12:1  Alif Lam Ra. Those are the signs of the manifest book.

12:2  We have revealed it a Quran in Arabic tongue so that you may understand.

12:3  We relate unto you the most excellent of the accounts by revealing this Quran to you even though before it you were of those who were unmindful.

12:4  When Joseph said to his father, “O my father! I indeed saw in my dream eleven stars and the sun and the moon. I saw them in prostration to me.”

12:5  He [Jacob] said, “O my son! Do not relate your dream unto your brethren lest they devise a plot against you for Satan indeed is a manifest enemy for the human being.”

12:6  Even thus your Lord will select you and will give you the knowledge of the interpretation of the dreams and will complete His blessing on you and on the family of Jacob as He completed it aforetime on both your fathers Abraham and Isaac. For your Lord is indeed All-knowing, All-wise.

12:7  Indeed in Joseph and his brothers are signs for those who are seeking remembrance.

12:8  When they said, “Joseph and his brother are indeed dearer to our father than us though we are a group. Indeed our father is in a manifest error.”

12:9  So kill Joseph or cast him away in an unknown land so that your father’s face [attention] will be free for you and after him [Joseph] you can become righteous people.

12:10  One among them said, “Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the depth of the well so that some caravan may pick him up, if you are bent on doing something at all.”

12:11  They said, “O our father, why is it that you do not trust us with Joseph for we indeed are well-wishers for him.

12:12  Send him out with us tomorrow so that he can frisk around and play and we are indeed going to protect him.”

12:13  He said, “It does indeed aggrieve me that you go away with him and I fear that the wolf may devour him while you are unmindful about him.”

12:14  They said, “If the wolf were to devour him while we are such a large group we indeed then are losers.”

12:15  So when they went away with him, they resolved to put him in the depths of the well. We then communicated to him through inspiration that surely [a time will come when] you will inform them about this affair of theirs when they will not be aware.

12:16  And they came in the evening to their father weeping.

12:17  They said, “O our father we went racing with one another and we left Joseph with our belongings so the wolf devoured him but you were not going to believe us even if we were sincere [in our words].”

12:18  And they came with false blood on his shirt. He [Jacob] said, “Nay your souls have made seemly an affair to you. For me is goodly patience and Allah is the one whose help is sought against all that you report.”

12:19  And then a caravan came and they sent their water fetcher and he lowered his bucket [into the well]. He said, “Good news here is a boy.” And they concealed him as a merchandize. But Allah knows well all that they do.

12:20  And they sold him for a meager price few coins. A little was their desire in him.

12:21  And the man who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, “Make his stay graceful perchance he will be of good use to us or we can adopt him as a son.” Thus We established Joseph in the land and so that We may teach him interpretation of the inspiration and Allah has dominion over His commandment but most people know not.

12:22  And when he reached the age of maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do we reward those who act in excellence.

12:23  But she in whose house he was, sought to prevail with him [in order to seduce him] and she fastened the doors and said, “I am ready for you.” He said, “God forbid. He is indeed my Lord who made my sojourn an excellent one. Truly, those who wrong their own souls do not prosper.”

12:24  And she was indeed enamoured by him and he was solicitous on her account had it not been for the proof which he saw from his Lord. So that We turn away from him the evil and the injustice. For truly he was from among Our selected slaves.

12:25  And they both raced to the door and she tore his shirt from behind and they both found her master [husband] at the door. She said, “What is the reward of someone who harbors evil at your family if not imprisonment or a painful punishment.”

12:26  He said, “It was she who sought to prevail with me over myself” and a witness witnessed from her own folk, “If his shirt was torn from the front, then she is right and it is he who is of the liars.”

12:27  But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she lied and it is he who is among the truthful.

12:28  So when he saw his shirt torn from behind he said, “It is from your scheming (womenfolk). Your scheming is indeed awesome.”

12:29  O Joseph! Let this pass and you (O wife) seek forgiveness for your sin. For you indeed are of those who were in error.

12:30  And women in the city said, “The wife of the Aziz sought to prevail with her slave-boy over himself. Indeed love has penetrated through the core of her heart. So we see her indeed to be in manifest error.”

12:31  So when she heard about their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared for them [couches] to recline on and gave to each one of them a knife. Then she said [to Joseph], “Come out in front of them.” so when they saw him they expressed their amazement at him and cut their hands and they exclaimed, “God forbid. This is not a mortal human. This is but a gracious angel.”

12:32  She said, “He is the one about whom you blamed me. I did seek to prevail with him about himself but he fortified himself [against me]. But if he does not do what I bid him, he will certainly be imprisoned and he will certainly be of those who are subdued.”

12:33  He said, “O my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than that to which they are inviting me. For unless You turn away from me their scheme, I may become enamoured with them and will be of those who are ignorant [about Allah’s boundaries].”

12:34  His Lord responded to him and therefore turned away from him their schemes. He indeed is the one who is The All-hearing, The All-knowing.

12:35  And it occurred to them after seeing all the evidences that they should imprison him for a while.

12:36  And with him entered into the prison two young men. One of them said, “I saw myself in a dream pressing wine.” The other one said, “I saw myself in a dream carrying bread on my head from which birds were eating.” Inform us about its interpretation for we surely see you are of those who are excellent in deeds.

12:37  He said, “No food ever comes to you which is provided to you [by your Lord] but I will inform you about its interpretation before it comes to you. This is part of what my Lord has taught me. I indeed have forsaken the way of people who do not believe in Allah and they disbelieve in the life of the hereafter”

12:38  And I follow the way of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It is not fitting for us that we ascribe anything as partner to Allah. That is from the favor of Allah upon us and upon mankind but most people do not offer gratitude.

12:39  “O my two companions of the prison. Are multiple and diverse Lords better or Allah, The One, The All Over-powering.

12:40  You worship besides Him nothing but names which you have coined, you and your fathers, through which Allah has sent down no authority. All judgment is but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship naught except Him. That is the most upright religion but most people do not know.

12:41  “O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you, he will serve wine to his lord to drink and as for the other, he will be crucified and the birds will eat from his head. The decree has been passed about the matter in which you have enquired.”

12:42  And he said to the one whom he thought was going to be saved of the two, mention me in the presence of your lord but Satan made him to forget to remember his lord therefore he remained in the prison few more years.

12:43  And the king said, “I saw in my dream seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones and seven green ears of corn and another [seven] withered ones. O chiefs, provide me an answer about my dream if you do know how to interpret the dreams.”

12:44  They said, “Jumbled up dreams and we are not knowledgeable in interpretation of dreams.”

12:45  And the one who got saved from the two of them, he recalled [Joseph] after a long while and said, “I will inform you about its interpretation therefore send me.

12:46  “Joseph! O You the truthful [in word] tell us the true interpretation about seven fat cows devoured by seven lean cows and seven green ears of corn and another [seven] withered ones. Perhaps when I will go back to the people, they perhaps will know.”

12:47  He said, “You will cultivate for seven years assiduously and whatever you harvest leave it in its stock except a little from which you eat.

12:48  Then after that will come seven hard years which will devour all that you have laid aside for them except the little from that you saved.

12:49  And after that will come a year in which people will be given abundance of rain and in which they will continue to press [oil and wine].”

12:50  And the king said, “Bring him to me” and when the messenger came to him [Joseph] he said, “Go back to your lord and ask him what is the matter with the ladies who cut their hands? Lo! My Lord indeed knows all about their scheme.”

12:51  He [king] said [to the women], “What was the matter with you when you sought to prevail with Joseph about himself?” They said, “God forbid. We know no evil about him.” The wife of the Aziz said, “Now that the truth has become manifest I sought to prevail with him about himself and he indeed is of those who are the truthful.

12:52  So that he [Aziz] may know that I did not betray him in the absence and that Allah does not guide the scheme of the treacherous.”

12:53  And I do not claim my soul to be innocent. Indeed the soul does prompt to what is evil except that which my Lord has graced with His mercy. My Lord indeed is Oft-Forgiving, All-merciful.

12:54  And the king said, “Bring him to me so that I can choose him for myself” and when he spoke to him he said, “Today you are with us in a position of significance and trust.”

12:55  He said, “Appoint me in charge of the treasures of the land. I am indeed a good keeper, knowledgeable.”

12:56  And thus did We established Joseph in the land he dwelled therein wherever he pleased. Thus We cause Our mercy to reach to whom We please and We do not suffer the reward of those who act in excellence, to go in vain.

12:57  But truly the reward of the hereafter is better for those who believe and safeguard their own souls out of reverence for Allah.

12:58  And the brethren of Joseph came and they entered in upon him thereupon he recognized them but they did not acknowledge him.

12:59  And when he furnished them with their provisions, he said, “Bring to me a brother of yours from your father. See you not that I give full measure and that I am the best of the hosts?

12:60  But if you don’t bring him to me then there is no measure for you with me and do not come near me.”

12:61  They said, “We shall try to prevail with his father about him [to send him with us] and we are surely going to do it.”

12:62  And he said to his servants, “Place their money back in their luggage so perhaps they will recognize it when they return back to their families and perhaps that they will come back.”

12:63  And when they returned to their father they said, “O our father! The measure of grain has been denied to us, so therefore send our brother with us so that we obtain a measure of grain and we shall surely be good keepers for him.”

12:64  He said, “Should I trust you with him as I did trust you with his brother aforetime? But surely Allah is the best keeper and He is The Most Merciful of those who are merciful.”

12:65  And when they opened their belongings they found that their money had been returned to them. They said, “O our father! What more could we want? Here is our money given back to us so we can obtain food for our family and take care of our brother and can get one more load of camel that indeed is a measure [of grain] obtained with ease.

12:66  He [Jacob] said, “I will never send him with you until you give me your solemn pledge from Allah that you certainly will bring him to me unless you are all surrounded [by peril].” So when they gave him their solemn pledge he said, “Allah is the trustee over all that we say.”

12:67  And then he said, “O my children! Do not enter from one door but enter from different doors and I can avail you in nothing against Allah for all judgment is but for Allah and in Him I have put my trust and in Him all those who trust should put their trust.”

12:68  And when they entered from where their father commanded them, he was in no way to avail them from anything from Allah, but it was an urge in the soul of Jacob which he discharged. For he indeed is a man of knowledge for what We have taught him but most people do not know.

12:69  And when they entered in on Joseph he drew unto himself his brother and he [Joseph] said, “I indeed, I am your brother so therefore do not feel aggrieved by that which they used to do.”

12:70  So when he furnished them with their provisions, he placed the drinking cup in the luggage of his brother and then a crier cried out, “O you people of caravans you indeed are thieves.”

12:71  And they said turning towards them, “What is it that you are missing?”

12:72  They said, “We are missing the cup of the king and for him who brings it, there is the reward of a camel load and I give my solemn word for it.”

12:73  They said, “By Allah you do well know that we have not come to do corruption in the land and that we are not thieves.”

12:74  And they [Joseph’s servants] said. “What then would be the requital for it if you were proved to be liars.”

12:75  They said, “The requital for it is that whoever in whose luggage it is found, he himself will be the price for it. Thus do we requite those who do wrong.”

12:76  Then he started with their packs before the package of his brother and then he drew it out of the package of his brother. Thus We planned for Joseph. It was not for him to hold his brother according to the law of the king except that Allah willed. Thus We raise in rank whom We please and above every possessor of knowledge, there is one who is more knowledgeable.

12:77  They said, “If he does commit theft then indeed there is a brother of his who has committed theft before.” But Joseph kept it secret within his own self and did not reveal it to them and said [within himself], “Your position is the worst and Allah knows well all that you are narrating [about Him].”

12:78  They said, “O mighty one! He indeed has an old notable father therefore hold one of us in his stead. We indeed see that you are of those who are excellent in deeds.”

12:79  He said, “God forbid us from holding any other than the one with whom we found our property. We then certainly would be of those who are wrongful.”

12:80  So when they despaired [from any mercy] from him, they held a secret counsel. Their leader said, “Do you not know that your father did take a solemn pledge from Allah with you [about Benjamin] and aforetime how you had failed in your duty towards Joseph? Therefore I will never leave the land until my father gives me permission or Allah judges for me for He is the best of the judges.

12:81  Go back to your father and say, ‘O our father! Your son has indeed committed theft and we bear witness to nothing except that which we know nor are we the guardians to the unknown’

12:82  Ask the township in which we were and the caravan with which we came back and indeed we are truthful.”

12:83  He [Jacob] said, “Nay! Your souls have made seemly an affair to you. For me is goodly patience, perhaps Allah will bring all of them to me for He is The All-knowing, The All-wise.”

12:84  He turned away from them and said, “How great is my sorrow about Joseph” and his eyes turned blank from grief which he suppressed.

12:85  They said, “By Allah, you will not cease to remember Joseph till you become seriously ill or you become of those who perish.”

12:86  He [Jacob] said, “I only complain about my distress and my grief to Allah for I know from Allah what you know not.

12:87  “O my sons, go and look out for Joseph and his brother and do not despair from Allah’s relief. For no one despairs from Allah’s relief except disbelieving folk.

12:88  So when they came in on him they said, “O you the mighty one, hardship has touched us and our families and we have come with meagre money so therefore give us full measure and be charitable to us for Allah does requite those who are charitable.”

12:89  He said, “Did you know what you did to Joseph and his brother while you were ignorant?”

12:90  They said, “Is it indeed you who is Joseph?” He said, “I am Joseph and this is my brother. Allah has indeed bestowed His favor upon us for surely whoever reveres [Allah] and is patient surely Allah does not suffer the reward of those who act in excellence to go in vain.”

12:91  They said, “By Allah! Surely Allah has preferred you above us and we surely were in error.”

12:92  He said, “Let there be no reproach upon you today. Allah will forgive you. For He is The Most Merciful of those who are merciful.

12:93  Go with this shirt of mine and cast it on the face of my father, he will become seeing and come to me with all your family together.”

12:94  So when the caravan departed their father said, “I do indeed get the smell of Joseph if only you don’t take me to be a senile.”

12:95  They said, “By Allah! You truly are still in your old error.”

12:96  So when the bearer of glad tidings came, he casted it [the shirt] on his face and he instantly became seeing. He said, “Did I not tell you I know from Allah what you do not know?”

12:97  They said, “O our father. Ask forgiveness for us [from God] for our sins for we indeed were in error.”

12:98  He said, “I shall soon ask forgiveness for you from my Lord for He indeed is the Oft-Forgiving, The Most Merciful”

12:99  Then when they came in on Joseph he drew his parents near unto himself and he said, “Enter Egypt in safety as long as Allah pleases.”

12:100  And he raised his parents on the throne and they fell in prostration to him and he [Joseph] said, “O my father, this is the ultimate interpretation of my dream of aforetime. My Lord has indeed made it come true and He has indeed dealt most excellently with me when He took me out of the prison and brought you out of desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. Lo! My Lord is Most-subtle towards whatever He pleases for He indeed is The All-knowing, The All-wise.

12:101  O my Lord! You have indeed given me something of the dominion and taught me something of the interpretation of the inspirations. O Originator of the heavens and of the earth! You are my ally in this life and in the hereafter. Take my soul as one submitted [to You] and make me join [the ranks of] the righteous.

12:102  That is part of the news of the unseen which We communicate to you by inspiration and you were not with them when they resolved their matter and were scheming.

12:103  And most people will not be believers despite your ardent desire.

12:104  And you ask for no fee for it. It is but a reminder for the worlds.

12:105  And how many a sign in the heavens and in the earth that they pass by but they are turned away from them in arrogance.

12:106  And most of them do not believe in Allah without ascribing partners to Him.

12:107  Do they feel safe that there may come upon them a shower from the punishment of Allah or may come upon them the hour suddenly while they are not aware?

12:108  Say, “This is my way. I call on to Allah [I am] on a clear vision, me and whoever follows me, and glory be unto Allah for I am not of those who ascribe partners to Him.”

12:109  We did not send before you except men whom We inspired from the people of the township. Have they not travelled in the earth so that they see how was the ending of those before them? And surely the home of the hereafter is better for those who safeguard their own souls in reverence to Allah. Will they not then understand?

12:110  Until when the messengers are on the verge of despair and they think of themselves that they have been belied, then comes Our help to them and We save whom We please and Our mighty punishment cannot be turned away from the evildoing folk.

12:111  In their stories there is indeed a lesson for people with a living heart. It was not an invented story but the confirmation of that which went before it and a detailing of everything and a guidance and a mercy for a believing folk.