Part 12
11-6
There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance
dependeth on God: He knoweth the time and place of its definite abode and its
temporary deposit: All is in a clear Record.
11-7
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days -
and His Throne was over the waters - that He might try you, which of you is
best in conduct. But if thou wert to say to them, "Ye shall indeed be
raised up after death", the Unbelievers would be sure to say, "This
is nothing but obvious sorcery!"
11-8
If We delay the penalty for them for a definite term, they
are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Ah! On the day it (actually)
reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely
encircled by that which they used to mock at!
11-9
If We give man a taste of Mercy from Ourselves, and then
withdraw it from him, behold! he is in despair and (falls into) blasphemy.
11-10
But if We give him a taste of (Our) favours after adversity
hath touched him, he is sure to say, "All evil has departed from me:"
Behold! he falls into exultation and pride.
11-11
Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work
righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward.
11-12
Perchance thou mayest (feel the inclination) to give up a
part of what is revealed unto thee, and thy heart feeleth straitened lest they
say, "Why is not a treasure sent down unto him, or why does not an angel
come down with him?" But thou art there only to warn! It is God that
arrangeth all affairs!
11-13
Or they may say, "He forged it," Say, "Bring
ye then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever ye
can, other than God!- If ye speak the truth!
11-14
"If then they (your false gods) answer not your (call),
know ye that this revelation is sent down (replete) with the knowledge of God,
and that there is no god but He! will ye even then submit (to Islam)?"
11-15
Those who desire the life of the present and its glitter,-
to them we shall pay (the price of) their deeds therein,- without diminution.
11-16
They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter
but the Fire: vain are the designs they frame therein, and of no effect and the
deeds that they do!
11-17
Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from
their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth teach, as did the Book of
Moses before it,- a guide and a mercy? They believe therein; but those of the
Sects that reject it,- the Fire will be their promised meeting-place. Be not
then in doubt thereon: for it is the truth from thy Lord: yet many among men do
not believe!
11-18
Who doth more wrong than those who invent a life against
God? They will be turned back to the presence of their Lord, and the witnesses
will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord! Behold! the
Curse of God is on those who do wrong!-
11-19
"Those who would hinder (men) from the path of God and
would seek in it something crooked: these were they who denied the
Hereafter!"
11-20
They will in no wise frustrate (His design) on earth, nor
have they protectors besides God! Their penalty will be doubled! They lost the
power to hear, and they did not see!
11-21
They are the ones who have lost their own souls: and the
(fancies) they invented have left them in the lurch!
11-22
Without a doubt, these are the very ones who will lose most
in the Hereafter!
11-23
But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves
before their Lord,- They will be companions of the gardens, to dwell therein
for aye!
11-24
These two kinds (of men) may be compared to the blind and
deaf, and those who can see and hear well. Are they equal when compared? Will
ye not then take heed?
11-25
We sent Noah to his people (with a mission): "I have
come to you with a Clear Warning:
11-26
"That ye serve none but God: Verily I do fear for you
the penalty of a grievous day."
11-27
But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people said:
"We see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves: Nor do we see that any
follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: Nor do we see in
you (all) any merit above us: in fact we thing ye are liars!"
11-28
He said: "O my people! See ye if (it be that) I have a
Clear Sign from my Lord, and that He hath sent Mercy unto me from His own
presence, but that the Mercy hath been obscured from your sight? shall we
compel you to accept it when ye are averse to it?
11-29
"And O my people! I ask you for no wealth in return: my
reward is from none but God: But I will not drive away (in contempt) those who
believe: for verily they are to meet their Lord, and ye I see are the ignorant
ones!
11-30
"And O my people! who would help me against God if I
drove them away? Will ye not then take heed?
11-31
"I tell you not that with me are the treasures of God,
nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel. Nor yet do I say, of
those whom your eyes do despise that God will not grant them (all) that is
good: God knoweth best what is in their souls: I should, if I did, indeed be a
wrong-doer."
11-32
They said: "O Noah! thou hast disputed with us, and
(much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now bring upon us what thou
threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?"
11-33
He said: "Truly, God will bring it on you if He wills,-
and then, ye will not be able to frustrate it!
11-34
"Of no profit will be my counsel to you, much as I
desire to give you (good) counsel, if it be that God willeth to leave you
astray: He is your Lord! and to Him will ye return!"
11-35
Or do they say, "He has forged it"? Say: "If
I had forged it, on me were my sin! and I am free of the sins of which ye are
guilty!
11-36
It was revealed to Noah: "None of thy people will
believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer over their
(evil) deeds.
11-37
"But construct an
11-38
Forthwith he (starts) constructing the
11-39
"But soon will ye know who it is on whom will descend a
penalty that will cover them with shame,- on whom will be unloosed a penalty
lasting:"
11-40
At length, behold! there came Our command, and the fountains
of the earth gushed forth! We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two,
male and female, and your family - except those against whom the word has
already gone forth,- and the Believers." but only a few believed with him.
11-41
So he said: "Embark ye on the
11-42
So the
11-43
The son replied: "I will betake myself to some
mountain: it will save me from the water." Noah said: "This day
nothing can save, from the command of God, any but those on whom He hath mercy!
"And the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed
in the Flood.
11-44
Then the word went forth: "O earth! swallow up thy
water, and O sky! Withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated, and the
matter was ended. The
11-45
And Noah called upon his Lord, and said: "O my Lord!
surely my son is of my family! and Thy promise is true, and Thou art the justest
of Judges!"
11-46
He said: "O Noah! He is not of thy family: For his
conduct is unrighteous. So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge!
I give thee counsel, lest thou act like the ignorant!"
11-47
Noah said: "O my Lord! I do seek refuge with Thee, lest
I ask Thee for that of which I have no knowledge. And unless thou forgive me
and have Mercy on me, I should indeed be lost!"
11-48
The word came: "O Noah! Come down (from the
11-49
Such are some of the stories of the unseen, which We have
revealed unto thee: before this, neither thou nor thy people knew them. So
persevere patiently: for the End is for those who are righteous.
11-50
To the 'Ad People (We sent) Hud, one of their own brethren.
He said: "O my people! worship God! ye have no other god but Him. (Your
other gods) ye do nothing but invent!
11-51
"O my people! I ask of you no reward for this
(Message). My reward is from none but Him who created me: Will ye not then
understand?
11-52
"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, and
turn to Him (in repentance): He will send you the skies pouring abundant rain,
and add strength to your strength: so turn ye not back in sin!"
11-53
They said: "O Hud! No Clear (Sign) that hast thou brought
us, and we are not the ones to desert our gods on thy word! Nor shall we
believe in thee!
11-54
"We say nothing but that (perhaps) some of our gods may
have seized thee with imbecility." He said: "I call God to witness,
and do ye bear witness, that I am free from the sin of ascribing, to Him,
11-55
"Other gods as partners! so scheme (your worst) against
me, all of you, and give me no respite.
11-56
"I put my trust in God, My Lord and your Lord! There is
not a moving creature, but He hath grasp of its fore-lock. Verily, it is my
Lord that is on a straight Path.
11-57
"If ye turn away,- I (at least) have conveyed the
Message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will make another people to
succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least. For my Lord hath care and
watch over all things."
11-58
So when Our decree issued, We saved Hud and those who
believed with him, by (special) Grace from Ourselves: We saved them from a
severe penalty.
11-59
Such were the 'Ad People: they rejected the Signs of their
Lord and Cherisher; disobeyed His apostles; And followed the command of every
powerful, obstinate transgressor.
11-60
And they were pursued by a Curse in this life,- and on the
Day of Judgment. Ah! Behold! for the 'Ad rejected their Lord and Cherisher! Ah!
Behold! removed (from sight) were 'Ad the people of Hud!
11-61
To the Thamud People (We sent) Salih, one of their own
brethren. He said: "O my people! Worship God: ye have no other god but
Him. It is He Who hath produced you from the earth and settled you therein:
then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him (in repentance): for my Lord is
(always) near, ready to answer."
11-62
They said: "O Salih! thou hast been of us! a centre of
our hopes hitherto! dost thou (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers
worshipped? But we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to
which thou invitest us."
11-63
He said: "O my people! do ye see? if I have a Clear
(Sign) from my Lord and He hath sent Mercy unto me from Himself,- who then can
help me against God if I were to disobey Him? What then would ye add to my
(portion) but perdition?
11-64
"And O my people! This she-camel of God is a symbol to
you: leave her to feed on God's (free) earth, and inflict no harm on her, or a
swift penalty will seize you!"
11-65
But they did ham-string her. So he said: "Enjoy
yourselves in your homes for three days: (Then will be your ruin): (Behold)
there a promise not to be belied!"
11-66
When Our Decree issued, We saved Salih and those who believed
with him, by (special) Grace from Ourselves - and from the Ignominy of that
day. For thy Lord - He is the Strong One, and able to enforce His Will.
11-67
The (mighty) Blast overtook the wrong-doers, and they lay
prostrate in their homes before the morning,-
11-68
As if they had never dwelt and flourished there. Ah! Behold!
for the Thamud rejected their Lord and Cherisher! Ah! Behold! removed (from
sight) were the Thamud!
11-69
There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They
said, "Peace!" He answered, "Peace!" and hastened to
entertain them with a roasted calf.
11-70
But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he
felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear
not: We have been sent against the people of Lut."
11-71
And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed: But we
gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him, of Jacob.
11-72
She said: "Alas for me! shall I bear a child, seeing I
am an old woman, and my husband here is an old man? That would indeed be a
wonderful thing!"
11-73
They said: "Dost thou wonder at God's decree? The grace
of God and His blessings on you, o ye people of the house! for He is indeed
worthy of all praise, full of all glory!"
11-74
When fear had passed from (the mind of) Abraham and the glad
tidings had reached him, he began to plead with us for Lut's people.
11-75
For Abraham was, without doubt, forbearing (of faults),
compassionate, and given to look to God.
11-76
O Abraham! Seek not this. The decree of thy Lord hath gone
forth: for them there cometh a penalty that cannot be turned back!
11-77
When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their
account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: "This is a
distressful day."
11-78
And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been
long in the habit of practising abominations. He said: "O my people! Here
are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear God, and cover
me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded
man?"
11-79
They said: "Well dost thou know we have no need of thy
daughters: indeed thou knowest quite well what we want!"
11-80
He said: "Would that I had power to suppress you or that
I could betake myself to some powerful support."
11-81
(The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers from
thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family while
yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife
(will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is
their time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?"
11-82
When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down,
and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer,-
11-83
Marked as from thy Lord: Nor are they ever far from those
who do wrong!
11-84
To the Madyan People (We sent) Shu'aib, one of their own
brethren: he said: "O my people! worship God: Ye have no other god but
Him. And give not short measure or weight: I see you in prosperity, but I fear
for you the penalty of a day that will compass (you) all round.
11-85
"And O my people! give just measure and weight, nor
withhold from the people the things that are their due: commit not evil in the
land with intent to do mischief.
11-86
"That which is left you by God is best for you, if ye
(but) believed! but I am not set over you to keep watch!"
11-87
They said: "O Shu'aib! Does thy (religion of) prayer
command thee that we leave off the worship which our fathers practised, or that
we leave off doing what we like with our property? truly, thou art the one that
forbeareth with faults and is right- minded!"
11-88
He said: "O my people! see ye whether I have a Clear
(Sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me sustenance (pure and) good as from
Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do.
I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my
task) can only come from God. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look.
11-89
"And O my people! let not my dissent (from you) cause
you to sin, lest ye suffer a fate similar to that of the people of Noah or of
Hud or of Salih, nor are the people of Lut far off from you!
11-90
"But ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn unto Him
(in repentance): For my Lord is indeed full of mercy and loving-kindness."
11-91
They said: "O Shu'aib! much of what thou sayest we do
not understand! In fact among us we see that thou hast no strength! Were it not
for thy family, we should certainly have stoned thee! for thou hast among us no
great position!"
11-92
He said: "O my people! is then my family of more
consideration with you than God? For ye cast Him away behind your backs (with
contempt). But verily my Lord encompasseth on all sides all that ye do!
11-93
"And O my people! Do whatever ye can: I will do (my
part): Soon will ye know who it is on whom descends the penalty of ignominy;
and who is a liar! and watch ye! for I too am watching with you!"
11-94
When Our decree issued, We saved Shu'aib and those who
believed with him, by (special) mercy from Ourselves: But the (mighty) blast
did seize the wrong- doers, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the
morning,-
11-95
As if they had never dwelt and flourished there! Ah! Behold!
How the Madyan were removed (from sight) as were removed the Thamud!
11-96
And we sent Moses, with Our Clear (Signs) and an authority
manifest,
11-97
Unto Pharaoh and his chiefs: but they followed the command
of Pharaoh and the command of Pharaoh was no right (guide).
11-98
He will go before his people on the Day of Judgment, and
lead them into the Fire (as cattle are led to water): But woeful indeed will be
the place to which they are led!
11-99
And they are followed by a curse in this (life) and on the
Day of Judgment: and woeful is the gift which shall be given (unto them)!
11-100
These are some of the stories of communities which We relate
unto thee: of them some are standing, and some have been mown down (by the
sickle of time).
11-101
It was not We that wronged them: They wronged their own
souls: the deities, other than God, whom they invoked, profited them no whit
when there issued the decree of thy Lord: Nor did they add aught (to their lot)
but perdition!
11-102
Such is the chastisement of thy Lord when He chastises
communities in the midst of their wrong: grievous, indeed, and severe is His
chastisement.
11-103
In that is a Sign for those who fear the penalty of the
Hereafter: that is a Day for which mankind will be gathered together: that will
be a Day of Testimony.
11-104
Nor shall We delay it but for a term appointed.
11-105
The day it arrives, no soul shall speak except by His leave:
of those (gathered) some will be wretched and some will be blessed.
11-106
Those who are wretched shall be in the Fire: There will be
for them therein (nothing but) the heaving of sighs and sobs:
11-107
They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens
and the earth endure, except as thy Lord willeth: for thy Lord is the (sure)
accomplisher of what He planneth.
11-108
And those who are blessed shall be in the Garden: They will
dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as
thy Lord willeth: a gift without break.
11-109
Be not then in doubt as to what these men worship. They
worship nothing but what their fathers worshipped before (them): but verily We
shall pay them back (in full) their portion without (the least) abatement.
11-110
We certainly gave the Book to Moses, but differences arose
therein: had it not been that a word had gone forth before from thy Lord, the
matter would have been decided between them, but they are in suspicious doubt
concerning it.
11-111
And, of a surety, to all will your Lord pay back (in full
the recompense) of their deeds: for He knoweth well all that they do.
11-112
Therefore stand firm (in the straight Path) as thou art
commanded,- thou and those who with thee turn (unto God); and transgress not
(from the Path): for He seeth well all that ye do.
11-113
And incline not to those who do wrong, or the Fire will
seize you; and ye have no protectors other than God, nor shall ye be helped.
11-114
And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and
at the approaches of the night: For those things, that are good remove those
that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their
Lord):
11-115
And be steadfast in patience; for verily God will not suffer
the reward of the righteous to perish.
11-116
Why were there not, among the generations before you,
persons possessed of balanced good sense, prohibiting (men) from mischief in
the earth - except a few among them whom We saved (from harm)? But the
wrong-doers pursued the enjoyment of the good things of life which were given
them, and persisted in sin.
11-117
Nor would thy Lord be the One to destroy communities for a
single wrong- doing, if its members were likely to mend.
11-118
If thy Lord had so willed, He could have made mankind one
people: but they will not cease to dispute.
11-119
Except those on whom thy Lord hath bestowed His Mercy: and
for this did He create them: and the Word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled:
"I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together."
11-120
All that we relate to thee of the stories of the apostles,-
with it We make firm thy heart: in them there cometh to thee the Truth, as well
as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who believe.
11-121
Say to those who do not believe: "Do what ever ye can:
We shall do our part;
11-122
"And wait ye! We too shall wait."
11-123
To God do belong the unseen (secrets) of the heavens and the
earth, and to Him goeth back every affair (for decision): then worship Him, and
put thy trust in Him: and thy Lord is not unmindful of aught that ye do.
YUSUF
In the name of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.
12-1
A.L.R. These are the symbols (or Verses) of the perspicuous
Book.
12-2
We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye
may learn wisdom.
12-3
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.
12-4
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!"
12-5
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!
12-6
"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 God is full of knowledge and wisdom."
12-7
Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs (or symbols) for
seekers (after Truth).
12-8
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)!
12-9
"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!"
12-10
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."
12-11
They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us
with Joseph,- seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers?
12-12
"Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play,
and we shall take every care of him."
12-13
(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."
12-14
They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are
(so large) a party, then should we indeed (first) have perished
ourselves!"
12-15
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'
12-16
Then they came to their father in the early part of the
night, weeping.
12-17
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."
12-18
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 God (alone) Whose help can
be sought"..
12-19
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 God knoweth well all that they do!
12-20
The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few
dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!
12-21
The man in
12-22
When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and
knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right.
12-23
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: "God forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made
my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!"
12-24
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.
12-25
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?"
12-26
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!
12-27
"But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back,
then is she the liar, and he is telling the truth!"
12-28
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!
12-29
"O Joseph, pass this over! (O wife), ask forgiveness
for thy sin, for truly thou hast been at fault!"
12-30
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."
12-31
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, "God
preserve us! no mortal is this! this is none other than a noble angel!"
12-32
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!"
12-33
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."
12-34
So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned
away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and knoweth (all things).
12-35
Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the signs,
(that it was best) to imprison him for a time.
12-36
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)."
12-37
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 God and that
(even) deny the Hereafter.
12-38
"And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to God: that
(comes) of the grace of God to us and to mankind: yet most men are not
grateful.
12-39
"O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are
many lords differing among themselves better, or the One God, Supreme and
Irresistible?
12-40
"If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have
named,- ye and your fathers,- for which God hath sent down no authority: the
command is for none but God: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him:
that is the right religion, but most men understand not...
12-41
"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"...
12-42
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.
12-43
The king (of
12-44
They said: "A confused medley of dreams: and we are not
skilled in the interpretation of dreams."
12-45
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)."
12-46
"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."
12-47
(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.
12-48
"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.
12-49
"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)."
12-50
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."
12-51
(The king) said (to the ladies): "What was your affair
when ye did seek to seduce Joseph from his (true) self?" The ladies said:
"God 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).
12-52
"This (say I), in order that He may know that I have
never been false to him in his absence, and that God will never guide the snare
of the false ones.