Translations of the Qur'an, Chapter 12:
YUSUF (JOSEPH)
Total Verses: 111
Revealed At: MAKKA
Order in which revealed: 53
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In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
012.001
YUSUFALI: A.L.R. These are the symbols (or Verses) of the perspicuous Book.
PICKTHAL: Alif. Lam. Ra. These are verse of the Scripture that maketh plain.
SHAKIR: Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book that makes (things) manifest.
KHALIFA: A.L.R. These (letters) are proofs of this profound scripture.
012.002
YUSUFALI: We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.
PICKTHAL: Lo! We have revealed it, a Lecture in Arabic, that ye may understand.
SHAKIR: Surely We have revealed it-- an Arabic Quran-- that you may understand.
KHALIFA: We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.
012.003
YUSUFALI: We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee
this (portion of the) Qur'an: before this, thou too was among those who knew it not.
PICKTHAL: We narrate unto thee (Muhammad) the best of narratives in that We have inspired
in thee this Qur'an, though aforetime thou wast of the heedless.
SHAKIR: We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Quran,
though before this you were certainly one of those who did not know.
KHALIFA: We narrate to you the most accurate history through the revelation of this Quran.
Before this, you were totally unaware.
012.004
YUSUFALI: Behold! Joseph said to his father: "O my father! I did see eleven stars and
the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!"
PICKTHAL: When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream eleven
planets and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me.
SHAKIR: When Yusuf said to his father: O my father! surely I saw eleven stars and the sun
and the moon-- I saw them making obeisance to me.
KHALIFA: Recall that Joseph said to his father, "O my father, I saw eleven planets,
and the sun, and the moon; I saw them prostrating before me."
012.005
YUSUFALI: Said (the father): "My (dear) little son! relate not thy vision to thy
brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee: for Satan is to man an avowed enemy!
PICKTHAL: He said: O my dear son! Tell not thy brethren of thy vision, lest they plot a
plot against thee. Lo! Satan is for man an open foe.
SHAKIR: He said: O my son! do not relate your vision to your brothers, lest they devise a
plan against you; surely the Shaitan is an open enemy to man.
KHALIFA: He said, "My son, do not tell your brothers about your dream, lest they plot
and scheme against you. Surely, the devil is man's worst enemy.
012.006
YUSUFALI: "Thus will thy Lord choose thee and teach thee the interpretation of
stories (and events) and perfect His favour to thee and to the posterity of Jacob - even
as He perfected it to thy fathers Abraham and Isaac aforetime! for Allah is full of
knowledge and wisdom."
PICKTHAL: Thus thy Lord will prefer thee and will teach thee the interpretation of events,
and will perfect His grace upon thee and upon the family of Jacob as He perfected it upon
thy forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. Lo! thy Lord is Knower, Wise.
SHAKIR: And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of sayings and
make His favor complete to you and to the children of Yaqoub, as He made it complete
before to your fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq; surely your Lord is Knowing, Wise.
KHALIFA: "Your Lord has thus blessed you, and has given you good news through your
dream. He has perfected His blessings upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He did for
your ancestors Abraham and Isaac before that. Your Lord is Omniscient, Most Wise."
012.007
YUSUFALI: Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs (or symbols) for seekers (after
Truth).
PICKTHAL: Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs (of Allah's Sovereignty) for the
inquiring.
SHAKIR: Certainly in Yusuf and his brothers there are signs for the inquirers.
KHALIFA: In Joseph and his brothers there are lessons for the seekers.
012.008
YUSUFALI: They said: "Truly Joseph and his brother are loved more by our father than
we: But we are a goodly body! really our father is obviously wandering (in his mind)!
PICKTHAL: When they said: Verily Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we
are, many though we be. Lo! our father is in plain aberration.
SHAKIR: When they said: Certainly Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we,
though we are a (stronger) company; most surely our father is in manifest error:
KHALIFA: They said, "Joseph and his brother are favored by our father, and we are in
the majority. Indeed, our father is far astray.
012.009
YUSUFALI: "Slay ye Joseph or cast him out to some (unknown) land, that so the favour
of your father may be given to you alone: (there will be time enough) for you to be
righteous after that!"
PICKTHAL: (One said): Kill Joseph or cast him to some (other) land, so that your father's
favour may be all for you, and (that) ye may afterward be righteous folk.
SHAKIR: Slay Yusuf or cast him (forth) into some land, so that your father's regard may be
exclusively for you, and after that you may be a righteous people.
KHALIFA: "Let us kill Joseph, or banish him, that you may get some attention from
your father. Afterwards, you can be righteous people."
012.010
YUSUFALI: Said one of them: "Slay not Joseph, but if ye must do something, throw him
down to the bottom of the well: he will be picked up by some caravan of travellers."
PICKTHAL: One among them said: Kill not Joseph but, if ye must be doing, fling him into
the depth of the pit; some caravan will find him.
SHAKIR: A speaker from among them said: Do not slay Yusuf, and cast him down into the
bottom of the pit if you must do (it), (so that) some of the travellers may pick him up.
KHALIFA: One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph; let us throw him into the abyss of
the well. Perhaps some caravan can pick him up, if this is what you decide to do."
012.011
YUSUFALI: They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph,- seeing
we are indeed his sincere well-wishers?
PICKTHAL: They said: O our father! Why wilt thou not trust us with Joseph, when lo! we are
good friends to him?
SHAKIR: They said: O our father! what reason have you that you do not trust in us with
respect to Yusuf? And most surely we are his sincere well-wishers:
KHALIFA: They said, "Our father, why do you not trust us with Joseph? We will take
good care of him.
012.012
YUSUFALI: "Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take
every care of him."
PICKTHAL: Send him with us to-morrow that he may enjoy himself and play. And lo! we shall
take good care of him.
SHAKIR: Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and sport, and surely we will
guard him well.
KHALIFA: "Send him with us tomorrow to run and play. We will protect him."
012.013
YUSUFALI: (Jacob) said: "Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear
lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him."
PICKTHAL: He said: Lo! in truth it saddens me that ye should take him with you, and I fear
less the wolf devour him while ye are heedless of him.
SHAKIR: He said: Surely it grieves me that you should take him off, and I fear lest the
wolf devour him while you are heedless of him.
KHALIFA: He said, "I worry lest you go away with him, then the wolf may devour him
while you are not watching him."
012.014
YUSUFALI: They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party,
then should we indeed (first) have perished ourselves!"
PICKTHAL: They said: If the wolf should devour him when we are (so strong) a band, then
surely we should have already perished.
SHAKIR: They said: Surely if the wolf should devour him notwithstanding that we are a
(strong) company, we should then certainly be losers.
KHALIFA: They said, "Indeed, if the wolf devours him, with so many of us around, then
we are really losers."
012.015
YUSUFALI: So they did take him away, and they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom
of the well: and We put into his heart (this Message): 'Of a surety thou shalt (one day)
tell them the truth of this their affair while they know (thee) not'
PICKTHAL: Then, when they led him off, and were of one mind that they should place him in
the depth of the pit, We inspired in him: Thou wilt tell them of this deed of theirs when
they know (thee) not.
SHAKIR: So when they had gone off with him and agreed that they should put him down at the
bottom of the pit, and We revealed to him: You will most certainly inform them of this
their affair while they do not perceive.
KHALIFA: When they went away with him, and unanimously decided to throw him into the abyss
of the well, we inspired him: "Some day, you will tell them about all this, while
they have no idea."
012.016
YUSUFALI: Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping.
PICKTHAL: And they came weeping to their father in the evening.
SHAKIR: And they came to their father at nightfall, weeping.
KHALIFA: They came back to their father in the evening, weeping.
012.017
YUSUFALI: They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph
with our things; and the wolf devoured him.... But thou wilt never believe us even though
we tell the truth."
PICKTHAL: Saying: O our father! We went racing one with another, and left Joseph by our
things, and the wolf devoured him, and thou believest not our saying even when we speak
the truth.
SHAKIR: They said: O our father! surely we went off racing and left Yusuf by our goods, so
the wolf devoured him, and you will not believe us though we are truthful.
KHALIFA: They said, "Our father, we went racing with each other, leaving Joseph with
our equipment, and the wolf devoured him. You will never believe us, even if we were
telling the truth."
012.018
YUSUFALI: They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have
made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that
which ye assert, it is Allah (alone) Whose help can be sought"..
PICKTHAL: And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Nay, but your minds have
beguiled you into something. (My course is) comely patience. And Allah it is Whose help is
to be sought in that (predicament) which ye describe.
SHAKIR: And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. He said: Nay, your souls have
made the matter light for you, but patience is good and Allah is He Whose help is sought
for against what you describe.
KHALIFA: They produced his shirt with fake blood on it. He said, "Indeed, you have
conspired with each other to commit a certain scheme. All I can do is resort to a quiet
patience. May GOD help me in the face of your conspiracy."
012.019
YUSUFALI: Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for
water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)...He said: "Ah there! Good news!
Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth
well all that they do!
PICKTHAL: And there came a caravan, and they sent their waterdrawer. He let down his pail
(into the pit). He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And they hid him as a treasure, and
Allah was Aware of what they did.
SHAKIR: And there came travellers and they sent their water-drawer and he let down his
bucket. He said: O good news! this is a youth; and they concealed him as an article of
merchandise, and Allah knew what they did.
KHALIFA: A caravan passed by, and soon sent their waterer. He let down his bucket, then
said, "How lucky! There is a boy here!" They took him along as merchandise, and
GOD was fully aware of what they did.
012.020
YUSUFALI: The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in
such low estimation did they hold him!
PICKTHAL: And they sold him for a low price, a number of silver coins; and they attached
no value to him.
SHAKIR: And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver, and they showed no
desire for him.
KHALIFA: They sold him for a cheap price - a few dirhams - for they did not have any need
for him.
012.021
YUSUFALI: The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among
us) honourable: may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son."
Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of
stories (and events). And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most
among mankind know it not.
PICKTHAL: And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably.
Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established
Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was
predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.
SHAKIR: And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: Give him an honorable abode,
maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus did We establish
Yusuf in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of sayings; and Allah is
the master of His affair, but most people do not know.
KHALIFA: The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Take good care of him.
Maybe he can help us, or maybe we can adopt him." We thus established Joseph on
earth, and we taught him the interpretation of dreams. GOD's command is always done, but
most people do not know.
012.022
YUSUFALI: When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do
We reward those who do right.
PICKTHAL: And And when he reached his prime We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus We
reward the good.
SHAKIR: And when he had attained his maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge: and thus
do We reward those who do good.
KHALIFA: When he reached maturity, we endowed him with wisdom and knowledge. We thus
reward the righteous.
012.023
YUSUFALI: But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she
fastened the doors, and said: "Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "Allah
forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good
come those who do wrong!"
PICKTHAL: And she, in whose house he was, asked of him an evil act. She bolted the doors
and said: Come! He said: I seek refuge in Allah! Lo! he is my lord, who hath treated me
honourably. Lo! wrong-doers never prosper.
SHAKIR: And she in whose house he was sought to make himself yield (to her), and she made
fast the doors and said: Come forward. He said: I seek Allah's refuge, surely my Lord made
good my abode: Surely the unjust do not prosper.
KHALIFA: The lady of the house where he lived tried to seduce him. She closed the doors
and said, "I am all yours." He said, "May GOD protect me. He is my Lord,
who gave me a good home. The transgressors never succeed."
012.024
YUSUFALI: And (with passion) did she desire him, and he would have desired her, but that
he saw the evidence of his Lord: thus (did We order) that We might turn away from him
(all) evil and shameful deeds: for he was one of Our servants, sincere and purified.
PICKTHAL: She verily desired him, and he would have desired her if it had not been that he
saw the argument of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might ward off from him evil and
lewdness. Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves.
SHAKIR: And certainly she made for him, and he would have made for her, were it not that
he had seen the manifest evidence of his Lord; thus (it was) that We might turn away from
him evil and indecency, surely he was one of Our sincere servants.
KHALIFA: She almost succumbed to him, and he almost succumbed to her, if it were not that
he saw a proof from his Lord. We thus diverted evil and sin away from him, for he was one
of our devoted servants.
012.025
YUSUFALI: So they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back:
they both found her lord near the door. She said: "What is the (fitting) punishment
for one who formed an evil design against thy wife, but prison or a grievous
chastisement?"
PICKTHAL: And they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind,
and they met her lord and master at the door. She said: What shall be his reward, who
wisheth evil to thy folk, save prison or a painful doom?
SHAKIR: And they both hastened to the door, and she rent his shirt from behind and they
met her husband at the door. She said: What is the punishment of him who intends evil to
your wife except imprisonment or a painful chastisement?
KHALIFA: The two of them raced towards the door, and, in the process, she tore his garment
from the back. They found her husband at the door. She said, "What should be the
punishment for one who wanted to molest your wife, except imprisonment or a painful
punishment?"
012.026
YUSUFALI: He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me - from my (true) self."
And one of her household saw (this) and bore witness, (thus):- "If it be that his
shirt is rent from the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar!
PICKTHAL: (Joseph) said: She it was who asked of me an evil act. And a witness of her own
folk testified: If his shirt is torn from before, then she speaketh truth and he is of the
liars.
SHAKIR: He said: She sought to make me yield (to her); and a witness of her own family
bore witness: If his shirt is rent from front, she speaks the truth and he is one of the
liars:
KHALIFA: He said, "She is the one who tried to seduce me." A witness from her
family suggested: "If his garment is torn from the front, then she is telling the
truth and he is a liar.
012.027
YUSUFALI: "But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then is she the liar,
and he is telling the truth!"
PICKTHAL: And if his shirt is torn from behind, then she hath lied and he is of the
truthful.
SHAKIR: And if his shirt is rent from behind, she tells a lie and he is one of the
truthful.
KHALIFA: "And if his garment is torn from the back, then she lied, and he is telling
the truth."
012.028
YUSUFALI: So when he saw his shirt,- that it was torn at the back,- (her husband) said:
"Behold! It is a snare of you women! truly, mighty is your snare!
PICKTHAL: So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said: Lo! this is of the guile of
you women. Lo! the guile of you is very great.
SHAKIR: So when he saw his shirt rent from behind, he said: Surely it is a guile of you
women; surely your guile is great:
KHALIFA: When her husband saw that his garment was torn from the back, he said, "This
is a woman's scheme. Indeed, your scheming is formidable.
012.029
YUSUFALI: "O Joseph, pass this over! (O wife), ask forgiveness for thy sin, for truly
thou hast been at fault!"
PICKTHAL: O Joseph! Turn away from this, and thou, (O woman), ask forgiveness for thy sin.
Lo! thou art of the faulty.
SHAKIR: O Yusuf! turn aside from this; and (O my wife)! ask forgiveness for your fault,
surely you are one of the wrong-doers.
KHALIFA: "Joseph, disregard this incident. As for you (my wife), you should seek
forgiveness for your sin. You have committed an error."
012.030
YUSUFALI: Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) 'Aziz is seeking to
seduce her slave from his (true) self: Truly hath he inspired her with violent love: we
see she is evidently going astray."
PICKTHAL: And women in the city said: The ruler's wife is asking of her slave-boy an
ill-deed. Indeed he has smitten her to the heart with love. We behold her in plain
aberration.
SHAKIR: And women in the city said: The chiefs wife seeks her slave to yield himself (to
her), surely he has affected her deeply with (his) love; most surely we see her in
manifest error.
KHALIFA: Some women in the city gossiped: "The governor's wife is trying to seduce
her servant. She is deeply in love with him. We see that she has gone astray."
012.031
YUSUFALI: When she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet
for them: she gave each of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before
them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their
hands: they said, "Allah preserve us! no mortal is this! this is none other than a
noble angel!"
PICKTHAL: And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them and prepared for them a
cushioned couch (to lie on at the feast) and gave to every one of them a knife and said
(to Joseph): Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their
hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless! This is no a human being. This is not other than some
gracious angel.
SHAKIR: So when she heard of their sly talk she sent for them and prepared for them a
repast, and gave each of them a knife, and said (to Yusuf): Come forth to them. So when
they saw him, they deemed him great, and cut their hands (in amazement), and said: Remote
is Allah (from inperfection); this is not a mortal; this is but a noble angel.
KHALIFA: When she heard of their gossip, she invited them, prepared for them a comfortable
place, and gave each of them a knife. She then said to him, "Enter their room."
When they saw him, they so admired him, that they cut their hands. They said, "Glory
be to GOD, this is not a human being; this is an honorable angel."
012.032
YUSUFALI: She said: "There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did
seek to seduce him from his (true) self but he did firmly save himself guiltless!....and
now, if he doth not my bidding, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and (what is more)
be of the company of the vilest!"
PICKTHAL: She said: This is he on whose account ye blamed me. I asked of him an evil act,
but he proved continent, but if he do not my behest he verily shall be imprisoned, and
verily shall be of those brought low.
SHAKIR: She said: This is he with respect to whom you blamed me, and certainly I sought
his yielding himself (to me), but he abstained, and if he does not do what I bid him, he
shall certainly be imprisoned, and he shall certainly be of those who are in a state of
ignominy.
KHALIFA: She said, "This is the one you blamed me for falling in love with. I did
indeed try to seduce him, and he refused. Unless he does what I command him to do, he will
surely go to prison, and will be debased."
012.033
YUSUFALI: He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which
they invite me: Unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly)
feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."
PICKTHAL: He said: O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me, and
if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and become of the
foolish.
SHAKIR: He said: My Lord! the prison house is dearer to me than that to which they invite
me; and if Thou turn not away their device from me, I will yearn towards them and become
(one) of the ignorant.
KHALIFA: He said, "My Lord, the prison is better than giving in to them. Unless You
divert their scheming from me, I may desire them and behave like the ignorant ones."
012.034
YUSUFALI: So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their
snare: Verily He heareth and knoweth (all things).
PICKTHAL: So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He is
Hearer, Knower.
SHAKIR: Thereupon his Lord accepted his prayer and turned away their guile from him;
surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
KHALIFA: His Lord answered his prayer and diverted their scheming from him. He is the
Hearer, the Omniscient.
012.035
YUSUFALI: Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the signs, (that it was best)
to imprison him for a time.
PICKTHAL: And it seemed good to them (the men-folk) after they had seen the signs (of his
innocence) to imprison him for a time.
SHAKIR: Then it occurred to them after they had seen the signs that they should imprison
him till a time.
KHALIFA: Later, they saw to it, despite the clear proofs, that they should imprison him
for awhile.
012.036
YUSUFALI: Now with him there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: "I
see myself (in a dream) pressing wine." said the other: "I see myself (in a
dream) carrying bread on my head, and birds are eating, thereof." "Tell us"
(they said) "The truth and meaning thereof: for we see thou art one that doth good
(to all)."
PICKTHAL: And two young men went to prison with him. One of them said: I dreamed that I
was pressing wine. The other said: I dreamed that I was carrying upon my head bread
whereof the birds were eating. Announce unto us the interpretation, for we see thee of
those good (at interpretation).
SHAKIR: 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, of which birds
ate. Inform us of its interpretation; surely we see you to be of the doers of good.
KHALIFA: Two young men were in the prison with him. One of them said, "I saw (in my
dream) that I was making wine," and the other said, "I saw myself carrying bread
on my head, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of the interpretation of these
dreams. We see that you are righteous."
012.037
YUSUFALI: He said: "Before any food comes (in due course) to feed either of you, I
will surely reveal to you the truth and meaning of this ere it befall you: that is part of
the (duty) which my Lord hath taught me. I have (I assure you) abandoned the ways of a
people that believe not in Allah and that (even) deny the Hereafter.
PICKTHAL: He said: The food which ye are given (daily) shall not come unto you but I shall
tell you the interpretation ere it cometh unto you. This is of that which my Lord hath
taught me. Lo! I have forsaken the religion of folk who believe not in Allah and are
disbelievers in the Hereafter.
SHAKIR: He said: There shall not come to you the food with which you are fed, but I will
inform you both of its interpretation before it comes to you; this is of what my Lord has
taught me; surely I have forsaken the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah,
and they are deniers of the hereafter:
KHALIFA: He said, "If any food is provided to you, I can inform you about it before
you receive it. This is some of the knowledge bestowed upon me by my Lord. I have forsaken
the religion of people who do not believe in GOD, and with regard to the Hereafter, they
are really disbelievers.
012.038
YUSUFALI: "And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never
could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah: that (comes) of the grace of Allah to
us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful.
PICKTHAL: And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It
never was for us to attribute aught as partner to Allah. This is of the bounty of Allah
unto us (the seed of Abraham) and unto mankind; but most men give not thanks.
SHAKIR: And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqoub; it beseems
us not that we should associate aught with Allah; this is by Allah's grace upon us and on
mankind, but most people do not give thanks:
KHALIFA: "And I followed instead the religion of my ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. We never set up any idols beside GOD. Such is the blessing from GOD upon us and
upon the people, but most people are unappreciative.
012.039
YUSUFALI: "O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are many lords differing
among themselves better, or the One Allah, Supreme and Irresistible?
PICKTHAL: O my fellow-prisoners! Are divers lords better, or Allah the One, Almighty?
SHAKIR: O my two mates of the prison! are sundry lords better or Allah the One, the
Supreme?
KHALIFA: "O my prison mates, are several gods better, or GOD alone, the One, the
Supreme?
012.040
YUSUFALI: "If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your
fathers,- for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah:
He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men
understand not...
PICKTHAL: Those whom ye worship beside Him are but names which ye have named, ye and your
fathers. Allah hath revealed no sanction for them. The decision rests with Allah only, Who
hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men
know not.
SHAKIR: You do not serve besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers;
Allah has not sent down any authority for them; judgment is only Allah's; He has commanded
that you shall not serve aught but Him; this is the right religion but most people do not
know:
KHALIFA: "You do not worship beside Him except innovations that you have made up, you
and your parents. GOD has never authorized such idols. All ruling belongs to GOD, and He
has ruled that you shall not worship except Him. This is the perfect religion, but most
people do not know.
012.041
YUSUFALI: "O my two companions of the prison! As to one of you, he will pour out the
wine for his lord to drink: as for the other, he will hang from the cross, and the birds
will eat from off his head. (so) hath been decreed that matter whereof ye twain do
enquire"...
PICKTHAL: O my two fellow-prisoners! As for one of you, he will pour out wine for his lord
to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified so that the birds will eat from his
head. Thus is the case judged concerning which ye did inquire.
SHAKIR: O my two mates of the prison! as for one of you, he shall give his lord to drink
wine; and as for the other, he shall be crucified, so that the birds shall eat from his
head, the matter is decreed concerning which you inquired.
KHALIFA: "O my prison mates, one of you will be the wine butler for his lord, while
the other will be crucified - the birds will eat from his head. This settles the matter
about which you have inquired."
012.042
YUSUFALI: And of the two, to that one whom he consider about to be saved, he said:
"Mention me to thy lord." But Satan made him forget to mention him to his lord:
and (Joseph) lingered in prison a few (more) years.
PICKTHAL: And he said unto him of the twain who he knew would be released: Mention me in
the presence of thy lord. But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to his lord, so he
(Joseph) stayed in prison for some years.
SHAKIR: And he said to him whom he knew would be delivered of the two: Remember me with
your lord; but the Shaitan caused him to forget mentioning (it) to his lord, so he
remained in the prison a few years.
KHALIFA: He then said to the one to be saved "Remember me at your lord." Thus,
the devil caused him to forget his Lord, and, consequently, he remained in prison a few
more years.
012.043
YUSUFALI: The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom
seven lean ones devour, and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye
chiefs! Expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions."
PICKTHAL: And the king said: Lo! I saw in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean were
eating, and seven green ears of corn and other (seven) dry. O notables! Expound for me my
vision, if ye can interpret dreams.
SHAKIR: And the king said: Surely I see seven fat kine which seven lean ones devoured; and
seven green ears and (seven) others dry: O chiefs! explain to me my dream, if you can
interpret the dream.
KHALIFA: The king said, "I saw seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows,
and seven green spikes (of wheat), and others shriveled. O my elders, advise me regarding
my dream, if you know how to interpret the dreams."
012.044
YUSUFALI: They said: "A confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the
interpretation of dreams."
PICKTHAL: They answered: Jumbled dreams! And we are not knowing in the interpretation of
dreams.
SHAKIR: They said: Confused dreams, and we do not know the interpretation of dreams.
KHALIFA: They said, "Nonsense dreams. When it comes to the interpretation of dreams,
we are not knowledgeable."
012.045
YUSUFALI: But the man who had been released, one of the two (who had been in prison) and
who now bethought him after (so long) a space of time, said: "I will tell you the
truth of its interpretation: send ye me (therefore)."
PICKTHAL: And he of the two who was released, and (now) at length remembered, said: I am
going to announce unto you the interpretation, therefore send me forth.
SHAKIR: And of the two (prisoners) he who had found deliverance and remembered after a
long time said: I will inform you of its interpretation, so let me go:
KHALIFA: The one who was saved (from the prison) said, now that he finally remembered,
"I can tell you its interpretation, so send me (to Joseph)."
012.046
YUSUFALI: "O Joseph!" (he said) "O man of truth! Expound to us (the dream)
of seven fat kine whom seven lean ones devour, and of seven green ears of corn and (seven)
others withered: that I may return to the people, and that they may understand."
PICKTHAL: (And when he came to Joseph in the prison, he exclaimed): Joseph! O thou
truthful one! Expound for us the seven fat kine which seven lean were eating and the seven
green ears of corn and other (seven) dry, that I may return unto the people, so that they
may know.
SHAKIR: Yusuf! O truthful one! explain to us seven fat kine 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.
KHALIFA: "Joseph my friend, inform us about seven fat cows being devoured by seven
skinny cows, and seven green spikes, and others shriveled. I wish to go back with some
information for the people."
012.047
YUSUFALI: (Joseph) said: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont:
and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which
ye shall eat.
PICKTHAL: He said: Ye shall sow seven years as usual, but that which ye reap, leave it in
the ear, all save a little which ye eat.
SHAKIR: He said: You shall sow for seven years continuously, then what you reap leave it
in its ear except a little of which you eat.
KHALIFA: He said, "What you cultivate during the next seven years, when the time of
harvest comes, leave the grains in their spikes, except for what you eat.
012.048
YUSUFALI: "Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will
devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye
shall have (specially) guarded.
PICKTHAL: Then after that will come seven hard years which will devour all that ye have
prepared for them, save a little of that which ye have stored.
SHAKIR: Then there shall come after that seven years of hardship which shall eat away all
that you have beforehand laid up in store for them, except a little of what you shall have
preserved:
KHALIFA: "After that, seven years of drought will come, which will consume most of
what you stored for them.
012.049
YUSUFALI: "Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have
abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil)."
PICKTHAL: Then, after that, will come a year when the people will have plenteous crops and
when they will press (wine and oil).
SHAKIR: Then there will come after that a year in which people shall have rain and in
which they shall press (grapes).
KHALIFA: "After that, a year will come that brings relief for the people, and they
will, once again, press juice."
012.050
YUSUFALI: So the king said: "Bring ye him unto me." But when the messenger came
to him, (Joseph) said: "Go thou back to thy lord, and ask him, 'What is the state of
mind of the ladies who cut their hands'? For my Lord is certainly well aware of their
snare."
PICKTHAL: And the king said: Bring him unto me. And when the messenger came unto him, he
(Joseph) said: Return unto thy lord and ask him what was the case of the women who cut
their hands. Lo! my Lord knoweth their guile.
SHAKIR: 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 guile.
KHALIFA: The king said, "Bring him to me." When the messenger came to him, he
said, "Go back to your lord and ask him to investigate the women who cut their hands.
My Lord is fully aware of their schemes."
012.051
YUSUFALI: (The king) said (to the ladies): "What was your affair when ye did seek to
seduce Joseph from his (true) self?" The ladies said: "Allah preserve us! no
evil know we against him!" Said the 'Aziz's wife: "Now is the truth manifest (to
all): it was I who sought to seduce him from his (true) self: He is indeed of those who
are (ever) true (and virtuous).
PICKTHAL: He (the king) (then sent for those women and) said: What happened when ye asked
an evil act of Joseph? They answered: Allah Blameless! We know no evil of him. Said the
wife of the ruler: Now the truth is out. I asked of him an evil act, and he is surely of
the truthful.
SHAKIR: He said: How was your affair when you sought Yusuf to yield himself (to you)? They
said: Remote is Allah (from imperfection), we knew of no evil on his part. The chief's
wife said: Now has the truth become established: I sought him to yield himself (to me),
and he is most surely of the truthful ones.
KHALIFA: (The king) said (to the women), "What do you know about the incident when
you tried to seduce Joseph?" They said, "GOD forbid; we did not know of anything
evil committed by him." The wife of the governor said, "Now the truth has
prevailed. I am the one who tried to seduce him, and he was the truthful one.
012.052
YUSUFALI: "This (say I), in order that He may know that I have never been false to
him in his absence, and that Allah will never guide the snare of the false ones.
PICKTHAL: (Then Joseph said: I asked for) this, that he (my lord) may know that I betrayed
him not in secret, and that surely Allah guideth not the snare of the betrayers.
SHAKIR: This is that he might know that I have not been unfaithful to him in secret and
that Allah does not guide the device of the unfaithful.
KHALIFA: "I hope that he will realize that I never betrayed him in his absence, for
GOD does not bless the schemes of the betrayers.
012.053
YUSUFALI: "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly
prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving,
Most Merciful."
PICKTHAL: I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that
whereon my Lord hath mercy. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: And I do not declare myself free, most surely (man's) self is wont to command (him
to do) evil, except such as my Lord has had mercy on, surely my Lord is Forgiving,
Merciful.
KHALIFA: "I do not claim innocence for myself. The self is an advocate of vice,
except for those who have attained mercy from my Lord. My Lord is Forgiver, Most
Merciful."
012.054
YUSUFALI: So the king said: "Bring him unto me; I will take him specially to serve
about my own person." Therefore when he had spoken to him, he said: "Be assured
this day, thou art, before our own presence, with rank firmly established, and fidelity
fully proved!
PICKTHAL: And the king said: Bring him unto me that I may attach him to my person. And
when he had talked with him he said: Lo! thou art to-day in our presence established and
trusted.
SHAKIR: And the king said: Bring him to me, I will choose him for myself. So when he had
spoken with him, he said: Surely you are in our presence today an honorable, a faithful
one.
KHALIFA: The king said, "Bring him to me, so I can hire him to work for me."
When he talked with him, he said, "Today, you have a prominent position with
us."
012.055
YUSUFALI: (Joseph) said: "Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed
guard them, as one that knows (their importance)."
PICKTHAL: He said: Set me over the storehouses of the land. Lo! I am a skilled custodian.
SHAKIR: He said: Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land, surely I am a
good keeper, knowing well.
KHALIFA: He said, "Make me the treasurer, for I am experienced in this area and
knowledgeable."
012.056
YUSUFALI: Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take possession
therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We
suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good.
PICKTHAL: Thus gave We power to Joseph in the land. He was the owner of it where he
pleased. We reach with Our mercy whom We will. We lose not the reward of the good.
SHAKIR: And thus did We give to Yusuf power in the land-- he had mastery in it wherever he
liked; We send down Our mercy on whom We please, and We do not waste the reward of those
who do good.
KHALIFA: We thus established Joseph on earth, ruling as he wished. We shower our mercy
upon whomever we will, and we never fail to recompense the righteous.
012.057
YUSUFALI: But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and
are constant in righteousness.
PICKTHAL: And the reward of the Hereafter is better, for those who believe and ward off
(evil).
SHAKIR: And certainly the reward of the hereafter is much better for those who believe and
guard (against evil).
KHALIFA: Additionally, the reward in the Hereafter is even better for those who believe
and lead a righteous life.
012.058
YUSUFALI: Then came Joseph's brethren: they entered his presence, and he knew them, but
they knew him not.
PICKTHAL: And Joseph's brethren came and presented themselves before him, and he knew them
but they knew him not.
SHAKIR: And Yusuf's brothers came and went in to him, and he knew them, while they did not
recognize him.
KHALIFA: Joseph's brothers came; when they entered, he recognized them, while they did not
recognize him.
012.059
YUSUFALI: And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he
said: "Bring unto me a brother ye have, of the same father as yourselves, (but a
different mother): see ye not that I pay out full measure, and that I do provide the best
hospitality?
PICKTHAL: And when he provided them with their provision he said: Bring unto me a brother
of yours from your father. See ye not that I fill up the measure and I am the best of
hosts?
SHAKIR: And when he furnished them with their provision, he said: 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?
KHALIFA: After he provided them with their provisions, he said, "Next time, bring
with you your half-brother. Do you not see that I give full measure, and treat you
generously?
012.060
YUSUFALI: "Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me,
nor shall ye (even) come near me."
PICKTHAL: And if ye bring him not unto me, then there shall be no measure for you with me,
nor shall ye draw near.
SHAKIR: But if you do not bring him to me, you shall have no measure (of corn) from me,
nor shall you come near me.
KHALIFA: "If you fail to bring him to me, you will get no share from me; you will not
even come close."
012.061
YUSUFALI: They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his
father: Indeed we shall do it."
PICKTHAL: They said: We will try to win him from his father: that we will surely do.
SHAKIR: They said: We will strive to make his father yield in respect of him, and we are
sure to do (it).
KHALIFA: They said, "We will negotiate with his father about him. We will surely do
this."
012.062
YUSUFALI: And (Joseph) told his servants to put their stock-in-trade (with which they had
bartered) into their saddle-bags, so they should know it only when they returned to their
people, in order that they might come back.
PICKTHAL: He said unto his young men: Place their merchandise in their saddlebags, so that
they may know it when they go back to their folk, and so will come again.
SHAKIR: 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.
KHALIFA: He then instructed his assistants: "Put their goods back in their bags. When
they find them upon their return to their family, they may come back sooner."
012.063
YUSUFALI: Now when they returned to their father, they said: "O our father! No more
measure of grain shall we get (unless we take our brother): So send our brother with us,
that we may get our measure; and we will indeed take every care of him."
PICKTHAL: So when they went back to their father they said: O our father! The measure is
denied us, so send with us our brother that we may obtain the measure, surely we will
guard him well.
SHAKIR: So when they returned to their father, they said: O our father, the measure is
withheld from us, therefore send with us our brother, (so that) we may get the measure,
and we will most surely guard him.
KHALIFA: When they returned to their father, they said, "Our father, we can no longer
get any provisions, unless you send our brother with us. We will take good care of
him."
012.064
YUSUFALI: He said: "Shall I trust you with him with any result other than when I
trusted you with his brother aforetime? But Allah is the best to take care (of him), and
He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!"
PICKTHAL: He said: Can I entrust him to you save as I entrusted his brother to you
aforetime? Allah is better at guarding, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show
mercy.
SHAKIR: He said: I cannot trust in you with respect to him, except as I trusted in you
with respect to his brother before; but Allah is the best Keeper, and He is the most
Merciful of the merciful ones.
KHALIFA: He said, "Shall I trust you with him, as I trusted you with his brother
before that? GOD is the best Protector, and, of all the merciful ones, He is the Most
Merciful."
012.065
YUSUFALI: Then when they opened their baggage, they found their stock-in-trade had been
returned to them. They said: "O our father! What (more) can we desire? this our
stock-in-trade has been returned to us: so we shall get (more) food for our family; We
shall take care of our brother; and add (at the same time) a full camel's load (of grain
to our provisions). This is but a small quantity.
PICKTHAL: And when they opened their belongings they discovered that their merchandise had
been returned to them. They said: O our father! What (more) can we ask? Here is our
merchandise returned to us. We shall get provision for our folk and guard our brother, and
we shall have the extra measure of a camel (load). This (that we bring now) is a light
measure.
SHAKIR: And when they opened their goods, they found their money returned to them. They
said: O our father! what (more) can we desire? This is our property returned to us, and we
will bring corn for our family and guard our brother, and will have in addition the
measure of a camel (load); this is an easy measure.
KHALIFA: When they opened their bags, they found their goods returned to them. They said,
"Our father, what more can we ask for? Here are our goods returned to us. We can thus
provide for our family, protect our brother, and receive one more camel-load. This is
certainly a profitable deal."
012.066
YUSUFALI: (Jacob) said: "Never will I send him with you until ye swear a solemn oath
to me, in Allah's name, that ye will be sure to bring him back to me unless ye are
yourselves hemmed in (and made powerless). And when they had sworn their solemn oath, he
said: "Over all that we say, be Allah the witness and guardian!"
PICKTHAL: He said: I will not send him with you till ye give me an undertaking in the name
of Allah that ye will bring him back to me, unless ye are surrounded. And when they gave
him their undertaking he said: Allah is the Warden over what we say.
SHAKIR: He said: I will by no means send him with you until you give me a firm covenant in
Allah's name that you will most certainly bring him back to me, unless you are completely
surrounded. And when they gave him their covenant, he said: Allah is the One in Whom trust
is placed as regards what we say.
KHALIFA: He said, "I will not send him with you, unless you give me a solemn pledge
before GOD that you will bring him back, unless you are utterly overwhelmed." When
they gave him their solemn pledge, he said, "GOD is witnessing everything we
say."
012.067
YUSUFALI: Further he said: "O my sons! enter not all by one gate: enter ye by
different gates. Not that I can profit you aught against Allah (with my advice): None can
command except Allah: On Him do I put my trust: and let all that trust put their trust on
Him."
PICKTHAL: And he said: O my sons! Go not in by one gate; go in by different gates. I can
naught avail you as against Allah. Lo! the decision rests with Allah only. In Him do I put
my trust, and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.
SHAKIR: And he said: O my sons ! do not (all) enter by one gate and enter by different
gates and I cannot avail you aught against Allah; judgment is only Allah's; on Him do I
rely, and on Him let those who are reliant rely.
KHALIFA: And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one door; enter through separate
doors. However, I cannot save you from anything that is predetermined by GOD. To GOD
belongs all judgments. I trust in Him, and in Him shall all the trusters put their
trust."
012.068
YUSUFALI: And when they entered in the manner their father had enjoined, it did not profit
them in the least against (the plan of) Allah: It was but a necessity of Jacob's soul,
which he discharged. For he was, by our instruction, full of knowledge (and experience):
but most men know not.
PICKTHAL: And when they entered in the manner which their father had enjoined, it would
have naught availed them as against Allah; it was but a need of Jacob's soul which he thus
satisfied; and lo! he was a lord of knowledge because We had taught him; but most of
mankind know not.
SHAKIR: And when they had entered as their father had bidden them, it did not avail them
aught against Allah, but (it was only) a desire in the soul of Yaqoub which he satisfied;
and surely he was possessed of knowledge because We had given him knowledge, but most
people do not know.
KHALIFA: When they went (to Joseph), they entered in accordance with their father's
instructions. Although this could not change anything decreed by GOD, Jacob had a private
reason for asking them to do this. For he possessed certain knowledge that we taught him,
but most people do not know.
012.069
YUSUFALI: Now when they came into Joseph's presence, he received his (full) brother to
stay with him. He said (to him): "Behold! I am thy (own) brother; so grieve not at
aught of their doings."
PICKTHAL: And when they went in before Joseph, he took his brother unto him, saying: Lo!
I, even I, am thy brother, therefore sorrow not for what they did.
SHAKIR: And when they went in to Yusuf. he lodged his brother with himself, saying: I am
your brother, therefore grieve not at what they do.
KHALIFA: When they entered Joseph's place, he brought his brother closer to him and said,
"I am your brother; do not be saddened by their actions."
012.070
YUSUFALI: At length when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them,
he put the drinking cup into his brother's saddle-bag. Then shouted out a crier: "O
ye (in) the caravan! behold! ye are thieves, without doubt!"
PICKTHAL: And when he provided them with their provision, he put the drinking-cup in his
brother's saddlebag, and then a crier cried: O camel-riders! Lo! ye are surely thieves!
SHAKIR: So when he furnished them with their provisions, (someone) placed the drinking cup
in his brother's bag. Then a crier cried out: O caravan! you are most surely thieves.
KHALIFA: When he provided them with their provisions, he placed the drinking cup in his
brother's bag, then an announcer announced: "The owners of this caravan are
thieves."
012.071
YUSUFALI: They said, turning towards them: "What is it that ye miss?"
PICKTHAL: They cried, coming toward them: What is it ye have lost?
SHAKIR: They said while they were facing them: What is it that you miss?
KHALIFA: They said, as they came towards them, "What did you lose?"
012.072
YUSUFALI: They said: "We miss the great beaker of the king; for him who produces it,
is (the reward of) a camel load; I will be bound by it."
PICKTHAL: They said: We have lost the king's cup, and he who bringeth it shall have a
camel-load, and I (said Joseph) am answerable for it.
SHAKIR: They said: We miss the king's drinking cup, and he who shall bring it shall have a
camel-load and I am responsible for it.
KHALIFA: They said, "We lost the king's cup. Anyone who returns it will receive an
extra camel-load; I personally guarantee this."
012.073
YUSUFALI: (The brothers) said: "By Allah! well ye know that we came not to make
mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!"
PICKTHAL: They said: By Allah, well ye know we came not to do evil in the land, and are no
thieves.
SHAKIR: They said: By Allah! you know for certain that we have not come to make mischief
in the land, and we are not thieves.
KHALIFA: They said, "By GOD, you know full well that we did not come here to commit
evil, nor are we thieves."
012.074
YUSUFALI: (The Egyptians) said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are
(proved) to have lied?"
PICKTHAL: They said: And what shall be the penalty for it, if ye prove liars?
SHAKIR: They said: But what shall be the requital of this, if you are liars?
KHALIFA: They said, "What is the punishment for the thief, if you are liars?"
012.075
YUSUFALI: They said: "The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found,
should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime). Thus it is we punish the
wrong-doers!"
PICKTHAL: They said: The penalty for it! He in whose bag (the cup) is found, he is the
penalty for it. Thus we requite wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: They said: The requital of this is that the person in whose bag it is found shall
himself be (held for) the satisfaction thereof; thus do we punish the wrongdoers.
KHALIFA: They said, "The punishment, if it is found in his bag, is that the thief
belongs to you. We thus punish the guilty."
012.076
YUSUFALI: So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of
his brother: at length he brought it out of his brother's baggage. Thus did We plan for
Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the king except that Allah willed it
(so). We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge
is one, the All-Knowing.
PICKTHAL: Then he (Joseph) began the search with their bags before his brother's bag, then
he produced it from his brother's bag. Thus did We contrive for Joseph. He could not have
taken his brother according to the king's law unless Allah willed. We raise by grades (of
mercy) whom We will, and over every lord of knowledge there is one more knowing.
SHAKIR: 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 Yusuf; it was not (lawful)
that he should take his brother under the king's law unless Allah pleased; We raise the
degrees of whomsoever We please, and above every one possessed of knowledge is the
All-knowing one.
KHALIFA: He then started by inspecting their containers, before getting to his brother's
container, and he extracted it out of his brother's container. We thus perfected the
scheme for Joseph; he could not have kept his brother if he applied the king's law. But
that was the will of GOD. We exalt whomever we choose to higher ranks. Above every
knowledgeable one, there is one who is even more knowledgeable.
012.077
YUSUFALI: They said: "If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before
(him)." But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the
secrets to them. He (simply) said (to himself): "Ye are the worse situated; and Allah
knoweth best the truth of what ye assert!"
PICKTHAL: They said: If he stealeth, a brother of his stole before. But Joseph kept it
secret in his soul and revealed it not unto them. He said (within himself): Ye are in
worse case, and Allah knoweth best (the truth of) that which ye allege.
SHAKIR: They said: If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept
it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them. He said: You are in an evil
condition and Allah knows best what you state.
KHALIFA: They said, "If he stole, so did a brother of his in the past." Joseph
concealed his feelings in himself, and did not give them any clue. He said (to himself),
"You are really bad. GOD is fully aware of your accusations."
012.078
YUSUFALI: They said: "O exalted one! Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable,
(who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place; for we see that thou art
(gracious) in doing good."
PICKTHAL: They said: O ruler of the land! Lo! he hath a very aged father, so take one of
us instead of him. Lo! we behold thee of those who do kindness.
SHAKIR: They said: O chief! he has a father, a very old man, therefore retain one of us in
his stead; surely we see you to be of the doers of good.
KHALIFA: They said, "O you noble one, he has a father who is elderly; would you take
one of us in his place? We see that you are a kind man."
012.079
YUSUFALI: He said: "Allah forbid that we take other than him with whom we found our
property: indeed (if we did so), we should be acting wrongfully.
PICKTHAL: He said: Allah forbid that we should seize save him with whom we found our
property; then truly we should be wrong-doers.
SHAKIR: He said: Allah protect us that we should seize other than him with whom we found
our property, for then most surely we would be unjust.
KHALIFA: He said, "GOD forbid that we should take other than the one in whose
possession we found our goods. Otherwise, we would be unjust."
012.080
YUSUFALI: Now when they saw no hope of his (yielding), they held a conference in private.
The leader among them said: "Know ye not that your father did take an oath from you
in Allah's name, and how, before this, ye did fail in your duty with Joseph? Therefore
will I not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah commands me; and He is the
best to command.
PICKTHAL: So, When they despaired of (moving) him, they conferred together apart. The
eldest of them said: Know ye not how your father took an undertaking from you in Allah's
name and how ye failed in the case of Joseph aforetime? Therefore I shall not go forth
from the land until my father giveth leave or Allah judgeth for me. He is the Best of
Judges.
SHAKIR: Then when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring privately together. The
eldest of them said: Do you not know that your father took from you a covenant in Allah's
name, and how you fell short of your duty with respect to Yusuf before? Therefore I will
by no means depart from this land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me, and
He is the best of the judges:
KHALIFA: When they despaired of changing his mind, they conferred together. Their eldest
said, "Do you realize that your father has taken a solemn pledge from you before GOD?
In the past you lost Joseph. I am not leaving this place until my father gives me
permission, or until GOD judges for me; He is the best Judge.
012.081
YUSUFALI: "Turn ye back to your father, and say, 'O our father! behold! thy son
committed theft! we bear witness only to what we know, and we could not well guard against
the unseen!
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: Go back to your father and say: O our father! surely your son committed theft, and
we do not bear witness except to what we have known, and we could not keep watch over the
unseen:
KHALIFA: "Go back to your father and tell him... `Our father, your son has committed
a theft. We know for sure, because this is what we have witnessed. This was an unexpected
occurrence.
012.082
YUSUFALI: "'Ask at the town where we have been and the caravan in which we returned,
and (you will find) we are indeed telling the truth.'"
PICKTHAL: Ask the township where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled hither.
Lo! we speak the truth.
SHAKIR: And inquire in the town in which we were and the caravan with which we proceeded,
and most surely we are truthful.
KHALIFA: `You may ask the community where we were, and the caravan that came back with us.
We are telling the truth.' "
012.083
YUSUFALI: Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good enough)
for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe Allah will bring them (back) all to
me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom."
PICKTHAL: (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.
SHAKIR: He (Yaqoub) said: Nay, your souls have made a matter light for you, so patience is
good; maybe Allah will bring them all together to me; surely He is the Knowing, the Wise.
KHALIFA: He said, "Indeed, you have conspired to carry out a certain scheme. Quiet
patience is my only recourse. May GOD bring them all back to me. He is the Omniscient,
Most Wise."
012.084
YUSUFALI: And he turned away from them, and said: "How great is my grief for
Joseph!" And his eyes became white with sorrow, and he fell into silent melancholy.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: And he turned away from them, and said: O my sorrow for Yusuf! and his eyes became
white on account of the grief, and he was a repressor (of grief).
KHALIFA: He turned away from them, saying, "I am grieving over Joseph." His eyes
turned white from grieving so much; he was truly sad.
012.085
YUSUFALI: They said: "By Allah! (never) wilt thou cease to remember Joseph until thou
reach the last extremity of illness, or until thou die!"
PICKTHAL: They said: By Allah, thou wilt never cease remembering Joseph till thy health is
ruined or thou art of those who perish!
SHAKIR: They said: By Allah! you will not cease to remember Yusuf until you are a prey to
constant disease or (until) you are of those who perish.
KHALIFA: They said, "By GOD, you will keep on grieving over Joseph until you become
ill, or until you die."
012.086
YUSUFALI: He said: "I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah, and I
know from Allah that which ye know not...
PICKTHAL: He said: I expose my distress and anguish only unto Allah, and I know from Allah
that which ye know not.
SHAKIR: He said: I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah
what you do not know.
KHALIFA: He said, "I simply complain to GOD about my dilemma and grief, for I know
from GOD what you do not know.
012.087
YUSUFALI: "O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give
up hope of Allah's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy, except
those who have no faith."
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: O my sons! Go and inquire respecting Yusuf and his brother, and despair not of
Allah's mercy; surely none despairs of Allah's mercy except the unbelieving people.
KHALIFA: "O my sons, go fetch Joseph and his brother, and never despair of GOD's
grace. None despairs of GOD's grace except the disbelieving people."
012.088
YUSUFALI: Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph's) presence they said: "O exalted
one! distress has seized us and our family: we have (now) brought but scanty capital: so
pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to us: for Allah doth reward
the charitable."
PICKTHAL: 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,
SHAKIR: So when they came in to him, they said: O chief! distress has afflicted us and our
family and we have brought scanty money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us;
surely Allah rewards the charitable.
KHALIFA: When they entered (Joseph's) quarters, they said, "O you noble one, we have
suffered a lot of hardship, along with our family, and we have brought inferior goods. But
we hope that you will give us full measure and be charitable to us. GOD rewards the
charitable."
012.089
YUSUFALI: He said: "Know ye how ye dealt with Joseph and his brother, not knowing
(what ye were doing)?"
PICKTHAL: He said: Know ye what ye did unto Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?
SHAKIR: He said: Do you know how you treated Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?
KHALIFA: He said, "Do you recall what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were
ignorant?"
012.090
YUSUFALI: They said: "Art thou indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and
this is my brother: Allah has indeed been gracious to us (all): behold, he that is
righteous and patient,- never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do
right."
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: They said: Are you indeed Yusuf? He said: I am Yusuf and this is my brother; Allah
has indeed been gracious to us; surely he who guards (against evil) and is patient (is
rewarded) for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good.
KHALIFA: They said, "You must be Joseph." He said, "I am Joseph, and here
is my brother. GOD has blessed us. That is because if one leads a righteous life, and
steadfastly perseveres, GOD never fails to reward the righteous."
012.091
YUSUFALI: They said: "By Allah! indeed has Allah preferred thee above us, and we
certainly have been guilty of sin!"
PICKTHAL: They said: By Allah, verily Allah hath preferred thee above us, and we were
indeed sinful.
SHAKIR: They said: By Allah! now has Allah certainly chosen you over us, and we were
certainly sinners.
KHALIFA: They said, "By GOD, GOD has truly preferred you over us. We were definitely
wrong."
012.092
YUSUFALI: He said: "This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: Allah will forgive
you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!
PICKTHAL: He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most
Merciful of those who show mercy.
SHAKIR: He said: (There shall be) no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you,
and He is the most Merciful of the merciful.
KHALIFA: He said, "There is no blame upon you today. May GOD forgive you. Of all the
merciful ones, He is the Most Merciful.
012.093
YUSUFALI: "Go with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will
come to see (clearly). Then come ye (here) to me together with all your family."
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: Take this my shirt and cast it on my father's face, he will (again) be able to
see, and come to me with all your families.
KHALIFA: "Take this shirt of mine; when you throw it on my father's face, his vision
will be restored. Bring your whole family and come back to me."
012.094
YUSUFALI: When the caravan left (Egypt), their father said: "I do indeed scent the
presence of Joseph: Nay, think me not a dotard."
PICKTHAL: When the caravan departed their father had said: Truly I am conscious of the
breath of Joseph, though ye call me dotard.
SHAKIR: And when the caravan had departed, their father said: Most surely I perceive the
greatness of Yusuf, unless you pronounce me to be weak in judgment.
KHALIFA: Even before the caravan arrived, their father said, "I can sense the smell
of Joseph. Will someone enlighten me?"
012.095
YUSUFALI: They said: "By Allah! truly thou art in thine old wandering mind."
PICKTHAL: (Those around him) said: By Allah, lo! thou art in thine old aberration.
SHAKIR: They said: By Allah, you are most surely in your old error.
KHALIFA: They said, "By GOD, you are still in your old confusion."
012.096
YUSUFALI: Then when the bearer of the good news came, He cast (the shirt) over his face,
and he forthwith regained clear sight. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'I know from
Allah that which ye know not?'"
PICKTHAL: 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?
SHAKIR: So when the bearer of good news came he cast it on his face, so forthwith he
regained his sight. He said: Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not
know?
KHALIFA: When the bearer of good news arrived, he threw (the shirt) on his face, whereupon
his vision was restored. He said, "Did I not tell you that I knew from GOD what you
did not know?"
012.097
YUSUFALI: They said: "O our father! ask for us forgiveness for our sins, for we were
truly at fault."
PICKTHAL: They said: O our father! Ask forgiveness of our sins for us, for lo! we were
sinful.
SHAKIR: They said: O our father! ask forgiveness of our faults for us, surely we were
sinners.
KHALIFA: They said, "Our father, pray for our forgiveness; we were wrong
indeed."
012.098
YUSUFALI: He said: "Soon will I ask my Lord for forgiveness for you: for he is indeed
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
PICKTHAL: He said: I shall ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Lo! He is the Forgiving,
the Merciful.
SHAKIR: He said: I will ask for you forgiveness from my Lord; surely He is the Forgiving,
the Merciful.
KHALIFA: He said, "I will implore my Lord to forgive you; He is the Forgiver, Most
Merciful."
012.099
YUSUFALI: Then when they entered the presence of Joseph, he provided a home for his
parents with himself, and said: "Enter ye Egypt (all) in safety if it please
Allah."
PICKTHAL: And when they came in before Joseph, he took his parents unto him, and said:
Come into Egypt safe, if Allah will!
SHAKIR: Then when they came in to Yusuf, he took his parents to lodge with him and said:
Enter safe into Egypt, if Allah please.
KHALIFA: When they entered Joseph's quarters, he embraced his parents, saying,
"Welcome to Egypt. GOD willing, you will be safe here."
012.100
YUSUFALI: And he raised his parents high on the throne (of dignity), and they fell down in
prostration, (all) before him. He said: "O my father! this is the fulfilment of my
vision of old! Allah hath made it come true! He was indeed good to me when He took me out
of prison and brought you (all here) out of the desert, (even) after Satan had sown enmity
between me and my brothers. Verily my Lord understandeth best the mysteries of all that He
planneth to do, for verily He is full of knowledge and wisdom.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: And he raised his parents upon the throne and they fell down in prostration before
him, and he said: O my father! this is the significance of my vision of old; my Lord has
indeed made it to be true; and He was indeed kind to me when He brought me forth from the
prison and brought you from the desert after the Shaitan had sown dissensions between me
and my brothers, surely my Lord is benignant to whom He pleases; surely He is the Knowing,
the Wise.
KHALIFA: He raised his parents upon the throne. They fell prostrate before him. He said,
"O my father, this is the fulfillment of my old dream. My Lord has made it come true.
He has blessed me, delivered me from the prison, and brought you from the desert, after
the devil had driven a wedge between me and my brothers. My Lord is Most Kind towards
whomever He wills. He is the Knower, the Most Wise."
012.101
YUSUFALI: "O my Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on me some power, and taught me
something of the interpretation of dreams and events,- O Thou Creator of the heavens and
the earth! Thou art my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Take Thou my soul (at
death) as one submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous."
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: My Lord! Thou hast given me of the kingdom and taught me of the interpretation of
sayings: Originator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my guardian in this world and
the hereafter; make me die a muslim and join me with the good.
KHALIFA: "My Lord, You have given me kingship and taught me the interpretation of
dreams. Initiator of the heavens and the earth; You are my Lord and Master in this life
and in the Hereafter. Let me die as a submitter, and count me with the righteous."
012.102
YUSUFALI: Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by
inspiration unto thee; nor wast thou (present) with them then when they concerted their
plans together in the process of weaving their plots.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: This is of 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.
KHALIFA: This is news from the past that we reveal to you. You were not present when they
made their unanimous decision (to throw Joseph in the well), as they conspired together.
012.103
YUSUFALI: Yet no faith will the greater part of mankind have, however ardently thou dost
desire it.
PICKTHAL: And though thou try much, most men will not believe.
SHAKIR: And most men will not believe though you desire it eagerly.
KHALIFA: Most people, no matter what you do, will not believe.
012.104
YUSUFALI: And no reward dost thou ask of them for this: it is no less than a message for
all creatures.
PICKTHAL: Thou askest them no fee for it. It is naught else than a reminder unto the
peoples.
SHAKIR: And you do not ask them for a reward for this; it is nothing but a reminder for
all mankind.
KHALIFA: You are not asking them for any money; you simply deliver this reminder for all
the people.
012.105
YUSUFALI: And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn
(their faces) away from them!
PICKTHAL: How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass by with
face averted!
SHAKIR: And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth which they pass by, yet they turn
aside from it.
KHALIFA: So many proofs in the heavens and the earth are given to them, but they pass by
them, heedlessly!
012.106
YUSUFALI: And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (other as partners)
with Him!
PICKTHAL: And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners (unto
Him).
SHAKIR: And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others (with Him).
KHALIFA: The majority of those who believe in GOD do not do so without committing idol
worship.
012.107
YUSUFALI: Do they then feel secure from the coming against them of the covering veil of
the wrath of Allah,- or of the coming against them of the (final) Hour all of a sudden
while they perceive not?
PICKTHAL: 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?
SHAKIR: Do they then feel secure that there may come to them an extensive chastisement
from Allah or (that) the hour may come to them suddenly while they do not perceive?
KHALIFA: Have they guaranteed that an overwhelming retribution from GOD will not strike
them, or the Hour will not come to them suddenly, when they least expect it?
012.108
YUSUFALI: Say thou: "This is my way: I do invite unto Allah,- on evidence clear as
the seeing with one's eyes,- I and whoever follows me. Glory to Allah! and never will I
join gods with Allah!"
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: Say: This is my way: I call to Allah, I and those who follow me being certain, and
glory be to Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists.
KHALIFA: Say, "This is my path: I invite to GOD, on the basis of a clear proof, and
so do those who follow me. GOD be glorified. I am not an idol worshiper."
012.109
YUSUFALI: Nor did We send before thee (as messengers) any but men, whom we did inspire,-
(men) living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was
the end of those before them? But the home of the hereafter is best, for those who do
right. Will ye not then understand?
PICKTHAL: 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? -
SHAKIR: And We have not sent before you but men from (among) the people of the towns, to
whom We sent revelations. 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
guard (against evil); do you not then understand?
KHALIFA: We did not send before you except men whom we inspired, chosen from the people of
various communities. Did they not roam the earth and see the consequences for those before
them? The abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who lead a righteous life. Would
you then understand?
012.110
YUSUFALI: (Respite will be granted) until, when the messengers give up hope (of their
people) and (come to) think that they were treated as liars, there reaches them Our help,
and those whom We will are delivered into safety. But never will be warded off our
punishment from those who are in sin.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: Until when the messengers despaired and the people became sure that they were
indeed told a lie, Our help came to them and whom We pleased was delivered; and Our
punishment is not averted from the guilty people.
KHALIFA: Just when the messengers despair, and think that they had been rejected, our
victory comes to them. We then save whomever we choose, while our retribution for the
guilty people is unavoidable.
012.111
YUSUFALI: There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is
not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of
all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.
PICKTHAL: 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.
SHAKIR: In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of 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.
KHALIFA: In their history, there is a lesson for those who possess intelligence. This is
not fabricated Hadith; this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, provides the details
of everything, and is a beacon and mercy for those who believe.