Nur
All surahs

Surah 12 · 111 verses

Yusuf

يوسف

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

1

الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the clear Book.

Alif-Laaam-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaabil Mubeen

Word by word
الٓر ۚ
alif-lam-ra
Alif Laam Ra
تِلْكَ
til'ka
These
ءَايَـٰتُ
āyātu
(are the) Verses
ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
l-kitābi
(of) the Book
ٱلْمُبِينِ
l-mubīni
[the] clear
Interpretation

Alif Lām Rā’ – the placement of such letters has been discussed at the beginning of Sūrah Al-Baqarah. The verses that are revealed in this sūrah are from the verses of the Qur’ān which are clear in their meaning.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

2

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’ān that you might understand.

Innaaa anzalnaahu quraanan 'Arabiyyal la 'allakum ta'qiloon

Word by word
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, We
أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ
anzalnāhu
We have sent it down
قُرْءَٰنًا
qur'ānan
(as) a Quran in Arabic
عَرَبِيًّۭا
ʿarabiyyan
(as) a Quran in Arabic
لَّعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تَعْقِلُونَ
taʿqilūna
understand
Interpretation

I have revealed the Qur’ān in the language of the Arabs, so that you, O Arabs, can understand its meanings.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

3

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ

We relate to you, [O Muḥammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’ān although you were, before it, among the unaware.

Nahnu naqussu 'alaika ahsanal qasasi bimaaa awhainaaa ilaika haazal quraana wa in kunta min qablihee laminal ghaafileen

Word by word
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
We
نَقُصُّ
naquṣṣu
relate
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
to you
أَحْسَنَ
aḥsana
the best
ٱلْقَصَصِ
l-qaṣaṣi
of the narrations
بِمَآ
bimā
in what
أَوْحَيْنَآ
awḥaynā
We have revealed
إِلَيْكَ
ilayka
to you
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
(of) this
ٱلْقُرْءَانَ
l-qur'āna
the Quran
وَإِن
wa-in
although
كُنتَ
kunta
you were
مِن
min
before it
قَبْلِهِۦ
qablihi
before it
لَمِنَ
lamina
surely among
ٱلْغَـٰفِلِينَ
l-ghāfilīna
the unaware
Interpretation

By revealing this Qur’ān to you, I narrate, O Messenger, the best of stories, in their accuracy, the soundness of their words and their eloquence. Before I revealed it, you were unaware of these stories, without any knowledge of them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

4

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَـٰجِدِينَ

[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."

Iz qaala Yoosufu li abeehi yaaa abati innee ra aytu ahada 'ashara kawkabanw wash shamsa walqamara ra aytuhum lee saajideen

Word by word
إِذْ
idh
When
قَالَ
qāla
said
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
Yusuf
لِأَبِيهِ
li-abīhi
to his father
يَـٰٓأَبَتِ
yāabati
O my father
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I
رَأَيْتُ
ra-aytu
I saw
أَحَدَ
aḥada
eleven
عَشَرَ
ʿashara
eleven
كَوْكَبًۭا
kawkaban
stars
وَٱلشَّمْسَ
wal-shamsa
and the sun
وَٱلْقَمَرَ
wal-qamara
and the moon
رَأَيْتُهُمْ
ra-aytuhum
I saw them
لِى
to me
سَـٰجِدِينَ
sājidīna
prostrating
Interpretation

I tell you, O Messenger, about the time when Joseph said to his father, Jacob, ‘O my father, I dreamt of eleven stars and I saw the sun and the moon. I saw all of them prostrating to me’. This dream was an early sign of good news for Joseph (peace be upon him).

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

5

قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا۟ لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

Qaala yaa bunaiya laa taqsus ru'yaaka 'alaaa ikhwatika fayakeedoo laka kaidaa; innash Shaitaana lil insaani 'aduwwum mubeen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
يَـٰبُنَىَّ
yābunayya
O my son
لَا
(Do) not
تَقْصُصْ
taqṣuṣ
relate
رُءْيَاكَ
ru'yāka
your vision
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
to
إِخْوَتِكَ
ikh'watika
your brothers
فَيَكِيدُوا۟
fayakīdū
lest they plan
لَكَ
laka
against you
كَيْدًا ۖ
kaydan
a plot
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ
l-shayṭāna
the Shaitaan
لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ
lil'insāni
(is) to man
عَدُوٌّۭ
ʿaduwwun
an enemy
مُّبِينٌۭ
mubīnun
open
Interpretation

Jacob said to his son, Joseph: O my son, do not mention your dream to your brothers because they will understand it and become jealous of you. They will then plot against you because of their envy. Satan is a clear enemy to man’.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

6

وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَآ أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives [i.e., events or dreams] and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise."

Wa kazaalika yajtabeeka rabbuka wa yu'allimuka min taaweelil ahaadeesi wa yutimmu ni'matahoo 'alaika wa 'alaaa Aali Ya'qooba kamaaa atammahaa 'alaaa abawaika min qablu Ibraaheema wa Ishaaq; inna Rabbaka 'Aleemun hakeem

Word by word
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhālika
And thus
يَجْتَبِيكَ
yajtabīka
will choose you
رَبُّكَ
rabbuka
your Lord
وَيُعَلِّمُكَ
wayuʿallimuka
and will teach you
مِن
min
of
تَأْوِيلِ
tawīli
(the) interpretation
ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ
l-aḥādīthi
(of) the narratives
وَيُتِمُّ
wayutimmu
and complete
نِعْمَتَهُۥ
niʿ'matahu
His Favor
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
on you
وَعَلَىٰٓ
waʿalā
and on
ءَالِ
āli
(the) family
يَعْقُوبَ
yaʿqūba
(of) Yaqub
كَمَآ
kamā
as
أَتَمَّهَا
atammahā
He completed it
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
أَبَوَيْكَ
abawayka
your two forefathers
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ
qablu
before
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
ib'rāhīma
Ibrahim
وَإِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ
wa-is'ḥāqa
and Isaac
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
عَلِيمٌ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
حَكِيمٌۭ
ḥakīmun
All-Wise
Interpretation

Just as you have seen that dream, your Lord will choose you, O Joseph, and teach you the interpretation of dreams; and He will perfect His favour on you by giving you prophethood, as well as kingdom, just as He completed His blessing on your two forefathers before you, Abraham and Isaac, with the favours of this world and the Afterlife that He blessed them with. Your Lord is One Who knows His creation and Who is Wise in His planning.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

7

۞ لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ

Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, [such as]

Laqad kaana fee Yoosufa wa ikhwatiheee Aayaatul lissaaa'ileen

Word by word
۞ لَّقَدْ
laqad
Certainly
كَانَ
kāna
were
فِى
in
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
وَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓ
wa-ikh'watihi
and his brothers
ءَايَـٰتٌۭ
āyātun
signs
لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ
lilssāilīna
for those who ask
Interpretation

In the story of Joseph and his brothers there are lessons and advices for those who ask about the incident.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

8

إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ

When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.

Iz qaaloo la Yoosufu wa akhoohu ahabbu ilaaa Abeenaa minnaa wa nahnu 'usbah; inna abaanaa lafee dalaalim mubeen

Word by word
إِذْ
idh
When
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
لَيُوسُفُ
layūsufu
Surely Yusuf
وَأَخُوهُ
wa-akhūhu
and his brother
أَحَبُّ
aḥabbu
(are) more beloved
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَبِينَا
abīnā
our father
مِنَّا
minnā
than we
وَنَحْنُ
wanaḥnu
while we
عُصْبَةٌ
ʿuṣ'batun
(are) a group
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
أَبَانَا
abānā
our father
لَفِى
lafī
(is) surely in
ضَلَـٰلٍۢ
ḍalālin
an error
مُّبِينٍ
mubīnin
clear
Interpretation

At that time, the brothers said among themselves: Joseph and his full brother are more beloved to our father than we are, whereas we are a group large in number. Why does he prefer them to us? We think that our father is mistaken in preferring them to us without any apparent reason.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

9

ٱقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ قَوْمًا صَـٰلِحِينَ

Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance [i.e., attention] of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people."

Uqtuloo Yoosufa awitra hoohu ardany yakhlu lakum wajhu abeekum wa takoonoo mim ba'dihee qawman saaliheen

Word by word
ٱقْتُلُوا۟
uq'tulū
Kill
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱطْرَحُوهُ
iṭ'raḥūhu
cast him
أَرْضًۭا
arḍan
(to) a land
يَخْلُ
yakhlu
so will be free
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
وَجْهُ
wajhu
(the) face
أَبِيكُمْ
abīkum
(of) your father
وَتَكُونُوا۟
watakūnū
and you will be
مِنۢ
min
after that
بَعْدِهِۦ
baʿdihi
after that
قَوْمًۭا
qawman
a people
صَـٰلِحِينَ
ṣāliḥīna
righteous
Interpretation

It was further said: Kill Joseph or expel him to a far-off land and your father’s attention will be all yours and he will love you completely. After killing him and expelling him, you can be righteous when you repent from your sin.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

10

قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَـٰعِلِينَ

Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."

Qaalaa qaaa'ilum minhum laa taqtuloo Yoosufa wa alqoohu fee ghayaabatil jubbi yaltaqithu badus sai yaarati in kuntum faa 'ileen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
Said
قَآئِلٌۭ
qāilun
a speaker
مِّنْهُمْ
min'hum
among them
لَا
(Do) not
تَقْتُلُوا۟
taqtulū
kill
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
وَأَلْقُوهُ
wa-alqūhu
but throw him
فِى
in
غَيَـٰبَتِ
ghayābati
the bottom
ٱلْجُبِّ
l-jubi
(of) the well
يَلْتَقِطْهُ
yaltaqiṭ'hu
will pick him
بَعْضُ
baʿḍu
some
ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ
l-sayārati
[the] caravan
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
فَـٰعِلِينَ
fāʿilīna
doing
Interpretation

One of the brothers said: Do not kill Yousuf, rather throw him into a well and some passers by may find him and take him, this is a lesser evil if you really want to get rid of him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

11

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ

They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors?

Qaaloo yaaa abaanaa maa laka laa taamannaa 'alaa Yoosufa wa innaa lahoo lanaa sihoon

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
يَـٰٓأَبَانَا
yāabānā
O our father
مَا
Why
لَكَ
laka
(do) you
لَا
not
تَأْمَ۫نَّا
tamannā
trust us
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
with
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
while indeed, we
لَهُۥ
lahu
(are) for him
لَنَـٰصِحُونَ
lanāṣiḥūna
surely well-wishers
Interpretation

When they agreed to get rid of him, they said to their father, Jacob: O our father, why do not you trust us with Joseph? We have compassion for him and we will take care of him against anything that might harm him. We want good for him, so we will protect and look after him until he comes back to you safely. So, what stops you from sending him with us?

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

12

أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ

Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians."

Arilhu ma'anaa ghadany yarta'wa yal'ab wa innaa lahoo lahaafizoon

Word by word
أَرْسِلْهُ
arsil'hu
Send him
مَعَنَا
maʿanā
with us
غَدًۭا
ghadan
tomorrow
يَرْتَعْ
yartaʿ
(to) enjoy
وَيَلْعَبْ
wayalʿab
and play
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
And indeed, we
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
laḥāfiẓūna
(will) surely (be) guardians
Interpretation

Let us take him with us tomorrow, so he can have a good time and play with us and we will protect him from any harm that may come to him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

13

قَالَ إِنِّى لَيَحْزُنُنِىٓ أَن تَذْهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ

[Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware."

Qaala innee la yahzununeee an tazhaboo bihee wa akhaafu anyyaakulahuz zi'bu wa antum 'anhu ghaafiloon

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, [I]
لَيَحْزُنُنِىٓ
layaḥzununī
it surely saddens me
أَن
an
that
تَذْهَبُوا۟
tadhhabū
you should take him
بِهِۦ
bihi
you should take him
وَأَخَافُ
wa-akhāfu
and I fear
أَن
an
that
يَأْكُلَهُ
yakulahu
would eat him
ٱلذِّئْبُ
l-dhi'bu
a wolf
وَأَنتُمْ
wa-antum
while you
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
of him
غَـٰفِلُونَ
ghāfilūna
(are) unaware
Interpretation

Jacob said to his sons: I am saddened by your taking him because I cannot bear to be away from him. I also fear that a wolf may eat him when you are not paying attention to him, absorbed in your enjoyment and play.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

14

قَالُوا۟ لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ

They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."

Qaaloo la in akalahuzzi'bu wa nahnu 'usbatun innaaa izal lakhaasiroon

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
لَئِنْ
la-in
If
أَكَلَهُ
akalahu
eats him
ٱلذِّئْبُ
l-dhi'bu
the wolf
وَنَحْنُ
wanaḥnu
while we
عُصْبَةٌ
ʿuṣ'batun
(are) a group
إِنَّآ
innā
indeed, we
إِذًۭا
idhan
then
لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
lakhāsirūna
surely (would be) losers
Interpretation

They said to their father: If a wolf was to eat Joseph when there are so many of us, then, in such a case, we are good for nothing and we are losers because we could not save him from the wolf.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

15

فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَـٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well... But We inspired to him, "You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity]."

Falammaa zahaboo bihee wa ajma'ooo anyyaj'aloohu fee ghayaabatil jubb; wa awyainaaa ilaihi latunabbi 'annahum bi amrihim haaza wa hum laa yash'uroon

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
ذَهَبُوا۟
dhahabū
they took him
بِهِۦ
bihi
they took him
وَأَجْمَعُوٓا۟
wa-ajmaʿū
and agreed
أَن
an
that
يَجْعَلُوهُ
yajʿalūhu
they put him
فِى
in
غَيَـٰبَتِ
ghayābati
(the) bottom
ٱلْجُبِّ ۚ
l-jubi
(of) the well
وَأَوْحَيْنَآ
wa-awḥaynā
But We inspired
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to him
لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم
latunabbi-annahum
Surely, you will inform them
بِأَمْرِهِمْ
bi-amrihim
about this affair
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
about this affair
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
لَا
(do) not
يَشْعُرُونَ
yashʿurūna
perceive
Interpretation

So Jacob sent Joseph with his brothers. They took him a long distance and were determined to throw him to the bottom of a well. In this condition, I sent revelation to Joseph saying, ‘You will inform them of this act of theirs at a time when they will not realise that it is you’.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

16

وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمْ عِشَآءً يَبْكُونَ

And they came to their father at night, weeping.

Wa jaaa'ooo abaahum 'ishaaa 'any yabkoon

Word by word
وَجَآءُوٓ
wajāū
And they came
أَبَاهُمْ
abāhum
(to) their father
عِشَآءًۭ
ʿishāan
early at night
يَبْكُونَ
yabkūna
weeping
Interpretation

The brothers of Joseph came to their father in the evening, pretending to cry in order for him to believe them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

17

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ

They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."

Qaaloo yaaa abaanaaa innaa zahabnaa nastabiqu wa taraknaa Yoosufa 'inda mataa'inaa fa akhalahuz zi'b, wa maaa anta bimu'minil lanaa wa law kunnaa saadiqeen

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ
yāabānā
O our father
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
ذَهَبْنَا
dhahabnā
[we] went
نَسْتَبِقُ
nastabiqu
racing each other
وَتَرَكْنَا
wataraknā
and we left
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
عِندَ
ʿinda
with
مَتَـٰعِنَا
matāʿinā
our possessions
فَأَكَلَهُ
fa-akalahu
and ate him
ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ
l-dhi'bu
the wolf
وَمَآ
wamā
But not
أَنتَ
anta
you
بِمُؤْمِنٍۢ
bimu'minin
(will) believe
لَّنَا
lanā
us
وَلَوْ
walaw
even if
كُنَّا
kunnā
we are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
Interpretation

They said: O our father, we went off on foot racing with one another and shooting arrows and we left Joseph by our clothes and provisions to look after them. Then the wolf ate him. You are not going to believe us, even though we are absolutely truthful in what we have told you.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

18

وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ

And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allāh is the one sought for help against that which you describe."

Wa jaaa'oo 'alaa qamee shihee bidamin kazi' qaala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amraa; fasabrun jameel; wallaahul musta'aanu 'alaa man tasifoon

Word by word
وَجَآءُو
wajāū
And they brought
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
upon
قَمِيصِهِۦ
qamīṣihi
his shirt
بِدَمٍۢ
bidamin
with false blood
كَذِبٍۢ ۚ
kadhibin
with false blood
قَالَ
qāla
He said
بَلْ
bal
Nay
سَوَّلَتْ
sawwalat
has enticed you
لَكُمْ
lakum
has enticed you
أَنفُسُكُمْ
anfusukum
your souls
أَمْرًۭا ۖ
amran
(to) a matter
فَصَبْرٌۭ
faṣabrun
so patience
جَمِيلٌۭ ۖ
jamīlun
(is) beautiful
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ
l-mus'taʿānu
(is) the One sought for help
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
against
مَا
what
تَصِفُونَ
taṣifūna
you describe
Interpretation

They confirmed their story with a trick. They brought the shirt of Joseph stained with the blood of something else, giving the impression that it was a sign of the wolf’s having eaten him. Jacob realised that they were lying, because the shirt was not torn, and he said to them: The matter is not as you have said. Instead, your souls have made an evil action that you committed seem good to you. I will exercise beautiful patience without any complaint. Allah is the One from Whom aid is requested against what you mention about the matter of Joseph.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

19

وَجَآءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَأَرْسَلُوا۟ وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَىٰ دَلْوَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ يَـٰبُشْرَىٰ هَـٰذَا غُلَـٰمٌ ۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَـٰعَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ

And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him, [taking him] as merchandise; and Allāh was Knowing of what they did.

Wa jaaa'at saiyaaratun fa-arsaloo waaridahum fa adlaa dalwah; qaala yaa bushraa haaza ghulaam; wa asarroohu bi-daa'ah; wallaahu 'aleemum bimaa ya'maloon

Word by word
وَجَآءَتْ
wajāat
And there came
سَيَّارَةٌۭ
sayyāratun
a caravan
فَأَرْسَلُوا۟
fa-arsalū
and they sent
وَارِدَهُمْ
wāridahum
their water drawer
فَأَدْلَىٰ
fa-adlā
then he let down
دَلْوَهُۥ ۖ
dalwahu
his bucket
قَالَ
qāla
He said
يَـٰبُشْرَىٰ
yābush'rā
O good news
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
This
غُلَـٰمٌۭ ۚ
ghulāmun
(is) a boy
وَأَسَرُّوهُ
wa-asarrūhu
And they hid him
بِضَـٰعَةًۭ ۚ
biḍāʿatan
(as) a merchandise
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلِيمٌۢ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
بِمَا
bimā
of what
يَعْمَلُونَ
yaʿmalūna
they do
Interpretation

A passing caravan came by and they sent someone to draw water for them. He lowered his bucket into the well and Joseph caught hold of the rope. When the person who had lowered the bucket saw him, he happily said, ‘Good news! Here is a boy!’ The water-drawer and a few others hid him from the rest of the caravan, regarding him to be merchandise that they could trade. Allah knew what they were doing with Joseph when they treated him as an item of sale. No action of theirs was hidden from Him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

20

وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ

And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

Wa sharawhu bisamanim bakhsin daraahima ma'doo datinw wa kaanoo feehi minaz zaahideen

Word by word
وَشَرَوْهُ
washarawhu
And they sold him
بِثَمَنٍۭ
bithamanin
for a price
بَخْسٍۢ
bakhsin
very low
دَرَٰهِمَ
darāhima
dirhams
مَعْدُودَةٍۢ
maʿdūdatin
few
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
and they were
فِيهِ
fīhi
about him
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
l-zāhidīna
those keen to give up
Interpretation

The water-drawer and his companions sold him in Egypt for a petty amount of a few silver coins that could be easily counted due to their small number. They sold him cheaply because they wanted to get rid of him quickly. They had realised from his condition that he was not a slave and they were afraid of his family. Allah was Merciful to him by not keeping him with them for very long.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

21

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

Wa qaalal lazish taraahu mim Misra limra atiheee akrimee maswaahu 'asaaa any-yanfa'anaaa aw nattakhizahoo waladaa; wa kazaalika mak-kannaa li-Yoosufa fil ardi wa linu'allimahoo min taaweelil ahaadees; wallaahu ghaalibun 'alaaa amrihee wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the one who
ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ
ish'tarāhu
bought him
مِن
min
of
مِّصْرَ
miṣ'ra
Egypt
لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ
li-im'ra-atihi
to his wife
أَكْرِمِى
akrimī
Make comfortable
مَثْوَىٰهُ
mathwāhu
his stay
عَسَىٰٓ
ʿasā
Perhaps
أَن
an
that
يَنفَعَنَآ
yanfaʿanā
(he) will benefit us
أَوْ
aw
or
نَتَّخِذَهُۥ
nattakhidhahu
we will take him
وَلَدًۭا ۚ
waladan
(as) a son
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhālika
And thus
مَكَّنَّا
makkannā
We established
لِيُوسُفَ
liyūsufa
Yusuf
فِى
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ
walinuʿallimahu
that We might teach him
مِن
min
(the) interpretation of
تَأْوِيلِ
tawīli
(the) interpretation of
ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ
l-aḥādīthi
the events
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
غَالِبٌ
ghālibun
(is) Predominant
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
over
أَمْرِهِۦ
amrihi
His affairs
وَلَـٰكِنَّ
walākinna
but
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
most
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
(of) the people
لَا
(do) not
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
Interpretation

The man from Egypt who had purchased him said to his wife, ‘Be good to him and look after him well. He may benefit us by doing some of the things we need, or we may adopt him as a child’. Just as I saved Joseph from being killed, removed him from the well and made the heart of the minister soft towards him, I established him in Egypt, to teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah is in full control of His affair, and His affair will come into effect. No one can compel Him, may He be glorified; but most people – who are actually disbelievers – do not know that.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

22

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

And when he [i.e., Joseph] reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.

Wa lammaa balagha ashuddahooo aatainaahu bukmanw wa 'ilmaa; wa kazaa lika najzil muhsineen

Word by word
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
بَلَغَ
balagha
he reached
أَشُدَّهُۥٓ
ashuddahu
his maturity
ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ
ātaynāhu
We gave him
حُكْمًۭا
ḥuk'man
wisdom
وَعِلْمًۭا ۚ
waʿil'man
and knowledge
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhālika
And thus
نَجْزِى
najzī
We reward
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
the good-doers
Interpretation

When Joseph reached the height of his spiritual and physical strength, I gave him understanding and knowledge. With a reward similar to what I gave him, I reward those who do good by following Me.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

23

وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."

Wa raawadat hul latee huwa fee baitihaa 'an nafsihee wa ghallaqatil abwaaba wa qaalat haita lak; qaala ma'aazal laahi innahoo rabbeee ahsana maswaay; innahoo laa yuflihuz-zaalimoon

Word by word
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ
warāwadathu
And sought to seduce him
ٱلَّتِى
allatī
she who
هُوَ
huwa
he (was)
فِى
in
بَيْتِهَا
baytihā
her house
عَن
ʿan
from
نَّفْسِهِۦ
nafsihi
his self
وَغَلَّقَتِ
waghallaqati
And she closed
ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ
l-abwāba
the doors
وَقَالَتْ
waqālat
and she said
هَيْتَ
hayta
Come on
لَكَ ۚ
laka
you
قَالَ
qāla
He said
مَعَاذَ
maʿādha
I seek refuge in Allah
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
I seek refuge in Allah
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, he
رَبِّىٓ
rabbī
(is) my lord
أَحْسَنَ
aḥsana
(who has) made good
مَثْوَاىَ ۖ
mathwāya
my stay
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed
لَا
not
يُفْلِحُ
yuf'liḥu
will succeed
ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
l-ẓālimūna
the wrongdoers
Interpretation

The wife of the minister tried cunningly and by the use of a trick to get Joseph (peace be upon him) to commit an indecent act. She shut the doors to ensure that they were alone and she said to him, ‘Come towards me!’ Joseph said: I seek protection in Allah from what you are calling me toward. My master has taken good care of me in my stay here and I will never betray him. If I betray him, I will be a wrongdoer; and those who do wrong do not succeed.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

24

وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof [i.e., sign] of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.

Wa laqad hammat bihee wa hamma bihaa law laaa ar ra-aa burhaana rabbih;; kazaalika linasrifa 'anhu sooo'a walfa hshaaa'; innahoo min 'ibaadi nal mukhlaseen

Word by word
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
هَمَّتْ
hammat
she did desire
بِهِۦ ۖ
bihi
him
وَهَمَّ
wahamma
and he would have desired
بِهَا
bihā
her
لَوْلَآ
lawlā
if not
أَن
an
that
رَّءَا
raā
he saw
بُرْهَـٰنَ
bur'hāna
the proof
رَبِّهِۦ ۚ
rabbihi
(of) his Lord
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Thus
لِنَصْرِفَ
linaṣrifa
that We might avert
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
from him
ٱلسُّوٓءَ
l-sūa
the evil
وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ
wal-faḥshāa
and the immorality
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, he
مِنْ
min
(was) of
عِبَادِنَا
ʿibādinā
Our slaves
ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
l-mukh'laṣīna
the sincere
Interpretation

She had desired to commit the indecent act and the same thought would have crossed his mind had he not seen Allah’s signs that prevented him and distanced him from that. I showed him My proofs to keep him pure from evil and distance him from unlawful sexual relations and betrayal. Joseph was one of My servants whom I chose for messengership and prophethood.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

25

وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"

Wastabaqal baaba wa qaddat qameesahoo min dubu rinw wa alfayaa saiyidahaa ladal baab; qaalat maa jazaaa'u man araada bi ahlika sooo'an illaaa any-yusjana aw azaabun aleem

Word by word
وَٱسْتَبَقَا
wa-is'tabaqā
And they both raced
ٱلْبَابَ
l-bāba
(to) the door
وَقَدَّتْ
waqaddat
and she tore
قَمِيصَهُۥ
qamīṣahu
his shirt
مِن
min
from
دُبُرٍۢ
duburin
the back
وَأَلْفَيَا
wa-alfayā
and they both found
سَيِّدَهَا
sayyidahā
her husband
لَدَا
ladā
at
ٱلْبَابِ ۚ
l-bābi
the door
قَالَتْ
qālat
She said
مَا
What
جَزَآءُ
jazāu
(is) the recompense
مَنْ
man
(of one) who
أَرَادَ
arāda
intended
بِأَهْلِكَ
bi-ahlika
for your wife
سُوٓءًا
sūan
evil
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
that
يُسْجَنَ
yus'jana
he be imprisoned
أَوْ
aw
or
عَذَابٌ
ʿadhābun
a punishment
أَلِيمٌۭ
alīmun
painful
Interpretation

They raced for the door: Joseph to save himself, and she to prevent him from leaving. She caught hold of his shirt to stop him from leaving and she tore it from behind. At the door they found her husband. The minister’s wife deceptively said to him: The punishment for the person who intended to commit an indecent act with your wife, O minister, can only be prison or that he be given a painful punishment.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

26

قَالَ هِىَ رَٰوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى ۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ

[Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." And a witness from her family testified, "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars.

Qaala hiya raawadatnee 'an nafsee wa shahida shaahidum min ahlihaa in kaana qameesuhoo qudda min qubulin fasadaqat wa huwa minal kaazibeen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
هِىَ
hiya
She
رَٰوَدَتْنِى
rāwadatnī
sought to seduce me
عَن
ʿan
about
نَّفْسِى ۚ
nafsī
myself
وَشَهِدَ
washahida
And testified
شَاهِدٌۭ
shāhidun
a witness
مِّنْ
min
of
أَهْلِهَآ
ahlihā
her family
إِن
in
If
كَانَ
kāna
[is]
قَمِيصُهُۥ
qamīṣuhu
his shirt
قُدَّ
qudda
(is) torn
مِن
min
from
قُبُلٍۢ
qubulin
the front
فَصَدَقَتْ
faṣadaqat
then she has spoken the truth
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and he
مِنَ
mina
(is) of
ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
l-kādhibīna
the liars
Interpretation

Joseph (peace be upon him) said: It was she who tried to get me to commit an indecent act. I did not intend it from her. Allah then made a child from her family speak in the cradle and it testified saying: If Joseph’s shirt is torn from the front, then it indicates that she is truthful, because she was trying to stop him from coming on to her; and then he will be lying.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

27

وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ

But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."

Wa in kaana qameesuhoo qudda min duburin fakazabat wa huwa minas saadiqeen

Word by word
وَإِن
wa-in
But if
كَانَ
kāna
[is]
قَمِيصُهُۥ
qamīṣuhu
his shirt
قُدَّ
qudda
(is) torn
مِن
min
from
دُبُرٍۢ
duburin
(the) back
فَكَذَبَتْ
fakadhabat
then she has lied
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and he
مِنَ
mina
(is) of
ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
l-ṣādiqīna
the truthful
Interpretation

But if his shirt is torn from behind, then that is an indication that he is truthful, because she was trying to seduce him whilst he was running away; and she will be lying.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

28

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ

So when he [i.e., her husband] saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of your [i.e., women's] plan. Indeed, your plan is great [i.e., vehement].

Falammaa ra-aa qamee sahoo qudda min duburin qaala innahoo min kaidikunna inna kaidakunna 'azeem

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
رَءَا
raā
he saw
قَمِيصَهُۥ
qamīṣahu
his shirt
قُدَّ
qudda
torn
مِن
min
from
دُبُرٍۢ
duburin
(the) back
قَالَ
qāla
he said
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, it
مِن
min
(is) of
كَيْدِكُنَّ ۖ
kaydikunna
your plot
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
كَيْدَكُنَّ
kaydakunna
your plot
عَظِيمٌۭ
ʿaẓīmun
(is) great
Interpretation

When the minister saw that Joseph’s shirt was torn from behind, he realised that Joseph was telling the truth and he said: This accusation that you cast on him is part of your trickery, O women. Your trickery is certainly strong.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

29

يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـٰذَا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنۢبِكِ ۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلْخَاطِـِٔينَ

Joseph, ignore this. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you were of the sinful."

Yoosofu a'rid 'an haaza wastaghfiree lizambiki innaki kunti minal khaati'een

Word by word
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
Yusuf
أَعْرِضْ
aʿriḍ
turn away
عَنْ
ʿan
from
هَـٰذَا ۚ
hādhā
this
وَٱسْتَغْفِرِى
wa-is'taghfirī
And ask forgiveness
لِذَنۢبِكِ ۖ
lidhanbiki
for your sin
إِنَّكِ
innaki
Indeed, you
كُنتِ
kunti
are
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْخَاطِـِٔينَ
l-khāṭiīna
the sinful
Interpretation

He said to Joseph: O Joseph, completely ignore this and do not mention it to anyone. And you, woman, ask forgiveness for your sin, for you committed a sin by trying to seduce Joseph.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

30

۞ وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ

And women in the city said, "The wife of al-ʿAzeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."

Wa qaala niswatun filma deenatim ra atul'Azeezi turaawidu fataahaa 'an nafsihee qad shaghafahaa bubbaa; innaa lana raahaa fee dalaalim mubeen

Word by word
۞ وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
نِسْوَةٌۭ
nis'watun
women
فِى
in
ٱلْمَدِينَةِ
l-madīnati
the city
ٱمْرَأَتُ
im'ra-atu
The wife of
ٱلْعَزِيزِ
l-ʿazīzi
Aziz
تُرَٰوِدُ
turāwidu
(is) seeking to seduce
فَتَىٰهَا
fatāhā
her slave boy
عَن
ʿan
about
نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ
nafsihi
himself
قَدْ
qad
indeed
شَغَفَهَا
shaghafahā
he has impassioned her
حُبًّا ۖ
ḥubban
(with) love
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
لَنَرَىٰهَا
lanarāhā
[we] surely see her
فِى
in
ضَلَـٰلٍۢ
ḍalālin
an error
مُّبِينٍۢ
mubīnin
clear
Interpretation

The news spread in the city and a group of women disapprovingly said: The wife of the minister is calling her slave towards herself. His love has penetrated her heart. We think she is clearly misguided in trying to seduce him and because of her love for him despite his being her slave.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

31

فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ

So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allāh! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."

Falammaa sami'at bimak rihinna arsalat ilaihinna wa a'tadat lahunna muttaka anw wa aatat kulla waahidatim min hunna sikkeenanw wa qaala tikh ruj 'alaihinna falammaa ra aynahooo akbarnahoo wa qatta'na aydiyahunna wa qulna haasha lillaahi maa haaza basharaa; in haazaaa illaa malakun kareem

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
سَمِعَتْ
samiʿat
she heard
بِمَكْرِهِنَّ
bimakrihinna
of their scheming
أَرْسَلَتْ
arsalat
she sent
إِلَيْهِنَّ
ilayhinna
for them
وَأَعْتَدَتْ
wa-aʿtadat
and she prepared
لَهُنَّ
lahunna
for them
مُتَّكَـًۭٔا
muttaka-an
a banquet
وَءَاتَتْ
waātat
and she gave
كُلَّ
kulla
each
وَٰحِدَةٍۢ
wāḥidatin
one
مِّنْهُنَّ
min'hunna
of them
سِكِّينًۭا
sikkīnan
a knife
وَقَالَتِ
waqālati
and she said
ٱخْرُجْ
ukh'ruj
Come out
عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ
ʿalayhinna
before them
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ
ra-aynahu
they saw him
أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ
akbarnahu
they greatly admired him
وَقَطَّعْنَ
waqaṭṭaʿna
and cut
أَيْدِيَهُنَّ
aydiyahunna
their hands
وَقُلْنَ
waqul'na
they said
حَـٰشَ
ḥāsha
Forbid
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
Allah
مَا
not
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
(is) this
بَشَرًا
basharan
a man
إِنْ
in
not
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
(is) this
إِلَّا
illā
but
مَلَكٌۭ
malakun
an angel
كَرِيمٌۭ
karīmun
noble
Interpretation

When the wife of the minister heard of their disapproval of her and their gossip about her, she sent an invitation to them to come and see Joseph, so that they would excuse her. She prepared for them a place with cushions and pillows and she gave each one of the women who were invited a knife to cut food. She then said to Joseph (peace be upon him), ‘Go out to them!’ When they saw him, they were taken aback by his beauty and stunned by his handsomeness. As a result, they cut their hands with the knives that were meant for cutting food and they said: Allah is free of faults! This boy is not hum

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

32

قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ

She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased."

Qaalat fazaalikunnal lazee lumtunnanee feeh; wa laqad raawattuhoo 'an nafsihee fasta'sam; wa la'il lam yaf'al maaa aamuruhoo la yusjananna wa la yakoonam minas saaghireen

Word by word
قَالَتْ
qālat
She said
فَذَٰلِكُنَّ
fadhālikunna
That
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(is) the one
لُمْتُنَّنِى
lum'tunnanī
you blamed me
فِيهِ ۖ
fīhi
about him
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ
rāwadttuhu
I sought to seduce him
عَن
ʿan
[from]
نَّفْسِهِۦ
nafsihi
[himself]
فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ
fa-is'taʿṣama
but he saved himself
وَلَئِن
wala-in
and if
لَّمْ
lam
not
يَفْعَلْ
yafʿal
he does
مَآ
what
ءَامُرُهُۥ
āmuruhu
I order him
لَيُسْجَنَنَّ
layus'jananna
surely, he will be imprisoned
وَلَيَكُونًۭا
walayakūnan
and certainly will be
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ
l-ṣāghirīna
those who are disgraced
Interpretation

The wife of the minister said to those women when she saw what happened to them, ‘This is the slave who you blamed me for loving. I desired him and tried to entice him, but he remained pure and refused. If he does not, in the future, do what I desire, he will go to prison and will become one of those who are disgraced’.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

33

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ

He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."

Qaala rabbis sijnu ahabbu ilaiya mimma yad'oo naneee 'ilaihi wa illaa tasrif 'annee kaidahunna asbu ilaihinna wa akum minal jaahileen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
رَبِّ
rabbi
My Lord
ٱلسِّجْنُ
l-sij'nu
the prison
أَحَبُّ
aḥabbu
(is) dearer
إِلَىَّ
ilayya
to me
مِمَّا
mimmā
than what
يَدْعُونَنِىٓ
yadʿūnanī
they invite me
إِلَيْهِ ۖ
ilayhi
to it
وَإِلَّا
wa-illā
And unless
تَصْرِفْ
taṣrif
You turn away
عَنِّى
ʿannī
from me
كَيْدَهُنَّ
kaydahunna
their plot
أَصْبُ
aṣbu
I might incline
إِلَيْهِنَّ
ilayhinna
towards them
وَأَكُن
wa-akun
and [I] be
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
l-jāhilīna
the ignorant
Interpretation

Joseph (peace be upon him) prayed to his Lord saying: O my Lord, prison, which they threaten me with, is preferable to me than the shameful act they call me towards. If You do not remove their scheme from me, I may incline to them and I will become one of the ignorant ones – if I give in to them and do what they want me to do.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

34

فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

So his Lord responded to him and averted from him their plan. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Fastajaaba lahoo rabbuhoo fasarafa 'anhu kaidahunn; innahoo Huswas_Samee'ul 'Aleem

Word by word
فَٱسْتَجَابَ
fa-is'tajāba
So responded
لَهُۥ
lahu
to him
رَبُّهُۥ
rabbuhu
his Lord
فَصَرَفَ
faṣarafa
and turned away
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
from him
كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ
kaydahunna
their plot
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, [He]
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلسَّمِيعُ
l-samīʿu
(is) All-Hearer
ٱلْعَلِيمُ
l-ʿalīmu
All-Knower
Interpretation

Allah answered his prayer and removed the scheme of the minister’s wife and that of the women of the city from him. He, may He be glorified, heard the prayer of Joseph – He hears the prayer of any person who prays to Him. He knew the condition of Joseph and He knows the condition of everyone besides him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

35

ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] should surely imprison him for a time.

Summa badaa lahum mim ba'di maa ra-awul Aayaati layasjununnahoo hatta heen

Word by word
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
بَدَا
badā
(it) appeared
لَهُم
lahum
to them
مِّنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
مَا
[what]
رَأَوُا۟
ra-awū
they had seen
ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ
l-āyāti
the signs
لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ
layasjununnahu
surely they should imprison him
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
حِينٍۢ
ḥīnin
a time
Interpretation

Then the view of the minister and his people, after they had seen evidence of his innocence, was that they should put him in prison for an unknown period, so that the scandal was not exposed.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

36

وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."

Wa dakhala ma'ahussijna fata yaan; qaala ahaduhumaaa inneee araaneee a'siru khamranw wa qaalal aakharu inneee khubzan taakulut tairu minh; nabbi 'naa bitaaweelihee innaa naraaka minal muhsineen

Word by word
وَدَخَلَ
wadakhala
And entered
مَعَهُ
maʿahu
with him
ٱلسِّجْنَ
l-sij'na
(in) the prison
فَتَيَانِ ۖ
fatayāni
two young men
قَالَ
qāla
Said
أَحَدُهُمَآ
aḥaduhumā
one of them
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَرَىٰنِىٓ
arānī
[I] see myself
أَعْصِرُ
aʿṣiru
pressing
خَمْرًۭا ۖ
khamran
wine
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ
l-ākharu
the other
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَرَىٰنِىٓ
arānī
[I] see myself
أَحْمِلُ
aḥmilu
[I am] carrying
فَوْقَ
fawqa
over
رَأْسِى
rasī
my head
خُبْزًۭا
khub'zan
bread
تَأْكُلُ
takulu
(were) eating
ٱلطَّيْرُ
l-ṭayru
the birds
مِنْهُ ۖ
min'hu
from it
نَبِّئْنَا
nabbi'nā
Inform us
بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ
bitawīlihi
of its interpretation
إِنَّا
innā
indeed, we
نَرَىٰكَ
narāka
[we] see you
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
the good-doers
Interpretation

They put him in prison and two youngsters entered the prison with him. One of these youngsters said to Joseph, ‘I saw in my dream that I was pressing grapes to make wine’. The other said: I saw that I was carrying bread on my head, from which birds were eating. Tell us, O Joseph, the interpretation of what we saw. We regard you to be from those who do good, so be good to us by interpreting our dreams.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

37

قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ

He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.

Qaala laa yaateekumaa ta'aamun turzaqaaniheee illaa nabbaatukumaa bitaaweelihee qabla any yaatiyakumaa; zaali kumaa mimmaa 'allamanee rabbee; innee taraktu millata qawmil laa yu'minoona billaahi wahum bil aakhirati hum kaafiroon

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
لَا
Not
يَأْتِيكُمَا
yatīkumā
(will) come to both of you
طَعَامٌۭ
ṭaʿāmun
food
تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ
tur'zaqānihi
you are provided with
إِلَّا
illā
but
نَبَّأْتُكُمَا
nabbatukumā
I will inform both of you
بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ
bitawīlihi
of its interpretation
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
أَن
an
[that]
يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ
yatiyakumā
[it] comes to both of you
ذَٰلِكُمَا
dhālikumā
That
مِمَّا
mimmā
(is) of what
عَلَّمَنِى
ʿallamanī
has taught me
رَبِّىٓ ۚ
rabbī
my Lord
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I
تَرَكْتُ
taraktu
[I] abandon
مِلَّةَ
millata
(the) religion
قَوْمٍۢ
qawmin
(of) a people
لَّا
not
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
they believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَهُم
wahum
and they
بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
bil-ākhirati
in the Hereafter
هُمْ
hum
[they]
كَـٰفِرُونَ
kāfirūna
(are) disbelievers
Interpretation

Joseph (peace be upon him) said: No food allocated to you by the king or anyone else will come you, except that I will explain to you its essence and form before it comes to you. The interpretation I give you is what my Lord has taught me. It is not soothsaying or astrology. I have left the religion of a people who do not have faith in Allah and who denounce the Afterlife, although they acknowledge it within themselves.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

38

وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with Allāh. That is from the favor of Allāh upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.

Wattab'tu millata aabaaa'eee Ibraaheema wa Ishaaqa wa Ya'qoob; maa kaana lanaaa an nushrika billaahi min shai' zaalikamin fadlil laahi 'alainaa wa 'alan naasi wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa yashkuroon

Word by word
وَٱتَّبَعْتُ
wa-ittabaʿtu
And I follow
مِلَّةَ
millata
(the) religion
ءَابَآءِىٓ
ābāī
(of) my forefathers
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
ib'rāhīma
Ibrahim
وَإِسْحَـٰقَ
wa-is'ḥāqa
and Isaac
وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ
wayaʿqūba
and Yaqub
مَا
Not
كَانَ
kāna
was
لَنَآ
lanā
for us
أَن
an
that
نُّشْرِكَ
nush'rika
we associate
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
with Allah
مِن
min
any
شَىْءٍۢ ۚ
shayin
thing
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
مِن
min
(is) from
فَضْلِ
faḍli
(the) Grace
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
عَلَيْنَا
ʿalaynā
upon us
وَعَلَى
waʿalā
and upon
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
the mankind
وَلَـٰكِنَّ
walākinna
but
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
most
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
(of) the men
لَا
(are) not
يَشْكُرُونَ
yashkurūna
grateful
Interpretation

Joseph said that he followed the path of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: the path of worshipping Allah alone. He said it was not right for them to associate anything with Allah, Who is alone in His Oneness. Enabling them to worship Allah alone and have the faith which he and his fathers had was from the grace of Allah upon them. It was also from the grace of Allah upon all people, since He sent the prophets to them with that message; yet most people are not thankful to Allah for His blessings, and instead ungratefully disbelieve in Him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

39

يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ ءَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ

O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allāh, the One, the Prevailing?

Yaa saahibayis sijni 'a-arbaabum mutafarriqoona khayrun amil laahul waahidul qahhaar

Word by word
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ
yāṣāḥibayi
O my two companions
ٱلسِّجْنِ
l-sij'ni
(of) the prison
ءَأَرْبَابٌۭ
a-arbābun
Are lords
مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ
mutafarriqūna
separate
خَيْرٌ
khayrun
better
أَمِ
ami
or
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
ٱلْوَٰحِدُ
l-wāḥidu
the One
ٱلْقَهَّارُ
l-qahāru
the Irresistible
Interpretation

Joseph then addressed the two men in the prison, asking whether worshipping many gods was better or worshipping Allah, the One, Who has no partner, the Prevailing over all else, Who none can prevail over.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

40

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

Maa ta'budoona min doonihee illaaa asmaaa'an sam maitumoohaaa antum wa aabaaa'ukum maaa anzalal laahu bihaa min sultan; inilhukmu illaa lillaah; amara allaa ta'budooo illaaa iyyaah; zaalikad deenul qaiyimu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

Word by word
مَا
Not
تَعْبُدُونَ
taʿbudūna
you worship
مِن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِۦٓ
dūnihi
besides Him
إِلَّآ
illā
but
أَسْمَآءًۭ
asmāan
names
سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ
sammaytumūhā
which you have named them
أَنتُمْ
antum
you
وَءَابَآؤُكُم
waābāukum
and your forefathers
مَّآ
not
أَنزَلَ
anzala
(has) sent down
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
بِهَا
bihā
for it
مِن
min
any
سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ
sul'ṭānin
authority
إِنِ
ini
Not
ٱلْحُكْمُ
l-ḥuk'mu
(is) the command
إِلَّا
illā
but
لِلَّهِ ۚ
lillahi
for Allah
أَمَرَ
amara
He has commanded
أَلَّا
allā
that not
تَعْبُدُوٓا۟
taʿbudū
you worship
إِلَّآ
illā
but
إِيَّاهُ ۚ
iyyāhu
Him Alone
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
ٱلدِّينُ
l-dīnu
(is) the religion
ٱلْقَيِّمُ
l-qayimu
the right
وَلَـٰكِنَّ
walākinna
but
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
most
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
[the] men
لَا
(do) not
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
Interpretation

Joseph told them that they only worshipped names besides Allah, which have not been designated by Allah, but were what they and their ancestors had called gods – yet they had no share in divinity. Allah had sent no proof showing that giving these names was correct. The command in all creation is Allah’s alone, and does not belong to these names, which they and their ancestors had come up with. Allah, glory be to Him, has instructed that you worship Him alone, and has forbidden that you should associate others with Him. Worshipping Allah alone is the straight path, which has no deviation in it.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

41

يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ

O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."

Yaa saahibayis sijni ammaaa ahadukumaa fa yasqee rabbahoo khamranw wa ammal aakharu fa yuslabu fataakulut tairu mir raasih; qudiyal amrul lazee feehi tastaftiyaan

Word by word
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ
yāṣāḥibayi
O my two companions
ٱلسِّجْنِ
l-sij'ni
(of) the prison
أَمَّآ
ammā
As for
أَحَدُكُمَا
aḥadukumā
one of you
فَيَسْقِى
fayasqī
he will give drink
رَبَّهُۥ
rabbahu
(to) his master
خَمْرًۭا ۖ
khamran
wine
وَأَمَّا
wa-ammā
and as for
ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ
l-ākharu
the other
فَيُصْلَبُ
fayuṣ'labu
he will be crucified
فَتَأْكُلُ
fatakulu
and will eat
ٱلطَّيْرُ
l-ṭayru
the birds
مِن
min
from
رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ
rasihi
his head
قُضِىَ
quḍiya
Has been decreed
ٱلْأَمْرُ
l-amru
the matter
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
about which
فِيهِ
fīhi
about which
تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
tastaftiyāni
you both inquire
Interpretation

Joseph told his two companions in the prison that he would interpret their dreams for them. He told them that the one who dreamed that he was pressing grapes to make wine would get out of the prison, and return to his work, and would serve the king. As for the one who dreamed that he was carrying bread on his head that the birds were eating from, he would be killed and crucified, and the birds would eat from his head. The matter they asked for an opinion on was settled and would come to pass. It was an inevitable reality.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

42

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ

And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and he [i.e., Joseph] remained in prison several years.

Wa qaala lillazee zanna annahoo najim minhumaz kurnee 'inda rabbika fa-ansaahush Shaitaanu zikra Rabbihee falabisa fis sijni bad'a sineen

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And he said
لِلَّذِى
lilladhī
to the one whom
ظَنَّ
ẓanna
he thought
أَنَّهُۥ
annahu
that he
نَاجٍۢ
nājin
(would be) saved
مِّنْهُمَا
min'humā
of both of them
ٱذْكُرْنِى
udh'kur'nī
Mention me
عِندَ
ʿinda
to
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
your master
فَأَنسَىٰهُ
fa-ansāhu
But made him forget
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ
l-shayṭānu
the Shaitaan
ذِكْرَ
dhik'ra
(the) mention
رَبِّهِۦ
rabbihi
(to) his master
فَلَبِثَ
falabitha
so he remained
فِى
in
ٱلسِّجْنِ
l-sij'ni
the prison
بِضْعَ
biḍ'ʿa
several
سِنِينَ
sinīna
years
Interpretation

Joseph asked the one he considered to be saved of the two, the wine bearer of the king, to mention his story and his situation to the king, so that he might release him from prison. Satan made the man forget to mention Joseph to the king, so he stayed in prison for several years after that.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

43

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ ۖ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَـٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ

And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."

Wa qaalal maliku inneee araa sab'a baqaraatin simaaniny yaakuluhunna sab'un 'ijaafunw wa sab'a sumbulaatinkhudrinw wa ukhara yaabisaat; yaaa ayuhal mala-u aftoonee fee nu'yaaya in kuntum lirru'yaa ta'buroon

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلْمَلِكُ
l-maliku
the king
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَرَىٰ
arā
[I] have seen
سَبْعَ
sabʿa
seven
بَقَرَٰتٍۢ
baqarātin
cows
سِمَانٍۢ
simānin
fat
يَأْكُلُهُنَّ
yakuluhunna
eating them
سَبْعٌ
sabʿun
seven
عِجَافٌۭ
ʿijāfun
lean ones
وَسَبْعَ
wasabʿa
and seven
سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ
sunbulātin
ears (of corn)
خُضْرٍۢ
khuḍ'rin
green
وَأُخَرَ
wa-ukhara
and others
يَابِسَـٰتٍۢ ۖ
yābisātin
dry
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O
ٱلْمَلَأُ
l-mala-u
chiefs
أَفْتُونِى
aftūnī
Explain to me
فِى
about
رُءْيَـٰىَ
ru'yāya
my vision
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you can
لِلرُّءْيَا
lilrru'yā
of visions
تَعْبُرُونَ
taʿburūna
interpret
Interpretation

One day the king said that he had seen a dream in which seven fat cows were being eaten by seven thin ones, and seven green ears of corn and seven dry ears of corn. He asked the notables and nobles to tell him the interpretation of his dream, if they knew how to interpret dreams.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

44

قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍ ۖ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحْلَـٰمِ بِعَـٰلِمِينَ

They said, "[It is but] a mixture of false dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."

Qaalooo adghaasu ahlaa minw wa maa nahnu bitaaweelil ahlaami bi'aalimeen

Word by word
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They said
أَضْغَـٰثُ
aḍghāthu
Confused
أَحْلَـٰمٍۢ ۖ
aḥlāmin
dreams
وَمَا
wamā
and not
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
we
بِتَأْوِيلِ
bitawīli
(are) in the interpretation
ٱلْأَحْلَـٰمِ
l-aḥlāmi
(of) the dreams
بِعَـٰلِمِينَ
biʿālimīna
learned
Interpretation

They said that his vision was a jumble of dreams, and because of this it could not be interpreted; and that they were not knowledgeable about the interpretation of mixed-up dreams.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

45

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَٱدَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا۠ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ فَأَرْسِلُونِ

But the one who was freed and remembered after a time said, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth."

Wa qaalal lazee najaa minhumaa waddakara ba'da ummatin ana unabbi'ukum bitalweelihee fa-arsiloon

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
But said
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the one who
نَجَا
najā
was saved
مِنْهُمَا
min'humā
of the two
وَٱدَّكَرَ
wa-iddakara
and remembered
بَعْدَ
baʿda
after
أُمَّةٍ
ummatin
a period
أَنَا۠
anā
I
أُنَبِّئُكُم
unabbi-ukum
[I] will inform you
بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ
bitawīlihi
of its interpretation
فَأَرْسِلُونِ
fa-arsilūni
so send me forth
Interpretation

The wine bearer – who, of the two men who had been imprisoned, had been saved – then remembered Joseph (peace be upon him) after some time and that he was able to interpret dreams, so he said that he would tell them the interpretation of the king’s vision after asking someone who knew how to interpret it. He asked to be sent by the king to Joseph so that he could interpret his dream.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

46

يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."

Yoosufu ayyuhas siddee qu aftinaa fee sab'i baqaraatin simaaniny yaakuluhunna sab'un 'ijaafunw wa sabi'i sumbulaatin khudrinw wa ukhara yaabisaatil la'alleee arj'u ilan naasi la'allahum ya'lamoon

Word by word
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
Yusuf
أَيُّهَا
ayyuhā
O
ٱلصِّدِّيقُ
l-ṣidīqu
the truthful one
أَفْتِنَا
aftinā
Explain to us
فِى
about
سَبْعِ
sabʿi
(the) seven
بَقَرَٰتٍۢ
baqarātin
cows
سِمَانٍۢ
simānin
fat
يَأْكُلُهُنَّ
yakuluhunna
eating them
سَبْعٌ
sabʿun
seven
عِجَافٌۭ
ʿijāfun
lean ones
وَسَبْعِ
wasabʿi
and seven
سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ
sunbulātin
ears (of corn)
خُضْرٍۢ
khuḍ'rin
green
وَأُخَرَ
wa-ukhara
and other
يَابِسَـٰتٍۢ
yābisātin
dry
لَّعَلِّىٓ
laʿallī
that I may
أَرْجِعُ
arjiʿu
return
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
the people
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
Interpretation

When the man who had been saved reached Joseph, he asked Joseph, the truthful, to inform them of the interpretation of someone dreaming about seven fat cows being eaten by seven thin cows, and seven green ears of corn and seven dry ears of corn, so that he might return to the king and those with him and they might know the explanation of the king’s dream, and also know the virtue and rank of Joseph.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

47

قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِى سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ

[Joseph] said, "You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.

Qaala tazra'oona sab'a sineena da aban famaa basattum fazaroohu fee sumbu liheee illaa qaleelam mimmaa taakuloon

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
تَزْرَعُونَ
tazraʿūna
You will sow
سَبْعَ
sabʿa
(for) seven
سِنِينَ
sinīna
years
دَأَبًۭا
da-aban
as usual
فَمَا
famā
and that which
حَصَدتُّمْ
ḥaṣadttum
you reap
فَذَرُوهُ
fadharūhu
so leave it
فِى
in
سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ
sunbulihi
its ears
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a little
مِّمَّا
mimmā
from which
تَأْكُلُونَ
takulūna
you (will) eat
Interpretation

Explaining this dream, Joseph said that they should plant really well for seven consecutive years. And what they harvested in each of these seven years, they should leave in the ears of corn so that it would not rot, except for a little which they needed to eat from the corn.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

48

ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ

Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you advanced [i.e., saved] for them, except a little from which you will store.

Summa yaatee mim ba'di zaalika sab'un shidaaduny yaa kulna maa qaddamtum lahunna illaa qaleelam mimma tuhsinoon

Word by word
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
يَأْتِى
yatī
will come
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
سَبْعٌۭ
sabʿun
seven
شِدَادٌۭ
shidādun
hard (years)
يَأْكُلْنَ
yakul'na
(which will) consume
مَا
what
قَدَّمْتُمْ
qaddamtum
you advanced
لَهُنَّ
lahunna
for them
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a little
مِّمَّا
mimmā
of what
تُحْصِنُونَ
tuḥ'ṣinūna
you (will) store
Interpretation

Then after these seven fertile years in which they successfully grew food, seven barren years would come, when the people would eat all they had harvested in the fertile years, except for a little of what they had stored, from which they would be able to sow seeds.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

49

ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَامٌ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعْصِرُونَ

Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes]."

Summa yadtee mim ba'di zaalika 'aamun feehi yughaa sun naasu wa feehi ya'siroon

Word by word
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
يَأْتِى
yatī
will come
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
عَامٌۭ
ʿāmun
a year
فِيهِ
fīhi
in it
يُغَاثُ
yughāthu
will be given abundant rain
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
the people
وَفِيهِ
wafīhi
and in it
يَعْصِرُونَ
yaʿṣirūna
they will press
Interpretation

Then after these barren years a year would come in which the rains would fall, and the crops would grow, and the people would press those things that need pressing, such as grapes, olives and cane.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

50

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."

Wa qaalal maliku'toonee bihee falammaa jaaa'ahur rasoolu qaalar-ji ilaa rabbika fas'alhu maa baalun niswatil laatee qatta'na aydiyahunn; inna Rabbee bikaidihinna 'Aleem

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلْمَلِكُ
l-maliku
the king
ٱئْتُونِى
i'tūnī
Bring him to me
بِهِۦ ۖ
bihi
Bring him to me
فَلَمَّا
falammā
But when
جَآءَهُ
jāahu
came to him
ٱلرَّسُولُ
l-rasūlu
the messenger
قَالَ
qāla
he said
ٱرْجِعْ
ir'jiʿ
Return
إِلَىٰ
ilā
to
رَبِّكَ
rabbika
your lord
فَسْـَٔلْهُ
fasalhu
and ask him
مَا
what
بَالُ
bālu
(is the) case
ٱلنِّسْوَةِ
l-nis'wati
(of) the women
ٱلَّـٰتِى
allātī
who
قَطَّعْنَ
qaṭṭaʿna
cut
أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ
aydiyahunna
their hands
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
بِكَيْدِهِنَّ
bikaydihinna
of their plot
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
Interpretation

The king told his servants, when Joseph’s explanation of his dream reached him, to release Joseph from prison and bring him to him. When the king’s messenger came to Joseph, he told him to return to his master, the king, and ask him about the story of the women who cut their hands, so that his innocence would be made clear before he left the prison. Joseph said that his Lord was aware of how they had tried to seduce him, as nothing is hidden from Him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

51

قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ قُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍ ۚ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ

Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allāh! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-ʿAzeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.

Qaala maa khatbukunna iz raawattunna Yoosufa 'annafsih; qulna haasha lillaahi maa 'alimnaa 'alaihi min sooo'; qaalatim ra atul 'Azeezil 'aana hashasal haqq, ana raawat tuhoo 'an nafsihee wa innahoo laminas saadiqeen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
مَا
What
خَطْبُكُنَّ
khaṭbukunna
(was) your affair
إِذْ
idh
when
رَٰوَدتُّنَّ
rāwadttunna
you sought to seduce
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
عَن
ʿan
from
نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ
nafsihi
himself
قُلْنَ
qul'na
They said
حَـٰشَ
ḥāsha
Allah forbid
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
Allah forbid
مَا
Not
عَلِمْنَا
ʿalim'nā
we know
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
about him
مِن
min
any
سُوٓءٍۢ ۚ
sūin
evil
قَالَتِ
qālati
Said
ٱمْرَأَتُ
im'ra-atu
(the) wife
ٱلْعَزِيزِ
l-ʿazīzi
(of) Aziz
ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ
l-āna
Now
حَصْحَصَ
ḥaṣḥaṣa
(is) manifest
ٱلْحَقُّ
l-ḥaqu
the truth
أَنَا۠
anā
I
رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ
rāwadttuhu
sought to seduce him
عَن
ʿan
from
نَّفْسِهِۦ
nafsihi
himself
وَإِنَّهُۥ
wa-innahu
and indeed, he
لَمِنَ
lamina
(is) surely of
ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
l-ṣādiqīna
the truthful
Interpretation

The king, addressing the women, asked what happened when they called Joseph through trickery. Was it to commit immorality with them? The wife of the minister, confessing what she had done, said that now the truth had become clear, that she tried to seduce him, and he did not try to seduce her, and that he was truthful in claiming that he was innocent of what she had accused him of.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

52

ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ

That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.

Zaalika liya'lama annee lam akhunhu bilghaibi wa annal laaha laa yahdee kaidal khaaa'ineen

Word by word
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
لِيَعْلَمَ
liyaʿlama
he may know
أَنِّى
annī
that I
لَمْ
lam
not
أَخُنْهُ
akhun'hu
[I] betray him
بِٱلْغَيْبِ
bil-ghaybi
in secret
وَأَنَّ
wa-anna
and that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
(does) not
يَهْدِى
yahdī
guide
كَيْدَ
kayda
(the) plan
ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
l-khāinīna
(of) the betrayers
Interpretation

The wife of the minister said that this disclosure was so that Joseph would know through her confession that it was she who had tried to seduce him and that he was truthful, and that she had not lied about him in his absence, as it had become clear to her from what had happened that Allah does not give success to those who lie and scheme.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

53

۞ وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

Wa maa ubarri'u nafsee; innan nafsa la ammaaratum bissooo'i illaa maa rahima Rabbee; inna Rabbee Ghafoorur Raheem

Word by word
۞ وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أُبَرِّئُ
ubarri-u
I absolve
نَفْسِىٓ ۚ
nafsī
myself
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱلنَّفْسَ
l-nafsa
the soul
لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ
la-ammāratun
(is) a certain enjoiner
بِٱلسُّوٓءِ
bil-sūi
of evil
إِلَّا
illā
unless
مَا
[that]
رَحِمَ
raḥima
bestows Mercy
رَبِّىٓ ۚ
rabbī
my Lord
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۭ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
Interpretation

The minister’s wife continued speaking, saying that she was not free of blame from having wanted to do something bad, and she was not trying to justify herself, because the human self commands often to evil. This is because of its inclination towards what it desires and the difficulty of holding back from it, except for those whom Allah shows mercy to, preventing their egos from commending them to evil. Allah is Forgiving and Compassionate towards those of His servants who repent to Him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

54

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ

And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you are today established [in position] and trusted."

Wa qaalal maliku' toonee biheee astakhlishu linafsee falammaa kallamahoo qaala innakal yawma ladainaa makeenun ameen

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And said
ٱلْمَلِكُ
l-maliku
the king
ٱئْتُونِى
i'tūnī
Bring him to me
بِهِۦٓ
bihi
Bring him to me
أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ
astakhliṣ'hu
I will select him
لِنَفْسِى ۖ
linafsī
for myself
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
كَلَّمَهُۥ
kallamahu
he spoke to him
قَالَ
qāla
he said
إِنَّكَ
innaka
Indeed, you
ٱلْيَوْمَ
l-yawma
(are) today
لَدَيْنَا
ladaynā
with us
مَكِينٌ
makīnun
firmly established
أَمِينٌۭ
amīnun
(and) trusted
Interpretation

When Joseph’s innocence and knowledge became evident, the king asked his servants to bring Joseph to him to serve him. So they brought Joseph to him, and when Joseph spoke to him, his knowledge and high intelligence became evident so the king said to him “from this day, you are someone of rank, status and trust”.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

55

قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ

[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."

Qaalaj 'alnee 'alaa khazaaa'inil ardi innee hafeezun 'aleem

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
ٱجْعَلْنِى
ij'ʿalnī
Appoint me
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
خَزَآئِنِ
khazāini
(the) treasuries
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ
l-arḍi
(of) the land
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I
حَفِيظٌ
ḥafīẓun
(will be) a guardian
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
knowing
Interpretation

Joseph asked the king to put him in charge of taking care of the storehouses of wealth and food in the land of Egypt, because he would be a trustworthy guardian, with knowledge and insight about what he was taking care of.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

56

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.

Wa kazaalika makkannaa li Yoosufa fil ardi yatabawwa'u minhaa haisu yashaaaa'; nuseebu birahmatinaa man nashaaa'u wa laa nudee'u ajral muhsineen

Word by word
وَكَذَٰلِكَ
wakadhālika
And thus
مَكَّنَّا
makkannā
We established
لِيُوسُفَ
liyūsufa
[to] Yusuf
فِى
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
يَتَبَوَّأُ
yatabawwa-u
to settle
مِنْهَا
min'hā
therein
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
where ever
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
he willed
نُصِيبُ
nuṣību
We bestow
بِرَحْمَتِنَا
biraḥmatinā
Our Mercy
مَن
man
(on) whom
نَّشَآءُ ۖ
nashāu
We will
وَلَا
walā
And not
نُضِيعُ
nuḍīʿu
We let go waste
أَجْرَ
ajra
(the) reward
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
(of) the good-doers
Interpretation

Just as Allah proved Joseph’s innocence and released him from prison, He also established him in Egypt, so that he could go and live in any place he wished. Allah gives from His mercy to whomever of His servants He wills in this world, and does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost, giving it to them in full, and nothing less.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

57

وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ

And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allāh.

Wa la ajrul Aakhirati khairul lillazeena aamanoo wa kaanoo yattaqoon

Word by word
وَلَأَجْرُ
wala-ajru
And surely (the) reward
ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
l-ākhirati
(of) the Hereafter
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لِّلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believe
وَكَانُوا۟
wakānū
and are
يَتَّقُونَ
yattaqūna
God conscious
Interpretation

The reward of Allah, which He has prepared in the Afterlife, is certainly better than the reward of this life for those who have faith in Allah and who were mindful of Him, following what He has ordered and staying away from what He has prohibited.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

58

وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ

And the brothers of Joseph came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown.

Wa jaaa'a ikhwatu Yoosufa fadakhaloo 'alaihi fa'arafahum wa hum lahoo munkiroon

Word by word
وَجَآءَ
wajāa
And came
إِخْوَةُ
ikh'watu
(the) brothers
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
(of) Yusuf
فَدَخَلُوا۟
fadakhalū
and they entered
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
upon him
فَعَرَفَهُمْ
faʿarafahum
and he recognized them
وَهُمْ
wahum
but they
لَهُۥ
lahu
knew him not
مُنكِرُونَ
munkirūna
knew him not
Interpretation

The brothers of Joseph came to Egypt with their merchandise, and came before Joseph. He recognised that they were his brothers; but they did not recognise that he was their brother, because of the length of time that had passed and because of how much he had changed, since he had been just a boy when they threw him in the well.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

59

وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ

And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of accommodators?

Wa lammaa jahhazahum bijahaazihim qaala' toonee bi akhil lakum min abeekum; alaa tarawna anneee oofil kaila wa ana khairul munzileen

Word by word
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
جَهَّزَهُم
jahhazahum
he had furnished them
بِجَهَازِهِمْ
bijahāzihim
with their supplies
قَالَ
qāla
he said
ٱئْتُونِى
i'tūnī
Bring to me
بِأَخٍۢ
bi-akhin
a brother
لَّكُم
lakum
of yours
مِّنْ
min
from
أَبِيكُمْ ۚ
abīkum
your father
أَلَا
alā
Do not
تَرَوْنَ
tarawna
you see
أَنِّىٓ
annī
that I
أُوفِى
ūfī
[I] give full
ٱلْكَيْلَ
l-kayla
[the] measure
وَأَنَا۠
wa-anā
and that I am
خَيْرُ
khayru
(the) best
ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
l-munzilīna
(of) the hosts
Interpretation

When he had given them the supplies and provisions they came for, and after they had informed him that they had a brother on their father’s side who they had left with their father, Joseph asked them to bring their brother on their father’s side and he would give them more supplies. He asked them if they did not see that he gave full measure, not subtracting from it at all, and that he was the best of hosts.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

60

فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ

But if you do not bring him to me, no measure will there be [hereafter] for you from me, nor will you approach me."

Fa il lam taatoonee bihee falaa kaila lakum 'indee wa laa taqraboon

Word by word
فَإِن
fa-in
But if
لَّمْ
lam
not
تَأْتُونِى
tatūnī
you bring him to me
بِهِۦ
bihi
you bring him to me
فَلَا
falā
then (there will be) no
كَيْلَ
kayla
measure
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
عِندِى
ʿindī
from me
وَلَا
walā
and not
تَقْرَبُونِ
taqrabūni
you will come near me
Interpretation

Joseph told them that if they did not bring the brother asked for, then it would be clear that they were not telling the truth in their claim that they had a brother on their father’s side. He told them that in that case he would not give them any measure of food, and they should not approach his country.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

61

قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَـٰعِلُونَ

They said, "We will attempt to dissuade his father from [keeping] him, and indeed, we will do [it]."

Qaaloo sanuraawidu 'anhu abaahu wa innaa lafaa'iloon

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
سَنُرَٰوِدُ
sanurāwidu
We will try to get permission
عَنْهُ
ʿanhu
for him
أَبَاهُ
abāhu
(from) his father
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
and indeed we
لَفَـٰعِلُونَ
lafāʿilūna
surely will do
Interpretation

His brothers replied to him, saying that they would ask for him from their father, and would work hard to bring him, doing what Joseph instructed them without fail.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

62

وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَـٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

And [Joseph] said to his servants, "Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return."

Wa qaala lifityaanihij 'aloo bidaa'atahum fee rihaalihim la'allahum ya'rifoonahaaa izan qalabooo ilaaa ahlihim la'allahum yarji'oon

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And he said
لِفِتْيَـٰنِهِ
lifit'yānihi
to his servants
ٱجْعَلُوا۟
ij'ʿalū
Put
بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ
biḍāʿatahum
their merchandise
فِى
in
رِحَالِهِمْ
riḥālihim
their saddlebags
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they
يَعْرِفُونَهَآ
yaʿrifūnahā
may recognize it
إِذَا
idhā
when
ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟
inqalabū
they go back
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَهْلِهِمْ
ahlihim
their people
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَرْجِعُونَ
yarjiʿūna
return
Interpretation

Joseph told his servants to return the merchandise of these people to them, so that they would realize on their return that they did not do trade with it, which would force them to return again with their brother, to prove their integrity to Joseph, and so that he would receive their merchandise from them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

63

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ

So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."

Falammaa raja'ooo ilaaa abeehim qaaloo yaaa abaanaa muni'a minnal kailu fa arsil ma'anaaa akhaanaa naktal wa innaa lahoo lahaafizoon

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
رَجَعُوٓا۟
rajaʿū
they returned
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَبِيهِمْ
abīhim
their father
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
يَـٰٓأَبَانَا
yāabānā
O our father
مُنِعَ
muniʿa
Has been denied
مِنَّا
minnā
to us
ٱلْكَيْلُ
l-kaylu
the measure
فَأَرْسِلْ
fa-arsil
so send
مَعَنَآ
maʿanā
with us
أَخَانَا
akhānā
our brother
نَكْتَلْ
naktal
(that) we will get measure
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
And indeed, we
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
laḥāfiẓūna
(will) surely (be) guardians
Interpretation

When they returned to their father, and told him about the generosity of Joseph to them, they also told their father that any further measure would be denied to them if they did not bring their brother with them. They asked him to send him with them, because if he did so they would be given provisions. They promised their father that they would take good care of him, bringing him back safely.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

64

قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَـٰفِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allāh is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."

Qaala hal aamanukum 'alihi illaa kamaa amintukum 'alaaa akheehimin qabl; fal laahu khairun haafizanw wa Huwa arhamur Raahimeen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
هَلْ
hal
Should
ءَامَنُكُمْ
āmanukum
I entrust you
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
with him
إِلَّا
illā
except
كَمَآ
kamā
as
أَمِنتُكُمْ
amintukum
I entrusted you
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
with
أَخِيهِ
akhīhi
his brother
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ ۖ
qablu
before
فَٱللَّهُ
fal-lahu
But Allah
خَيْرٌ
khayrun
(is) the best
حَـٰفِظًۭا ۖ
ḥāfiẓan
Guardian
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
أَرْحَمُ
arḥamu
(is the) Most Merciful
ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
l-rāḥimīna
(of) the merciful
Interpretation

Their father asked them if he should trust them with him as he had trusted them with his full brother, Joseph. He had trusted them with Joseph and made them promise to take care of him, and they had not done what they promised, so he did not trust their promise to take care of his brother; but he trusted in Allah, for He is the best of guardians to whom He wills, and the most Merciful of the merciful to whom He wills.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

65

وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ

And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."

Wa lammaa fatahoo mataa 'ahum wajadoo bidaa'atahum ruddat ilaihim qaaloo yaaa abaanaa maa nabghee; haazihee bida 'atunaa ruddat ilainaa wa nameeru ahlanaa wa nahfazu akhaanaa wa nazdaadu kaila ba'eer; zaalika kailuny yaseer

Word by word
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
فَتَحُوا۟
fataḥū
they opened
مَتَـٰعَهُمْ
matāʿahum
their baggage
وَجَدُوا۟
wajadū
they found
بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ
biḍāʿatahum
their merchandise
رُدَّتْ
ruddat
returned
إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ
ilayhim
to them
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
يَـٰٓأَبَانَا
yāabānā
O our father
مَا
What
نَبْغِى ۖ
nabghī
(could) we desire
هَـٰذِهِۦ
hādhihi
This
بِضَـٰعَتُنَا
biḍāʿatunā
(is) our merchandise
رُدَّتْ
ruddat
returned
إِلَيْنَا ۖ
ilaynā
to us
وَنَمِيرُ
wanamīru
And we will get provision
أَهْلَنَا
ahlanā
(for) our family
وَنَحْفَظُ
wanaḥfaẓu
and we will protect
أَخَانَا
akhānā
our brother
وَنَزْدَادُ
wanazdādu
and get an increase
كَيْلَ
kayla
measure
بَعِيرٍۢ ۖ
baʿīrin
(of) a camel's (load)
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
كَيْلٌۭ
kaylun
(is) a measurement
يَسِيرٌۭ
yasīrun
easy
Interpretation

When they opened the bags containing the food which they had brought, they found what they had traded for it had been returned to them. They asked their father what more could they ask for from this king after such generosity. What they had traded for their food had been returned by the king as a favour from him to them. They told their father that they would get food for their family and protect their brother from what he feared might happen to him, and they would get an extra camel load because of him accompanying them – an extra camel load being an easy matter for the king.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

66

قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِى بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ

[Jacob] said, "Never will I send him with you until you give me a promise [i.e., oath] by Allāh that you will bring him [back] to me, unless you should be surrounded [i.e., overcome by enemies]." And when they had given their promise, he said, "Allāh, over what we say, is Entrusted."

Qaala lan ursilahoo ma'akum hattaa tu'tooni mawsiqam minal laahis lataa tunnanee biheee illaaa nay yuhaata bikum falammaaa aatawhu mawsiqahum qaalal laahu 'alaa maa naqoolu Wakeel

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
لَنْ
lan
Never
أُرْسِلَهُۥ
ur'silahu
will I send him
مَعَكُمْ
maʿakum
with you
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
تُؤْتُونِ
tu'tūni
you give to me
مَوْثِقًۭا
mawthiqan
a promise
مِّنَ
mina
by
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
لَتَأْتُنَّنِى
latatunnanī
that surely you will bring him to me
بِهِۦٓ
bihi
that surely you will bring him to me
إِلَّآ
illā
unless
أَن
an
that
يُحَاطَ
yuḥāṭa
you are surrounded
بِكُمْ ۖ
bikum
you are surrounded
فَلَمَّآ
falammā
And when
ءَاتَوْهُ
ātawhu
they had given him
مَوْثِقَهُمْ
mawthiqahum
their promise
قَالَ
qāla
he said
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
مَا
what
نَقُولُ
naqūlu
we say
وَكِيلٌۭ
wakīlun
(is) a Guardian
Interpretation

Their father told them he would not send their brother with them until they had sworn by Allah that they would bring him back, unless destruction overwhelmed them all and none of them remained, and they were unable to do anything about it or to return. When they had given their father a firm promise in Allah's name, he said that Allah was a witness over what they said, and His witnessing was sufficient for them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

67

وَقَالَ يَـٰبَنِىَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بَابٍ وَٰحِدٍ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَآ أُغْنِى عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] Allāh at all. The decision is only for Allāh; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who would rely [indeed] rely."

Wa qaala yaa baniyya laa tadkhuloo mim baabinw waa hidinw wadkhuloo min abwaabim mutafarriqah; wa maaa ughnee 'ankum minal laahi min shai'in; inil hukmu illaa lillaahi 'alaihi tawakkaltu wa 'alaihi fal yatawakkalil Mutawakkiloon

Word by word
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And he said
يَـٰبَنِىَّ
yābaniyya
O my sons
لَا
(Do) not
تَدْخُلُوا۟
tadkhulū
enter
مِنۢ
min
from
بَابٍۢ
bābin
one gate
وَٰحِدٍۢ
wāḥidin
one gate
وَٱدْخُلُوا۟
wa-ud'khulū
but enter
مِنْ
min
from
أَبْوَٰبٍۢ
abwābin
gates
مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍۢ ۖ
mutafarriqatin
different
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أُغْنِى
ugh'nī
I can avail
عَنكُم
ʿankum
you
مِّنَ
mina
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مِن
min
any
شَىْءٍ ۖ
shayin
thing
إِنِ
ini
Not
ٱلْحُكْمُ
l-ḥuk'mu
(is) the decision
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِلَّهِ ۖ
lillahi
with Allah
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
upon Him
تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ
tawakkaltu
I put my trust
وَعَلَيْهِ
waʿalayhi
and upon Him
فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ
falyatawakkali
let put (their) trust
ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
l-mutawakilūna
the ones who put trust
Interpretation

Also, their father advised them not to enter Egypt from one gate all together, but to enter from different gates. This would be safer in terms of someone harming all of them if someone wished to do so. He did not say this so as to be able to stop any harm that Allah willed for them, or to bring them any benefit which Allah did not will for them, because the decree is Allah’s alone, and the command is His alone. Their father said that he placed his trust in Him alone concerning everything in his life, and that those who trust should put their trust in Him alone concerning everything in their li

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

68

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allāh at all except [it was] a need [i.e., concern] within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.

Wa lammaa dakhaloo min haisu amarahum aboohum maa kaana yughnee 'anhum minal laahi min shai'in illaa haajatan fee nafsi Ya'qooba qadaahaa; wa innahoo lazoo 'ilmil limaa 'allamnaahu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

Word by word
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
دَخَلُوا۟
dakhalū
they entered
مِنْ
min
from
حَيْثُ
ḥaythu
where
أَمَرَهُمْ
amarahum
ordered them
أَبُوهُم
abūhum
their father
مَّا
not
كَانَ
kāna
it
يُغْنِى
yugh'nī
avail(ed)
عَنْهُم
ʿanhum
them
مِّنَ
mina
against
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مِن
min
any
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
إِلَّا
illā
but
حَاجَةًۭ
ḥājatan
(it was) a need
فِى
of
نَفْسِ
nafsi
Yaqub's soul
يَعْقُوبَ
yaʿqūba
Yaqub's soul
قَضَىٰهَا ۚ
qaḍāhā
which he carried out
وَإِنَّهُۥ
wa-innahu
And indeed, he
لَذُو
ladhū
(was) a possessor
عِلْمٍۢ
ʿil'min
(of) knowledge
لِّمَا
limā
because
عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ
ʿallamnāhu
We had taught him
وَلَـٰكِنَّ
walākinna
but
أَكْثَرَ
akthara
most
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
(of) the people
لَا
(do) not
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
Interpretation

So they journeyed with Joseph’s full brother. When they entered through different gates, as their father had instructed them, it did not stop what Allah had decreed for them in any way. It was just Jacob’s concern for his sons which he showed, advising them, knowing that the decree is Allah’s alone. He knew what Allah had taught him in terms of faith in the divine decree and taking precautions, but most people do not know this.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

69

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]."

Wa lammaa dakhaloo 'alaa Yoosufa aawaaa ilaihi akhaahu qaala inneee ana akhooka falaa tabta'is bimaa kaanoo ya'maloon

Word by word
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
دَخَلُوا۟
dakhalū
they entered
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
upon
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
ءَاوَىٰٓ
āwā
he took
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to himself
أَخَاهُ ۖ
akhāhu
his brother
قَالَ
qāla
He said
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَنَا۠
anā
[I] am
أَخُوكَ
akhūka
your brother
فَلَا
falā
so (do) not
تَبْتَئِسْ
tabta-is
grieve
بِمَا
bimā
for what
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they used (to)
يَعْمَلُونَ
yaʿmalūna
do
Interpretation

When the brothers of Joseph came before him, together with his full brother, he drew his full brother close to him and said to him privately that he was his brother Joseph, and that he should not feel sad about the reckless behaviour of his other brothers, hurting and resenting the two of them, and throwing Joseph in the well.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

70

فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَايَةَ فِى رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَـٰرِقُونَ

So when he had furnished them with their supplies, he put the [gold measuring] bowl into the bag of his brother. Then an announcer called out, "O caravan, indeed you are thieves."

Falammaa jahhazahum bijahaazihim ja'alas siqaayata fee rahli akheehi summa azzana mu'azzinun ayyatuhal'eeru innakum lasaariqoon

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
جَهَّزَهُم
jahhazahum
he had furnished them
بِجَهَازِهِمْ
bijahāzihim
with their supplies
جَعَلَ
jaʿala
he put
ٱلسِّقَايَةَ
l-siqāyata
the drinking cup
فِى
in
رَحْلِ
raḥli
the bag
أَخِيهِ
akhīhi
(of) his brother
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
أَذَّنَ
adhana
called out
مُؤَذِّنٌ
mu-adhinun
an announcer
أَيَّتُهَا
ayyatuhā
O you
ٱلْعِيرُ
l-ʿīru
(in) the caravan
إِنَّكُمْ
innakum
Indeed, you
لَسَـٰرِقُونَ
lasāriqūna
surely (are) thieves
Interpretation

So when Joseph instructed his servants to load the camels of his brothers with food, he put the measuring bowl of the king, which the food was measured with for those who came to get provisions, into the bag of his full brother, without their knowledge, in order to have him stay with him. When they were to travel and return back to their family, a caller called after them, saying that they, with their camels loaded with provisions, were thieves.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

71

قَالُوا۟ وَأَقْبَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم مَّاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ

They said while approaching them, "What is it you are missing?"

Qaaloo wa aqbaloo 'alaihim maazaa tafqidoon

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
وَأَقْبَلُوا۟
wa-aqbalū
turning towards
عَلَيْهِم
ʿalayhim
them
مَّاذَا
mādhā
What (is it)
تَفْقِدُونَ
tafqidūna
you miss
Interpretation

The brothers of Joseph, turning towards the person calling after them and his companions who were with him, asked what they were missing that made them accuse them of stealing.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

72

قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ

They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."

Qaaloo nafqidu suwaa'al maliki wa liman jaaa'a bihee himlu ba'eerinw wa ana bihee za'eem

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
نَفْقِدُ
nafqidu
We are missing
صُوَاعَ
ṣuwāʿa
(the) cup
ٱلْمَلِكِ
l-maliki
(of) the king
وَلِمَن
waliman
And for (one) who
جَآءَ
jāa
brings
بِهِۦ
bihi
it
حِمْلُ
ḥim'lu
(is) a load
بَعِيرٍۢ
baʿīrin
(of) a camel
وَأَنَا۠
wa-anā
and I
بِهِۦ
bihi
for it
زَعِيمٌۭ
zaʿīmun
(is) responsible
Interpretation

The caller and his companions, who were with him, said to the brothers of Joseph that they were missing the bowl of the king which they measured with. Whoever produced the bowl of the king before the inspection would get a reward, which would be a camel load, and the speaker guaranteed this to whoever did so.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

73

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـٰرِقِينَ

They said, "By Allāh, you have certainly known that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, and we have not been thieves."

Qaaloo tallaahi laqad 'alimtum maa ji'na linufsida fil ardi wa maa kunnaa saariqeen

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
تَٱللَّهِ
tal-lahi
By Allah
لَقَدْ
laqad
certainly
عَلِمْتُم
ʿalim'tum
you know
مَّا
not
جِئْنَا
ji'nā
we came
لِنُفْسِدَ
linuf'sida
that we cause corruption
فِى
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كُنَّا
kunnā
we are
سَـٰرِقِينَ
sāriqīna
thieves
Interpretation

The brothers of Joseph swore by Allah that those accusing them knew they were free of blame and innocent of this, as they could see from their situation, and that they had not come to the land of Egypt to cause corruption in it, and that they had never been thieves.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

74

قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُمْ كَـٰذِبِينَ

They [the accusers] said, "Then what would be its recompense if you should be liars?"

Qaaloo famaa jazaaa'u hooo in kuntum kaazibeen

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
فَمَا
famā
Then what
جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓ
jazāuhu
(will be the) recompense (of) it
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
كَـٰذِبِينَ
kādhibīna
liars
Interpretation

The caller and his companions asked what the punishment for theft among them was, in case they should be proved to be liars in their claim that they were innocent of the theft.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

75

قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."

Qaaloo jazaaa'uhoo manw wujida fee rahlihee fahuwa jazaaa'uh; kazaalika najziz zaalimeen

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ
jazāuhu
Its recompense
مَن
man
(is that one) who
وُجِدَ
wujida
it is found
فِى
in
رَحْلِهِۦ
raḥlihi
his bag
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
then he
جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ
jazāuhu
(will be) his recompense
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Thus
نَجْزِى
najzī
(do) we recompense
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
the wrongdoers
Interpretation

Joseph’s brothers said that the payment for any thief among them was that the person in whose bag the stolen item was found would become the slave of whoever he stole from. This punishment of being made into a slave is the way they punished thieves.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

76

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِى دِينِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ

So he began [the search] with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he extracted it from the bag of his brother. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother within the religion [i.e., law] of the king except that Allāh willed. We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing.

Fabada-a bi-aw'iyatihim qabla wi'aaa'i akheehi summas takhrajahaa minw wi 'aaa'i akheeh; kazaalika kidnaa li Yoosuf; maa kaana liyaakhuza akhaahu fee deenil maliki illaaa any yashaaa'al laah; narfa'u darajaatim man nashaaa'; wa fawqa kulli zee 'ilmin 'Aleem

Word by word
فَبَدَأَ
fabada-a
So he began
بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ
bi-awʿiyatihim
with their bags
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
وِعَآءِ
wiʿāi
(the) bag
أَخِيهِ
akhīhi
(of) his brother
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا
is'takhrajahā
he brought it out
مِن
min
from
وِعَآءِ
wiʿāi
(the) bag
أَخِيهِ ۚ
akhīhi
(of) his brother
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Thus
كِدْنَا
kid'nā
(did) We plan
لِيُوسُفَ ۖ
liyūsufa
for Yusuf
مَا
He could not
كَانَ
kāna
He could not
لِيَأْخُذَ
liyakhudha
take
أَخَاهُ
akhāhu
his brother
فِى
by
دِينِ
dīni
the law
ٱلْمَلِكِ
l-maliki
(of) the king
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
that
يَشَآءَ
yashāa
Allah willed
ٱللَّهُ ۚ
l-lahu
Allah willed
نَرْفَعُ
narfaʿu
We raise
دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ
darajātin
(in) degrees
مَّن
man
whom
نَّشَآءُ ۗ
nashāu
We will
وَفَوْقَ
wafawqa
but over
كُلِّ
kulli
every
ذِى
dhī
possessor
عِلْمٍ
ʿil'min
(of) knowledge
عَلِيمٌۭ
ʿalīmun
(is) the All-Knower
Interpretation

So they returned them to Joseph to inspect their bags. He started by inspecting the bags of his half-brothers before inspecting the bag of his full brother, to cover up what he was doing. Then he inspected the bag of his full brother, and took the bowl of the king out of it. As Allah planned things for Joseph by arranging to have the bowl put into the bag of his brother, He also arranged – for the benefit of Joseph – that his brothers would be given the punishment of their country, which was the enslavement of the thief. This would not have come to pass if it had been according to the punishme

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

77

۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ

They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allāh is most knowing of what you describe."

Qaaloo iny yasriq faqad saraqa akhul lahoo min qabl; fa asarrahaa Yoosufu fee nafsihee wa lam yubdihaa lahum; qaala antum sharrum makaananw wallaahu a'lamu bimaa tasifoon

Word by word
۞ قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They said
إِن
in
If
يَسْرِقْ
yasriq
he steals
فَقَدْ
faqad
then verily
سَرَقَ
saraqa
stole
أَخٌۭ
akhun
a brother
لَّهُۥ
lahu
of his
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ ۚ
qablu
before
فَأَسَرَّهَا
fa-asarrahā
But Yusuf kept it secret
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
But Yusuf kept it secret
فِى
within
نَفْسِهِۦ
nafsihi
himself
وَلَمْ
walam
and (did) not
يُبْدِهَا
yub'dihā
reveal it
لَهُمْ ۚ
lahum
to them
قَالَ
qāla
He said
أَنتُمْ
antum
You
شَرٌّۭ
sharrun
(are the) worse
مَّكَانًۭا ۖ
makānan
(in) position
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
and Allah
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
knows best
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَصِفُونَ
taṣifūna
you describe
Interpretation

The brothers of Joseph said that if he had stolen it was not surprising, since a full brother of his had stolen before he had, meaning Joseph (peace be upon him). Joseph hid his hurt at what they said, thinking to himself that their envy and the bad actions they had committed were evil itself in this context, and Allah knew best the lies that came from them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

78

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

They said, "O ʿAzeez, indeed he has a father [who is] an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you as a doer of good."

Qaaloo yaaa ayyuhal 'Azeezu inna lahooo aban shaikhan kabeeran fakhuz ahadanaa makaanahoo innaa naraaka minal muhsineen

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O
ٱلْعَزِيزُ
l-ʿazīzu
Aziz
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
لَهُۥٓ
lahu
he has
أَبًۭا
aban
a father
شَيْخًۭا
shaykhan
old
كَبِيرًۭا
kabīran
[great]
فَخُذْ
fakhudh
so take
أَحَدَنَا
aḥadanā
one of us
مَكَانَهُۥٓ ۖ
makānahu
(in) his place
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
نَرَىٰكَ
narāka
[we] see you
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
the good-doers
Interpretation

Joseph’s brothers told him that their father was old and elderly and loved their brother dearly. They asked him to take one of them instead of him, saying that they saw that he was a doer of good in his dealings with them and others, and they asked him to be generous with them by doing this.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

79

قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَـٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّظَـٰلِمُونَ

He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."

Qaala ma'aazal laahi an naakhuza illaa manw wajadnaa mataa'anaa 'indahoo innaaa izal lazaalimoon

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
مَعَاذَ
maʿādha
Allah forbid
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah forbid
أَن
an
that
نَّأْخُذَ
nakhudha
we take
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَن
man
(one) who
وَجَدْنَا
wajadnā
we found
مَتَـٰعَنَا
matāʿanā
our possession
عِندَهُۥٓ
ʿindahu
with him
إِنَّآ
innā
Indeed, we
إِذًۭا
idhan
then
لَّظَـٰلِمُونَ
laẓālimūna
surely (would be) wrongdoers
Interpretation

Joseph asked for protection from Allah that they should wrong someone innocent with the sin of a wrongdoer. If they took someone other than the person in whose bag they found the bowl of the king, then they would be wrongdoers, because they would be punishing someone who was innocent and letting a criminal go free.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

80

فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِى يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِىٓ أَبِىٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِى ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ

So when they had despaired of him, they secluded themselves in private consultation. The eldest of them said, "Do you not know that your father has taken upon you an oath by Allāh and [that] before you failed in [your duty to] Joseph? So I will never leave [this] land until my father permits me or Allāh decides for me, and He is the best of judges.

Falammas tay'asoo minhu khalasoo najiyyan qaala kabeeruhum alam ta'lamoon anna abaakum qad akhaza 'alaikum mawsiqam minal laahi wa min qablu maa farrattum fee Yoosufa falan abrahal arda hattaa yaazana leee abeee aw yahkumal laahu lee wa huwa khairul lhaakimeen

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟
is'tayasū
they despaired
مِنْهُ
min'hu
of him
خَلَصُوا۟
khalaṣū
they secluded themselves
نَجِيًّۭا ۖ
najiyyan
(in) private consultation
قَالَ
qāla
Said
كَبِيرُهُمْ
kabīruhum
the eldest among them
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَعْلَمُوٓا۟
taʿlamū
you know
أَنَّ
anna
that
أَبَاكُمْ
abākum
your father
قَدْ
qad
has taken
أَخَذَ
akhadha
has taken
عَلَيْكُم
ʿalaykum
upon you
مَّوْثِقًۭا
mawthiqan
a promise
مِّنَ
mina
by
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَمِن
wamin
and before
قَبْلُ
qablu
and before
مَا
that
فَرَّطتُمْ
farraṭtum
you failed
فِى
concerning
يُوسُفَ ۖ
yūsufa
Yusuf
فَلَنْ
falan
So never
أَبْرَحَ
abraḥa
will I leave
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the land
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يَأْذَنَ
yadhana
permits
لِىٓ
me
أَبِىٓ
abī
my father
أَوْ
aw
or
يَحْكُمَ
yaḥkuma
Allah decides
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah decides
لِى ۖ
for me
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
خَيْرُ
khayru
(is) the Best
ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
l-ḥākimīna
(of) the judges
Interpretation

When they despaired of Joseph responding to their request, they went away from the people to consult with each other. Their oldest brother asked them if they remembered that their father had taken a firm promise in the name of Allah from them that they would return his son to him, unless they were completely overwhelmed by what they were unable to repel, and that before that they had failed with regards to Joseph, and had not kept their promise to their father concerning him. He said that he would not leave the land of Egypt until his father permitted him to return to him, or Allah decreed tha

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

81

ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَـٰفِظِينَ

Return to your father and say, 'O our father, indeed your son has stolen, and we did not testify except to what we knew. And we were not witnesses of the unseen.

Irji'ooo ilaaa abeekum faqooloo yaaa abaanaaa innab naka saraq; wa maa shahidnaaa illaa bimaa 'alimnaa wa maa kunnaa lilghaibi haafizeen

Word by word
ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟
ir'jiʿū
Return
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَبِيكُمْ
abīkum
your father
فَقُولُوا۟
faqūlū
and say
يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ
yāabānā
'O our father
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱبْنَكَ
ib'naka
your son
سَرَقَ
saraqa
has stolen
وَمَا
wamā
and not
شَهِدْنَآ
shahid'nā
we testify
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِمَا
bimā
of what
عَلِمْنَا
ʿalim'nā
we knew
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كُنَّا
kunnā
we were
لِلْغَيْبِ
lil'ghaybi
of the unseen
حَـٰفِظِينَ
ḥāfiẓīna
guardians
Interpretation

The oldest brother told them to return to their father and tell him that his son had stolen, and the minister of Egypt had taken him as a slave as a punishment for his theft, and that they only related to him what they knew from seeing the bowl produced from his bag. They did not know that he stole things, and if they had known this they would not have made a promise to their father to return him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

82

وَسْـَٔلِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنَّا فِيهَا وَٱلْعِيرَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَـٰدِقُونَ

And ask the city in which we were and the caravan in which we came - and indeed, we are truthful.'"

Was'alil qaryatal latee kunnaa feehaa wal'eeral lateee aqbalnaa feehaa wa innaa lasaadiqoon

Word by word
وَسْـَٔلِ
wasali
And ask
ٱلْقَرْيَةَ
l-qaryata
the town
ٱلَّتِى
allatī
where
كُنَّا
kunnā
we were
فِيهَا
fīhā
[in it]
وَٱلْعِيرَ
wal-ʿīra
and the caravan
ٱلَّتِىٓ
allatī
which
أَقْبَلْنَا
aqbalnā
we returned
فِيهَا ۖ
fīhā
[in it]
وَإِنَّا
wa-innā
And indeed, we
لَصَـٰدِقُونَ
laṣādiqūna
surely (are) truthful.'
Interpretation

In order to confirm that they were telling the truth, the brothers told their father to ask the people of the town where they had been, and to ask the people of the caravan they had come with, and that these people would tell him the same thing as they had. They said they were telling the truth in what they told him about his son’s theft.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

83

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allāh will bring them to me all together. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."

Qaala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amran fasabrun jameelun 'asal laahu any yaa tiyanee bihim jamee'aa; innahoo Huwal 'Aleemul Hakeem

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
بَلْ
bal
Nay
سَوَّلَتْ
sawwalat
have enticed
لَكُمْ
lakum
you
أَنفُسُكُمْ
anfusukum
your souls
أَمْرًۭا ۖ
amran
something
فَصَبْرٌۭ
faṣabrun
so patience
جَمِيلٌ ۖ
jamīlun
(is) beautiful
عَسَى
ʿasā
Perhaps
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَن
an
will bring them to me
يَأْتِيَنِى
yatiyanī
will bring them to me
بِهِمْ
bihim
will bring them to me
جَمِيعًا ۚ
jamīʿan
all
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلْعَلِيمُ
l-ʿalīmu
(is) the All-Knower
ٱلْحَكِيمُ
l-ḥakīmu
All-Wise
Interpretation

Their father told them that the matter was not as they said with regards to him having stolen. Rather, their souls made deception in this attractive to them, as they had been deceptive about their brother Joseph before. He said my patience is of a beautiful type, which directs complaints to Allah alone. He said that perhaps Allah would return Joseph, his full brother and their oldest brother all together. He, glory be to Him, knew Jacob’s situation and was Wise in the way He arranged everything for him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

84

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor.

Wa tawallaa 'anhum wa qaala yaaa asafaa 'alaa Yoosufa wabyaddat 'aynaahu minal huzni fahuwa kazeem

Word by word
وَتَوَلَّىٰ
watawallā
And he turned away
عَنْهُمْ
ʿanhum
from them
وَقَالَ
waqāla
and said
يَـٰٓأَسَفَىٰ
yāasafā
Alas, my grief
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
وَٱبْيَضَّتْ
wa-ib'yaḍḍat
And became white
عَيْنَاهُ
ʿaynāhu
his eyes
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلْحُزْنِ
l-ḥuz'ni
the grief
فَهُوَ
fahuwa
and he (was)
كَظِيمٌۭ
kaẓīmun
a suppressor
Interpretation

He pulled away, turning from them, saying, ‘O my grief for Joseph!’ The blackness of his eyes had become white out of his great mourning for him, because he was filled with grief and sorrow, yet hiding his grief from the people.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

85

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَـٰلِكِينَ

They said, "By Allāh, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish."

Qaaloo tallaahi tafta'u tazkuru Yoosufa hattaa takoona haradan aw takoona minal haalikeen

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
تَٱللَّهِ
tal-lahi
By Allah
تَفْتَؤُا۟
tafta-u
you will not cease
تَذْكُرُ
tadhkuru
remembering
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
تَكُونَ
takūna
you become
حَرَضًا
ḥaraḍan
fatally ill
أَوْ
aw
or
تَكُونَ
takūna
become
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْهَـٰلِكِينَ
l-hālikīna
those who perish
Interpretation

The brothers of Joseph said to the father, swearing by Allah, that he would not stop remembering Joseph and grieving over him until he became very ill or actually died.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

86

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allāh, and I know from Allāh that which you do not know.

Qaala innamaaa ashkoo bassee wa huzneee ilal laahi wa a'lamu minal laahi maa laa ta'lamoon

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
إِنَّمَآ
innamā
Only
أَشْكُوا۟
ashkū
I complain
بَثِّى
bathī
(of) my suffering
وَحُزْنِىٓ
waḥuz'nī
and my grief
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَأَعْلَمُ
wa-aʿlamu
and I know
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَا
what
لَا
not
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
you know
Interpretation

Their father said to them that he only complained to Allah of the grief and sorrow that had occurred him, and that he knew of the kindness and generosity of Allah and His response to those who were in need, and His reward for those who suffered, which they did not know.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

87

يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ

O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allāh. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allāh except the disbelieving people."

Yaa baniyyaz haboo fatahassasoo miny Yoosufa wa akheehi wa laa tai'asoo mir rawhil laahi innahoo laa yai'asu mir rawhil laahi illal qawmul kaafiroon

Word by word
يَـٰبَنِىَّ
yābaniyya
O my sons
ٱذْهَبُوا۟
idh'habū
Go
فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟
fataḥassasū
and inquire
مِن
min
about
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
وَأَخِيهِ
wa-akhīhi
and his brother
وَلَا
walā
and not
تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟
tāy'asū
despair
مِن
min
of
رَّوْحِ
rawḥi
(the) Mercy of Allah
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
(the) Mercy of Allah
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed
لَا
none
يَا۟يْـَٔسُ
yāy'asu
despairs
مِن
min
of
رَّوْحِ
rawḥi
(the) Mercy of Allah
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(the) Mercy of Allah
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱلْقَوْمُ
l-qawmu
the people
ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
l-kāfirūna
the disbelievers
Interpretation

Their father told them to go and find out news about Joseph and his brother, and not to despair of relief from Allah and His release of His servants. Without doubt, only disbelieving people despair of relief from Allah and His release of His servants, because they do not know the greatness of Allah’s power and His subtle favour upon His servants.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

88

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَـٰعَةٍ مُّزْجَىٰةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا ٱلْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِى ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ

So when they entered upon him [i.e., Joseph], they said, "O ʿAzeez, adversity has touched us and our family, and we have come with goods poor in quality, but give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allāh rewards the charitable."

Falammaa dakhaloo 'alaihi qaaloo yaaa ayyuhal 'Azeezu massanaa wa ahlanad durru wa ji'naa bibidaa 'timmuzjaatin fa awfi lanal kaila wa tasaddaq 'alainaa innal laaha yajzil mutasaddiqeen

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
دَخَلُوا۟
dakhalū
they entered
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
upon him
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O Aziz
ٱلْعَزِيزُ
l-ʿazīzu
O Aziz
مَسَّنَا
massanā
Has touched us
وَأَهْلَنَا
wa-ahlanā
and our family
ٱلضُّرُّ
l-ḍuru
the adversity
وَجِئْنَا
waji'nā
and we have come
بِبِضَـٰعَةٍۢ
bibiḍāʿatin
with goods
مُّزْجَىٰةٍۢ
muz'jātin
(of) little value
فَأَوْفِ
fa-awfi
but pay (in) full
لَنَا
lanā
to us
ٱلْكَيْلَ
l-kayla
the measure
وَتَصَدَّقْ
wataṣaddaq
and be charitable
عَلَيْنَآ ۖ
ʿalaynā
to us
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يَجْزِى
yajzī
rewards
ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ
l-mutaṣadiqīna
the charitable
Interpretation

So they did as their father instructed, and went in search of Joseph and his brother. When they came before Joseph, they said they had experienced hardship and poverty and had brought inferior, cheap goods. They asked him to give them a sufficient measure, as he had given them before, and to be charitable to them by giving them more than this, or overlooking their poor merchandise, saying that Allah rewards those who are charitable with the best of rewards.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

89

قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَـٰهِلُونَ

He said, "Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?"

Qaala hal 'alimtum maa fa'altum bi Yoosufa wa akheehi iz antum jaahiloon

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
هَلْ
hal
Do
عَلِمْتُم
ʿalim'tum
you know
مَّا
what
فَعَلْتُم
faʿaltum
you did
بِيُوسُفَ
biyūsufa
with Yusuf
وَأَخِيهِ
wa-akhīhi
and his brother
إِذْ
idh
when
أَنتُمْ
antum
you were
جَـٰهِلُونَ
jāhilūna
ignorant
Interpretation

When he heard their words he felt compassion towards them, and let them know who he was, asking them if they knew what they did to Joseph and his full brother when they were ignorant of the consequences of what they did to them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

90

قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allāh has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allāh and is patient, then indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."

Qaaloo 'a innaka la anta Yoosufu qaala ana Yoosufu wa haazaaa akhee qad mannal laahu 'alainaa innahoo mai yattaqi wa yasbir fa innal laaha laa yudee'u ajral muhsineen

Word by word
قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They said
أَءِنَّكَ
a-innaka
Are you indeed
لَأَنتَ
la-anta
surely you
يُوسُفُ ۖ
yūsufu
Yusuf
قَالَ
qāla
He said
أَنَا۠
anā
I am
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
Yusuf
وَهَـٰذَآ
wahādhā
and this
أَخِى ۖ
akhī
(is) my brother
قَدْ
qad
Indeed
مَنَّ
manna
Allah has been gracious
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah has been gracious
عَلَيْنَآ ۖ
ʿalaynā
to us
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, he
مَن
man
who
يَتَّقِ
yattaqi
fears Allah
وَيَصْبِرْ
wayaṣbir
and (is) patient
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
(does) not
يُضِيعُ
yuḍīʿu
let go waste
أَجْرَ
ajra
(the) reward
ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
l-muḥ'sinīna
(of) the good-doers
Interpretation

They were amazed, and asked whether he was in fact Joseph. Joseph said to them that he was indeed Joseph, and that the person with him was his full brother. Allah had favoured them, saving them from their previous situation, raising them in rank. Whoever is Mindful, following what He instructs and staying away from what He has prohibited, and being patient with hardship, their actions are good, and Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost; rather, He keeps it in store for them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

91

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـٰطِـِٔينَ

They said, "By Allāh, certainly has Allāh preferred you over us, and indeed, we have been sinners."

Qaaloo tallaahi laqad aasarakal laahu 'alainaa wa in kunnaa lakhaati'een

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
تَٱللَّهِ
tal-lahi
By Allah
لَقَدْ
laqad
certainly
ءَاثَرَكَ
ātharaka
Allah has preferred you
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah has preferred you
عَلَيْنَا
ʿalaynā
over us
وَإِن
wa-in
and indeed
كُنَّا
kunnā
we have been
لَخَـٰطِـِٔينَ
lakhāṭiīna
sinners
Interpretation

The brothers apologised to Joseph for their behaviour towards him, and they said that Allah had indeed preferred him over them through the attributes of perfection He had given to him, and that they had committed evil and disobedience in what they had done to him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

92

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. May Allāh forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.

Qaala laa tasreeba 'alaikumul yawma yaghfirul laahu lakum wa Huwa arhamur raahimeen

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
لَا
No
تَثْرِيبَ
tathrība
blame
عَلَيْكُمُ
ʿalaykumu
upon you
ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ
l-yawma
today
يَغْفِرُ
yaghfiru
Allah will forgive
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah will forgive
لَكُمْ ۖ
lakum
you
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
أَرْحَمُ
arḥamu
(is) the Most Merciful
ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
l-rāḥimīna
(of) those who show mercy
Interpretation

Joseph accepted their apology, saying that there would be no blame on them requiring a punishment, nor any criticism, from that day. He asked that Allah forgive them, and He, glory be to Him, is the most Merciful of the merciful.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

93

ٱذْهَبُوا۟ بِقَمِيصِى هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِى يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِى بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Take this, my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father; he will become seeing. And bring me your family, all together."

Izhaboo biqameesee haazaa fa alqoohu 'alaa wajhi abee yaati baseeranw waatoonee bi ahlikum ajma'een

Word by word
ٱذْهَبُوا۟
idh'habū
Go
بِقَمِيصِى
biqamīṣī
with this shirt of mine
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
with this shirt of mine
فَأَلْقُوهُ
fa-alqūhu
and cast it
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
وَجْهِ
wajhi
(the) face
أَبِى
abī
(of) my father
يَأْتِ
yati
he will regain sight
بَصِيرًۭا
baṣīran
he will regain sight
وَأْتُونِى
watūnī
And bring to me
بِأَهْلِكُمْ
bi-ahlikum
your family
أَجْمَعِينَ
ajmaʿīna
all together
Interpretation

Joseph gave them his shirt when they informed him of what had happened to his father’s eyesight, telling them to take his shirt and to lay it over the face of his father, and that it would return his sight to him. He also told them to bring their whole family to him.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

94

وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّى لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ

And when the caravan departed [from Egypt], their father said, "Indeed, I find the smell of Joseph [and would say that he was alive] if you did not think me weakened in mind."

Wa lammaa fasalatil 'eeru qaala aboohum innee la ajidu reeha Yoosufa law laaa an tufannidoon

Word by word
وَلَمَّا
walammā
And when
فَصَلَتِ
faṣalati
departed
ٱلْعِيرُ
l-ʿīru
the caravan
قَالَ
qāla
their father said
أَبُوهُمْ
abūhum
their father said
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I
لَأَجِدُ
la-ajidu
[I] find
رِيحَ
rīḥa
(the) smell
يُوسُفَ ۖ
yūsufa
(of) Yusuf
لَوْلَآ
lawlā
if not
أَن
an
that
تُفَنِّدُونِ
tufannidūni
you think me weakened in mind
Interpretation

And when the caravan left, departing from Egypt and leaving the inhabited area, Jacob, peace be upon him, said to his people and those with him where he lived, that he could smell the scent of Joseph, although they might say he was foolish and an old senile man who doesn’t know what he says.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

95

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلِكَ ٱلْقَدِيمِ

They said, "By Allāh, indeed you are in your [same] old error."

Qaaloo tallaahi innaka lafee dalaalikal qadeem

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
تَٱللَّهِ
tal-lahi
By Allah
إِنَّكَ
innaka
indeed, you
لَفِى
lafī
surely (are) in
ضَلَـٰلِكَ
ḍalālika
your error
ٱلْقَدِيمِ
l-qadīmi
old
Interpretation

The people with him swore by Allah that he was still lost in his previous imaginings concerning Joseph’s importance to him and the possibility of seeing him again.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

96

فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ ٱلْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ فَٱرْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allāh that which you do not know?"

Falammaaa an jaaa'albasheeru alqaahu 'alaa wajhihee fartadda baseeran qaala alam aqul lakum inneee a'lamu minal laahi maa laa ta'lamoon

Word by word
فَلَمَّآ
falammā
Then when
أَن
an
[that]
جَآءَ
jāa
arrived
ٱلْبَشِيرُ
l-bashīru
the bearer of glad tidings
أَلْقَىٰهُ
alqāhu
he cast it
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
وَجْهِهِۦ
wajhihi
his face
فَٱرْتَدَّ
fa-ir'tadda
then returned (his) sight
بَصِيرًۭا ۖ
baṣīran
then returned (his) sight
قَالَ
qāla
He said
أَلَمْ
alam
Did not
أَقُل
aqul
I say
لَّكُمْ
lakum
to you
إِنِّىٓ
innī
indeed, I
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
[I] know
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَا
what
لَا
not
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
you know
Interpretation

So when the person bearing news came with what would delight Jacob, he lay Joseph’s shirt over his face, and he became able to see again. Then he asked his sons if he had not said to them that he knew about the kindness and grace of Allah in a way that they did not know.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

97

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِـِٔينَ

They said, "O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners."

Qaaloo yaaa abaanas taghfir lanaa zunoo =banaaa innaa kunnaa khaati'een

Word by word
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
يَـٰٓأَبَانَا
yāabānā
O our father
ٱسْتَغْفِرْ
is'taghfir
Ask forgiveness
لَنَا
lanā
for us
ذُنُوبَنَآ
dhunūbanā
(of) our sins
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, we
كُنَّا
kunnā
have been
خَـٰطِـِٔينَ
khāṭiīna
sinners
Interpretation

The sons apologised to their father Jacob (peace be upon him) for what they had done to Joseph and his brother, and they asked their father to ask Allah to forgive the sins they had committed in the past, saying that they had been sinners and wrongdoers in what they did to Joseph and his full brother.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

98

قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

Qaala sawfa astaghfiru lakum Rabbeee innahoo Huwal Ghafoorur Raheem

Word by word
قَالَ
qāla
He said
سَوْفَ
sawfa
Soon
أَسْتَغْفِرُ
astaghfiru
I will ask forgiveness
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
رَبِّىٓ ۖ
rabbī
(from) my Lord
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلْغَفُورُ
l-ghafūru
(is) the Oft-Forgiving
ٱلرَّحِيمُ
l-raḥīmu
the Most Merciful
Interpretation

Their father said to them that he would ask for forgiveness for them from his Lord. Truly, He is Forgiving of the sins of those of His servants who repent to Him, and is Compassionate with them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

99

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ

And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself [i.e., embraced them] and said, "Enter Egypt, Allāh willing, safe [and secure]."

Falammaa dakhaloo 'alaa Yoosufa aawaaa ilaihi abayaihi wa qaalad khuloo Misra inshaaa'al laahu aamineen

Word by word
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
دَخَلُوا۟
dakhalū
they entered
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
upon
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
Yusuf
ءَاوَىٰٓ
āwā
he took
إِلَيْهِ
ilayhi
to himself
أَبَوَيْهِ
abawayhi
his parents
وَقَالَ
waqāla
and said
ٱدْخُلُوا۟
ud'khulū
Enter
مِصْرَ
miṣ'ra
Egypt
إِن
in
if
شَآءَ
shāa
Allah wills
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah wills
ءَامِنِينَ
āminīna
safe
Interpretation

Jacob and his family left their land to travel to Joseph in Egypt. When they came before him he embraced his father and mother, and told his brothers and their family to enter Egypt safely, Allah willing, not experiencing any harm there.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

100

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.

Wa raf'a abawaihi 'alal 'arshi wa kharroo lahoo sujjadaa; wa qaala yaaa abati haaza taaweelu ru'yaaya min qablu qad ja'alahaa Rabbee haqqaa; wa qad ahsana beee iz akhrajanee minas sijni wa jaaa'a bikum minal badwi mim ba'di an nazaghash Shaitaanu bainee wa baina ikhwatee; inna Rabbee lateeful limaa yashaaa'; innahoo Huwal 'Aleemul Hakeem

Word by word
وَرَفَعَ
warafaʿa
And he raised
أَبَوَيْهِ
abawayhi
his parents
عَلَى
ʿalā
upon
ٱلْعَرْشِ
l-ʿarshi
the throne
وَخَرُّوا۟
wakharrū
and they fell down
لَهُۥ
lahu
to him
سُجَّدًۭا ۖ
sujjadan
prostrate
وَقَالَ
waqāla
And he said
يَـٰٓأَبَتِ
yāabati
O my father
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
This
تَأْوِيلُ
tawīlu
(is the) interpretation
رُءْيَـٰىَ
ru'yāya
(of) my dream
مِن
min
(of) before
قَبْلُ
qablu
(of) before
قَدْ
qad
Verily
جَعَلَهَا
jaʿalahā
has made it
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
حَقًّۭا ۖ
ḥaqqan
true
وَقَدْ
waqad
And indeed
أَحْسَنَ
aḥsana
He was good
بِىٓ
to me
إِذْ
idh
when
أَخْرَجَنِى
akhrajanī
He took me out
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلسِّجْنِ
l-sij'ni
the prison
وَجَآءَ
wajāa
and brought
بِكُم
bikum
you
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلْبَدْوِ
l-badwi
the bedouin life
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
أَن
an
[that]
نَّزَغَ
nazagha
had caused discord
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ
l-shayṭānu
the Shaitaan
بَيْنِى
baynī
between me
وَبَيْنَ
wabayna
and between
إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ
ikh'watī
my brothers
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
لَطِيفٌۭ
laṭīfun
(is) Most Subtle
لِّمَا
limā
to what
يَشَآءُ ۚ
yashāu
He wills
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلْعَلِيمُ
l-ʿalīmu
(is) the All-Knower
ٱلْحَكِيمُ
l-ḥakīmu
the All-Wise
Interpretation

He sat his parents on the throne where he sat, and his parents and eleven brothers honoured him by prostrating to him, which was allowed in their sacred laws. Joseph (peace be upon him) said to his father that this honouring of him by their prostrating to him was the explanation of the dream which he had had before, and which he had told his father. His Lord had made it a reality through this happening. Joseph said his Lord had been kind to him by bringing him out of prison, and bringing them all to him from the desert after Satan had ruined things between him and his brothers; and that His Lo

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

101

۞ رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."

Rabbi qad aataitanee minal mulki wa 'allamtanee min taaweelil ahaadees; faati ras samaawaati wal ardi Anta waliyyee fid dunyaa wal Aakhirati tawaffanee muslimanw wa alhiqnee bissaaliheen

Word by word
۞ رَبِّ
rabbi
My Lord
قَدْ
qad
indeed
ءَاتَيْتَنِى
ātaytanī
you have given me
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُلْكِ
l-mul'ki
the sovereignty
وَعَلَّمْتَنِى
waʿallamtanī
and taught me
مِن
min
of
تَأْوِيلِ
tawīli
the interpretation
ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ
l-aḥādīthi
of the events
فَاطِرَ
fāṭira
Creator
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
(of) the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
أَنتَ
anta
You
وَلِىِّۦ
waliyyī
(are) my Protector
فِى
in
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
the world
وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ
wal-ākhirati
and the Hereafter
تَوَفَّنِى
tawaffanī
Cause me to die
مُسْلِمًۭا
mus'liman
(as) a Muslim
وَأَلْحِقْنِى
wa-alḥiq'nī
and join me
بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
bil-ṣāliḥīna
with the righteous
Interpretation

Then Joseph called upon his Lord, saying that He had given him power in Egypt and had taught him the interpretation of dreams; and that He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, originating them when there was nothing like them, the Protector of all his affairs in the life of this world and the Protector of all of them in the Afterlife. Joseph asked Him to take his soul at the end of his life whilst being in a state of submission to God, and to join him with the righteous prophets from his fathers and others in the highest level of Paradise.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

102

ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ

That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal, [O Muḥammad], to you. And you were not with them when they put together their plan while they conspired.

Zaalika min ambaaa'il ghaibi nooheehi ilaika wa maa kunta ladaihim iz ajma'ooo amrahum wa hum yamkuroon

Word by word
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
مِنْ
min
(is) from
أَنۢبَآءِ
anbāi
the news
ٱلْغَيْبِ
l-ghaybi
(of) the unseen
نُوحِيهِ
nūḥīhi
which We reveal
إِلَيْكَ ۖ
ilayka
to you
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كُنتَ
kunta
you were
لَدَيْهِمْ
ladayhim
with them
إِذْ
idh
when
أَجْمَعُوٓا۟
ajmaʿū
they put together
أَمْرَهُمْ
amrahum
their plan
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
يَمْكُرُونَ
yamkurūna
(were) plotting
Interpretation

Allah revealed all that has been mentioned from the story of Joseph and his brothers to the Messenger (peace be upon him). He had no knowledge of it beforehand, since he was not there with the brothers of Joseph when they agreed to throw him into the bottom of a well, and when they planned their trick; but Allah revealed this all to the Messenger (peace be upon him).

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

103

وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

And most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers.

Wa maa aksarun naasi wa law harasta bimu'mineen

Word by word
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أَكْثَرُ
aktharu
most
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
(of) the mankind
وَلَوْ
walaw
even though
حَرَصْتَ
ḥaraṣta
you desire
بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
bimu'minīna
(will be) believers
Interpretation

Most people will not have faith, even if the Messenger should make every effort for them to believe; so he should not lose himself in grief over them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

104

وَمَا تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

And you do not ask of them for it any payment. It is not except a reminder to the worlds.

Wa maa tas'aluhum 'alaihi min ajr; in huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen

Word by word
وَمَا
wamā
And not
تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ
tasaluhum
you ask them
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
for it
مِنْ
min
any
أَجْرٍ ۚ
ajrin
reward
إِنْ
in
Not
هُوَ
huwa
(is) it
إِلَّا
illā
but
ذِكْرٌۭ
dhik'run
a reminder
لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
lil'ʿālamīna
to the worlds
Interpretation

If they used their reason they would believe the Messenger (peace be upon him), because he did not ask any reward for the Qur’ān or for what he called them to. The Qur’ān is only a reminder for all people.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

105

وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ

And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.

Wa ka ayyim min Aayatin fis samaawaati wal ardi yamurroona 'alaihaa wa hum 'anhaa mu'ridoon

Word by word
وَكَأَيِّن
waka-ayyin
And how many
مِّنْ
min
of
ءَايَةٍۢ
āyatin
a Sign
فِى
in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
يَمُرُّونَ
yamurrūna
they pass
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
over it
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
عَنْهَا
ʿanhā
(are) from them
مُعْرِضُونَ
muʿ'riḍūna
the ones who turn away
Interpretation

The signs showing that there is only one Allah, glory be to Him, are many, spread out through the heavens and the earth. The disbelievers pass by them, turning away from thinking about them and considering them, not paying attention to them.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

106

وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ

And most of them believe not in Allāh except while they associate others with Him.

Wa maa yu'minu aksaru hum billaahi illaa wa hum mushrikoon

Word by word
وَمَا
wamā
And not
يُؤْمِنُ
yu'minu
believe
أَكْثَرُهُم
aktharuhum
most of them
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
إِلَّا
illā
except
وَهُم
wahum
while they
مُّشْرِكُونَ
mush'rikūna
associate partners with Him
Interpretation

Most people do not admit Allah as the Creator and Provider, Who brings to life and causes death, without also worshipping images and idols next to Him, or claiming that He has a son, glory be to Him!

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

107

أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَـٰشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming [aspect] of the punishment of Allāh or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?

Afa aminooo an taatiya hum ghaashiyatum min 'azaabil laahi aw taatiyahumus Saa'atu baghtatanw wa hum laa yash'uroon

Word by word
أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟
afa-aminū
Do they then feel secure
أَن
an
(against) that
تَأْتِيَهُمْ
tatiyahum
comes to them
غَـٰشِيَةٌۭ
ghāshiyatun
an overwhelming
مِّنْ
min
[of]
عَذَابِ
ʿadhābi
punishment
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
أَوْ
aw
or
تَأْتِيَهُمُ
tatiyahumu
comes to them
ٱلسَّاعَةُ
l-sāʿatu
the Hour
بَغْتَةًۭ
baghtatan
suddenly
وَهُمْ
wahum
while they
لَا
(do) not
يَشْعُرُونَ
yashʿurūna
perceive
Interpretation

Do the idolaters feel safe from a punishment in this world enveloping and overwhelming them, so that they cannot repel it; or from the Hour coming to them suddenly, when they are unaware so that they might prepare for it? Is it because of this that they do not believe?

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

108

قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allāh with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allāh; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."

Qul haazihee sabeeleee ad'ooo ilal laah; 'alaa baseera tin ana wa manit taba'anee wa Subhaanal laahi wa maaa ana minal mushrikeen

Word by word
قُلْ
qul
Say
هَـٰذِهِۦ
hādhihi
This
سَبِيلِىٓ
sabīlī
(is) my way
أَدْعُوٓا۟
adʿū
I invite
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
with
بَصِيرَةٍ
baṣīratin
insight
أَنَا۠
anā
I
وَمَنِ
wamani
and whoever
ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ
ittabaʿanī
follows me
وَسُبْحَـٰنَ
wasub'ḥāna
And Glory be
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(to) Allah
وَمَآ
wamā
and not
أَنَا۠
anā
I am
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
the polytheists
Interpretation

Allah tells the Messenger (peace be upon him) to say to those he calls to the truth that this is his way which he calls people to, with insight, as do those who follow him, guided by his guidance and following the Sunnah; and that he is not of those who associate partners with Allah, but worships Allah alone, glory be to Him!

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

109

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh; then will you not reason?

Wa maaa arsalnaa min qablika illaa rijaalan nooheee ilaihim min ahlil quraa; afalam yaseeroo fil ardi fa yanzuroo kaifa kaana 'aaqibatul lazeena min qablihim; wa la Daarul Aakhirati Khairul lillazeenat taqaw; afalaa ta'qiloon

Word by word
وَمَآ
wamā
And not
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
مِن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
إِلَّا
illā
but
رِجَالًۭا
rijālan
men
نُّوحِىٓ
nūḥī
We revealed
إِلَيْهِم
ilayhim
to them
مِّنْ
min
from (among)
أَهْلِ
ahli
(the) people
ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ
l-qurā
(of) the townships
أَفَلَمْ
afalam
So have not
يَسِيرُوا۟
yasīrū
they traveled
فِى
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
فَيَنظُرُوا۟
fayanẓurū
and seen
كَيْفَ
kayfa
how
كَانَ
kāna
was
عَـٰقِبَةُ
ʿāqibatu
(the) end
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
مِن
min
(were) before them
قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ
qablihim
(were) before them
وَلَدَارُ
waladāru
And surely the home
ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
l-ākhirati
(of) the Hereafter
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) best
لِّلَّذِينَ
lilladhīna
for those who
ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ
ittaqaw
fear Allah
أَفَلَا
afalā
Then will not
تَعْقِلُونَ
taʿqilūna
you use reason
Interpretation

Allah only sent men, not angels, before the Messenger (peace be upon him), whom He gave revelation as He does to the Messenger, and they were from the people of the towns and not the desert. Their peoples denied them and Allah destroyed them. Do those who deny the Messenger not travel through the earth and think about what the end was of those who denied the truth before them, learning from their example? The bliss in the home of the Afterlife is better for those who are Mindful in this world. Do they not realise that is better, and so become mindful of Allah by following what He instructs (wi

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

110

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.

Hattaaa izas tai'asar Rusulu wa zannooo annahum qad kuziboo jaaa'ahum nas runaa fanujjiya man nashaaa'u wa laa yuraddu baasunna 'anil qawmil mujrimeen

Word by word
حَتَّىٰٓ
ḥattā
Until
إِذَا
idhā
when
ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ
is'tayasa
gave up hope
ٱلرُّسُلُ
l-rusulu
the Messengers
وَظَنُّوٓا۟
waẓannū
and thought
أَنَّهُمْ
annahum
that they
قَدْ
qad
certainly
كُذِبُوا۟
kudhibū
were denied
جَآءَهُمْ
jāahum
then came to them
نَصْرُنَا
naṣrunā
Our help
فَنُجِّىَ
fanujjiya
and was saved
مَن
man
whom
نَّشَآءُ ۖ
nashāu
We willed
وَلَا
walā
And not
يُرَدُّ
yuraddu
(can) be repelled
بَأْسُنَا
basunā
Our punishment
عَنِ
ʿani
from
ٱلْقَوْمِ
l-qawmi
the people
ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
l-muj'rimīna
(who are) criminals
Interpretation

Allah gave time to the enemies of these messengers He sent, not being quick to punish, but luring them gradually until when their destruction was overdue, and the messengers despaired of it and the disbelievers thought that their messengers had lied to them in their promises of a punishment for those who deny the truth and the rescue of those who have faith; then Allah’s help came to His messengers, saving the messengers and believers from the destruction which the disbelievers suffered, and Allah’s punishment cannot be turned away from the sinners when He sends it down.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.

111

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was it [i.e., the Qur’ān] a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

Laqad kaana fee qasasihim 'ibratul li ulil albaa; maa kaana hadeesany yuftaraa wa laakin tasdeeqal lazee baina yadihi wa tafseela kulli shai'inw wa hudanw wa rahmatal liqawminy yu'minoon

Word by word
لَقَدْ
laqad
Verily
كَانَ
kāna
(there) is
فِى
in
قَصَصِهِمْ
qaṣaṣihim
their stories
عِبْرَةٌۭ
ʿib'ratun
a lesson
لِّأُو۟لِى
li-ulī
for men
ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ
l-albābi
(of) understanding
مَا
Not
كَانَ
kāna
(it) is
حَدِيثًۭا
ḥadīthan
a narration
يُفْتَرَىٰ
yuf'tarā
invented
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
تَصْدِيقَ
taṣdīqa
a confirmation
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(of that) which
بَيْنَ
bayna
(was) before it
يَدَيْهِ
yadayhi
(was) before it
وَتَفْصِيلَ
watafṣīla
and a detailed explanation
كُلِّ
kulli
(of) all
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
things
وَهُدًۭى
wahudan
and a guidance
وَرَحْمَةًۭ
waraḥmatan
and mercy
لِّقَوْمٍۢ
liqawmin
for a people
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
who believe
Interpretation

In the stories of the messengers and their peoples, as in the story of Joseph and his brothers, are lessons to be learnt by those of sound mind. The Qur’ān, which contains such narrations, is not words which are made up and fabricated about Allah, but a confirmation of the divine scriptures revealed from Allah and a detailed explanation of everything that needs explaining through sacred laws; and guidance to all that is good, and a mercy for those who have faith in it, because it is they who benefit from what is in it.

Scholars' interpretation (al-Mukhtasar fi at-Tafsir). This is neither the Qur'an nor a translation of the verse.