhābuna punishmentأَلِيمٌalīmunpainful?" ﴿٢٥﴾

[12:26] He said, "She is the one who tried to seduce me." A witness from her family suggested: "If his garment is torn from the front, then she is telling the truth and he is a liar.

قَالَqālaHe said,هِىَhiya"Sheرَٰوَدَتْنِىrāwadatnī[she] sought to seduce meعَنʿanfromنَّفْسِىnafsīmyself."وَشَهِدَwashahidaAnd [he] testifiedشَاهِدٌshāhiduna witnessمِّنْminfromأَهْلِهَآahlihāher familyإِنin"Ifكَانَkāna[it] wasقَمِيصُهُۥqamīṣuhuhis shirtقُدَّquddait was tornمِنminfromقُبُلٍqubulin(the) frontفَصَدَقَتْfaṣadaqatthen she was truthful,وَهُوَwahuwaand he (is)مِنَminaofٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَl-kādhibīnathe liars. ﴿٢٦﴾

[12:27] "And if his garment is torn from the back, then she lied, and he is telling the truth."

وَإِنwa-in"But ifكَانَkāna[it] wasقَمِيصُهُۥqamīṣuhuhis shirtقُدَّquddait is tornمِنminfromدُبُرٍduburin(the) backفَكَذَبَتْfakadhabatthen she liedوَهُوَwahuwaand he (is)مِنَminaofٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَl-ṣādiqīnathe truthful [ones]." ﴿٢٧﴾

[12:28] When her husband saw that his garment was torn from the back, he said, "This is a woman's scheme. Indeed, your scheming is formidable.

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenرَءَاraāhe sawقَمِيصَهُۥqamīṣahuhis shirtقُدَّquddait was tornمِنminfromدُبُرٍduburin(the) backقَالَqālahe said,إِنَّهُۥinnahu"Indeed, it (is)مِنminofكَيْدِكُنَّkaydikunnayour plot / scheme.إِنَّinnaIndeed,كَيْدَكُنَّkaydakunnayour plot / scheme (is)عَظِيمٌʿaẓīmungreat / formidable. ﴿٢٨﴾

[12:29] "Joseph, disregard this incident. As for you (my wife), you should seek forgiveness for your sin. You have committed an error."

يُوسُفُyūsufu"Joseph,أَعْرِضْaʿriḍturn awayعَنْʿanfromهَـٰذَاhādhāthis.وَٱسْتَغْفِرِىwa-is'taghfirīAnd seek forgiveness (my wife)لِذَنۢبِكِlidhanbikifor your sin.إِنَّكِinnakiIndeed, youكُنتِkunti[you] wereمِنَminaofٱلْخَاطِـِٔينَl-khāṭiīnathe sinful [ones]." ﴿٢٩﴾

[12:30] Some women in the city gossiped: "The governor's wife is trying to seduce her servant. She is deeply in love with him. We see that she has gone astray."

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd [it] saidنِسْوَةٌnis'watunwomenفِىfīinٱلْمَدِينَةِl-madīnatithe city,ٱمْرَأَتُim'ra-atu"(The) wife ofٱلْعَزِيزِl-ʿazīzithe mighty / noble / governor,تُرَٰوِدُturāwidushe is seeking to seduceفَتَىٰهَاfatāhāher servantعَنʿanfromنَّفْسِهِۦnafsihihimself;قَدْqadindeed,شَغَفَهَاshaghafahāhe deeply impassioned herحُبًّاḥubban(with) love.إِنَّاinnāIndeed, weلَنَرَىٰهَاlanarāhā[we] surely see herفِىfīinضَلَـٰلٍḍalālinan errorمُّبِينٍmubīninclear." ﴿٣٠﴾

[12:31] When she heard of their gossip, she invited them, prepared for them a comfortable place, and gave each of them a knife. She then said to him, "Enter their room." When they saw him, they so admired him, that they cut their hands.* They said, "Glory be to GOD, this is not a human being; this is an honorable angel."

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenسَمِعَتْsamiʿatshe heardبِمَكْرِهِنَّbimakrihinnaof their sly whispering / gossip,أَرْسَلَتْarsalatshe sentإِلَيْهِنَّilayhinnafor themوَأَعْتَدَتْwa-aʿtadatand she preparedلَهُنَّlahunnafor themمُتَّكَـًٔاmuttaka-ana comfortable placeوَءَاتَتْwaātatand she gaveكُلَّkullaeachوَٰحِدَةٍwāḥidatinoneمِّنْهُنَّmin'hunnaof themسِكِّينًاsikkīnana knifeوَقَالَتِwaqālatiand she said,ٱخْرُجْukh'ruj"Go outعَلَيْهِنَّʿalayhinnabefore them."فَلَمَّاfalammāThen whenرَأَيْنَهُۥٓra-aynahuthey saw himأَكْبَرْنَهُۥakbarnahuthey greatly admired him,وَقَطَّعْنَwaqaṭṭaʿnaand they cutأَيْدِيَهُنَّaydiyahunnatheir hands,وَقُلْنَwaqul'naand they said,حَـٰشَḥāsha"Glory beلِلَّهِlillahito God,مَاmānot (is)هَـٰذَاhādhāthisبَشَرًاbasharana human beingإِنْinnot (is)هَـٰذَآhādhāthisإِلَّاillābutمَلَكٌmalakunan angelكَرِيمٌkarīmunnoble / honorable." ﴿٣١﴾

*12:31 This is the same word used in 5:38 regarding the hand of the thief, and the sum of sura and verse numbers (12+31 and 5+38) are the same. Therefore, the thief 's hand should be marked, not severed as practiced by the corrupted Islam (see Footnote 5:38).

[12:32] She said, "This is the one you blamed me for falling in love with. I did indeed try to seduce him, and he refused. Unless he does what I command him to do, he will surely go to prison, and will be debased."

قَالَتْqālatShe said,فَذَٰلِكُنَّfadhālikunna"Therefore, that (is)ٱلَّذِىalladhīthe one whomلُمْتُنَّنِىlum'tunnanīyou [all] blamed meفِيهِfīhiabout him.وَلَقَدْwalaqadAnd certainlyرَٰوَدتُّهُۥrāwadttuhuI sought to seduce himعَنʿanfromنَّفْسِهِۦnafsihihimself,فَٱسْتَعْصَمَfa-is'taʿṣamabut he sought to hold fast / abstain / refuse,وَلَئِنwala-inand surely ifلَّمْlamnotيَفْعَلْyafʿalhe doesمَآmāwhatءَامُرُهُۥāmuruhuI order him,لَيُسْجَنَنَّlayus'janannasurely he will be imprisonedوَلَيَكُونًاwalayakūnanand certainly he will beمِّنَminaofٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَl-ṣāghirīnathe debased ones. ﴿٣٢﴾

[12:33] He said, "My Lord, the prison is better than giving in to them. Unless You divert their scheming from me, I may desire them and behave like the ignorant ones."

قَالَqālaHe said,رَبِّrabbi"My Lord,ٱلسِّجْنُl-sij'nuthe prison (is)أَحَبُّaḥabbumore preferable / belovedإِلَىَّilayyato meمِمَّاmimmāthan whatيَدْعُونَنِىٓyadʿūnanīthey invite meإِلَيْهِilayhito it.وَإِلَّاwa-illāAnd unlessتَصْرِفْtaṣrifYou turn awayعَنِّىʿannīfrom meكَيْدَهُنَّkaydahunnatheir plot / schemeأَصْبُaṣbuI might inclineإِلَيْهِنَّilayhinnatowards themوَأَكُنwa-akunand [I] beمِّنَminaamongٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَl-jāhilīnathe ignorant [ones]." ﴿٣٣﴾

[12:34] His Lord answered his prayer and diverted their scheming from him. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

فَٱسْتَجَابَfa-is'tajābaSo [He] respondedلَهُۥlahuto himرَبُّهُۥrabbuhuhis Lord,فَصَرَفَfaṣarafaand He turned awayعَنْهُʿanhufrom himكَيْدَهُنَّkaydahunnatheir plot / scheme.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, [He]هُوَhuwaHe (is)ٱلسَّمِيعُl-samīʿuthe Hearer,ٱلْعَلِيمُl-ʿalīmuthe Omniscient. ﴿٣٤﴾

[12:35] Later, they saw to it, despite the clear proofs, that they should imprison him for awhile.

ثُمَّthummaThenبَدَاbadāit appearedلَهُمlahumto themمِّنۢminfromبَعْدِbaʿdiafterمَاmāwhatرَأَوُا۟ra-awūthey saw,ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِl-āyātithe signs / proofs,لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥlayasjununnahusurely they will imprison himحَتَّىٰḥattāuntilحِينٍḥīnina time. ﴿٣٥﴾

[12:36] Two young men were in the prison with him. One of them said, "I saw (in my dream) that I was making wine," and the other said, "I saw myself carrying bread on my head, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of the interpretation of these dreams. We see that you are righteous."

وَدَخَلَwadakhalaAnd [it] enteredمَعَهُmaʿahuwith himٱلسِّجْنَl-sij'na(in) the prisonفَتَيَانِfatayānitwo young men.قَالَqāla[He] saidأَحَدُهُمَآaḥaduhumāone of the two,إِنِّىٓinnī"Indeed, Iأَرَىٰنِىٓarānī[I] see myselfأَعْصِرُaʿṣirupressingخَمْرًاkhamranwine."وَقَالَwaqālaAnd [he] saidٱلْـَٔاخَرُl-ākharuthe other,إِنِّىٓinnī"Indeed, Iأَرَىٰنِىٓarānī[I] see myselfأَحْمِلُaḥmiluI am carryingفَوْقَfawqaoverرَأْسِىrasīmy headخُبْزًاkhub'zanbread,تَأْكُلُtakulu[it] eatsٱلطَّيْرُl-ṭayruthe birdsمِنْهُmin'hufrom it.نَبِّئْنَاnabbi'nāInform usبِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓbitawīlihiof its interpretation;إِنَّاinnāindeed, weنَرَىٰكَnarāka[we] see youمِنَminaamongٱلْمُحْسِنِينَl-muḥ'sinīnathe righteous [ones]." ﴿٣٦﴾

[12:37] He said, "If any food is provided to you, I can inform you about it before you receive it. This is some of the knowledge bestowed upon me by my Lord. I have forsaken the religion of people who do not believe in GOD, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are really disbelievers.

قَالَqālaHe said,لَاlā"Notيَأْتِيكُمَاyatīkumāit will come to both of youطَعَامٌṭaʿāmunfoodتُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓtur'zaqānihiyou [both] are provided itإِلَّاillābutنَبَّأْتُكُمَاnabbatukumāI informed both of youبِتَأْوِيلِهِۦbitawīlihiof its interpretation,قَبْلَqablabeforeأَنan[that]يَأْتِيَكُمَاyatiyakumā[it] comes to both of you.ذَٰلِكُمَاdhālikumāThat is [for both of you]مِمَّاmimmāof whatعَلَّمَنِىʿallamanī[He] taught meرَبِّىٓrabbīmy Lord.إِنِّىinnīIndeed, Iتَرَكْتُtaraktu[I] abandonedمِلَّةَmillata(the) religion (of)قَوْمٍqawmina people,لَّاlānotيُؤْمِنُونَyu'minūnathey believeبِٱللَّهِbil-lahiin God,وَهُمwahumand theyبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِbil-ākhiratiin the Hereafterهُمْhum[they] (are)كَـٰفِرُونَkāfirūnadisbelievers. ﴿٣٧﴾

[12:38] "And I followed instead the religion of my ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We never set up any idols beside GOD. Such is the blessing from GOD upon us and upon the people, but most people are unappreciative.

وَٱتَّبَعْتُwa-ittabaʿtu"And I followedمِلَّةَmillata(the) religion (of)ءَابَآءِىٓābāīmy forefathers,إِبْرَٰهِيمَib'rāhīmaAbrahamوَإِسْحَـٰقَwa-is'ḥāqaand Isaacوَيَعْقُوبَwayaʿqūbaand Jacob.مَاmāNotكَانَkānawasلَنَآlanāfor usأَنanthatنُّشْرِكَnush'rikawe associateبِٱللَّهِbil-lahiwith Godمِنminanyشَىْءٍshayinthing.ذَٰلِكَdhālikaThat (is)مِنminfromفَضْلِfaḍli(the) graceٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) Godعَلَيْنَاʿalaynāupon us,وَعَلَىwaʿalāand uponٱلنَّاسِl-nāsithe peopleوَلَـٰكِنَّwalākinnabutأَكْثَرَaktharamost (of)ٱلنَّاسِl-nāsithe people (are)لَاlānotيَشْكُرُونَyashkurūna[they are] appreciative. ﴿٣٨﴾

[12:39] "O my prison mates, are several gods better, or GOD alone, the One, the Supreme?

يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِyāṣāḥibayi"O my two companions (of)ٱلسِّجْنِl-sij'nithe prison!ءَأَرْبَابٌa-arbābunAre lordsمُّتَفَرِّقُونَmutafarriqūna[ones who are] diverse / numerousخَيْرٌkhayrunbetterأَمِamior isٱللَّهُl-lahuGod,ٱلْوَٰحِدُl-wāḥiduthe Oneٱلْقَهَّارُl-qahāruthe Supreme? ﴿٣٩﴾

[12:40] "You do not worship beside Him except innovations that you have made up, you and your parents. GOD has never authorized such idols. All ruling belongs to GOD, and He has ruled that you shall not worship except Him. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.

مَاmā"Notتَعْبُدُونَtaʿbudūnayou [all] worshipمِنminfromدُونِهِۦٓdūnihibesides Himإِلَّآillābutأَسْمَآءًasmāannamesسَمَّيْتُمُوهَآsammaytumūhāyou [all] designated / named it (*made it up),أَنتُمْantumyou [all]وَءَابَآؤُكُمwaābāukumand your forefathers / parents,مَّآmānotأَنزَلَanzala[He] sent downٱللَّهُl-lahuGodبِهَاbihāfor itمِنminanyسُلْطَـٰنٍsul'ṭāninauthority.إِنِiniNot (is)ٱلْحُكْمُl-ḥuk'muthe decision / rulingإِلَّاillābutلِلَّهِlillahifor God.أَمَرَamaraHe commandedأَلَّاallāthat notتَعْبُدُوٓا۟taʿbudūyou [all] worshipإِلَّآillābutإِيَّاهُiyyāhuHim alone.ذَٰلِكَdhālikaThat (is)ٱلدِّينُl-dīnuthe religionٱلْقَيِّمُl-qayimuthe right / perfect,وَلَـٰكِنَّwalākinnabutأَكْثَرَaktharamostٱلنَّاسِl-nāsi[the] peopleلَاlā(do) notيَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūna[they] know. ﴿٤٠﴾

[12:41] "O my prison mates, one of you will be the wine butler for his lord, while the other will be crucified - the birds will eat from his head. This settles the matter about which you have inquired."

يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِyāṣāḥibayi"O my two companions (of)ٱلسِّجْنِl-sij'nithe prison!أَمَّآammāAs forأَحَدُكُمَاaḥadukumāone of the two of youفَيَسْقِىfayasqīso he will give drinkرَبَّهُۥrabbahu(to) his lordخَمْرًاkhamranwine;وَأَمَّاwa-ammāand as forٱلْـَٔاخَرُl-ākharuthe otherفَيُصْلَبُfayuṣ'labuso he will be crucified,فَتَأْكُلُfatakuluand [it] eatsٱلطَّيْرُl-ṭayruthe birdsمِنminfromرَّأْسِهِۦrasihihis head.قُضِىَquḍiya[It] was settledٱلْأَمْرُl-amruthe matterٱلَّذِىalladhīwhichفِيهِfīhiin itتَسْتَفْتِيَانِtastaftiyāniyou both sought a ruling." ﴿٤١﴾

[12:42] He then said to the one to be saved "Remember me at your lord."* Thus, the devil caused him to forget his Lord, and, consequently, he remained in prison a few more years.

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd he saidلِلَّذِىlilladhīto the one whomظَنَّẓannahe thoughtأَنَّهُۥannahuthat heنَاجٍnājin[he] (would be) savedمِّنْهُمَاmin'humāamong [the two of] them,ٱذْكُرْنِىudh'kur'nī"Remember meعِندَʿindaatرَبِّكَrabbikayour lord."فَأَنسَىٰهُfa-ansāhuBut [he] made him forgetٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُl-shayṭānuthe devilذِكْرَdhik'ra(the) remembrance (of)رَبِّهِۦrabbihihis Lord,فَلَبِثَfalabithaso he remainedفِىfīinٱلسِّجْنِl-sij'nithe prisonبِضْعَbiḍ'ʿaseveralسِنِينَsinīnayears. ﴿٤٢﴾

*12:42 When Joseph begged his companion to intercede with the king on his behalf, he exhibited dependence on other than God to be saved from the prison. This does not befit a true believer, and such a serious slip cost Joseph a few years in the prison. We learn from the Quran that only God can relieve any hardship that might befall us. A true believer trusts in God and depends totally on Him alone (1:5, 6:17, 8:17, 10:107).

[12:43] The king said, "I saw seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes (of wheat), and others shriveled. O my elders, advise me regarding my dream, if you know how to interpret the dreams."

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd [he] saidٱلْمَلِكُl-malikuthe king,إِنِّىٓinnī"Indeed, Iأَرَىٰarā[I] have seenسَبْعَsabʿasevenبَقَرَٰتٍbaqarātincowsسِمَانٍsimāninfat,يَأْكُلُهُنَّyakuluhunna[it] (were) eating themسَبْعٌsabʿunsevenعِجَافٌʿijāfunskinny ones,وَسَبْعَwasabʿaand sevenسُنۢبُلَـٰتٍsunbulātinears (of corn)خُضْرٍkhuḍ'ringreen,وَأُخَرَwa-ukharaand otherيَابِسَـٰتٍyābisātindry.يَـٰٓأَيُّهَاyāayyuhāOٱلْمَلَأُl-mala-u[the] chiefs / elders!أَفْتُونِىaftūnīAdvise me [you all]فِىfīaboutرُءْيَـٰىَru'yāyamy dreamإِنinifكُنتُمْkuntumyou [all] canلِلرُّءْيَاlilrru'yāof the dreamsتَعْبُرُونَtaʿburūna[you all] interpret." ﴿٤٣﴾

[12:44] They said, "Nonsense dreams. When it comes to the interpretation of dreams, we are not knowledgeable."

قَالُوٓا۟qālūThey said,أَضْغَـٰثُaḍghāthu"Confused / muddled (nonsense)أَحْلَـٰمٍaḥlāmin[confused] dreams,وَمَاwamāand notنَحْنُnaḥnuwe (are)بِتَأْوِيلِbitawīliin (the) interpretation (of)ٱلْأَحْلَـٰمِl-aḥlāmithe [confused] dreamsبِعَـٰلِمِينَbiʿālimīnaever learned ones / knowledgeable [ones]." ﴿٤٤﴾

[12:45] The one who was saved (from the prison) said, now that he finally remembered, "I can tell you its interpretation, so send me (to Joseph)."

وَقَالَwaqālaBut [he] saidٱلَّذِىalladhīthe one whoنَجَاnajāhe was savedمِنْهُمَاmin'humāof the twoوَٱدَّكَرَwa-iddakaraand he rememberedبَعْدَbaʿdaafterأُمَّةٍummatina period / time,أَنَا۠anā"Iأُنَبِّئُكُمunabbi-ukum[I] will inform you [all]بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦbitawīlihiof its interpretationفَأَرْسِلُونِfa-arsilūniso send me [you all]. ﴿٤٥﴾

[12:46] "Joseph my friend, inform us about seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes, and others shriveled. I wish to go back with some information for the people."

يُوسُفُyūsufu"Joseph,أَيُّهَاayyuhāOٱلصِّدِّيقُl-ṣidīquthe truthful one!أَفْتِنَاaftināExplain to usفِىfīaboutسَبْعِsabʿi(the) sevenبَقَرَٰتٍbaqarātincowsسِمَانٍsimāninfatيَأْكُلُهُنَّyakuluhunna[it] (were) eating themسَبْعٌsabʿunsevenعِجَافٌʿijāfunskinny ones,وَسَبْعِwasabʿiand sevenسُنۢبُلَـٰتٍsunbulātinears (of corn)خُضْرٍkhuḍ'ringreenوَأُخَرَwa-ukharaand otherيَابِسَـٰتٍyābisātindry,لَّعَلِّىٓlaʿallīthat I mayأَرْجِعُarjiʿu[I] returnإِلَىilātoٱلنَّاسِl-nāsithe peopleلَعَلَّهُمْlaʿallahumso that they mayيَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūna[they] know." ﴿٤٦﴾

[12:47] He said, "What you cultivate during the next seven years, when the time of harvest comes, leave the grains in their spikes, except for what you eat.

قَالَqālaHe said,تَزْرَعُونَtazraʿūna"You [all] will sowسَبْعَsabʿa(for) sevenسِنِينَsinīnayears,دَأَبًاda-abanpursuing the course / as usual,فَمَاfamāthen whatحَصَدتُّمْḥaṣadttumyou [all] reap / harvestفَذَرُوهُfadharūhuso leave it [you all]فِىfīinسُنۢبُلِهِۦٓsunbulihiits ears (of corn)إِلَّاillāexceptقَلِيلًاqalīlana littleمِّمَّاmimmāfrom whatتَأْكُلُونَtakulūnayou [all] eat. ﴿٤٧﴾

[12:48] "After that, seven years of drought will come, which will consume most of what you stored for them.

ثُمَّthumma"Thenيَأْتِىyatīit will comeمِنۢminfromبَعْدِbaʿdiafterذَٰلِكَdhālikathatسَبْعٌsabʿunsevenشِدَادٌshidādunhard ones / great severity (years)يَأْكُلْنَyakul'nathey will consumeمَاmāwhatقَدَّمْتُمْqaddamtumyou [all] advancedلَهُنَّlahunnafor them,إِلَّاillāexceptقَلِيلًاqalīlana littleمِّمَّاmimmāof whatتُحْصِنُونَtuḥ'ṣinūnayou [all] preserve. ﴿٤٨﴾

[12:49] "After that, a year will come that brings relief for the people, and they will, once again, press juice."

ثُمَّthumma"Thenيَأْتِىyatīit comesمِنۢminfromبَعْدِbaʿdiafterذَٰلِكَdhālikathatعَامٌʿāmuna [lunar] yearفِيهِfīhiin itيُغَاثُyughāthuit will rain (for)ٱلنَّاسُl-nāsuthe peopleوَفِيهِwafīhiand in itيَعْصِرُونَyaʿṣirūnathey will press (juice)." ﴿٤٩﴾

[12:50] The king said, "Bring him to me." When the messenger came to him, he said, "Go back to your lord and ask him to investigate the women who cut their hands. My Lord is fully aware of their schemes."

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd [he] saidٱلْمَلِكُl-malikuthe king,ٱئْتُونِىi'tūnī"Bring to me [you all] بِهِۦbihihim."فَلَمَّاfalammāBut whenجَآءَهُjāahu[he] came to himٱلرَّسُولُl-rasūluthe messenger,قَالَqālahe (Joseph) said,ٱرْجِعْir'jiʿ"Returnإِلَىٰilātoرَبِّكَrabbikayour lord,فَسْـَٔلْهُfasalhuand ask himمَاmāwhat (is)بَالُbālu(the) case / serious affair (of)ٱلنِّسْوَةِl-nis'watithe womenٱلَّـٰتِىallātīthose whomقَطَّعْنَqaṭṭaʿnathey cutأَيْدِيَهُنَّaydiyahunnatheir hands.إِنَّinnaIndeed,رَبِّىrabbīmy Lord (is)بِكَيْدِهِنَّbikaydihinnaof their plot / schemeعَلِيمٌʿalīmunAll-Knower." ﴿٥٠﴾

[12:51] (The king) said (to the women), "What do you know about the incident when you tried to seduce Joseph?" They said, "GOD forbid; we did not know of anything evil committed by him." The wife of the governor said, "Now the truth has prevailed. I am the one who tried to seduce him, and he was the truthful one.

قَالَqālaHe said,مَاmā"What (was)خَطْبُكُنَّkhaṭbukunnayour argument / matter / missionإِذْidhwhenرَٰوَدتُّنَّrāwadttunnayou [all] sought to seduceيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephعَنʿanfromنَّفْسِهِۦnafsihihimself?"قُلْنَqul'naThey said,حَـٰشَḥāsha"Except / Save*لِلَّهِlillahito God (*God forbid);مَاmānotعَلِمْنَاʿalim'nāwe knewعَلَيْهِʿalayhiagainst himمِنminanyسُوٓءٍsūinevil."قَالَتِqālatiShe saidٱمْرَأَتُim'ra-atu(the) wife ofٱلْعَزِيزِl-ʿazīzithe mighty / noble / governor,ٱلْـَٔـٰنَl-āna"Nowحَصْحَصَḥaṣḥaṣa[it] became clearٱلْحَقُّl-ḥaquthe truth.أَنَا۠anāIرَٰوَدتُّهُۥrāwadttuhu[I] sought to seduce himعَنʿanfromنَّفْسِهِۦnafsihihimself,وَإِنَّهُۥwa-innahuand indeed, he (is)لَمِنَlaminasurely ofٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَl-ṣādiqīnathe truthful [ones]. ﴿٥١﴾

[12:52] "I hope that he will realize that I never betrayed him in his absence, for GOD does not bless the schemes of the betrayers.

ذَٰلِكَdhālika"Thatلِيَعْلَمَliyaʿlama[that] he may knowأَنِّىannīthat Iلَمْlamnotأَخُنْهُakhun'hu[I] betray himبِٱلْغَيْبِbil-ghaybiin [the] secret / absence,وَأَنَّwa-annaand thatٱللَّهَl-lahaGodلَاlānotيَهْدِىyahdīHe guidesكَيْدَkayda(the) plan / scheme (of)ٱلْخَآئِنِينَl-khāinīnathe betrayers." ﴿٥٢﴾

[12:53] "I do not claim innocence for myself. The self is an advocate of vice, except for those who have attained mercy from my Lord. My Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful."

وَمَآwamā"And notأُبَرِّئُubarri-uI claim innocenceنَفْسِىٓnafsī(for) myself.إِنَّinnaIndeed,ٱلنَّفْسَl-nafsathe self (is)لَأَمَّارَةٌۢla-ammāratunsurely an enjoiner / advocateبِٱلسُّوٓءِbil-sūiof [the] evil / vice,إِلَّاillāunlessمَاmā[that]رَحِمَraḥima[He] had mercyرَبِّىٓrabbīmy Lord.إِنَّinnaIndeed,رَبِّىrabbīmy Lord (is)غَفُورٌghafūrunForgiving,رَّحِيمٌraḥīmunMerciful." ﴿٥٣﴾

[12:54] The king said, "Bring him to me, so I can hire him to work for me." When he talked with him, he said, "Today, you have a prominent position with us."

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd [he] saidٱلْمَلِكُl-malikuthe king,ٱئْتُونِىi'tūnī"Bring to me [you all]بِهِۦٓbihi[of] him;أَسْتَخْلِصْهُastakhliṣ'huI seek to choose him / hire himلِنَفْسِىlinafsīfor myself."فَلَمَّاfalammāThen whenكَلَّمَهُۥkallamahuhe spoke to him,قَالَqālahe said,إِنَّكَinnaka"Indeed, you (are)ٱلْيَوْمَl-yawmatodayلَدَيْنَاladaynāwith usمَكِينٌmakīnunfirmly established,أَمِينٌamīnuntrustworthy." ﴿٥٤﴾

[12:55] He said, "Make me the treasurer, for I am experienced in this area and knowledgeable."

قَالَqālaHe said,ٱجْعَلْنِىij'ʿalnī"Make / appoint meعَلَىٰʿalāoverخَزَآئِنِkhazāini(the) treasures (of)ٱلْأَرْضِl-arḍithe land.إِنِّىinnīIndeed, I amحَفِيظٌḥafīẓunprotector / attentive / experiencedعَلِيمٌʿalīmunwell informed / learned / knowledgeable." ﴿٥٥﴾

[12:56] We thus established Joseph on earth, ruling as he wished. We shower our mercy upon whomever we will, and we never fail to recompense the righteous.

وَكَذَٰلِكَwakadhālikaAnd thusمَكَّنَّاmakkannāwe establishedلِيُوسُفَliyūsufa[for] Josephفِىfīinٱلْأَرْضِl-arḍithe land / earth,يَتَبَوَّأُyatabawwa-u[he] settles / provides (rules)مِنْهَاmin'hāthereinحَيْثُḥaythuwhere everيَشَآءُyashāuhe wills.نُصِيبُnuṣībuWe bestow / showerبِرَحْمَتِنَاbiraḥmatināof our mercyمَنman(on) whomنَّشَآءُnashāuwe will.وَلَاwalāAnd notنُضِيعُnuḍīʿuwe let go to wasteأَجْرَajra(the) reward (of)ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَl-muḥ'sinīnathe righteous [ones]. ﴿٥٦﴾

[12:57] Additionally, the reward in the Hereafter is even better for those who believe and lead a righteous life.

وَلَأَجْرُwala-ajruAnd surely (the) reward (of)ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِl-ākhiratithe Hereafter (is)خَيْرٌkhayrunbetterلِّلَّذِينَlilladhīnafor those whoءَامَنُوا۟āmanū[they] believedوَكَانُوا۟wakānūand they wereيَتَّقُونَyattaqūna[they] leading a righteous life. ﴿٥٧﴾

[12:58] Joseph's brothers came; when they entered, he recognized them, while they did not recognize him.

وَجَآءَwajāaAnd [he] cameإِخْوَةُikh'watu(the) brothers (of)يُوسُفَyūsufaJosephفَدَخَلُوا۟fadakhalūand they enteredعَلَيْهِʿalayhiupon him;فَعَرَفَهُمْfaʿarafahumand he recognized themوَهُمْwahumwhile theyلَهُۥlahuof himمُنكِرُونَmunkirūnathose who not recognized (him). ﴿٥٨﴾

[12:59] After he provided them with their provisions, he said, "Next time, bring with you your half-brother. Do you not see that I give full measure, and treat you generously?

وَلَمَّاwalammāAnd whenجَهَّزَهُمjahhazahumhe provided themبِجَهَازِهِمْbijahāzihimwith their provisions,قَالَqālahe said,ٱئْتُونِىi'tūnī"Bring to me [you all]بِأَخٍbi-akhinwith a brotherلَّكُمlakumof yours,مِّنْminfromأَبِيكُمْabīkumyour father.أَلَاalāDo notتَرَوْنَtarawnayou [all] seeأَنِّىٓannīthat Iأُوفِىūfī[I] give fullٱلْكَيْلَl-kayla[the] measure,وَأَنَا۠wa-anāand (that) I amخَيْرُkhayrugood / best (of)ٱلْمُنزِلِينَl-munzilīnathe hosts? ﴿٥٩﴾

[12:60] "If you fail to bring him to me, you will get no share from me; you will not even come close."

فَإِنfa-in"But ifلَّمْlamnotتَأْتُونِىtatūnīyou [all] bring to meبِهِۦbihihimفَلَاfalāthen (there will be) noكَيْلَkaylameasure (share)لَكُمْlakumfor you [all]عِندِىʿindīfrom meوَلَاwalāand notتَقْرَبُونِtaqrabūniyou [all] will come near me." ﴿٦٠﴾

[12:61] They said, "We will negotiate with his father about him. We will surely do this."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,سَنُرَٰوِدُsanurāwidu"We will solicit / negotiate / seek permissionعَنْهُʿanhufor himأَبَاهُabāhu(from) his father,وَإِنَّاwa-innāand indeed weلَفَـٰعِلُونَlafāʿilūnasurely are doers." ﴿٦١﴾

[12:62] He then instructed his assistants: "Put their goods back in their bags. When they find them upon their return to their family, they may come back sooner."

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd he saidلِفِتْيَـٰنِهِlifit'yānihito his servants,ٱجْعَلُوا۟ij'ʿalū"Put / place [you all]بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْbiḍāʿatahumtheir merchandiseفِىfīinرِحَالِهِمْriḥālihimtheir bagsلَعَلَّهُمْlaʿallahumso that they mayيَعْرِفُونَهَآyaʿrifūnahā[they] recognize itإِذَاidhāwhenٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟inqalabūthey went backإِلَىٰٓilātoأَهْلِهِمْahlihimtheir peopleلَعَلَّهُمْlaʿallahumso that they mayيَرْجِعُونَyarjiʿūna[they] return." ﴿٦٢﴾

[12:63] When they returned to their father, they said, "Our father, we can no longer get any provisions, unless you send our brother with us. We will take good care of him."

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenرَجَعُوٓا۟rajaʿūthey returnedإِلَىٰٓilātoأَبِيهِمْabīhimtheir father,قَالُوا۟qālūthey said,يَـٰٓأَبَانَاyāabānā"O our father!مُنِعَmuniʿaIt was prevented / embargoed / barredمِنَّاminnāfor usٱلْكَيْلُl-kayluthe measure,فَأَرْسِلْfa-arsilso sendمَعَنَآmaʿanāwith usأَخَانَاakhānāour brotherنَكْتَلْnaktal(that) we will get measure.وَإِنَّاwa-innāAnd indeed, we (are)لَهُۥlahufor himلَحَـٰفِظُونَlaḥāfiẓūnasurely guardians." ﴿٦٣﴾

[12:64] He said, "Shall I trust you with him, as I trusted you with his brother before that? GOD is the best Protector, and, of all the merciful ones, He is the Most Merciful."

قَالَqālaHe said,هَلْhal"ShouldءَامَنُكُمْāmanukumI entrust you [all]عَلَيْهِʿalayhiwith himإِلَّاillāexceptكَمَآkamāasأَمِنتُكُمْamintukumI entrusted you [all]عَلَىٰٓʿalāwithأَخِيهِakhīhihis brotherمِنminfromقَبْلُqablubefore?فَٱللَّهُfal-lahuBut God (is)خَيْرٌkhayrun(the) bestحَـٰفِظًاḥāfiẓanProtectorوَهُوَwahuwaand He (is)أَرْحَمُarḥamuMost Merciful (of)ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَl-rāḥimīnathe merciful ones." ﴿٦٤﴾

[12:65] When they opened their bags, they found their goods returned to them. They said, "Our father, what more can we ask for? Here are our goods returned to us. We can thus provide for our family, protect our brother, and receive one more camel-load. This is certainly a profitable deal."

وَلَمَّاwalammāAnd whenفَتَحُوا۟fataḥūthey openedمَتَـٰعَهُمْmatāʿahumtheir baggage,وَجَدُوا۟wajadūthey foundبِضَـٰعَتَهُمْbiḍāʿatahumtheir merchandiseرُدَّتْruddatit was returnedإِلَيْهِمْilayhimto them.قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,يَـٰٓأَبَانَاyāabānā"O our father!مَاmāWhat (else)نَبْغِىnabghī(could) we desire?هَـٰذِهِۦhādhihiThis (is)بِضَـٰعَتُنَاbiḍāʿatunāour merchandiseرُدَّتْruddatit was returnedإِلَيْنَاilaynāto us.وَنَمِيرُwanamīruAnd we will get provisionأَهْلَنَاahlanā(for) our family,وَنَحْفَظُwanaḥfaẓuand we will protectأَخَانَاakhānāour brotherوَنَزْدَادُwanazdāduand we will addكَيْلَkaylameasure (of)بَعِيرٍbaʿīrina [full grown] camel (load).ذَٰلِكَdhālikaThat (is)كَيْلٌkayluna measurementيَسِيرٌyasīruneasy." ﴿٦٥﴾

[12:66] He said, "I will not send him with you, unless you give me a solemn pledge before GOD that you will bring him back, unless you are utterly overwhelmed." When they gave him their solemn pledge, he said, "GOD is witnessing everything we say."

قَالَqālaHe said,لَنْlan"Neverأُرْسِلَهُۥur'silahuI will send himمَعَكُمْmaʿakumwith you [all]حَتَّىٰḥattāuntilتُؤْتُونِtu'tūniyou [all] give to meمَوْثِقًاmawthiqana promiseمِّنَminabeforeٱللَّهِl-lahiGodلَتَأْتُنَّنِىlatatunnanīsurely you [all] will bring to meبِهِۦٓbihihimإِلَّآillāunlessأَنanthatيُحَاطَyuḥāṭa[it] surrounds / overwhelmsبِكُمْbikumover you [all]."فَلَمَّآfalammāAnd whenءَاتَوْهُātawhuthey gave himمَوْثِقَهُمْmawthiqahumtheir promise,قَالَqālahe said,ٱللَّهُl-lahu"God (is)عَلَىٰʿalāoverمَاmāwhatنَقُولُnaqūluwe sayوَكِيلٌwakīluna Guardian / Witness." ﴿٦٦﴾

[12:67] And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one door; enter through separate doors. However, I cannot save you from anything that is predetermined by GOD. To GOD belongs all judgments. I trust in Him, and in Him shall all the trusters put their trust."

وَقَالَwaqālaAnd he said,يَـٰبَنِىَّyābaniyya"O my sons!لَاlā(Do) notتَدْخُلُوا۟tadkhulūyou [all] enterمِنۢminfromبَابٍbābindoorوَٰحِدٍwāḥidinone / singleوَٱدْخُلُوا۟wa-ud'khulūbut enter [you all]مِنْminfromأَبْوَٰبٍabwābindoorsمُّتَفَرِّقَةٍmutafarriqatindifferent / separate [ones].وَمَآwamāAnd notأُغْنِىugh'nīI (can) availعَنكُمʿankum[for] you [all]مِّنَminaagainst / fromٱللَّهِl-lahiGodمِنminanyشَىْءٍshayinthing.إِنِiniNot (is)ٱلْحُكْمُl-ḥuk'muthe decisionإِلَّاillāexceptلِلَّهِlillahiwith God,عَلَيْهِʿalayhiin HimتَوَكَّلْتُtawakkaltuI put (my) trust,وَعَلَيْهِwaʿalayhiand in Himفَلْيَتَوَكَّلِfalyatawakkaliso let [him] rely / put (their) trustٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَl-mutawakilūnathe relying ones / trusting ones." ﴿٦٧﴾

[12:68] When they went (to Joseph), they entered in accordance with their father's instructions. Although this could not change anything decreed by GOD, Jacob had a private reason for asking them to do this. For he possessed certain knowledge that we taught him, but most people do not know.

وَلَمَّاwalammāAnd whenدَخَلُوا۟dakhalūthey enteredمِنْminfromحَيْثُḥaythuwhereأَمَرَهُمْamarahum[he] ordered themأَبُوهُمabūhumtheir father,مَّاmānotكَانَkānait wasيُغْنِىyugh'nī[it] (to) availعَنْهُمʿanhumfor themمِّنَminaagainst / fromٱللَّهِl-lahiGodمِنminanyشَىْءٍshayinthingإِلَّاillābutحَاجَةًḥājatan(it was) a desire / wish / feelingفِىfīinنَفْسِnafsimind / soul (of)يَعْقُوبَyaʿqūbaJacobقَضَىٰهَاqaḍāhā(which) he carried it out.وَإِنَّهُۥwa-innahuAnd indeed, he (was)لَذُوladhūsurely a possessor ofعِلْمٍʿil'minknowledgeلِّمَاlimāfor whatعَلَّمْنَـٰهُʿallamnāhuwe taught him,وَلَـٰكِنَّwalākinnabutأَكْثَرَaktharamost (of)ٱلنَّاسِl-nāsithe peopleلَاlā(do) notيَعْلَمُونَyaʿlamūna[they] know. ﴿٦٨﴾

[12:69] When they entered Joseph's place, he brought his brother closer to him and said, "I am your brother; do not be saddened by their actions."

وَلَمَّاwalammāAnd whenدَخَلُوا۟dakhalūthey enteredعَلَىٰʿalāuponيُوسُفَyūsufaJoseph,ءَاوَىٰٓāwāhe tookإِلَيْهِilayhito himselfأَخَاهُakhāhuhis brother.قَالَqālaHe said,إِنِّىٓinnī"Indeed, I amأَنَا۠anā[I am]أَخُوكَakhūkayour brotherفَلَاfalāso (do) notتَبْتَئِسْtabta-is[you] grieveبِمَاbimāfor whatكَانُوا۟kānūthey used toيَعْمَلُونَyaʿmalūna[they] do (their actions)." ﴿٦٩﴾

[12:70] When he provided them with their provisions, he placed the drinking cup in his brother's bag, then an announcer announced: "The owners of this caravan are thieves."

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenجَهَّزَهُمjahhazahumhe provided themبِجَهَازِهِمْbijahāzihimwith their provisions,جَعَلَjaʿalahe placedٱلسِّقَايَةَl-siqāyatathe drinking cupفِىfīinرَحْلِraḥli(the) bag (of)أَخِيهِakhīhihis brother.ثُمَّthummaThenأَذَّنَadhana[he] called out / announcedمُؤَذِّنٌmu-adhinunan announcerأَيَّتُهَاayyatuhā"Oٱلْعِيرُl-ʿīru[the] caravan!إِنَّكُمْinnakumIndeed, you [all] (are)لَسَـٰرِقُونَlasāriqūnasurely thieves." ﴿٧٠﴾

[12:71] They said, as they came towards them, "What did you lose?"

قَالُوا۟qālūThey saidوَأَقْبَلُوا۟wa-aqbalūas they turned towardsعَلَيْهِمʿalayhim[upon] them,مَّاذَاmādhā"What then (is it)تَفْقِدُونَtafqidūnayou [all] are missing?" ﴿٧١﴾

[12:72] They said, "We lost the king's cup. Anyone who returns it will receive an extra camel-load; I personally guarantee this."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,نَفْقِدُnafqidu"We are missingصُوَاعَṣuwāʿa(the) goblet / cup (of)ٱلْمَلِكِl-malikithe king.وَلِمَنwalimanAnd for whoeverجَآءَjāa[he] cameبِهِۦbihiwith it (is)حِمْلُḥim'lua load (of)بَعِيرٍbaʿīrina [full grown] camel,وَأَنَا۠wa-anāand Iبِهِۦbihifor itزَعِيمٌzaʿīmunguarantee." ﴿٧٢﴾

[12:73] They said, "By GOD, you know full well that we did not come here to commit evil, nor are we thieves."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,تَٱللَّهِtal-lahi"By Godلَقَدْlaqadcertainlyعَلِمْتُمʿalim'tumyou [all] know,مَّاmānotجِئْنَاji'nāwe cameلِنُفْسِدَlinuf'sidathat we may cause corruptionفِىfīinٱلْأَرْضِl-arḍithe land,وَمَاwamāand notكُنَّاkunnāwe wereسَـٰرِقِينَsāriqīnathieves." ﴿٧٣﴾

[12:74] They said, "What is the punishment for the thief, if you are liars?"

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,فَمَاfamā"Then what (will be)جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓjazāuhuhis punishment / requitalإِنinifكُنتُمْkuntumyou [all] areكَـٰذِبِينَkādhibīnaliars." ﴿٧٤﴾

[12:75] They said, "The punishment, if it is found in his bag, is that the thief belongs to you. We thus punish the guilty."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥjazāuhu"His punishment / requital (is that)مَنman(the one) who,وُجِدَwujidait was foundفِىfīinرَحْلِهِۦraḥlihihis bag,فَهُوَfahuwathen he (will be)جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥjazāuhuhis punishment / requital.كَذَٰلِكَkadhālikaThusنَجْزِىnajzīwe will punish / requiteٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَl-ẓālimīnathe wrongdoers / guilty [ones]." ﴿٧٥﴾

[12:76] He then started by inspecting their containers, before getting to his brother's container, and he extracted it out of his brother's container. We thus perfected the scheme for Joseph; he could not have kept his brother if he applied the king's law. But that was the will of GOD. We exalt whomever we choose to higher ranks. Above every knowledgeable one, there is one who is even more knowledgeable.

فَبَدَأَfabada-aSo he startedبِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْbi-awʿiyatihimwith their bagsقَبْلَqablabeforeوِعَآءِwiʿāi(the) bag / container (of)أَخِيهِakhīhihis brother;ثُمَّthummathenٱسْتَخْرَجَهَاis'takhrajahāhe sought to bring it out / extract itمِنminfromوِعَآءِwiʿāi(the) bag / container (of)أَخِيهِakhīhihis brother.كَذَٰلِكَkadhālikaThusكِدْنَاkid'nāwe planned / schemedلِيُوسُفَliyūsufafor Joseph.مَاmāNotكَانَkānait wasلِيَأْخُذَliyakhudhathat he may takeأَخَاهُakhāhuhis brotherفِىfībyدِينِdīnilaw (of)ٱلْمَلِكِl-malikithe king,إِلَّآillāexceptأَنanthatيَشَآءَyashāa[He] willsٱللَّهُl-lahuGod.نَرْفَعُnarfaʿuWe raise / exaltدَرَجَـٰتٍdarajātin(in) ranksمَّنmanwhomنَّشَآءُnashāuwe will,وَفَوْقَwafawqabut overكُلِّkullieveryذِىdhīpossessor ofعِلْمٍʿil'minknowledge (is)عَلِيمٌʿalīmun(the) All-Knower. ﴿٧٦﴾

[12:77] They said, "If he stole, so did a brother of his in the past." Joseph concealed his feelings in himself, and did not give them any clue. He said (to himself), "You are really bad. GOD is fully aware of your accusations."

قَالُوٓا۟qālūThey said,إِنin"Ifيَسْرِقْyasriqhe stealsفَقَدْfaqadthen verilyسَرَقَsaraqa[he] stoleأَخٌakhuna brotherلَّهُۥlahuof hisمِنminfromقَبْلُqablubefore."فَأَسَرَّهَاfa-asarrahāBut [he] kept it secretيُوسُفُyūsufuJosephفِىfīwithinنَفْسِهِۦnafsihihimself,وَلَمْwalamand (did) notيُبْدِهَاyub'dihāhe disclose / reveal itلَهُمْlahumto them.قَالَqālaHe said,أَنتُمْantum"You [all] (are)شَرٌّsharrunevil / worse / badمَّكَانًاmakānan(in) position,وَٱللَّهُwal-lahuand Godأَعْلَمُaʿlamuknows bestبِمَاbimāof whatتَصِفُونَtaṣifūnayou [all] assert / claim." ﴿٧٧﴾

[12:78] They said, “O you noble one, he has a father who is elderly; would you take one of us in his place? We see that you are a kind man."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,يَـٰٓأَيُّهَاyāayyuhā"O youٱلْعَزِيزُl-ʿazīzu[the] mighty / noble (one)!إِنَّinnaIndeed,لَهُۥٓlahufor himأَبًاabana fatherشَيْخًاshaykhanan old manكَبِيرًاkabīrangreat,فَخُذْfakhudhso takeأَحَدَنَاaḥadanāone of usمَكَانَهُۥٓmakānahu(in) his place.إِنَّاinnāIndeed, weنَرَىٰكَnarāka[we] see you (are)مِنَminaofٱلْمُحْسِنِينَl-muḥ'sinīnathe righteous / kind [ones]." ﴿٧٨﴾

[12:79] He said, "GOD forbid that we should take other than the one in whose possession we found our goods. Otherwise, we would be unjust."

قَالَqālaHe said,مَعَاذَmaʿādha"Place of refuge*ٱللَّهِl-lahiGod (*God forbid)أَنanthatنَّأْخُذَnakhudhawe takeإِلَّاillāexceptمَنman(one) who,وَجَدْنَاwajadnāwe foundمَتَـٰعَنَاmatāʿanāour possessionعِندَهُۥٓʿindahuwith him.إِنَّآinnāIndeed, weإِذًاidhanthen (would be)لَّظَـٰلِمُونَlaẓālimūnasurely wrongdoers / unjust [ones]." ﴿٧٩﴾

[12:80] When they despaired of changing his mind, they conferred together. Their eldest said, "Do you realize that your father has taken a solemn pledge from you before GOD? In the past you lost Joseph. I am not leaving this place until my father gives me permission, or until GOD judges for me; He is the best Judge.

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟is'tayasūthey gave up hope / despairedمِنْهُmin'huof him,خَلَصُوا۟khalaṣūthey became extensively privateنَجِيًّاnajiyyan(in) private consultation / conferringقَالَqāla[he] saidكَبِيرُهُمْkabīruhum(the) eldest among them,أَلَمْalam"Do notتَعْلَمُوٓا۟taʿlamūyou [all] knowأَنَّannathatأَبَاكُمْabākumyour father,قَدْqadindeedأَخَذَakhadhahe tookعَلَيْكُمʿalaykumupon you [all]مَّوْثِقًاmawthiqana promiseمِّنَminabeforeٱللَّهِl-lahiGod,وَمِنwaminand fromقَبْلُqablubeforeمَاmāthatفَرَّطتُمْfarraṭtumyou [all] failed / fallen shortفِىfīconcerningيُوسُفَyūsufaJoseph?فَلَنْfalanSo neverأَبْرَحَabraḥaI will leaveٱلْأَرْضَl-arḍathe landحَتَّىٰḥattāuntilيَأْذَنَyadhanaHe gives permissionلِىٓlīto meأَبِىٓabīmy fatherأَوْaworيَحْكُمَyaḥkuma[He] decides / judgesٱللَّهُl-lahuGodلِىlīfor me,وَهُوَwahuwaand He (is)خَيْرُkhayruBest (of)ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَl-ḥākimīnathe judges. ﴿٨٠﴾

[12:81] "Go back to your father and tell him...'Our father, your son has committed a theft. We know for sure, because this is what we have witnessed. This was an unexpected occurrence.

ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ir'jiʿū"Return [you all]إِلَىٰٓilātoأَبِيكُمْabīkumyour fatherفَقُولُوا۟faqūlūand say [you all],يَـٰٓأَبَانَآyāabānāO our father!إِنَّinnaIndeed,ٱبْنَكَib'nakayour sonسَرَقَsaraqahe stole,وَمَاwamāand notشَهِدْنَآshahid'nāwe witnessedإِلَّاillāexceptبِمَاbimāto whatعَلِمْنَاʿalim'nāwe knew.وَمَاwamāAnd notكُنَّاkunnāwe wereلِلْغَيْبِlil'ghaybiof the unseen (unexpected)حَـٰفِظِينَḥāfiẓīnaguardians. ﴿٨١﴾

[12:82] You may ask the community where we were, and the caravan that came back with us. We are telling the truth.'"

وَسْـَٔلِwasaliAnd askٱلْقَرْيَةَl-qaryatathe townٱلَّتِىallatīwhichكُنَّاkunnāwe wereفِيهَاfīhāin it,وَٱلْعِيرَwal-ʿīraand the caravanٱلَّتِىٓallatīwhichأَقْبَلْنَاaqbalnāwe accompanied / returnedفِيهَاfīhāin it.وَإِنَّاwa-innāAnd indeed, we (are)لَصَـٰدِقُونَlaṣādiqūnasurely truthful [ones].'" ﴿٨٢﴾

[12:83] He said, "Indeed, you have conspired to carry out a certain scheme. Quiet patience is my only recourse. May GOD bring them all back to me. He is the Omniscient, Most Wise."

قَالَqālaHe said,بَلْbal"Nay,سَوَّلَتْsawwalat[it] deceived / conspiredلَكُمْlakum[to] you [all]أَنفُسُكُمْanfusukumyour souls / yourselvesأَمْرًاamran(to) a matter / affair / command,فَصَبْرٌfaṣabrunso patienceجَمِيلٌjamīlunbeautiful / honorable / gracious (quite).عَسَىʿasāPerhapsٱللَّهُl-lahuGod,أَنanthatيَأْتِيَنِىyatiyanīHe will bring meبِهِمْbihimthemجَمِيعًاjamīʿanall.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, [He]هُوَhuwaHe (is)ٱلْعَلِيمُl-ʿalīmuthe Omniscient,ٱلْحَكِيمُl-ḥakīmuMost Wise." ﴿٨٣﴾

[12:84] He turned away from them, saying, "I am grieving over Joseph." His eyes turned white from grieving so much; he was truly sad.

وَتَوَلَّىٰwatawallāAnd he turned awayعَنْهُمْʿanhumfrom themوَقَالَwaqālaand he said,يَـٰٓأَسَفَىٰyāasafā"O, my grief / sorrowعَلَىٰʿalāoverيُوسُفَyūsufaJoseph!"وَٱبْيَضَّتْwa-ib'yaḍḍatAnd [it] became whiteعَيْنَاهُʿaynāhuhis eyesمِنَminafromٱلْحُزْنِl-ḥuz'nithe grief,فَهُوَfahuwaand heكَظِيمٌkaẓīmunsuppressed grief / was truly sad. ﴿٨٤﴾

[12:85] They said, "By GOD, you will keep on grieving over Joseph until you become ill, or until you die."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,تَٱللَّهِtal-lahi"By God,تَفْتَؤُا۟tafta-uyou will not ceaseتَذْكُرُtadhkuru[you] rememberيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephحَتَّىٰḥattāuntilتَكُونَtakūnayou becomeحَرَضًاḥaraḍanillأَوْaworتَكُونَtakūnayou becomeمِنَminaofٱلْهَـٰلِكِينَl-hālikīnathose who perish / die." ﴿٨٥﴾

[12:86] He said, "I simply complain to GOD about my dilemma and grief, for I know from GOD what you do not know.

قَالَqālaHe said,إِنَّمَآinnamā"Onlyأَشْكُوا۟ashkūI reflect / project / complain (of)بَثِّىbathīmy suffering / dilemmaوَحُزْنِىٓwaḥuz'nīand my griefإِلَىilātoٱللَّهِl-lahiGod,وَأَعْلَمُwa-aʿlamuand I knowمِنَminafromٱللَّهِl-lahiGodمَاmāwhatلَاlānotتَعْلَمُونَtaʿlamūnayou [all] know. ﴿٨٦﴾

[12:87] "O my sons, go fetch Joseph and his brother, and never despair of GOD's grace. None despairs of GOD's grace except the disbelieving people.

يَـٰبَنِىَّyābaniyya"O my sons!ٱذْهَبُوا۟idh'habūGo [you all]فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟fataḥassasūand you [all] inquire / find outمِنminaboutيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephوَأَخِيهِwa-akhīhiand his brother,وَلَاwalāand notتَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟tāy'asūyou [all] despairمِنminofرَّوْحِrawḥi(the) essence / mercy / graceٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) God.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, [he]لَاlānotيَا۟يْـَٔسُyāy'asuhe despairsمِنminofرَّوْحِrawḥi(the) essence / mercy / grace ٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) Godإِلَّاillāexceptٱلْقَوْمُl-qawmuthe peopleٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَl-kāfirūnathe disbelievers." ﴿٨٧﴾

[12:88] When they entered (Joseph's) quarters, they said, "O you noble one, we have suffered a lot of hardship, along with our family, and we have brought inferior goods. But we hope that you will give us full measure and be charitable to us. GOD rewards the charitable."

فَلَمَّاfalammāSo whenدَخَلُوا۟dakhalūthey enteredعَلَيْهِʿalayhiupon himقَالُوا۟qālūthey said,يَـٰٓأَيُّهَاyāayyuhā"O youٱلْعَزِيزُl-ʿazīzu[the] mighty / noble (one)!مَسَّنَاmassanā[It] touched usوَأَهْلَنَاwa-ahlanāand our familyٱلضُّرُّl-ḍuruthe adversity / hardship,وَجِئْنَاwaji'nāand we cameبِبِضَـٰعَةٍbibiḍāʿatinwith goods (of)مُّزْجَىٰةٍmuz'jātinlittle value,فَأَوْفِfa-awfibut pay in fullلَنَاlanāto usٱلْكَيْلَl-kaylathe measureوَتَصَدَّقْwataṣaddaqand be charitableعَلَيْنَآʿalaynāto us.إِنَّinnaIndeed,ٱللَّهَl-lahaGodيَجْزِىyajzī[He] rewards / recompensesٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَl-mutaṣadiqīnathe charitable ones." ﴿٨٨﴾

[12:89] He said, "Do you recall what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?"

قَالَqālaHe said,هَلْhal"Haveعَلِمْتُمʿalim'tumyou [all] knownمَّاmāwhatفَعَلْتُمfaʿaltumyou [all] didبِيُوسُفَbiyūsufawith Josephوَأَخِيهِwa-akhīhiand his brother,إِذْidhwhenأَنتُمْantumyou [all] (were)جَـٰهِلُونَjāhilūnaignorant [ones]?" ﴿٨٩﴾

[12:90] They said, "You must be Joseph." He said, "I am Joseph, and here is my brother. GOD has blessed us. That is because if one leads a righteous life, and steadfastly perseveres, GOD never fails to reward the righteous."

قَالُوٓا۟qālūThey said,أَءِنَّكَa-innaka"Are you [indeed]لَأَنتَla-antasurely [you],يُوسُفُyūsufuJoseph?"قَالَqālaHe said,أَنَا۠anā"I amيُوسُفُyūsufuJoseph,وَهَـٰذَآwahādhāand this (is)أَخِىakhīmy brother.قَدْqadIndeed,مَنَّmanna[He] was graciousٱللَّهُl-lahuGodعَلَيْنَآʿalaynāto us.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, heمَنmanwhoيَتَّقِyattaqihe leads a righteous lifeوَيَصْبِرْwayaṣbirand he is patient,فَإِنَّfa-innathen indeed,ٱللَّهَl-lahaGodلَاlānotيُضِيعُyuḍīʿuHe lets go to wasteأَجْرَajra(the) reward (of)ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَl-muḥ'sinīnathe righteous [ones]." ﴿٩٠﴾

[12:91] They said, "By GOD, GOD has truly preferred you over us. We were definitely wrong."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,تَٱللَّهِtal-lahi"By God,لَقَدْlaqadcertainlyءَاثَرَكَātharaka[He] preferred youٱللَّهُl-lahuGodعَلَيْنَاʿalaynāover usوَإِنwa-inand indeed,كُنَّاkunnāwe wereلَخَـٰطِـِٔينَlakhāṭiīnasurely sinners." ﴿٩١﴾

[12:92] He said, "There is no blame upon you today. May GOD forgive you. Of all the merciful ones, He is the Most Merciful.

قَالَqālaHe said,لَاlā"Noتَثْرِيبَtathrībablameعَلَيْكُمُʿalaykumuupon you [all]ٱلْيَوْمَl-yawmatoday.يَغْفِرُyaghfiru[He] forgivesٱللَّهُl-lahuGodلَكُمْlakum[for] you [all],وَهُوَwahuwaand He (is)أَرْحَمُarḥamuMost Merciful (of)ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَl-rāḥimīnathe merciful ones. ﴿٩٢﴾

[12:93] "Take this shirt of mine; when you throw it on my father's face, his vision will be restored. Bring your whole family and come back to me."*

ٱذْهَبُوا۟idh'habū"Go [you all]بِقَمِيصِىbiqamīṣīwith my shirtهَـٰذَاhādhāthisفَأَلْقُوهُfa-alqūhuand cast it [you all]عَلَىٰʿalāoverوَجْهِwajhi(the) face (of)أَبِىabīmy father,يَأْتِyatiit will bring (him)بَصِيرًاbaṣīransightوَأْتُونِىwatūnīAnd bring to me [you all]بِأَهْلِكُمْbi-ahlikumof your familyأَجْمَعِينَajmaʿīnaall together." ﴿٩٣﴾

*12:93 This marks the beginning of the Children of Israel in Egypt. Moses led them out of Egypt a few centuries later.

[12:94] Even before the caravan arrived, their father said, "I can sense the smell of Joseph. Will someone enlighten me?"

وَلَمَّاwalammāAnd whenفَصَلَتِfaṣalati[it] departedٱلْعِيرُl-ʿīruthe caravan,قَالَqāla[he] saidأَبُوهُمْabūhumtheir father إِنِّىinnī"Indeed, Iلَأَجِدُla-ajidu[I] surely findرِيحَrīḥa(the) smell (of)يُوسُفَyūsufaJoseph,لَوْلَآlawlāif notأَنanthatتُفَنِّدُونِtufannidūniyou [all] think my judgment is weak and unsound." ﴿٩٤﴾

[12:95] They said, "By GOD, you are still in your old confusion."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,تَٱللَّهِtal-lahi"By Godإِنَّكَinnakaindeed, you (are)لَفِىlafīsurely inضَلَـٰلِكَḍalālikayour errorٱلْقَدِيمِl-qadīmi[the] old." ﴿٩٥﴾

[12:96] When the bearer of good news arrived, he threw (the shirt) on his face, whereupon his vision was restored. He said, "Did I not tell you that I knew from GOD what you did not know?"

فَلَمَّآfalammāThen whenأَنan[that]جَآءَjāa[he] arrivedٱلْبَشِيرُl-bashīruthe bearer of good news,أَلْقَىٰهُalqāhuhe cast itعَلَىٰʿalāoverوَجْهِهِۦwajhihihis face,فَٱرْتَدَّfa-ir'taddathen it returned (his)بَصِيرًاbaṣīransight.قَالَqālaHe said,أَلَمْalam"Did notأَقُلaqulI sayلَّكُمْlakumto you [all],إِنِّىٓinnīindeed, Iأَعْلَمُaʿlamu[I] knowمِنَminafromٱللَّهِl-lahiGodمَاmāwhatلَاlānotتَعْلَمُونَtaʿlamūnayou [all] know?" ﴿٩٦﴾

[12:97] They said, "Our father, pray for our forgiveness; we were wrong indeed."

قَالُوا۟qālūThey said,يَـٰٓأَبَانَاyāabānā"O our father!ٱسْتَغْفِرْis'taghfirAsk forgivenessلَنَاlanāfor usذُنُوبَنَآdhunūbanā(for) our sins.إِنَّاinnāIndeed, weكُنَّاkunnā[we] wereخَـٰطِـِٔينَkhāṭiīnasinners." ﴿٩٧﴾

[12:98] He said, "I will implore my Lord to forgive you; He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful."

قَالَqālaHe said,سَوْفَsawfa"SoonأَسْتَغْفِرُastaghfiruI will ask forgivenessلَكُمْlakumfor you [all]رَبِّىٓrabbī(from) my Lord.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, [He]هُوَhuwaHe (is)ٱلْغَفُورُl-ghafūruthe Forgiver,ٱلرَّحِيمُl-raḥīmuMost Merciful." ﴿٩٨﴾

[12:99] When they entered Joseph's quarters, he embraced his parents, saying, "Welcome to Egypt. GOD willing, you will be safe here."

فَلَمَّاfalammāThen whenدَخَلُوا۟dakhalūthey enteredعَلَىٰʿalāuponيُوسُفَyūsufaJosephءَاوَىٰٓāwāhe tookإِلَيْهِilayhito himselfأَبَوَيْهِabawayhi[both] his parentsوَقَالَwaqālaand [he] said,ٱدْخُلُوا۟ud'khulū"Enter [you all]مِصْرَmiṣ'raEgyptإِنinifشَآءَshāa[He] willed,ٱللَّهُl-lahuGodءَامِنِينَāminīna[ones] peaceful / safe and secure." ﴿٩٩﴾

[12:100] He raised his parents upon the throne. They fell prostrate before him. He said, "O my father, this is the fulfillment of my old dream. My Lord has made it come true. He has blessed me, delivered me from the prison, and brought you from the desert, after the devil had driven a wedge between me and my brothers. My Lord is Most Kind towards whomever He wills. He is the Knower, the Most Wise."

وَرَفَعَwarafaʿaAnd he raisedأَبَوَيْهِabawayhi[both] his parentsعَلَىʿalāuponٱلْعَرْشِl-ʿarshithe throneوَخَرُّوا۟wakharrūand they fell downلَهُۥlahuto himسُجَّدًاsujjadanprostrate.وَقَالَwaqālaAnd he said,يَـٰٓأَبَتِyāabati"O my father!هَـٰذَاhādhāThis (is)تَأْوِيلُtawīlu(the) interpretation (of)رُءْيَـٰىَru'yāyamy dream,مِنminfromقَبْلُqablubefore.قَدْqadVerily,جَعَلَهَاjaʿalahā[He] made itرَبِّىrabbīmy Lordحَقًّاḥaqqantrue.وَقَدْwaqadAnd indeed,أَحْسَنَaḥsanaHe was goodبِىٓbīto meإِذْidhwhenأَخْرَجَنِىakhrajanīHe brought me outمِنَminaofٱلسِّجْنِl-sij'nithe prison,وَجَآءَwajāaand He broughtبِكُمbikum[of] you [all]مِّنَminafromٱلْبَدْوِl-badwithe bedouin life / desertمِنۢminfromبَعْدِbaʿdiafterأَنanthatنَّزَغَnazagha[he] sowed discord / driven a wedgeٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُl-shayṭānuthe devilبَيْنِىbaynībetween meوَبَيْنَwabaynaand betweenإِخْوَتِىٓikh'watīmy brothers.إِنَّinnaIndeed,رَبِّىrabbīmy Lord (is)لَطِيفٌlaṭīfunSubtle / Gentle / Kindلِّمَاlimāto whatيَشَآءُyashāuHe wills.إِنَّهُۥinnahuIndeed, [He]هُوَhuwaHe (is)ٱلْعَلِيمُl-ʿalīmuthe Knower,ٱلْحَكِيمُl-ḥakīmuMost Wise. ﴿١٠٠﴾

[12:101] "My Lord, You have given me kingship and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Initiator of the heavens and the earth; You are my Lord and Master in this life and in the Hereafter. Let me die as a submitter, and count me with the righteous."

رَبِّrabbi"My Lord,قَدْqadindeed,ءَاتَيْتَنِىātaytanīYou gave meمِنَminaofٱلْمُلْكِl-mul'kithe sovereigntyوَعَلَّمْتَنِىwaʿallamtanīand You taught meمِنminofتَأْوِيلِtawīli(the) interpretation (of)ٱلْأَحَادِيثِl-aḥādīthithe narratives / dreams.فَاطِرَfāṭiraCreator / Initiator (of)ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِl-samāwātithe heavensوَٱلْأَرْضِwal-arḍiand the earth,أَنتَantaYou (are)وَلِىِّۦwaliyyīmy Protector / Lord and Master,فِىfīinٱلدُّنْيَاl-dun'yāthe worldوَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِwal-ākhiratiand the Hereafter.تَوَفَّنِىtawaffanīYou let me to dieمُسْلِمًاmus'liman(as) a submitter,وَأَلْحِقْنِىwa-alḥiq'nīand join meبِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَbil-ṣāliḥīnawith the righteous [ones]." ﴿١٠١﴾

[12:102] This is news from the past that we reveal to you. You were not present when they made their unanimous decision (to throw Joseph in the well), as they conspired together.

ذَٰلِكَdhālikaThat (is)مِنْminfromأَنۢبَآءِanbāi(the) news (of)ٱلْغَيْبِl-ghaybithe unseen / pastنُوحِيهِnūḥīhi(which) we reveal itإِلَيْكَilaykato you.وَمَاwamāAnd notكُنتَkuntayou wereلَدَيْهِمْladayhimwith themإِذْidhwhenأَجْمَعُوٓا۟ajmaʿūthey all together agreed / unanimously agreedأَمْرَهُمْamrahumtheir decisionوَهُمْwahumwhile theyيَمْكُرُونَyamkurūna[they] (were) plotting / scheming / conspiring. ﴿١٠٢﴾

[12:103] Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe.

وَمَآwamāAnd notأَكْثَرُaktharumost (of)ٱلنَّاسِl-nāsithe people,وَلَوْwalaweven thoughحَرَصْتَḥaraṣtayou desire,بِمُؤْمِنِينَbimu'minīna(will be) ever believers. ﴿١٠٣﴾

[12:104] You are not asking them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder for all the people.

وَمَاwamāAnd notتَسْـَٔلُهُمْtasaluhumyou ask themعَلَيْهِʿalayhifor itمِنْminanyأَجْرٍajrinreward / money.إِنْinNot (is)هُوَhuwaitإِلَّاillābutذِكْرٌdhik'runa reminderلِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَlil'ʿālamīnato the worlds / all (the) people. ﴿١٠٤﴾

[12:105] So many proofs in the heavens and the earth are given to them, but they pass by them, heedlessly!

وَكَأَيِّنwaka-ayyinAnd how manyمِّنْminofءَايَةٍāyatina sign / proofفِىfīinٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِl-samāwātithe heavensوَٱلْأَرْضِwal-arḍiand the earthيَمُرُّونَyamurrūnathey passعَلَيْهَاʿalayhāover it,وَهُمْwahumwhile they (are)عَنْهَاʿanhāconcerning itمُعْرِضُونَmuʿ'riḍūnathose who are turning away / averse. ﴿١٠٥﴾

[12:106] The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol worship.

وَمَاwamāAnd notيُؤْمِنُyu'minu[he] believesأَكْثَرُهُمaktharuhummost of themبِٱللَّهِbil-lahiin Godإِلَّاillāexceptوَهُمwahumwhile they (are)مُّشْرِكُونَmush'rikūnathose who associate partners (with God). ﴿١٠٦﴾

[12:107] Have they guaranteed that an overwhelming retribution from GOD will not strike them, or the Hour will not come to them suddenly, when they least expect it?

أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟afa-aminūHave they then felt secureأَنan(against) thatتَأْتِيَهُمْtatiyahum[it] comes to themغَـٰشِيَةٌghāshiyatunan overwhelmingمِّنْmin[of]عَذَابِʿadhābipunishment / retributionٱللَّهِl-lahi(of) God,أَوْaworتَأْتِيَهُمُtatiyahumu[it] comes to themٱلسَّاعَةُl-sāʿatuthe Hourبَغْتَةًbaghtatansuddenlyوَهُمْwahumwhile theyلَاlā(do) notيَشْعُرُونَyashʿurūna[they] perceive? ﴿١٠٧﴾

[12:108] Say, "This is my path: I invite to GOD, on the basis of a clear proof, and so do those who follow me. GOD be glorified. I am not an idol worshiper."

قُلْqulSay,هَـٰذِهِۦhādhihi"This (is)سَبِيلِىٓsabīlīmy path;أَدْعُوٓا۟adʿūI inviteإِلَىilātoٱللَّهِl-lahiGod,عَلَىٰʿalāwithبَصِيرَةٍbaṣīratininsight / enlightenment,أَنَا۠anāIوَمَنِwamaniand whoeverٱتَّبَعَنِىittabaʿanī[he] followed me.وَسُبْحَـٰنَwasub'ḥānaAnd glory beٱللَّهِl-lahi(to) Godوَمَآwamāand notأَنَا۠anāI amمِنَminaofٱلْمُشْرِكِينَl-mush'rikīnathe polytheists / idol worshipers." ﴿١٠٨﴾

[12:109] We did not send before you except men whom we inspired, chosen from the people of various communities. Did they not roam the earth and see the consequences for those before them? The abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who lead a righteous life. Would you then understand?

وَمَآwamāAnd notأَرْسَلْنَاarsalnāwe sentمِنminfromقَبْلِكَqablikabefore you,إِلَّاillābutرِجَالًاrijālanmenنُّوحِىٓnūḥīwe reveal / inspireإِلَيْهِمilayhimto themمِّنْminfrom (among)أَهْلِahli(the) people (of)ٱلْقُرَىٰٓl-qurāthe townships / communities.أَفَلَمْafalamSo have notيَسِيرُوا۟yasīrūthey travel / roamفِىfīinٱلْأَرْضِl-arḍithe earthفَيَنظُرُوا۟fayanẓurūand they seeكَيْفَkayfahowكَانَkānawasعَـٰقِبَةُʿāqibatu(the) consequence / end (for)ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnathose whoمِنminfromقَبْلِهِمْqablihimbefore them?وَلَدَارُwaladāruAnd surely the abode (of)ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِl-ākhiratithe Hereafter (is)خَيْرٌkhayrunbestلِّلَّذِينَlilladhīnafor those whoٱتَّقَوْا۟ittaqawthey led a righteous life.أَفَلَاafalāThen will notتَعْقِلُونَtaʿqilūnayou [all] understand? ﴿١٠٩﴾

[12:110] Just when the messengers despair, and think that they had been rejected, our victory comes to them. We then save whomever we choose, while our retribution for the guilty people is unavoidable.

حَتَّىٰٓḥattāUntilإِذَاidhāwhenٱسْتَيْـَٔسَis'tayasa[he] gave up hopeٱلرُّسُلُl-rusuluthe messengers,وَظَنُّوٓا۟waẓannūand [they] thoughtأَنَّهُمْannahumthat theyقَدْqadcertainly / alreadyكُذِبُوا۟kudhibūthey were denied / rejected,جَآءَهُمْjāahum(then) [it] came to themنَصْرُنَاnaṣrunāour victory / help,فَنُجِّىَfanujjiyaand [he] was rescued / savedمَنmanwhomنَّشَآءُnashāuwe will.وَلَاwalāAnd notيُرَدُّyuraddu[it] (can) be repelledبَأْسُنَاbasunāour punishment / retributionعَنِʿanifromٱلْقَوْمِl-qawmithe peopleٱلْمُجْرِمِينَl-muj'rimīnathe guilty ones. ﴿١١٠﴾

[12:111] In their history, there is a lesson for those who possess intelligence. This is not fabricated Hadith; this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, provides the details of everything, and is a beacon and mercy for those who believe.

لَقَدْlaqadVerily,كَانَkānathere wasفِىfīinقَصَصِهِمْqaṣaṣihimtheir story / historyعِبْرَةٌʿib'ratuna lessonلِّأُو۟لِىli-ulīfor possessors ofٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِl-albābithe understanding / intelligence.مَاmāNotكَانَkānait wasحَدِيثًاḥadīthana Hadithيُفْتَرَىٰyuf'tarāit is fabricated,وَلَـٰكِنwalākinbutتَصْدِيقَtaṣdīqait is a confirmation (of)ٱلَّذِىalladhīthat whichبَيْنَbayna between / before*يَدَيْهِyadayhihis hands (*came before it)وَتَفْصِيلَwatafṣīlaand it is a detailed explanationكُلِّkulli(of) allشَىْءٍshayinthing(s),وَهُدًىwahudanand a guidanceوَرَحْمَةًwaraḥmatanand mercyلِّقَوْمٍliqawminfor a peopleيُؤْمِنُونَyu'minūnathey believe. ﴿١١١﴾

Sura 12: Yousuf (Joseph) يوسف

Continue Reading