12:1  Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the Verses of the Insightful Book (the Qur'ân).

12:2  Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'ân so that you may achieve a higher level of consciousness.

12:3  We will relate to you the most beautiful of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'ân although you were one of those who have no knowledge of It before this.

12:4  Behold! Joseph said unto his father: "O’ my father, indeed, I saw (in a dream) eleven planets, the sun and the moon. I saw them prostrating themselves to me.

12:5  His father said: ‘Do not relate your vision to your brethren lest they plot evil against you. Lo! Satan proved himself to be a fierce enemy of Man.

12:6  And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of visions and dreams, and perfect His favour upon you and upon the family of Jacob just as He perfected it upon your forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Most certainly your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise’.

12:7  Indeed, in (the story of) Joseph and his brethren, there are Signs (of Allâh’s power & glory) for those who seek answers.

12:8  And (recall) when they said (to one another): ‘Joseph and his brother (Benjamin) are truly loved more by our father than we, even though we are a strong group. Indeed, our father is (living) in manifest deception:

12:9  Slay Joseph or cast him forth into some land so that the graceful bounty of your father may be given to you alone, and thereafter you will be righteous people’.

12:10  One among them said: ‘Do not kill Joseph, but, if you intend to do something, throw him down to the bottom of the well. Some caravan of travelers may pick him up.’

12:11  They said: ‘O’ our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph? We are indeed his well-wishers.

12:12  Send him with us tomorrow so that he may enjoy himself and play. We will be indeed his (trustful) guardians.’

12:13  (Jacob) said: ‘Truly, it would sadden me that you would take him with you. I fear that a wolf would devour him while you are not paying enough attention to him.’

12:14  They said: ‘If it happens that the wolf devour him while we are a strong group, then surely, we are caught in the grip of perdition!’

12:15  Then, When they took him out and decided to throw him into the bottom of the well, We inspired him: ‘Verily, you will inform them (one day) of this issue of theirs without them knowing.’

12:16  Early at night, they came back to their father weeping.

12:17  They said: ’O’ our father, we went off racing one with another and left Joseph by our belongings, so the wolf (came and) devoured him. You may not believe us although we are speaking the truth.’

12:18  And they came (home) with his shirt stained with false blood. He said: ‘Nay, but your own selves enticed you to do something (evil). Now, therefore, clinging to patience is most adorable (thing to do). And Allâh is the One whose aid can be sought against that which you made out.’

12:19  There came a caravan of travelers, and they sent their water-drawer (to fetch water). (As soon as) he let down his bucket (into the well), he cried out: ‘Oh, What great news! Here is a boy.’ So they hid him among their merchandise. But Allâh is All-Knowing of what they did.

12:20  They sold him for a relatively low price, a few silver coins, as they were ardent to get rid of him.

12:21  The man, who bought him was from Egypt, said to his wife: ‘Make his stay honorable. May be he will be beneficial to us, or we may adopt him to be our son.’ This is how We did establish Joseph in the land so as to teach him the interpretation of the events (i.e. dreams and visions). And Allâh has full power over His Affairs. But most of them don’t posses enough knowledge of the Truth.

12:22  And when he attained his maturity, we gave him wisdom and (spiritual) knowledge. This is how we remunerate those who pursue righteousness and perfection in Faith.

12:23  She, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said: "Come on, O’ you." He said: ‘God forbid! Lo! (The one who bought me) is my master. He made me stay honorable. Indeed, those who have voluntarily and consciously abandoned the Full Knowledge of the Truth in favour of their own whims will never achieve their aims.’

12:24  And indeed she lusted after him, and he would have been forced to capitulate to her (every whim), had he not seen the manifest evidence of his Lord. This is how We turned him away from evil and indecency, for he was truly one of Our faithful devotees.

12:25  As they raced with one another to the door, she (grabbed him from behind) and tore off his shirt. They both found her husband at the door. She said: ‘What is the penalty for the one who intended to do evil to your wife, except imprisonment or a painful punishment?’

12:26  He said: ‘It was she who sought to seduce me.’ And a witness of her own family testified: ‘If his shirt is torn in front, she speaks the truth and he is of the liars.

12:27  But if his shirt is torn from behind, then she is lying and he is one of the truthful’.

12:28  So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said: ‘This is of the machinations of women. Indeed, their machination is so shrewd!’

12:29  O’ Joseph, turn aside from this. As for you (my wife), you should ask forgiveness for your iniquitous deed. You were definitely of the sinful.’

12:30  Some women in the city said: ‘The wife of the governor tried to seduce her slave-boy. She is madly in love with him. Indeed, we see her living in a manifest deception.’

12:31  So she heard of their gossip, so she invited them to her house and prepared a banquet for them. She gave a knife to each of them, asking him (Joseph) to appear before them. As soon as they saw him, (his physical attractiveness left them totally flabbergasted) that they cut their hands. They said: ‘God forbid! He is not a mortal being but a courteous Angel.’

12:32  She said: ‘This is the one whom you blamed me. I sought to seduce and (to conquer) him, but he refrained. If it happens that he does not do what I command him to, he will definitely be imprisoned and disgraced.’

12:33  He said: ‘O’ my Lord, prison is more favorable to me than that to which they invite me. Unless you turn their machination away from me, I may fall into their temptation and be of the ignorant.’

12:34  So his Lord answered his supplication and diverted their machination away from him. Most assuredly He is the All- Hearer, the All-Knowing.

12:35  Then it occurred to them after they had seen the (irrefutable) signs (of his innocence) that they should imprison him for a while.

12:36  And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said: ‘lo! I saw myself in dream squeezing wine’. The other said: ‘lo! I saw myself in dream carrying bread on my head and birds were eating thereof’. (They said): ‘Inform us of the interpretation of this. Indeed, we see you of those who pursue righteousness and perfection in Faith’.

12:37  Joseph said: ‘If any food is provided to you, I can inform you about it before coming to you. This is of what my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have shunned the creed of a people who rejected the belief in the Absolute Oneness of Allâh and who, moreover, refused to acknowledge (the existence of) the Hereafter.

12:38  And I have followed the creed of my forefathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are not quite prepared to attribute any partners whatsoever to Allâh. This is of the Bounty of Allâh on us and on mankind. But most of the people are ungrateful (to Allâh for His endless blessings).

12:39  O’ my two fellow-prisoners! (Ask yourselves), which is better, many gods at variance, or Allâh the One, the Omnipotent?

12:40  And whatever you worship beside Him is just a mere illusion which you and your forefathers have created- a belief Allâh has not authorized. The command rests with Allâh alone. He has commanded that you should worship Him (in the way He wants us to worship Him). This is the right (faith). But most of them don’t posses enough knowledge of the Truth.

12:41  O’ my two fellow-prisoners! As for one of you, he will serve wine for his master to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head. The matter is decreed concerning which you sought for clarification’.

12:42  Then said he to the one who he knew would be saved: ‘Mention me (and my story) in the presence of your master’. But Satan caused him to forget to mention (the story of Joseph) to his master, so Joseph remained in the prison a few more years.

12:43  The king (of Egypt) said: ‘Verily, I saw (in a dream) seven fat kine that are devoured by seven lean ones, and concerning seven green ears of corn and seven others dry. O’ notable men (of Egypt), explain to me the real meaning of my dream to me if you are capable of interpreting dreams’.

12:44  They said: ‘Senseless dreams, and we are not skilled in the interpretation of such dreams’.

12:45  The one who was released, now that he finally remembered and said: ‘I am going to inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth.

12:46  He Said: ‘Joseph, O’ man of truth! explain to us the real meaning of seven fat kine that are devoured by seven lean ones and seven green ears of corn and seven others dry, so I can return to the people and explain to them the real meaning of this dream’.

12:47  He said: "You shall sow for seven years as usual, then what you reap, leave it in its ears, save a little which you may eat.

12:48  Then after, seven hard years will come, which will devour all that you have prepared for them, except a little of that which you have stored.

12:49  After that, a year will come in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will squeeze (oil and wine).”

12:50  The king said: ‘Bring him to me!’ But when the messenger came to (Joseph). He said: "Return to your master and ask him about (the case of) those women who cut their hand. Indeed, my Lord has full knowledge of their machination’.

12:51  (The king) asked (the women): ‘What was your intention when you sought to seduce Joseph?’ They answered: ‘God forbid! We knew no evil of his part. The wife of the governor said: ‘Now, since the truth has prevailed, (I must confess that) I am the one who tried to seduce him. He is indeed a truthful man’.

12:52  Then (Joseph) said: ‘(I asked for this enquiry) so that my master will know that I did not betray him in secret. Indeed, Allâh will nullify the machination of the betrayers.

12:53  And I do not free myself free from fault. Indeed, the human person is naturally inclined to evil, except for those on whom my Lord bestows His Mercy. Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

12:54  The king said: ‘Bring him to me! I will appoint him exclusively to my service. So when the king talked with Joseph, he said: "Verily, you are on this day in our presence highly honored and fully trusted’.

12:55  Joseph said: ‘Appoint me as a treasurer to manage the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I am skilled custodian’.

12:56  This is how We established Joseph on the land and made him settle therein wherever he willed. We bestow of Our Mercy on whom We will and We do not let the reward of those who pursue righteousness and perfection in Faith be lost.

12:57  Yet the reward of the Hereafter is far better for those who live by Faith and act piously.

12:58  The brothers of Joseph came and presented themselves before him. He recognized them, but they did not recognize him .

12:59  When he had furnished them with their food supplies, he said: ‘(Next time you come here), bring to 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  But if it happens that you do not bring him to me, then (be sure) there will be no measure (of corn) for you from my part, neither will you come near me’.

12:61  They said: ‘We shall use our efforts to persuade his father to send him with us. Indeed we shall do our best’.

12:62  Then Joseph said unto his servants: ‘Put their merchandise into their saddlebags in order that they may be bale to recognize it when they have gone back to their family, and may come again’.

12:63  So when they returned to their father, they said: ‘O’ our father, (unless we bring our brother with us), they will refuse to give us any food supplies. Now, therefore, send our brother with us so that we may be able to obtain food supplies. We will definitely guard him’.

12:64  He said: ‘Should I entrust you with him, except as I entrusted you with his brother aforetime? But only Allâh is the Best Guardian and He is the Most Merciful of all the those who show mercy’.

12:65  And When they opened their baggage, they found that their merchandise had been returned to them. They said: ‘O’ our father, what more could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. We shall get more food supplies for our family and guard our brother. We shall get also an extra load of a camel. This is a small quantity ’.

12:66  He said: ‘Never will I send him with you until you swear a solemn oath to me in the name of Allâh that you will definitely bring him back to me unless you are surrounded (or attacked by enemy)’. And when they had given their solemn oath, he said: ‘Allâh is the Witness over what we have said’.

12:67  He added: ‘O’ my sons, do not enter by one gate, (but) enter by different gates. I cannot avail you aught against (the decree of) Allâh. Judgment belongs only unto Allâh. In Him I place my trust, thus, let all those who trust place their trust in Him’.

12:68  As soon as they entered from where their father had ordered them, it availed them nothing against (the decree of) Allâh as (it was only) a desire that Jacob sought to fulfill. Indeed, he had spiritual gift of knowledge because of the fact that We had taught him. But most of them don’t posses enough knowledge of the Truth.

12:69  And When they entered upon Joseph, he lodged his brother with himself, saying: ‘I am your brother, thus do not grieve over what they used to do’.

12:70  And when he had furnished them with their food supplies, he put his golden chalice in the saddlebag of his brother. Then a crier cried out: ‘O’ you in the caravan, you are truly thieves!’

12:71  They said while they were approaching them, ‘What is it that you are missing?’

12:72  They said: ‘We have lost the golden chalice of the king. As for the one who brings it will receive a load of a camel (as a reward). I guarantee that’.

12:73  They said: ‘By Allâh! Verily, you know well that we did not come to spread corruption in the land. We are not thieves!’

12:74  (The Egyptians) said: ‘What then will be the penalty of him, if you are ( proved to be) liars?’

12:75  They said: ‘The penalty is that he in whose saddlebag the chalice is found, he will be held (as bondsman). This is how we chastise those who indulge in wrongdoing.”

12:76  Then (Joseph) began the search with their bags before searching the bag of his brother, then he extracted it from the bag of his brother. This is how We planned for him (to obtain what he aimed for). He could not have taken his brother according to the law of the king unless Allâh had willed. We raise the degrees of whomsoever We will. But over all those endowed with knowledge is One, the All-Knowing.

12:77  They said: ‘If he stole, there was a brother of his who did it before (him).’ But Joseph kept it within himself and did not disclose it to them. He said (within himself): ‘You are in worst situation, and Allâh already knows the truth of what you allege’.

12:78  They said: ‘O’ mighty prince, he has a very aged father, so take one of us in his place. We see you one of those who pursue righteousness and perfection in Faith’.

12:79  He said: 'God forbid! If it should happen that we took any other but him with whom we found our chalice, then we would definitely be of those who have voluntarily and consciously abandoned the Full Knowledge of the Truth in favour of their own whims’.

12:80  So when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring privately together. The eldest among them said: ‘Do you not know that your father took an oath from you in the name of Allâh, and before this you failed in your duty with Joseph? Now, therefore, I am not going to leave this land until my father gives me permission to leave or Allâh judges for me. For He is the Best of (all) Judges’.

12:81  Return to your father and say (to him): ‘O’ our father, your son (Benjamin) stole, we do not testify except that we know. We were not guardians over the unseen.

12:82  You can ask the people of the town where we were and the caravan in which we returned. We are indeed telling the truth’.

12:83  Jacob said: ‘Nay, your own selves enticed you to do something (evil). Now, therefore, clinging to patience is most adorable (thing to do). I have faith that Allâh will bring them all to me. He is the All-knowing, the All-wise’.

12:84  He walked away from them saying: ‘Ah! Woe betide me for Joseph!' His eyes became white because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.

12:85  They said: ‘By Allâh! You will never cease remembering Joseph until you become seriously ill, or die’.

12:86  He said: ‘I only complain of my distraction and sorrow to Allâh. And I know from Allâh that which you have not encompassed in knowledge.

12:87  O’ my sons, go, try to find out about Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of the Mercy of Allâh. Surely, none should despair of the Mercy of Allâh, except a people who are spiritually dead and blind’.

12:88  So when they entered upon Joseph, they said: ‘O’ mighty prince, misfortune has touched us and our family. We come with merchandise of scant worth. But we (hope you can) give us full measure and you will be charitable to us. Indeed, Allâh remunerates those who give alms’.

12:89  He said: ‘Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother, when you were ignorant?’

12:90  They said: ‘Are you indeed Joseph?’ He said: ‘(Yes), I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allâh has definitely favored us. Indeed, whosoever acts piously and seeks help through patience (can rest assured that) Allâh will not let the reward of those who pursue righteousness and perfection in Faith be lost’.

12:91  They said: ‘By Allâh! Surely Allâh has preferred you over us, and we were obviously sinful’.

12:92  He said: ‘No reproof will be upon you today. And Allâh will forgive you. For He is the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy’.

12:93  Go, take this shirt of mine, and cast it on the face of my father. He will regain his sight. Bring your whole family and come back to me’.

12:94  So, when the caravan set forth, their father said: ‘I can clearly smell the scent of Joseph (in the air) unless you think of me infatuated’.

12:95  They said: ‘By Allâh! You are indeed living in your old deception’.

12:96  As soon as the bearer of good tidings came to him and cast it (-the shirt of Joseph -) over his face, he regained his sight. He said: ‘Did I not tell you that I know from Allâh that which you have not encompassed in knowledge?’

12:97  They said: ‘O’ our father, ask forgiveness of our iniquitous deeds for us, surely we were sinful’.

12:98  He said: ‘I shall ask for your forgiveness from my Lord. Most assuredly He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful’.

12:99  And when they entered upon Joseph, he lodged his parents with himself and said: ‘Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in security’.

12:100  He raised his parents on the throne and they prostrated themselves before him. He said: ‘O’ my father, this is the interpretation of my dream aforetime. My Lord has made it true. He was indeed generous to me when He brought me forth from the prison, and brought you here from Bedouin lifestyle after having ended the antagonism which Satan disseminated between my brothers and me. Most surely my Lord is the Most Amiable to whom He wills. Indeed, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

12:101  O’ My Lord, You have given me of the sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams, O’ Originator of the heavens and the earth! . You are my Guardian in this world and the Hereafter. Make me die as the one who wholly submitted and join me with the righteous’.

12:102  That is of the tidings of the Unseen that We reveal to you. You were not with them when they agreed on devising their evil schemes.

12:103  Most of the people will not live by Faith no matter how hard you strive (to convince them).

12:104  You do not ask of them any wealth (for what you admonish you). It is no more than a book of Enlightenment for all the beings.

12:105  So many signs (of Allâh’s power & glory) in the heavens and on the earth they pass by. Yet they give no heed to them.

12:106  Most of them do not believe in Allâh except that they attribute partners to Him.

12:107  Do they then feel secure that there will not come to them a sweeping chastisement from Allâh or that the Hour will not come upon them unexpectedly when they perceive not?

12:108  Say: ‘This is my way. I call to Allâh with sure knowledge, I and my followers. All Glory Be To Allâh! And I am not one of the Polytheists’.

12:109  We did not send before you (as Messengers) any except men, whom We revealed from among the people of town. Have they not traveled through the earth and observed (the dreadful) end of those who were before them? Indeed, the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who act piously. Don't you have conscious thoughts at least in this sense?

12:110  (They were given respite) until, when the Messengers despaired, becoming certain that they were completely rejected (by their people), then came to them Our Help, and whomsoever We willed was saved. Our Might cannot be averted from the Ungodly Sinners.

12:111  There was certainly in their stories a lesson for the people who possess high intelligence and great illumination. This Qur'ân cannot be forged narration, but a verification of what was before It, a distinct explanation of all things, and a True Source of Enlightenment and Mercy for a people who live a life of Genuine Faith.