12: Joseph (Yusuf)
Revealed at Makkah
This entire chapter gives a continuous account of the history of Joseph. At the beginning and the end it indicates that the purpose is to foretell the ultimate triumph of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and the final submission of those who were plotting against his life. It is also prophesied here that the mutual dealings of the Holy Prophet and his enemies would be similar to the dealings of Joseph and his brothers: they would persecute him but he would forgive them when they would ultimately come before him in submission. This chapter was revealed during the last four years of the period of the Holy Prophet’s life at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 12:1–12:6): Joseph’s Vision
12:1
الٓرٰ ۟ تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ الۡکِتٰبِ الۡمُبِیۡنِ ۟﴿۱﴾
I, Allah, am the Seer. These are the verses of the Book that makes manifest.
12:2
اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ قُرۡءٰنًا عَرَبِیًّا لَّعَلَّکُمۡ تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
Surely We have revealed it — an Arabic Quran — that you may understand.
12:3
نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ اَحۡسَنَ الۡقَصَصِ بِمَاۤ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ ہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ ٭ۖ وَ اِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ لَمِنَ الۡغٰفِلِیۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
We narrate to you the best of narratives, in that We have revealed to you this Quran, though before this you were of those who are unaware.
It is called the best narrative because it is the best picture of the dealing of the Quraish with the Holy Prophet, and the Prophet’s dealing with them. It was in the very words of Joseph to his brothers — there is no reproach against you this day (v. 92) — that the Holy Prophet forgave the people of Makkah all the atrocities they had committed against him.
12:4
اِذۡ قَالَ یُوۡسُفُ لِاَبِیۡہِ یٰۤاَبَتِ اِنِّیۡ رَاَیۡتُ اَحَدَعَشَرَ کَوۡکَبًا وَّ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ رَاَیۡتُہُمۡ لِیۡ سٰجِدِیۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
When Joseph said to his father: My father, I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon — I saw them making submission to me.
12:5
قَالَ یٰبُنَیَّ لَا تَقۡصُصۡ رُءۡیَاکَ عَلٰۤی اِخۡوَتِکَ فَیَکِیۡدُوۡا لَکَ کَیۡدًا ؕ اِنَّ الشَّیۡطٰنَ لِلۡاِنۡسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۵﴾
He said: My son, do not relate your dream to your brothers, in case they devise a plan against you. The devil indeed is an open enemy to man.
12:6
وَ کَذٰلِکَ یَجۡتَبِیۡکَ رَبُّکَ وَ یُعَلِّمُکَ مِنۡ تَاۡوِیۡلِ الۡاَحَادِیۡثِ وَ یُتِمُّ نِعۡمَتَہٗ عَلَیۡکَ وَ عَلٰۤی اٰلِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ کَمَاۤ اَتَمَّہَا عَلٰۤی اَبَوَیۡکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ ؕ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ ٪﴿۶﴾
And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of sayings, and make His favour complete to you and to the Children of Jacob, as He made it complete before to your fathers, Abraham and Isaac. Surely your Lord is Knowing, Wise.
Section 2 (Verses 12:7–12:20): Plot against Joseph by his Brothers
12:7
لَقَدۡ کَانَ فِیۡ یُوۡسُفَ وَ اِخۡوَتِہٖۤ اٰیٰتٌ لِّلسَّآئِلِیۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
Surely in Joseph and his brothers there are signs for the inquirers.
By inquirers are meant people who inquired about the Holy Prophet, who was at this time being persecuted most severely by the people of Makkah. They are told in plain words that the story of the Prophet and his opponents was the story of Joseph and his brothers.
12:8
اِذۡ قَالُوۡا لَیُوۡسُفُ وَ اَخُوۡہُ اَحَبُّ اِلٰۤی اَبِیۡنَا مِنَّا وَ نَحۡنُ عُصۡبَۃٌ ؕ اِنَّ اَبَانَا لَفِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنِۣ ۚ﴿ۖ۸﴾
When they said: Certainly Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, though we are a (strong) company. Surely our father is in clear error —
Benjamin, his brother by the same mother, is meant here.
12:9
اقۡتُلُوۡا یُوۡسُفَ اَوِ اطۡرَحُوۡہُ اَرۡضًا یَّخۡلُ لَکُمۡ وَجۡہُ اَبِیۡکُمۡ وَ تَکُوۡنُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ قَوۡمًا صٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
Kill Joseph or banish him to some (other) land, so that your father’s regard may be exclusively for you, and after that you may be a righteous people.
The conspiracy of the Quraish against the Holy Prophet is referred to in the Quran in the words: “And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or kill you or drive you away” (8:30).
12:10
قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ لَا تَقۡتُلُوۡا یُوۡسُفَ وَ اَلۡقُوۡہُ فِیۡ غَیٰبَتِ الۡجُبِّ یَلۡتَقِطۡہُ بَعۡضُ السَّیَّارَۃِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ فٰعِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
A speaker among them said: Do not kill Joseph, but, if you are going to do anything, cast him down to the bottom of the well. Some of the travellers may pick him up.
12:11
قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَبَانَا مَا لَکَ لَا تَاۡمَنَّا عَلٰی یُوۡسُفَ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَنٰصِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
They said: Our father, why do you not trust us with Joseph, and surely we are his sincere well-wishers?
12:12
اَرۡسِلۡہُ مَعَنَا غَدًا یَّرۡتَعۡ وَ یَلۡعَبۡ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and play, and we shall surely guard him well.
12:13
قَالَ اِنِّیۡ لَیَحۡزُنُنِیۡۤ اَنۡ تَذۡہَبُوۡا بِہٖ وَ اَخَافُ اَنۡ یَّاۡکُلَہُ الذِّئۡبُ وَ اَنۡتُمۡ عَنۡہُ غٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
He said: Indeed it grieves me that you should take him away and I fear that the wolf may eat him while you are careless of him.
12:14
قَالُوۡا لَئِنۡ اَکَلَہُ الذِّئۡبُ وَ نَحۡنُ عُصۡبَۃٌ اِنَّاۤ اِذًا لَّخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
They said: If the wolf should eat him while we are so many, we should then certainly be losers.
12:15
فَلَمَّا ذَہَبُوۡا بِہٖ وَ اَجۡمَعُوۡۤا اَنۡ یَّجۡعَلُوۡہُ فِیۡ غَیٰبَتِ الۡجُبِّ ۚ وَ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّہُمۡ بِاَمۡرِہِمۡ ہٰذَا وَ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
So when they took him away and agreed to put him down at the bottom of the pit, We revealed to him: You will certainly inform them of this affair of theirs while they do not realize.
The essential difference between the version of this story given in the Bible and the version in the Quran is that while the Bible narrates it as a simple story, the Quran preserves in it the spiritual element.
12:16
وَ جَآءُوۡۤ اَبَاہُمۡ عِشَآءً یَّبۡکُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۱۶﴾
And they came to their father at nightfall, weeping.
12:17
قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَبَانَاۤ اِنَّا ذَہَبۡنَا نَسۡتَبِقُ وَ تَرَکۡنَا یُوۡسُفَ عِنۡدَ مَتَاعِنَا فَاَکَلَہُ الذِّئۡبُ ۚ وَ مَاۤ اَنۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنٍ لَّنَا وَ لَوۡ کُنَّا صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
They said: Our father, we went off racing with one another and left Joseph by our goods, so the wolf ate him. And you will not believe us, though we are truthful.
12:18
وَ جَآءُوۡ عَلٰی قَمِیۡصِہٖ بِدَمٍ کَذِبٍ ؕ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَکُمۡ اَنۡفُسُکُمۡ اَمۡرًا ؕ فَصَبۡرٌ جَمِیۡلٌ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ الۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلٰی مَا تَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸﴾
And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Indeed, your souls have made it a light matter for you. So patience is best. And Allah is He Whose help is sought against what you describe.
The Quran represents Jacob as doubting from the very first the sincerity of Joseph’s brothers, but not so the Bible. Again, according to the Quran, Joseph relates his vision to his father, who is at once apprehensive of the envy of his brothers, if they are apprised of it; but according to the Bible, Jacob himself rebuked Joseph for his dream. Besides several discrepancies, the Bible narrative represents Jacob as an ordinary man, while the Quran represents him as a prophet.
12:19
وَ جَآءَتۡ سَیَّارَۃٌ فَاَرۡسَلُوۡا وَارِدَہُمۡ فَاَدۡلٰی دَلۡوَہٗ ؕ قَالَ یٰبُشۡرٰی ہٰذَا غُلٰمٌ ؕ وَ اَسَرُّوۡہُ بِضَاعَۃً ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمٌۢ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
And travellers came, and they sent their water-drawer and he let down his bucket. He said: Good news! This is a youth. And they concealed him as an article of merchandise, and Allah knew what they did.
12:20
وَ شَرَوۡہُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخۡسٍ دَرَاہِمَ مَعۡدُوۡدَۃٍ ۚ وَ کَانُوۡا فِیۡہِ مِنَ الزَّاہِدِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۰﴾
And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver, and they showed no desire for him.
Section 3 (Verses 12:21–12:29): Joseph’s Firmness under Temptation
12:21
وَ قَالَ الَّذِی اشۡتَرٰىہُ مِنۡ مِّصۡرَ لِامۡرَاَتِہٖۤ اَکۡرِمِیۡ مَثۡوٰىہُ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّنۡفَعَنَاۤ اَوۡ نَتَّخِذَہٗ وَلَدًا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ مَکَّنَّا لِیُوۡسُفَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۫ وَ لِنُعَلِّمَہٗ مِنۡ تَاۡوِیۡلِ الۡاَحَادِیۡثِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ غَالِبٌ عَلٰۤی اَمۡرِہٖ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾
And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: Make his stay honourable. Maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus We established Joseph in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of sayings. And Allah has full control over His affair, but most people do not know.
12:22
وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّہٗۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُ حُکۡمًا وَّ عِلۡمًا ؕ وَ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۲۲﴾
And when he attained his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.
12:23
وَ رَاوَدَتۡہُ الَّتِیۡ ہُوَ فِیۡ بَیۡتِہَا عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ وَ غَلَّقَتِ الۡاَبۡوَابَ وَ قَالَتۡ ہَیۡتَ لَکَ ؕ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّٰہِ اِنَّہٗ رَبِّیۡۤ اَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَایَ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُفۡلِحُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾
And she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him, and bolted the doors and said: Come. He said: Allah forbid! Surely my Lord made good my abode. The wrongdoers never prosper.
12:24
وَ لَقَدۡ ہَمَّتۡ بِہٖ ۚ وَ ہَمَّ بِہَا لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ رَّاٰ بُرۡہَانَ رَبِّہٖ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ لِنَصۡرِفَ عَنۡہُ السُّوۡٓءَ وَ الۡفَحۡشَآءَ ؕ اِنَّہٗ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا الۡمُخۡلَصِیۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
And certainly she desired him, and he would have desired her if he had not seen the clear evidence of his Lord. Thus (it was) that We might turn away from him evil and indecency. Surely he was one of Our chosen servants.
This does not show that Joseph had any desire for her, but that the temptation was so strong that, if he had not been strengthened by great faith in God, he would have fallen a prey to mortal weakness.
12:25
وَ اسۡتَبَقَا الۡبَابَ وَ قَدَّتۡ قَمِیۡصَہٗ مِنۡ دُبُرٍ وَّ اَلۡفَیَا سَیِّدَہَا لَدَا الۡبَابِ ؕ قَالَتۡ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنۡ اَرَادَ بِاَہۡلِکَ سُوۡٓءًا اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یُّسۡجَنَ اَوۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۵﴾
And they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind, and they met her husband at the door. She said: What is the penalty for one who intends evil to your wife, except imprisonment or a painful punishment?
12:26
قَالَ ہِیَ رَاوَدَتۡنِیۡ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِیۡ وَ شَہِدَ شَاہِدٌ مِّنۡ اَہۡلِہَا ۚ اِنۡ کَانَ قَمِیۡصُہٗ قُدَّ مِنۡ قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتۡ وَ ہُوَ مِنَ الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۲۶﴾
He said: She sought to seduce me. And a witness of her own family bore witness: If his shirt is torn in front, she speaks the truth and he is a liar.
12:27
وَ اِنۡ کَانَ قَمِیۡصُہٗ قُدَّ مِنۡ دُبُرٍ فَکَذَبَتۡ وَ ہُوَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۲۷﴾
And if his shirt is torn from behind, she tells a lie and he is truthful.
12:28
فَلَمَّا رَاٰ قَمِیۡصَہٗ قُدَّ مِنۡ دُبُرٍ قَالَ اِنَّہٗ مِنۡ کَیۡدِکُنَّ ؕ اِنَّ کَیۡدَکُنَّ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۲۸﴾
So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said: Surely it is an intrigue of you women. Your intrigue is indeed great!
The vindication of Joseph’s character on this occasion, and the production of the evidence of the shirt, are not related in the Bible. The next section proves that Joseph was not cast into prison for being guilty of having committed an outrage against his master’s wife.
12:29
یُوۡسُفُ اَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ ہٰذَا ٜ وَ اسۡتَغۡفِرِیۡ لِذَنۡۢبِکِ ۚۖ اِنَّکِ کُنۡتِ مِنَ الۡخٰطِئِیۡنَ ﴿٪۲۹﴾
Joseph, turn aside from this. And (my wife), ask forgiveness for your sin. Surely you are one of the sinful.
Section 4 (Verses 12:30–12:35): Joseph is Imprisoned
12:30
وَ قَالَ نِسۡوَۃٌ فِی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ امۡرَاَتُ الۡعَزِیۡزِ تُرَاوِدُ فَتٰىہَا عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ ۚ قَدۡ شَغَفَہَا حُبًّا ؕ اِنَّا لَنَرٰىہَا فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ ﴿۳۰﴾
And women in the city said: The chief’s wife seeks to seduce her slave. He has indeed affected her deeply with (his) love. Truly we see her in clear error.
12:31
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتۡ بِمَکۡرِہِنَّ اَرۡسَلَتۡ اِلَیۡہِنَّ وَ اَعۡتَدَتۡ لَہُنَّ مُتَّکَاً وَّ اٰتَتۡ کُلَّ وَاحِدَۃٍ مِّنۡہُنَّ سِکِّیۡنًا وَّ قَالَتِ اخۡرُجۡ عَلَیۡہِنَّ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَاَیۡنَہٗۤ اَکۡبَرۡنَہٗ وَ قَطَّعۡنَ اَیۡدِیَہُنَّ وَ قُلۡنَ حَاشَ لِلّٰہِ مَا ہٰذَا بَشَرًا ؕ اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا مَلَکٌ کَرِیۡمٌ ﴿۳۱﴾
So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a feast, and gave each of them a knife, and said (to Joseph): Come out to them. So when they saw him, they thought him great, and cut their hands (in amazement), and said: Holy Allah! This is not a mortal! This is but a noble angel.
Some think that she knew that certain women had circulated the news with the object of getting a chance to see Joseph.
12:32
قَالَتۡ فَذٰلِکُنَّ الَّذِیۡ لُمۡتُنَّنِیۡ فِیۡہِ ؕ وَ لَقَدۡ رَاوَدۡتُّہٗ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ فَاسۡتَعۡصَمَ ؕ وَ لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ یَفۡعَلۡ مَاۤ اٰمُرُہٗ لَیُسۡجَنَنَّ وَ لَیَکُوۡنًا مِّنَ الصّٰغِرِیۡنَ ﴿۳۲﴾
She said: This is he about whom you blamed me. And certainly I sought to seduce him, but he was firm in self-restraint. And if he does not do what I order him, he shall certainly be imprisoned, and he shall certainly be degraded.
12:33
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجۡنُ اَحَبُّ اِلَیَّ مِمَّا یَدۡعُوۡنَنِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِ ۚ وَ اِلَّا تَصۡرِفۡ عَنِّیۡ کَیۡدَہُنَّ اَصۡبُ اِلَیۡہِنَّ وَ اَکُنۡ مِّنَ الۡجٰہِلِیۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾
He said: My Lord, the prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me. And if You do not turn away their intrigue from me, I shall yearn towards them and be one of the ignorant.
12:34
فَاسۡتَجَابَ لَہٗ رَبُّہٗ فَصَرَفَ عَنۡہُ کَیۡدَہُنَّ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ السَّمِیۡعُ الۡعَلِیۡمُ ﴿۳۴﴾
So his Lord accepted his prayer and turned away their intrigue from him. Surely He is the Hearer, the Knower.
12:35
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا رَاَوُا الۡاٰیٰتِ لَیَسۡجُنُنَّہٗ حَتّٰی حِیۡنٍ ﴿٪۳۵﴾
Then it occurred to them after they had seen the signs that they should imprison him for a while.
There is nothing to show that Joseph was cast into prison on a charge of having committed an outrage on that woman. As he was proved guiltless of that charge, it is very likely that some other accusation was brought against him; and more probably an autocratic ruler needed no excuse for putting an innocent man into prison. By signs must be understood the signs of Joseph’s innocence.
Section 5 (Verses 12:36–12:42): Joseph’s Preaching in Prison
12:36
وَ دَخَلَ مَعَہُ السِّجۡنَ فَتَیٰنِ ؕ قَالَ اَحَدُہُمَاۤ اِنِّیۡۤ اَرٰىنِیۡۤ اَعۡصِرُ خَمۡرًا ۚ وَ قَالَ الۡاٰخَرُ اِنِّیۡۤ اَرٰىنِیۡۤ اَحۡمِلُ فَوۡقَ رَاۡسِیۡ خُبۡزًا تَاۡکُلُ الطَّیۡرُ مِنۡہُ ؕ نَبِّئۡنَا بِتَاۡوِیۡلِہٖ ۚ اِنَّا نَرٰىکَ مِنَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۳۶﴾
And two youths entered the prison with him. One of them said: I saw myself pressing wine. And the other said: I saw myself carrying bread on my head, from which birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; surely we see you to be from among the doers of good.
Compare Genesis, ch. 40, which, however, omits Joseph’s preaching. The two youths were the butler and the baker.
12:37
قَالَ لَا یَاۡتِیۡکُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرۡزَقٰنِہٖۤ اِلَّا نَبَّاۡتُکُمَا بِتَاۡوِیۡلِہٖ قَبۡلَ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَکُمَا ؕ ذٰلِکُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِیۡ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنِّیۡ تَرَکۡتُ مِلَّۃَ قَوۡمٍ لَّا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ ہُمۡ بِالۡاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمۡ کٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۷﴾
He said: The food with which you are fed shall not come to you, but I shall inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. This is from what my Lord has taught me. Surely I have forsaken the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and are deniers of the Hereafter.
12:38
وَ اتَّبَعۡتُ مِلَّۃَ اٰبَآءِیۡۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ ؕ مَا کَانَ لَنَاۤ اَنۡ نُّشۡرِکَ بِاللّٰہِ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ فَضۡلِ اللّٰہِ عَلَیۡنَا وَ عَلَی النَّاسِ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۸﴾
And I follow the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It does not befit us to set up any partner with Allah. This is by Allah’s grace upon us and on mankind, but most people do not give thanks.
12:39
یٰصَاحِبَیِ السِّجۡنِ ءَاَرۡبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُوۡنَ خَیۡرٌ اَمِ اللّٰہُ الۡوَاحِدُ الۡقَہَّارُ ﴿ؕ۳۹﴾
My two fellow-prisoners, are various lords better or Allah the One, the Supreme?
12:40
مَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَسۡمَآءً سَمَّیۡتُمُوۡہَاۤ اَنۡتُمۡ وَ اٰبَآؤُکُمۡ مَّاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ بِہَا مِنۡ سُلۡطٰنٍ ؕ اِنِ الۡحُکۡمُ اِلَّا لِلّٰہِ ؕ اَمَرَ اَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِیَّاہُ ؕ ذٰلِکَ الدِّیۡنُ الۡقَیِّمُ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۰﴾
You do not serve besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers — Allah has sent down no authority for them. Judgment is only Allah’s. He has commanded that you serve none but Him. This is the right religion, but most people do not know.
12:41
یٰصَاحِبَیِ السِّجۡنِ اَمَّاۤ اَحَدُ کُمَا فَیَسۡقِیۡ رَبَّہٗ خَمۡرًا ۚ وَ اَمَّا الۡاٰخَرُ فَیُصۡلَبُ فَتَاۡکُلُ الطَّیۡرُ مِنۡ رَّاۡسِہٖ ؕ قُضِیَ الۡاَمۡرُ الَّذِیۡ فِیۡہِ تَسۡتَفۡتِیٰنِ ﴿ؕ۴۱﴾
My two fellow-prisoners, as for one of you, he will serve wine for his lord to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified, so that birds will eat from his head. The matter is decreed concerning which you inquired.
12:42
وَ قَالَ لِلَّذِیۡ ظَنَّ اَنَّہٗ نَاجٍ مِّنۡہُمَا اذۡکُرۡنِیۡ عِنۡدَ رَبِّکَ ۫ فَاَنۡسٰہُ الشَّیۡطٰنُ ذِکۡرَ رَبِّہٖ فَلَبِثَ فِی السِّجۡنِ بِضۡعَ سِنِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ٪۴۲﴾
And he said to him whom he knew would be delivered of the two: Remember me with your lord. But the devil caused him to forget mentioning (it) to his lord, so he remained in the prison a few years.
Section 6 (Verses 12:43–12:49): The King’s Vision Interpreted by Joseph
12:43
وَ قَالَ الۡمَلِکُ اِنِّیۡۤ اَرٰی سَبۡعَ بَقَرٰتٍ سِمَانٍ یَّاۡکُلُہُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافٌ وَّ سَبۡعَ سُنۡۢبُلٰتٍ خُضۡرٍ وَّ اُخَرَ یٰبِسٰتٍ ؕ یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمَلَاُ اَفۡتُوۡنِیۡ فِیۡ رُءۡیَایَ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ لِلرُّءۡیَا تَعۡبُرُوۡنَ ﴿۴۳﴾
And the king said: I have seen seven fat cows which seven lean ones devoured, and seven green ears and (seven) others dry. Chiefs, explain to me my dream, if you can interpret the dream.
12:44
قَالُوۡۤا اَضۡغَاثُ اَحۡلَامٍ ۚ وَ مَا نَحۡنُ بِتَاۡوِیۡلِ الۡاَحۡلَامِ بِعٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۴۴﴾
They said: Confused dreams, and we do not know the interpretation of dreams.
12:45
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡ نَجَا مِنۡہُمَا وَ ادَّکَرَ بَعۡدَ اُمَّۃٍ اَنَا اُنَبِّئُکُمۡ بِتَاۡوِیۡلِہٖ فَاَرۡسِلُوۡنِ ﴿۴۵﴾
And of the two, he who had found deliverance and remembered after a long time said: I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me.
12:46
یُوۡسُفُ اَیُّہَا الصِّدِّیۡقُ اَفۡتِنَا فِیۡ سَبۡعِ بَقَرٰتٍ سِمَانٍ یَّاۡکُلُہُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافٌ وَّ سَبۡعِ سُنۡۢبُلٰتٍ خُضۡرٍ وَّ اُخَرَ یٰبِسٰتٍ ۙ لَّعَلِّیۡۤ اَرۡجِعُ اِلَی النَّاسِ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۴۶﴾
Joseph, truthful one, explain to us seven fat cows which seven lean ones devoured, and seven green ears and (seven) others dry, that I may go back to the people so that they may know.
12:47
قَالَ تَزۡرَعُوۡنَ سَبۡعَ سِنِیۡنَ دَاَبًا ۚ فَمَا حَصَدۡتُّمۡ فَذَرُوۡہُ فِیۡ سُنۡۢبُلِہٖۤ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلًا مِّمَّا تَاۡکُلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۷﴾
He said: You shall sow for seven years as usual, then what you reap, leave it in its ear, except a little which you eat.
12:48
ثُمَّ یَاۡتِیۡ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ذٰلِکَ سَبۡعٌ شِدَادٌ یَّاۡکُلۡنَ مَا قَدَّمۡتُمۡ لَہُنَّ اِلَّا قَلِیۡلًا مِّمَّا تُحۡصِنُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
Then after that will come seven years of hardship, which will eat away all you have beforehand stored for them, except a little which you have preserved.
12:49
ثُمَّ یَاۡتِیۡ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ ذٰلِکَ عَامٌ فِیۡہِ یُغَاثُ النَّاسُ وَ فِیۡہِ یَعۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿٪۴۹﴾
Then after that will come a year in which people will have rain and in which they will press (grapes).
Section 7 (Verses 12:50–12:57): Joseph Cleared of the Charges
12:50
وَ قَالَ الۡمَلِکُ ائۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِہٖ ۚ فَلَمَّا جَآءَہُ الرَّسُوۡلُ قَالَ ارۡجِعۡ اِلٰی رَبِّکَ فَسۡـَٔلۡہُ مَا بَالُ النِّسۡوَۃِ الّٰتِیۡ قَطَّعۡنَ اَیۡدِیَہُنَّ ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ بِکَیۡدِہِنَّ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۵۰﴾
And the king said: Bring him to me. So when the messenger came to him, he said: Go back to your lord and ask him, what is the case of the women who cut their hands? Surely my Lord knows their intrigue.
12:51
قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُکُنَّ اِذۡ رَاوَدۡتُّنَّ یُوۡسُفَ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ ؕ قُلۡنَ حَاشَ لِلّٰہِ مَا عَلِمۡنَا عَلَیۡہِ مِنۡ سُوۡٓءٍ ؕ قَالَتِ امۡرَاَتُ الۡعَزِیۡزِ الۡـٰٔنَ حَصۡحَصَ الۡحَقُّ ۫ اَنَا رَاوَدۡتُّہٗ عَنۡ نَّفۡسِہٖ وَ اِنَّہٗ لَمِنَ الصّٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۵۱﴾
(The king) said: What was your business when you sought to seduce Joseph? They said: Holy Allah! We knew of no evil on his part. The chief’s wife said: Now has the truth come out. I sought to seduce him and he is surely truthful.
12:52
ذٰلِکَ لِیَعۡلَمَ اَنِّیۡ لَمۡ اَخُنۡہُ بِالۡغَیۡبِ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِیۡ کَیۡدَ الۡخَآئِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۲﴾
(Joseph said:) This is that he might know that I have not been unfaithful to him in secret, and that Allah does not guide the plan of the unfaithful.
These are the words of Joseph, who explains his conduct in preferring to remain in prison until his innocence was established.
12:53
وَ مَاۤ اُبَرِّیُٔ نَفۡسِیۡ ۚ اِنَّ النَّفۡسَ لَاَمَّارَۃٌۢ بِالسُّوۡٓءِ اِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۵۳﴾
And I do not call myself sinless; surely (man’s) self is apt to command evil, except those on whom my Lord has mercy. Surely my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
When a man addressed Jesus as good master, he said: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). The righteous never attribute any good to themselves, but attribute all good to the Great Source of goodness — God. Man’s self is here called ammārah, i.e. one apt to command evil. It is the lowest stage in spiritual growth. See also 75:2 and 89:30.
12:54
وَ قَالَ الۡمَلِکُ ائۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِہٖۤ اَسۡتَخۡلِصۡہُ لِنَفۡسِیۡ ۚ فَلَمَّا کَلَّمَہٗ قَالَ اِنَّکَ الۡیَوۡمَ لَدَیۡنَا مَکِیۡنٌ اَمِیۡنٌ ﴿۵۴﴾
And the king said: Bring him to me, I will choose him for myself. So when he talked with him, he said: Surely you are in our presence today dignified, trusted.
12:55
قَالَ اجۡعَلۡنِیۡ عَلٰی خَزَآئِنِ الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ اِنِّیۡ حَفِیۡظٌ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۵۵﴾
He said: Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land; surely I am a good keeper, knowing well.
12:56
وَ کَذٰلِکَ مَکَّنَّا لِیُوۡسُفَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ یَتَبَوَّاُ مِنۡہَا حَیۡثُ یَشَآءُ ؕ نُصِیۡبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَنۡ نَّشَآءُ وَ لَا نُضِیۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۵۶﴾
And thus did We give to Joseph power in the land — he had mastery in it wherever he liked. We bestow Our mercy on whom We please, and We do not waste the reward of the doers of good.
12:57
وَ لَاَجۡرُ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ خَیۡرٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ کَانُوۡا یَتَّقُوۡنَ ﴿٪۵۷﴾
And certainly the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and guard against evil.
Section 8 (Verses 12:58–12:68): Joseph Helps his Brothers
12:58
وَ جَآءَ اِخۡوَۃُ یُوۡسُفَ فَدَخَلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِ فَعَرَفَہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ لَہٗ مُنۡکِرُوۡنَ ﴿۵۸﴾
And Joseph’s brothers came and went in to (see) him, and he knew them, while they did not recognize him.
12:59
وَ لَمَّا جَہَّزَہُمۡ بِجَہَازِہِمۡ قَالَ ائۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِاَخٍ لَّکُمۡ مِّنۡ اَبِیۡکُمۡ ۚ اَلَا تَرَوۡنَ اَنِّیۡۤ اُوۡفِی الۡکَیۡلَ وَ اَنَا خَیۡرُ الۡمُنۡزِلِیۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
And when he furnished them with their provision, 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 hosts?
12:60
فَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَاۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِہٖ فَلَا کَیۡلَ لَکُمۡ عِنۡدِیۡ وَ لَا تَقۡرَبُوۡنِ ﴿۶۰﴾
But if you do not bring him to me, you shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall you come near me.
12:61
قَالُوۡا سَنُرَاوِدُ عَنۡہُ اَبَاہُ وَ اِنَّا لَفٰعِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
They said: We shall try to make his father yield about him, and we are sure to do (it).
12:62
وَ قَالَ لِفِتۡیٰنِہِ اجۡعَلُوۡا بِضَاعَتَہُمۡ فِیۡ رِحَالِہِمۡ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَعۡرِفُوۡنَہَاۤ اِذَا انۡقَلَبُوۡۤا اِلٰۤی اَہۡلِہِمۡ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
And he said to his servants: Put their money into their bags that they may recognize it when they go back to their family, so that they may come back.
12:63
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوۡۤا اِلٰۤی اَبِیۡہِمۡ قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا الۡکَیۡلُ فَاَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَاۤ اَخَانَا نَکۡتَلۡ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ ﴿۶۳﴾
So when they returned to their father, they said: Our father, the measure is withheld from us, so send with us our brother that we may get the measure, and we will surely guard him.
12:64
قَالَ ہَلۡ اٰمَنُکُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ اِلَّا کَمَاۤ اَمِنۡتُکُمۡ عَلٰۤی اَخِیۡہِ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ؕ فَاللّٰہُ خَیۡرٌ حٰفِظًا ۪ وَّ ہُوَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
He said: Can I trust you with him, except as I trusted you with his brother before? So Allah is the Best Keeper, and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy.
12:65
وَ لَمَّا فَتَحُوۡا مَتَاعَہُمۡ وَجَدُوۡا بِضَاعَتَہُمۡ رُدَّتۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَبَانَا مَا نَبۡغِیۡ ؕ ہٰذِہٖ بِضَاعَتُنَا رُدَّتۡ اِلَیۡنَا ۚ وَ نَمِیۡرُ اَہۡلَنَا وَ نَحۡفَظُ اَخَانَا وَ نَزۡدَادُ کَیۡلَ بَعِیۡرٍ ؕ ذٰلِکَ کَیۡلٌ یَّسِیۡرٌ ﴿۶۵﴾
And when they opened their goods, they found their money returned to them. They said: Our father, what (more) can we desire? This is our property returned to us, and we shall bring corn for our family and guard our brother, and have in addition the measure of a camel-load. This is an easy measure.
12:66
قَالَ لَنۡ اُرۡسِلَہٗ مَعَکُمۡ حَتّٰی تُؤۡتُوۡنِ مَوۡثِقًا مِّنَ اللّٰہِ لَتَاۡتُنَّنِیۡ بِہٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یُّحَاطَ بِکُمۡ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتَوۡہُ مَوۡثِقَہُمۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی مَا نَقُوۡلُ وَکِیۡلٌ ﴿۶۶﴾
He said: I will by no means send him with you, until you give me a firm promise in Allah’s name that you will bring him back to me, unless you are completely surrounded. And when they gave him their promise, he said: Allah is Guardian over what we say.
12:67
وَ قَالَ یٰبَنِیَّ لَا تَدۡخُلُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَابٍ وَّاحِدٍ وَّ ادۡخُلُوۡا مِنۡ اَبۡوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَۃٍ ؕ وَ مَاۤ اُغۡنِیۡ عَنۡکُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ اِنِ الۡحُکۡمُ اِلَّا لِلّٰہِ ؕ عَلَیۡہِ تَوَکَّلۡتُ ۚ وَ عَلَیۡہِ فَلۡیَتَوَکَّلِ الۡمُتَوَکِّلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
And he said: My sons, do not enter by one gate but enter by different gates. And I cannot avail you against (the decree of) Allah at all. Judgment is only Allah’s. On Him I rely, and on Him let the reliant rely.
Jacob, it seems, had come to know by Divine revelation that Joseph was there, and therefore he ordered them to enter by different gates so that Joseph might find his brother. The next verse makes it clear when it says: And surely he was possessed of knowledge because We had given him knowledge.
12:68
وَ لَمَّا دَخَلُوۡا مِنۡ حَیۡثُ اَمَرَہُمۡ اَبُوۡہُمۡ ؕ مَا کَانَ یُغۡنِیۡ عَنۡہُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ اِلَّا حَاجَۃً فِیۡ نَفۡسِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ قَضٰہَا ؕ وَ اِنَّہٗ لَذُوۡ عِلۡمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمۡنٰہُ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۶۸﴾
And when they entered as their father had instructed them, it did not avail them against Allah at all, but (it was only) a desire in the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And surely he was possessed of knowledge, because We had given him knowledge, but most people do not know.
The Bible narrative represents Jacob as being quite ignorant in the matter.
Section 9 (Verses 12:69–12:79): The Youngest Brother
12:69
وَ لَمَّا دَخَلُوۡا عَلٰی یُوۡسُفَ اٰوٰۤی اِلَیۡہِ اَخَاہُ قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اَنَا اَخُوۡکَ فَلَا تَبۡتَئِسۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
And when they came to Joseph, he lodged his brother with himself, saying: I am your brother, so do not grieve at what they do.
12:70
فَلَمَّا جَہَّزَہُمۡ بِجَہَازِہِمۡ جَعَلَ السِّقَایَۃَ فِیۡ رَحۡلِ اَخِیۡہِ ثُمَّ اَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ اَیَّتُہَا الۡعِیۡرُ اِنَّکُمۡ لَسٰرِقُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
Then when he furnished them with their provision, (someone) placed the drinking-cup in his brother’s bag. Then a crier cried out: O caravan, you are surely thieves!
Though the Bible narrative ascribes the placing of the cup to Joseph, the Quran does not say so. It may have been one of Joseph’s own brothers who did this act so that Benjamin might also be removed from Jacob, who loved him most after Joseph. There is a clear hint to this possibility in v. 77, where Joseph accuses them of having done some guilty deed: “You are in an evil condition”, and a still clearer hint in v. 89, where Joseph says: “Do you know how you treated Joseph and his brother, when you were ignorant?”
12:71
قَالُوۡا وَ اَقۡبَلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِمۡ مَّا ذَا تَفۡقِدُوۡنَ ﴿۷۱﴾
They said, turning towards them: What is it that you miss?
12:72
قَالُوۡا نَفۡقِدُ صُوَاعَ الۡمَلِکِ وَ لِمَنۡ جَآءَ بِہٖ حِمۡلُ بَعِیۡرٍ وَّ اَنَا بِہٖ زَعِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۲﴾
They said: We miss the king’s drinking-cup, and he who brings it shall have a camel-load, and I am responsible for it.
12:73
قَالُوۡا تَاللّٰہِ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ مَّا جِئۡنَا لِنُفۡسِدَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ وَ مَا کُنَّا سٰرِقِیۡنَ ﴿۷۳﴾
They said: By Allah! You know for certain that we have not come to make mischief in the land, and we are not thieves.
12:74
قَالُوۡا فَمَا جَزَآؤُہٗۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ کٰذِبِیۡنَ ﴿۷۴﴾
They said: But what is the penalty for this, if you are liars?
12:75
قَالُوۡا جَزَآؤُہٗ مَنۡ وُّجِدَ فِیۡ رَحۡلِہٖ فَہُوَ جَزَآؤُہٗ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۷۵﴾
They said: The penalty for this — the person in whose bag it is found, he himself is the penalty for it. Thus do we punish the wrongdoers.
12:76
فَبَدَاَ بِاَوۡعِیَتِہِمۡ قَبۡلَ وِعَآءِ اَخِیۡہِ ثُمَّ اسۡتَخۡرَجَہَا مِنۡ وِّعَآءِ اَخِیۡہِ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ کِدۡنَا لِیُوۡسُفَ ؕ مَا کَانَ لِیَاۡخُذَ اَخَاہُ فِیۡ دِیۡنِ الۡمَلِکِ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ یَّشَآءَ اللّٰہُ ؕ نَرۡفَعُ دَرَجٰتٍ مَّنۡ نَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ فَوۡقَ کُلِّ ذِیۡ عِلۡمٍ عَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۷۶﴾
So he began with their sacks before the sack of his brother, then he brought it out from his brother’s sack. Thus did We plan for the sake of Joseph. He could not take his brother under the king’s law, unless Allah pleased. We raise in degree whom We please. And above everyone possessed of knowledge is the All-Knowing One.
This makes it clear that this was not Joseph’s plan, but a Divine plan. In other words, the circumstances were made to assist Joseph to keep his brother with him. Joseph’s desire, no doubt, was to retain his brother Benjamin while the others returned; but he was unable to do so under the laws of Egypt, as stated here. This shows that one living under an alien government should abide by the laws of that government.
12:77
قَالُوۡۤا اِنۡ یَّسۡرِقۡ فَقَدۡ سَرَقَ اَخٌ لَّہٗ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۚ فَاَسَرَّہَا یُوۡسُفُ فِیۡ نَفۡسِہٖ وَ لَمۡ یُبۡدِہَا لَہُمۡ ۚ قَالَ اَنۡتُمۡ شَرٌّ مَّکَانًا ۚ وَ اللّٰہُ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُوۡنَ ﴿۷۷﴾
They said: If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before. But Joseph kept it secret in his mind, and did not disclose it to them. He said: You are in an evil condition, and Allah knows best what you state.
The brothers of Joseph made a false statement against Joseph to cast a veil over their own evil deeds. If Benjamin, they said, was a thief, so was his brother Joseph, as if they meant to say that this evil trait of character was due to the mother, Rachel (probably referring to the incident in Genesis, 31:19).
12:78
قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡعَزِیۡزُ اِنَّ لَہٗۤ اَبًا شَیۡخًا کَبِیۡرًا فَخُذۡ اَحَدَنَا مَکَانَہٗ ۚ اِنَّا نَرٰىکَ مِنَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۷۸﴾
They said: O chief, he has a father, a very old man, so take one of us in his place. Surely we see you to be one of the doers of good.
12:79
قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّٰہِ اَنۡ نَّاۡخُذَ اِلَّا مَنۡ وَّجَدۡنَا مَتَاعَنَا عِنۡدَہٗۤ ۙ اِنَّاۤ اِذًا لَّظٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿٪۷۹﴾
He said: Allah forbid that we should seize other than him with whom we found our property, for then surely we should be unjust!
Section 10 (Verses 12:80–12:93): Joseph Discloses his Identity
12:80
فَلَمَّا اسۡتَیۡـَٔسُوۡا مِنۡہُ خَلَصُوۡا نَجِیًّا ؕ قَالَ کَبِیۡرُہُمۡ اَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ اَبَاکُمۡ قَدۡ اَخَذَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مَّوۡثِقًا مِّنَ اللّٰہِ وَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ مَا فَرَّطۡتُّمۡ فِیۡ یُوۡسُفَ ۚ فَلَنۡ اَبۡرَحَ الۡاَرۡضَ حَتّٰی یَاۡذَنَ لِیۡۤ اَبِیۡۤ اَوۡ یَحۡکُمَ اللّٰہُ لِیۡ ۚ وَ ہُوَ خَیۡرُ الۡحٰکِمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
So when they despaired of (persuading) him, they conferred together privately. The eldest of them said: Do you not know that your father took from you a promise in Allah’s name, and how you fell short of your duty about Joseph before? So I shall not leave this land, until my father permits me or Allah decides for me; and He is the Best of the judges.
12:81
اِرۡجِعُوۡۤا اِلٰۤی اَبِیۡکُمۡ فَقُوۡلُوۡا یٰۤاَبَانَاۤ اِنَّ ابۡنَکَ سَرَقَ ۚ وَ مَا شَہِدۡنَاۤ اِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمۡنَا وَ مَا کُنَّا لِلۡغَیۡبِ حٰفِظِیۡنَ ﴿۸۱﴾
Go back to your father and say: Our father, your son committed theft. And we bear witness only to what we know, and we could not keep watch over the unseen.
12:82
وَ سۡـَٔلِ الۡقَرۡیَۃَ الَّتِیۡ کُنَّا فِیۡہَا وَ الۡعِیۡرَ الَّتِیۡۤ اَقۡبَلۡنَا فِیۡہَا ؕ وَ اِنَّا لَصٰدِقُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
And ask the town where we were, and the caravan with which we proceeded. And surely we are truthful.
12:83
قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَکُمۡ اَنۡفُسُکُمۡ اَمۡرًا ؕ فَصَبۡرٌ جَمِیۡلٌ ؕ عَسَی اللّٰہُ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِـیَنِیۡ بِہِمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡعَلِیۡمُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۸۳﴾
(Jacob) said: No, your souls have contrived an affair for you, so patience is best. Maybe Allah will bring them together to me. Surely He is the Knowing, the Wise.
12:84
وَ تَوَلّٰی عَنۡہُمۡ وَ قَالَ یٰۤاَسَفٰی عَلٰی یُوۡسُفَ وَ ابۡیَضَّتۡ عَیۡنٰہُ مِنَ الۡحُزۡنِ فَہُوَ کَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۸۴﴾
And he turned away from them, and said: My sorrow for Joseph! And his eyes were filled (with tears) on account of the grief, then he repressed (grief).
The word used can carry the meaning of being filled. Even if we accept the ordinary significance, his eyes were whitened, the meaning is that they were whitened with tears, which naturally came at the mention of Joseph.
12:85
قَالُوۡا تَاللّٰہِ تَفۡتَؤُا تَذۡکُرُ یُوۡسُفَ حَتّٰی تَکُوۡنَ حَرَضًا اَوۡ تَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡہٰلِکِیۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
They said: By Allah! You will not cease remembering Joseph till you are a prey to disease or you perish.
12:86
قَالَ اِنَّمَاۤ اَشۡکُوۡا بَثِّیۡ وَ حُزۡنِیۡۤ اِلَی اللّٰہِ وَ اَعۡلَمُ مِنَ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۸۶﴾
He said: I complain of my grief and sorrow only to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.
This shows clearly that Jacob knew by Divine revelation that Joseph was alive.
12:87
یٰبَنِیَّ اذۡہَبُوۡا فَتَحَسَّسُوۡا مِنۡ یُّوۡسُفَ وَ اَخِیۡہِ وَ لَا تَایۡـَٔسُوۡا مِنۡ رَّوۡحِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یَایۡـَٔسُ مِنۡ رَّوۡحِ اللّٰہِ اِلَّا الۡقَوۡمُ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾
My sons, go and inquire about Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Surely none despairs of Allah’s mercy except the disbelieving people.
Here the Quran again differs from the Bible and shows that Jacob was so certain of Joseph being alive because of the knowledge he received from God, that he sent his sons a third time to Egypt to ascertain about Joseph. It appears that he had an inkling also that Joseph was in Egypt.
12:88
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوۡا عَلَیۡہِ قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡعَزِیۡزُ مَسَّنَا وَ اَہۡلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَ جِئۡنَا بِبِضَاعَۃٍ مُّزۡجٰىۃٍ فَاَوۡفِ لَنَا الۡکَیۡلَ وَ تَصَدَّقۡ عَلَیۡنَا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَجۡزِی الۡمُتَصَدِّقِیۡنَ ﴿۸۸﴾
So when they came to him, they said: O chief, distress has afflicted us and our family, and we have brought little money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us. Surely Allah rewards the charitable.
12:89
قَالَ ہَلۡ عَلِمۡتُمۡ مَّا فَعَلۡتُمۡ بِیُوۡسُفَ وَ اَخِیۡہِ اِذۡ اَنۡتُمۡ جٰہِلُوۡنَ ﴿۸۹﴾
He said: Do you know how you treated Joseph and his brother, when you were ignorant?
12:90
قَالُوۡۤا ءَاِنَّکَ لَاَنۡتَ یُوۡسُفُ ؕ قَالَ اَنَا یُوۡسُفُ وَ ہٰذَاۤ اَخِیۡ ۫ قَدۡ مَنَّ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡنَا ؕ اِنَّہٗ مَنۡ یَّـتَّقِ وَ یَصۡبِرۡ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُضِیۡعُ اَجۡرَ الۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿۹۰﴾
They said: Are you indeed Joseph? He said: I am Joseph and this is my brother; Allah has indeed been gracious to us. Surely he who keeps his duty and is patient — Allah never wastes the reward of the doers of good.
12:91
قَالُوۡا تَاللّٰہِ لَقَدۡ اٰثَرَکَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡنَا وَ اِنۡ کُنَّا لَخٰطِئِیۡنَ ﴿۹۱﴾
They said: By Allah! Allah has indeed chosen you over us, and we were certainly sinners.
12:92
قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِیۡبَ عَلَیۡکُمُ الۡیَوۡمَ ؕ یَغۡفِرُ اللّٰہُ لَکُمۡ ۫ وَ ہُوَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ ﴿۹۲﴾
He said: There is no reproach against you this day. Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy.
It is related that the Holy Prophet took hold of the two sides of the gate of the Ka‘bah on the day of the conquest of Makkah and said to the Quraish: How do you think I should treat you? They said: We hope for good, a noble brother and the son of a noble brother. Then he said: I say as my brother Joseph said: “There is no reproach against you this day”.
12:93
اِذۡہَبُوۡا بِقَمِیۡصِیۡ ہٰذَا فَاَلۡقُوۡہُ عَلٰی وَجۡہِ اَبِیۡ یَاۡتِ بَصِیۡرًا ۚ وَ اۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِاَہۡلِکُمۡ اَجۡمَعِیۡنَ ﴿٪۹۳﴾
Take this shirt of mine and cast it before my father’s face — he will come to know. And bring to me all your family.
The Quran does not say anywhere that Jacob had become blind. The shirt was sent as being a reminder of the torn shirt of Joseph, which Joseph’s brothers had brought to Jacob (v. 18).
Section 11 (Verses 12:94–12:104): Jacob Goes to Egypt
12:94
وَ لَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الۡعِیۡرُ قَالَ اَبُوۡہُمۡ اِنِّیۡ لَاَجِدُ رِیۡحَ یُوۡسُفَ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَنۡ تُفَنِّدُوۡنِ ﴿۹۴﴾
And when the caravan left (Egypt), their father said: Surely I scent (the power of) Joseph, if you do not call me weak of mind.
When the caravan in which were Joseph’s brothers departed from Egypt, Jacob again received assurance from on high about Joseph, so he said to those around him that he scented the power of Joseph. Jacob knew that Joseph was alive and of this he informed his sons again and again, but he now told them further that he had received an assurance from God that Joseph occupied a high position.
12:95
قَالُوۡا تَاللّٰہِ اِنَّکَ لَفِیۡ ضَلٰلِکَ الۡقَدِیۡمِ ﴿ٙ۹۵﴾
They said: By Allah! you are surely in your old error.
12:96
فَلَمَّاۤ اَنۡ جَآءَ الۡبَشِیۡرُ اَلۡقٰىہُ عَلٰی وَجۡہِہٖ فَارۡتَدَّ بَصِیۡرًا ۚ قَالَ اَلَمۡ اَقُلۡ لَّکُمۡ ۚۙ اِنِّیۡۤ اَعۡلَمُ مِنَ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۹۶﴾
Then when the bearer of good news came, he cast it before his face so he became certain. He said: Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?
12:97
قَالُوۡا یٰۤاَبَانَا اسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوۡبَنَاۤ اِنَّا کُنَّا خٰطِئِیۡنَ ﴿۹۷﴾
They said: Our father, ask forgiveness of our sins for us, surely we are sinners.
12:98
قَالَ سَوۡفَ اَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَکُمۡ رَبِّیۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۹۸﴾
He said: I shall ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
12:99
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوۡا عَلٰی یُوۡسُفَ اٰوٰۤی اِلَیۡہِ اَبَوَیۡہِ وَ قَالَ ادۡخُلُوۡا مِصۡرَ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ اٰمِنِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۹۹﴾
Then when they came to Joseph, he lodged his parents with himself and said: Enter Egypt in safety, if Allah please.
12:100
وَ رَفَعَ اَبَوَیۡہِ عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ وَ خَرُّوۡا لَہٗ سُجَّدًا ۚ وَ قَالَ یٰۤاَبَتِ ہٰذَا تَاۡوِیۡلُ رُءۡیَایَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۫ قَدۡ جَعَلَہَا رَبِّیۡ حَقًّا ؕ وَ قَدۡ اَحۡسَنَ بِیۡۤ اِذۡ اَخۡرَجَنِیۡ مِنَ السِّجۡنِ وَ جَآءَ بِکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡبَدۡوِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اَنۡ نَّزَغَ الشَّیۡطٰنُ بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَ اِخۡوَتِیۡ ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّیۡ لَطِیۡفٌ لِّمَا یَشَآءُ ؕ اِنَّہٗ ہُوَ الۡعَلِیۡمُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ ﴿۱۰۰﴾
And he raised his parents on the throne, and they fell prostrate for his sake. And he said: My father, this is the significance of my earlier vision — my Lord has made it true. And He was indeed kind to me, when He brought me forth from the prison, and brought you from the desert after the devil had sown dissensions between me and my brothers. Surely my Lord is Benignant to whom He pleases. Truly He is the Knowing, the Wise.
The meaning may be that he placed them in a good position.
12:101
رَبِّ قَدۡ اٰتَیۡتَنِیۡ مِنَ الۡمُلۡکِ وَ عَلَّمۡتَنِیۡ مِنۡ تَاۡوِیۡلِ الۡاَحَادِیۡثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ۟ اَنۡتَ وَلِیّٖ فِی الدُّنۡیَا وَ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۚ تَوَفَّنِیۡ مُسۡلِمًا وَّ اَلۡحِقۡنِیۡ بِالصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾
My Lord, You have given me kingdom and taught me something of the interpretation of sayings. Originator of the heavens and the earth, You are my Friend in this world and the Hereafter. Make me die in submission and join me with the righteous.
12:102
ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ الۡغَیۡبِ نُوۡحِیۡہِ اِلَیۡکَ ۚ وَ مَا کُنۡتَ لَدَیۡہِمۡ اِذۡ اَجۡمَعُوۡۤا اَمۡرَہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ یَمۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾
This is from the announcements relating to the unseen (which) We reveal to you, and you were not with them when they resolved upon their affair, and they were devising plans.
Throughout the Quran the “announcements relating to the unseen”, as here, signify not the ancient histories of past prophets, but a repetition of those histories in the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Thus from this verse onwards the subject is changed to the Holy Prophet’s opponents. The reference in “when they resolved upon their affair, and they were devising plans” is to the resolution of the Quraish and their plans against the Prophet, for which see 8:30. The Quran does not relate stories for the sake of giving information of the past, but for the lessons which they afford for the future guidance of man.
12:103
وَ مَاۤ اَکۡثَرُ النَّاسِ وَ لَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۳﴾
And most people do not believe, though you desire it eagerly.
12:104
وَ مَا تَسۡـَٔلُہُمۡ عَلَیۡہِ مِنۡ اَجۡرٍ ؕ اِنۡ ہُوَ اِلَّا ذِکۡرٌ لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۴﴾٪
And you ask them no reward for it. It is nothing but a Reminder for the nations.
Section 12 (Verses 12:105–12:111): A Lesson for the Prophet’s Opponents
12:105
وَ کَاَیِّنۡ مِّنۡ اٰیَۃٍ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ یَمُرُّوۡنَ عَلَیۡہَا وَ ہُمۡ عَنۡہَا مُعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾
And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by, yet they turn away from it!
12:106
وَ مَا یُؤۡمِنُ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ بِاللّٰہِ اِلَّا وَ ہُمۡ مُّشۡرِکُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۶﴾
And most of them do not believe in Allah without setting up partners (with Him).
12:107
اَفَاَمِنُوۡۤا اَنۡ تَاۡتِیَہُمۡ غَاشِیَۃٌ مِّنۡ عَذَابِ اللّٰہِ اَوۡ تَاۡتِیَہُمُ السَّاعَۃُ بَغۡتَۃً وَّ ہُمۡ لَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
Do they then feel secure from the coming to them of an all-encompassing punishment from Allah or from the coming to them of the hour suddenly, while they do not perceive?
12:108
قُلۡ ہٰذِہٖ سَبِیۡلِیۡۤ اَدۡعُوۡۤا اِلَی اللّٰہِ ۟ؔ عَلٰی بَصِیۡرَۃٍ اَنَا وَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَنِیۡ ؕ وَ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰہِ وَ مَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾
Say: This is my way; I call to Allah, with certain knowledge — I and those who follow me. And glory be to Allah! and I am not of those who set up partners (with Allah).
12:109
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ اِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ اَہۡلِ الۡقُرٰی ؕ اَفَلَمۡ یَسِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَیَنۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ ؕ وَ لَدَارُ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ خَیۡرٌ لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾
And We did not send before you any but men, from the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelation. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is best for those who keep their duty. Do you not then understand?
12:110
حَتّٰۤی اِذَا اسۡتَیۡـَٔسَ الرُّسُلُ وَ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنَّہُمۡ قَدۡ کُذِبُوۡا جَآءَہُمۡ نَصۡرُنَا ۙ فَنُجِّیَ مَنۡ نَّشَآءُ ؕ وَلَا یُرَدُّ بَاۡسُنَا عَنِ الۡقَوۡمِ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۱۰﴾
Until, when the messengers despaired and (the people) thought that they were told a lie, Our help came to them, and whom We pleased was delivered. And Our punishment is not averted from the guilty people.
“They” refers to the people, not messengers. The messengers warn their people, but the latter are so stubborn that the messengers at length despair of their people. The people, on the other hand, think that what the prophets had told them about the coming of the punishment was a lie. Then it is that the promised help for the prophets comes and the punishment with which the evildoers are threatened overtakes them. That the prophets never despair of Divine assistance coming to them, in accordance with Divine promise, is clear from what has already been said in v. 87 (see also 15:56 and 29:23).
12:111
لَقَدۡ کَانَ فِیۡ قَصَصِہِمۡ عِبۡرَۃٌ لِّاُولِی الۡاَلۡبَابِ ؕ مَا کَانَ حَدِیۡثًا یُّفۡتَرٰی وَ لٰکِنۡ تَصۡدِیۡقَ الَّذِیۡ بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ وَ تَفۡصِیۡلَ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ ہُدًی وَّ رَحۡمَۃً لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱۱﴾٪
In their histories there is certainly a lesson for those who have understanding. It is not a narrative which could be forged, but a verification of what is before it, and a distinct explanation of all things, and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe.