Surah Yusuf Recitation, Translation, and Tafseer - The Holy Quran

12:41

یٰصَاحِبَیِ السِّجْنِ اَمَّاۤ اَحَدُكُمَا فَیَسْقِیْ رَبَّهٗ خَمْرًاۚ-وَ اَمَّا الْاٰخَرُ فَیُصْلَبُ فَتَاْكُلُ الطَّیْرُ مِنْ رَّاْسِهٖؕ-قُضِیَ الْاَمْرُ الَّذِیْ فِیْهِ تَسْتَفْتِیٰنِؕ(۴۱)

O fellow-prisoners, one of you will serve wine to your master, the other will be crucified and the birds will peck at his brain. Determined is the matter of your inquiry."

"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

وَ قَالَ لِلَّذِیْ ظَنَّ اَنَّهٗ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِیْ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ٘-فَاَنْسٰىهُ الشَّیْطٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهٖ فَلَبِثَ فِی السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِیْنَ۠(۴۲)

And (Joseph) asked the man he knew would be released: "Remember me to your lord;" but Satan made him forget to mention this to his lord, and Joseph remained in prison for a number of years.

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

وَ قَالَ الْمَلِكُ اِنِّیْۤ اَرٰى سَبْعَ بَقَرٰتٍ سِمَانٍ یَّاْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَّ سَبْعَ سُنْۢبُلٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَّ اُخَرَ یٰبِسٰتٍؕ-یٰۤاَیُّهَا الْمَلَاُ اَفْتُوْنِیْ فِیْ رُءْیَایَ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ لِلرُّءْیَا تَعْبُرُوْنَ(۴۳)

(One day) the king said (to his courtiers): "I saw seven fat cows in a dream being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven ears of corn that were green and seven others that were seared. O courtiers, tell me the significance of my dream, if you know how to interpret them."

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."

12:44

قَالُوْۤا اَضْغَاثُ اَحْلَامٍۚ-وَ مَا نَحْنُ بِتَاْوِیْلِ الْاَحْلَامِ بِعٰلِمِیْنَ(۴۴)

"They were only confused dreams," they said; "we do not know how to interpret them."

They said: "A confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams."

12:45

وَ قَالَ الَّذِیْ نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَ ادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ اُمَّةٍ اَنَا اُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِتَاْوِیْلِهٖ فَاَرْسِلُوْنِ(۴۵)

Then the servant, who of the two had been released, remembering (Joseph), said: "I will give you its interpretation; let me go for it."

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

یُوْسُفُ اَیُّهَا الصِّدِّیْقُ اَفْتِنَا فِیْ سَبْعِ بَقَرٰتٍ سِمَانٍ یَّاْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَّ سَبْعِ سُنْۢبُلٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَّ اُخَرَ یٰبِسٰتٍۙ-لَّعَلِّیْۤ اَرْجِعُ اِلَى النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَعْلَمُوْنَ(۴۶)

(And coming to the prison) he said: "O Joseph the truthful, tell us (the meaning of) seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of corn and seven seared, that I may go back to the people and tell them."

"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

قَالَ تَزْرَعُوْنَ سَبْعَ سِنِیْنَ دَاَبًاۚ-فَمَا حَصَدْتُّمْ فَذَرُوْهُ فِیْ سُنْۢبُلِهٖۤ اِلَّا قَلِیْلًا مِّمَّا تَاْكُلُوْنَ(۴۷)

He said: "Sow as usual for seven years, and after reaping leave the corn in the ears, except the little you need for food.

(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

ثُمَّ یَاْتِیْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ یَّاْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ اِلَّا قَلِیْلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُوْنَ(۴۸)

Then there will come seven years of hardship which will consume the grain you had laid up against them, except a little you may have stored away.

"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

ثُمَّ یَاْتِیْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ عَامٌ فِیْهِ یُغَاثُ النَّاسُ وَ فِیْهِ یَعْصِرُوْنَ۠(۴۹)

This will be followed by a year of rain, and people shall press (the grapes)."

"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

وَ قَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُوْنِیْ بِهٖۚ-فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ الرَّسُوْلُ قَالَ ارْجِعْ اِلٰى رَبِّكَ فَسْــٴَـلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ الّٰتِیْ قَطَّعْنَ اَیْدِیَهُنَّؕ-اِنَّ رَبِّیْ بِكَیْدِهِنَّ عَلِیْمٌ(۵۰)

The king said: "Bring him to me. So when the messenger came to Joseph, he said: "Go back to your lord and ask him: ´How fare the women who had cut their hands?´ My Lord is cognisant of their guile."

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

قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ اِذْ رَاوَدْتُّنَّ یُوْسُفَ عَنْ نَّفْسِهٖؕ-قُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلّٰهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَیْهِ مِنْ سُوْٓءٍؕ-قَالَتِ امْرَاَتُ الْعَزِیْزِ الْــٴٰـنَ حَصْحَصَ الْحَقُّ٘-اَنَا رَاوَدْتُّهٗ عَنْ نَّفْسِهٖ وَ اِنَّهٗ لَمِنَ الصّٰدِقِیْنَ(۵۱)

The king asked the women: "What was the affair of seducing Joseph?" "God preserve us," they said; "we know no evil against him." The wife of the minister said: "The truth has now come out. It was I who desired to seduce him, but he is indeed a man of virtue." --

(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).

12:52

ذٰلِكَ لِیَعْلَمَ اَنِّیْ لَمْ اَخُنْهُ بِالْغَیْبِ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یَهْدِیْ كَیْدَ الْخَآىٕنِیْنَ(۵۲)

(At this Joseph remarked:) "From this (the Minister) should know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that God does not surely let the wiles of those who betray ever succeed.

"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.

12:53

وَ مَاۤ اُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِیْۚ-اِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَاَمَّارَةٌۢ بِالسُّوْٓءِ اِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّیْؕ-اِنَّ رَبِّیْ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِیْمٌ(۵۳)

But I do not wish to absolve myself, for the soul is prone to evil, unless my Lord have mercy. Indeed my Lord is forgiving and kind." --

"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."

12:54

وَ قَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُوْنِیْ بِهٖۤ اَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِیْۚ-فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهٗ قَالَ اِنَّكَ الْیَوْمَ لَدَیْنَا مَكِیْنٌ اَمِیْنٌ(۵۴)

When the king heard this he said: "Bring him to me. I shall take him in my special service." When he had talked to him, he said: "Today you are established in a rank of trust with us."

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!

12:55

قَالَ اجْعَلْنِیْ عَلٰى خَزَآىٕنِ الْاَرْضِۚ-اِنِّیْ حَفِیْظٌ عَلِیْمٌ(۵۵)

"Appoint me over the granaries of the land," (he said); "I shall be a knowledgeable keeper."

(Joseph) said: "Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance)."

12:56

وَ كَذٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِیُوْسُفَ فِی الْاَرْضِۚ-یَتَبَوَّاُ مِنْهَا حَیْثُ یَشَآءُؕ-نُصِیْبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَنْ نَّشَآءُ وَ لَا نُضِیْعُ اَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ(۵۶)

Thus We gave Joseph authority in the land so that he lived wherever he liked. We bestow Our favours on whomsoever We please, and do not allow the reward of those who are good to go waste.

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.

12:57

وَ لَاَجْرُ الْاٰخِرَةِ خَیْرٌ لِّلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَ كَانُوْا یَتَّقُوْنَ۠(۵۷)

And certainly the recompense of the life to come is better for those who believe and follow the right path.

But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and are constant in righteousness.

12:58

وَ جَآءَ اِخْوَةُ یُوْسُفَ فَدَخَلُوْا عَلَیْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَ هُمْ لَهٗ مُنْكِرُوْنَ(۵۸)

The brothers of Joseph came (to Egypt) and visited him. He recognised them, though they did not recognise him.

Then came Joseph's brethren: they entered his presence, and he knew them, but they knew him not.

12:59

وَ لَمَّا جَهَّزَهُمْ بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ائْتُوْنِیْ بِاَخٍ لَّكُمْ مِّنْ اَبِیْكُمْۚ-اَلَا تَرَوْنَ اَنِّیْۤ اُوْفِی الْكَیْلَ وَ اَنَا خَیْرُ الْمُنْزِلِیْنَ(۵۹)

When he had supplied their provisions, he said to them: "Bring your (half) brother with you. Have you not seen that I have given full measure, and that I am the best of hosts?

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?

12:60

فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَاْتُوْنِیْ بِهٖ فَلَا كَیْلَ لَكُمْ عِنْدِیْ وَ لَا تَقْرَبُوْنِ(۶۰)

But if you do not bring him with you, then I shall have no grain for you, nor should you come back to me."

"Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall ye (even) come near me."

12:61

قَالُوْا سَنُرَاوِدُ عَنْهُ اَبَاهُ وَ اِنَّا لَفٰعِلُوْنَ(۶۱)

They said: "We shall request his father, and will certainly do that."

They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his father: Indeed we shall do it."

12:62

وَ قَالَ لِفِتْیٰنِهِ اجْعَلُوْا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ فِیْ رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَعْرِفُوْنَهَاۤ اِذَا انْقَلَبُوْۤا اِلٰۤى اَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَرْجِعُوْنَ(۶۲)

Then he ordered his servants: "Put their money back in their packs: They may find it on reaching home, and perhaps come again."

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.

12:63

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوْۤا اِلٰۤى اَبِیْهِمْ قَالُوْا یٰۤاَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا الْكَیْلُ فَاَرْسِلْ مَعَنَاۤ اَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَ اِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ(۶۳)

When they returned to their father, they said: "O father, a further measure has been denied us. So send our brother with us that he may bring more grain. We shall take care of him."

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."

12:64

قَالَ هَلْ اٰمَنُكُمْ عَلَیْهِ اِلَّا كَمَاۤ اَمِنْتُكُمْ عَلٰۤى اَخِیْهِ مِنْ قَبْلُؕ-فَاللّٰهُ خَیْرٌ حٰفِظًا۪-وَّ هُوَ اَرْحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیْنَ(۶۴)

He replied: "Should I trust you with him as I did his brother? But God is the best of guardians, and most merciful of all."

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!"

12:65

وَ لَمَّا فَتَحُوْا مَتَاعَهُمْ وَجَدُوْا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ اِلَیْهِمْؕ-قَالُوْا یٰۤاَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِیْؕ-هٰذِهٖ بِضَاعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ اِلَیْنَاۚ-وَ نَمِیْرُ اَهْلَنَا وَ نَحْفَظُ اَخَانَا وَ نَزْدَادُ كَیْلَ بَعِیْرٍؕ-ذٰلِكَ كَیْلٌ یَّسِیْرٌ(۶۵)

When they unpacked their goods they said: "O father, what more can we ask? Look, even our money has been returned. We shall go and bring a camel-load more of grain for our family, and take good care of our brother. That will be an easy measure."

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.

12:66

قَالَ لَنْ اُرْسِلَهٗ مَعَكُمْ حَتّٰى تُؤْتُوْنِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ لَتَاْتُنَّنِیْ بِهٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ یُّحَاطَ بِكُمْۚ-فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مَا نَقُوْلُ وَكِیْلٌ(۶۶)

He said: "I will never send him with you until you swear by God that you will bring him back to me, unless all of you are overtaken (by misfortune)." When they had given their promise, he said: "God is witness to our conversation."

(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!"

12:67

وَ قَالَ یٰبَنِیَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوْا مِنْۢ بَابٍ وَّاحِدٍ وَّ ادْخُلُوْا مِنْ اَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍؕ-وَ مَاۤ اُغْنِیْ عَنْكُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ مِنْ شَیْءٍؕ-اِنِ الْحُكْمُ اِلَّا لِلّٰهِؕ-عَلَیْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُۚ-وَ عَلَیْهِ فَلْیَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُوْنَ(۶۷)

(As they were leaving) their father said to them: "O my sons, do not seek one approach but employ different ways (of attaining your object). If anything should befall you from God I shall not be able to avert it, for all authority belongs to God. I have placed my trust in Him, and the trusting should rely on Him alone."

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."

12:68

وَ لَمَّا دَخَلُوْا مِنْ حَیْثُ اَمَرَهُمْ اَبُوْهُمْؕ-مَا كَانَ یُغْنِیْ عَنْهُمْ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ مِنْ شَیْءٍ اِلَّا حَاجَةً فِیْ نَفْسِ یَعْقُوْبَ قَضٰىهَاؕ-وَ اِنَّهٗ لَذُوْ عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنٰهُ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ۠(۶۸)

When they entered as their father had advised them, nothing could avail them against (the will of) God, yet it confirmed a premonition Jacob had, for verily he had knowledge as We had taught him, though most men do not know.

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.

12:69

وَ لَمَّا دَخَلُوْا عَلٰى یُوْسُفَ اٰوٰۤى اِلَیْهِ اَخَاهُ قَالَ اِنِّیْۤ اَنَا اَخُوْكَ فَلَا تَبْتَىٕسْ بِمَا كَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ(۶۹)

When they came to Joseph he made his brother his guest, and said: "I am your brother. So do not grieve for what they had done."

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."

12:70

فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُمْ بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ السِّقَایَةَ فِیْ رَحْلِ اَخِیْهِ ثُمَّ اَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ اَیَّتُهَا الْعِیْرُ اِنَّكُمْ لَسٰرِقُوْنَ(۷۰)

When he had given them their provisions he put his goblet in his brother´s saddle-bag. Then a crier announced: "O men of the caravan, you are thieves."

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!"

12:71

قَالُوْا وَ اَقْبَلُوْا عَلَیْهِمْ مَّا ذَا تَفْقِدُوْنَ(۷۱)

They turned to them and asked: "What is it you have lost?"

They said, turning towards them: "What is it that ye miss?"

12:72

قَالُوْا نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ الْمَلِكِ وَ لِمَنْ جَآءَ بِهٖ حِمْلُ بَعِیْرٍ وَّ اَنَا بِهٖ زَعِیْمٌ(۷۲)

"We cannot find the master´s goblet. Whoever comes up with it will be given a camel-load of grain; I vouch for it."

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."

12:73

قَالُوْا تَاللّٰهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ مَا كُنَّا سٰرِقِیْنَ(۷۳)

They said: "We swear by God. You know we did not come to commit any crime in the land, nor are we thieves."

(The brothers) said: "By Allah! well ye know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!"

12:74

قَالُوْا فَمَا جَزَآؤُهٗۤ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ كٰذِبِیْنَ(۷۴)

"What should be the punishment," they were asked, "in case you are liars?"

(The Egyptians) said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?"

12:75

قَالُوْا جَزَآؤُهٗ مَنْ وُّجِدَ فِیْ رَحْلِهٖ فَهُوَ جَزَآؤُهٗؕ-كَذٰلِكَ نَجْزِی الظّٰلِمِیْنَ(۷۵)

"The punishment for that (should be)," they said, "that he in whose luggage it is found should be held as punishment. This is how we repay the wrong-doers."

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!"

12:76

فَبَدَاَ بِاَوْعِیَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ اَخِیْهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ وِّعَآءِ اَخِیْهِؕ-كَذٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِیُوْسُفَؕ-مَا كَانَ لِیَاْخُذَ اَخَاهُ فِیْ دِیْنِ الْمَلِكِ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ یَّشَآءَ اللّٰهُؕ-نَرْفَعُ دَرَجٰتٍ مَّنْ نَّشَآءُؕ-وَ فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِیْ عِلْمٍ عَلِیْمٌ(۷۶)

So he searched their saddle-bags before his brother´s, then produced the cup from his brother´s bag. That is how We planned an excuse for Joseph, for under the law of the king he could not detain his brother unless God so willed. We raise the status of whom We please. Over every man of knowledge there is one more knowing.

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.

12:77

قَالُوْۤا اِنْ یَّسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ اَخٌ لَّهٗ مِنْ قَبْلُۚ-فَاَسَرَّهَا یُوْسُفُ فِیْ نَفْسِهٖ وَ لَمْ یُبْدِهَا لَهُمْۚ-قَالَ اَنْتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًاۚ-وَ اللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُوْنَ(۷۷)

Said the brothers: "If he has stolen (no wonder), his brother had stolen before." But Joseph kept this secret and did not disclose it to them, and said (to himself): "You are worse in the degree of evil, for God knows better of what you allege."

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!"

12:78

قَالُوْا یٰۤاَیُّهَا الْعَزِیْزُ اِنَّ لَهٗۤ اَبًا شَیْخًا كَبِیْرًا فَخُذْ اَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهٗۚ-اِنَّا نَرٰىكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ(۷۸)

They said: "O Minister, he has an aged father, so keep one of us in his place. We see you are a virtuous man."

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."

12:79

قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّٰهِ اَنْ نَّاْخُذَ اِلَّا مَنْ وَّجَدْنَا مَتَاعَنَا عِنْدَهٗۤۙ-اِنَّاۤ اِذًا لَّظٰلِمُوْنَ۠(۷۹)

"May God forgive us," he said, "if we hold any one but him with whom we found our property, or else we would be unjust."

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.

12:80

فَلَمَّا اسْتَایْــٴَـسُوْا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوْا نَجِیًّاؕ-قَالَ كَبِیْرُهُمْ اَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اَبَاكُمْ قَدْ اَخَذَ عَلَیْكُمْ مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَ مِنْ قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطْتُّمْ فِیْ یُوْسُفَۚ-فَلَنْ اَبْرَحَ الْاَرْضَ حَتّٰى یَاْذَنَ لِیْۤ اَبِیْۤ اَوْ یَحْكُمَ اللّٰهُ لِیْۚ-وَ هُوَ خَیْرُ الْحٰكِمِیْنَ(۸۰)

When they despaired of (persuading) him, they went aside to confer. The oldest of them said: "You know that your father has pledged you in the name of God, and you have been guilty of iniquity in the case of Joseph before. I will not leave this place unless my father permits or God decides for me, for He is the best of all judges.

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.