Joseph · Surah 12

Return unto your father and say: O our father! Lo! thy son hath stolen. We testify only to that which we know; we are not guardians of the Unseen

Ask the township where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled hither. Lo! we speak the truth

(And when they came unto their father and had spoken thus to him) he said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into something. (My course is) comely patience! It may be that Allah will bring them all unto me. Lo! He, only He, is the Knower, the Wise

And he turned away from them and said: Alas, my grief for Joseph! And his eyes were whitened with the sorrow that he was suppressing

They said: By Allah, thou wilt never cease remembering Joseph till thy health is ruined or thou art of those who perish

He said: I expose my distress and anguish only unto Allah, and I know from Allah that which ye know not

Go, O my sons, and ascertain concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of the Spirit of Allah. Lo! none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah save disbelieving folk

And when they came (again) before him (Joseph) they said: O ruler! Misfortune hath touched us and our folk, and we bring but poor merchandise, so fill for us the measure and be charitable unto us. Lo! Allah will requite the charitable

He said: Know ye what ye did unto Joseph and his brother in your ignorance

They said: Is it indeed thou who art Joseph? He said: I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allah hath shown us favour. Lo! he who wardeth off (evil) and endureth (findeth favour); for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the kindly

They said: By Allah, verily Allah hath preferred thee above us, and we were indeed sinful

He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy

Go with this shirt of mine and lay it on my father's face, he will become (again) a seer; and come to me with all your folk

When the caravan departed their father had said: Truly I am conscious of the breath of Joseph, though ye call me dotard

(Those around him) said: By Allah, lo! thou art in thine old aberration

Then, when the bearer of glad tidings came, he laid it on his face and he became a seer once more. He said: Said I not unto you that I know from Allah that which ye know not

They said: O our father! Ask forgiveness of our sins for us, for lo! we were sinful

He said: I shall ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful

And when they came in before Joseph, he took his parents unto him, and said: Come into Egypt safe, if Allah will

And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before him prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took me out of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had made strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise

O my Lord! Thou hast given me (something) of sovereignty and hast taught me (something) of the interpretation of events - Creator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my Protecting Guardian in the world and the Hereafter. Make me to die muslim (unto Thee), and join me to the righteous

This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they were scheming

And though thou try much, most men will not believe

Thou askest them no fee for it. It is naught else than a reminder unto the peoples

How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass by with face averted

And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners (unto Him)

Deem they themselves secure from the coming on them of a pall of Allah's punishment, or the coming of the Hour suddenly while they are unaware

Say: This is my Way: I call on Allah with sure knowledge. I and whosoever followeth me - Glory be to Allah! - and I am not of the idolaters

We sent not before thee (any messengers) save men whom We inspired from among the folk of the townships - Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? And verily the abode of the Hereafter, for those who ward off (evil), is best. Have ye then no sense

Till, when the messengers despaired and thought that they were denied, then came unto them Our help, and whom We would was saved. And Our wrath cannot be warded from the guilty

In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe