In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the Verses of the clear Book.

2. We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand.

3. We narrate to you the best of stories through what We have revealed to you of this Quran, though before it you were surely among the unaware.

4. When Joseph said to his father, "O my father, I saw eleven stars, and the sun and the moon — I saw them prostrating to me."

5. He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers, lest they plot a scheme against you; surely Satan is to the human being a clear enemy."

6. And thus your Lord will choose you, and teach you the interpretation of events, and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it previously upon your two forefathers, Abraham and Isaac; surely your Lord is Knowing, Wise.

7. Certainly, in Joseph and his brothers are signs for those who ask.

8. When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, though we are a strong group; surely our father is clearly mistaken.

9. Kill Joseph, or cast him out to some land, so your father's attention will be yours alone; and afterward, you will be righteous people."

10. One among them said, "Do not kill Joseph, but throw him into the depths of the well; some travelers will pick him up — if you must do something."

11. They said, "O our father, why do you not trust us with Joseph, when we truly are sincere advisors to him?

12. Send him with us tomorrow, that he may roam freely and play; and we will surely guard him."

13. He said, "It truly saddens me that you should take him away, and I fear that the wolf may devour him while you are heedless of him."

14. They said, "If the wolf should devour him while we are a strong group, then surely we would be losers."

15. So when they took him and agreed to place him in the depths of the well, We revealed to him: "You will surely inform them of this affair of theirs, while they perceive not."

16. And they came to their father at nightfall, weeping.

17. They said, "O our father, we went racing and left Joseph with our belongings, and the wolf devoured him; but you will not believe us, even if we are truthful."

18. And they brought upon his shirt false blood. He said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something; so patience is beautiful, and Allah is the One sought for help against what you describe."

19. And there came a caravan, and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him as merchandise; and Allah is Knowing of what they do.

20. And they sold him for a low price — a few counted silver coins — and they were concerning him among those indifferent.

21. And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his stay honorable; perhaps he will benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son." And thus We established Joseph in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of events; and Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

22. And when he reached his maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge; and thus do We reward the doers of good.

23. And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from himself; and she closed the doors and said, "Here, I am for you." He said, "Allah forbid! Truly, he is my master, who has made good my stay. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed."

24. And certainly she desired him, and he would have desired her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might avert from him evil and immorality; indeed, he was among Our sincere servants.

25. And they raced toward the door, and she tore his shirt from behind; and they found her master at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil toward your family, except that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"

26. He said, "It was she who sought to seduce me from myself." And a witness from her family testified: "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has spoken the truth, and he is of the liars.

27. But if his shirt is torn from behind, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."

28. So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said, "Indeed, it is of your plotting; indeed, your plotting is great.

29. Joseph, turn away from this; and you, seek forgiveness for your sin — indeed, you were of those who commit wrong."

30. And women in the city said, "The wife of the governor seeks to seduce her servant; he has captivated her with love. Truly, we see her in clear error."

31. So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet, and gave each one of them a knife, and said, "Come out before them." Then when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands, and said, "Allah forbid! This is not a human being; this is none but a noble angel."

32. She said, "This is the one about whom you blamed me. Certainly, I sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused. And if he does not do what I command him, he will surely be imprisoned and will surely be among the humiliated."

33. He said, "My Lord, prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me; and if You do not turn their scheming away from me, I might incline toward them and become of the ignorant."

34. So his Lord responded to him and turned their scheming away from him; truly, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

35. Then it appeared to them, after they had seen the signs, to imprison him for a time.

36. And two young men entered the prison with him. One of them said, "I see myself pressing wine." And the other said, "I see myself carrying bread upon my head, from which birds are eating. Inform us of its interpretation; truly, we see you among the doers of good."

37. He said, "No food will come to you as provision, except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Truly, I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and who, regarding the Hereafter, are disbelievers."

38. "And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not for us to associate anything with Allah. That is from the favor of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most people are not grateful."

39. "O my two companions of the prison, are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the Prevailing?"

40. "You worship nothing besides Him except names you have named — you and your fathers — for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs only to Allah; He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know."

41. "O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you, he will serve his master wine to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified, and birds will eat from his head. The matter about which you inquire has been decreed."

42. And he said to the one whom he thought would be saved of the two, "Mention me to your master." But Satan caused him to forget mentioning him to his master, so he remained in prison for several years.

43. And the king said, "I see seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry. O chiefs, explain to me my vision, if you can interpret visions."

44. They said, "Confused dreams; and we are not knowledgeable in the interpretation of dreams."

45. And the one who had been saved of the two, and remembered after a period, said, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth."

46. "Joseph, O truthful one, explain to us about seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry, so that I may return to the people, that they may know."

47. He said, "You will sow diligently for seven years; and whatever you harvest, leave it in its ears, except a little from which you eat."

48. "Then after that will come seven hard years, consuming what you have stored for them, except a little of what you preserve."

49. "Then after that will come a year in which the people will be relieved, and in which they will press."

50. And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, he said, "Return to your lord and ask him, 'What is the case of the women who cut their hands?' Surely, my Lord is well aware of their scheming."

51. He said, "What was your affair when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Allah forbid! We know no evil of him." The wife of the governor said, "Now the truth has emerged clearly; I sought to seduce him, and he is surely of the truthful."

52. "That is so he may know that I did not betray him in secret, and that Allah does not guide the scheming of betrayers."

53. "And I do not absolve myself; surely, the soul persistently commands evil, except those upon whom my Lord has mercy. Surely, my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful."

54. And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." Then when he spoke to him, he said, "Today you are with us established and trusted."

55. He said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land; surely, I am a guardian, knowledgeable."

56. And thus We established Joseph in the land, to settle therein wherever he willed. We bestow Our mercy upon whom We will, and We do not let the reward of those who do good go to waste.

57. And surely, the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and are mindful of Allah.

58. And Joseph's brothers came and entered upon him; he recognized them, but they did not recognize him.

59. And when he had provided them with their provisions, he said, "Bring 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?

60. But if you do not bring him to me, you shall have no measure from me, nor shall you come near me."

61. They said, "We shall seek to persuade his father about him; and surely, we shall do it."

62. And he said to his servants, "Place their merchandise into their saddlebags, so that they may recognize it when they return to their family; perhaps they will come back."

63. So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, the measure has been withheld from us; so send our brother with us that we may obtain measure, and surely, we shall guard him."

64. He said, "Should I entrust him to you except as I entrusted his brother to you before? Allah is the best Guardian, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful."

65. And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what more could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. We shall obtain provision for our family, guard our brother, and receive an additional camel-load; that is an easy measure."

66. He said, "I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge by Allah that you will surely bring him back to me, unless you are completely surrounded." So when they gave him their solemn pledge, he said, "Allah is Witness over what we say."

67. And he said, "O my sons, do not enter by one gate, but enter by separate gates. Yet I cannot avail you anything against Allah; judgment belongs only to Allah. Upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who rely place their trust."

68. And when they entered from where their father had commanded them, it did not avail them anything against Allah, except a need within Jacob's soul, which he satisfied. And indeed, he possessed knowledge because of what We had taught him; but most people do not know.

69. And when they entered upon Joseph, he drew his brother close to himself; he said, "Truly, I am your brother, so do not grieve over what they used to do."

70. Then, when he had provided them with their provisions, he placed the drinking cup in his brother's saddlebag; then a caller called out, "O caravan, surely you are thieves."

71. They said, turning toward them, "What is it that you are missing?"

72. They said, "We are missing the king's goblet; and whoever brings it shall have a camel-load, and I guarantee it."

73. They said, "By Allah, certainly you know we did not come to cause corruption on earth, nor are we thieves."

74. They said, "Then what shall be his recompense, if you are lying?"

75. They said, "His recompense is that he in whose saddlebag it is found — he himself shall be his recompense; thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."

76. So he began with their bags before his brother's bag; then he brought it forth from his brother's bag. Thus did We devise for Joseph; It was not for him to take his brother under the king's law, except that Allah willed. We raise in degrees whom We will; and above every possessor of knowledge is One more knowing.

77. They said, "If he steals, then certainly a brother of his stole before." But Joseph concealed it within himself, and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are in a worse position, and Allah knows best what you describe."

78. They said, "O mighty one, indeed he has an elderly father; so take one of us in his place. Truly, we see you among those who do good."

79. He said, "Allah forbid that we should take anyone except the one with whom we found our property; indeed, we would then be wrongdoers."

80. So when they despaired of him, they withdrew privately to confer. The eldest among them said, "Do you not know that your father took from you a solemn pledge before Allah, and before this you failed concerning Joseph? Therefore, I will never leave this land until my father permits me or Allah judges for me; and He is the best of judges."

81. "Return to your father and say, 'O our father, indeed your son has stolen; and we testify only to what we know, and we could not guard against the unseen.'"

82. "And ask the town in which we were, and the caravan in which we returned; and indeed, we are truthful."

83. He said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something; so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them all to me; indeed, He is the Knowing, the Wise."

84. And he turned away from them and said, "O my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he suppressed it.

85. They said, "By Allah, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become gravely ill or perish."

86. He said, "I only complain of my anguish and grief to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know."

87. O my sons, go and inquire about Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of Allah's relief; surely none despairs of Allah's relief except the disbelieving people.

88. Then when they entered upon him, they said, "O mighty one, hardship has touched us and our family, and we have brought scant merchandise; so give us full measure and be charitable to us. Surely Allah rewards the charitable."

89. He said, "Do you know what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?"

90. They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Surely whoever is mindful of Allah and patient — Allah does not let the reward of those who do good go to waste."

91. They said, "By Allah, certainly Allah has preferred you over us, and surely we were at fault."

92. He said, "No blame will be upon you today; Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful."

93. "Take this shirt of mine and cast it over my father's face; he will regain sight. And bring me your family, all together."

94. And when the caravan departed, their father said, "Surely I perceive the scent of Joseph, if you do not think me senile."

95. They said, "By Allah, you are indeed in your old error."

96. Then when the bearer of good news arrived, he cast it over his face, and he regained sight. He said, "Did I not say to you that I know from Allah what you do not know?"

97. They said, "O our father, ask forgiveness for our sins; we were indeed at fault."

98. He said, "I will soon ask forgiveness for you from my Lord; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

99. Then when they entered upon Joseph, he drew his parents close to himself and said, "Enter Egypt, Allah willing, in security."

100. And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they fell down before him prostrate. He said, "O my father, this is the fulfillment of my vision from before; my Lord has made it true. And He was indeed good to me when He brought me out of prison and brought you from the desert, after Satan had stirred up between me and my brothers. Surely my Lord is Subtle in what He wills; indeed, He is the Knowing, the Wise."

101. My Lord, You have given me authority and taught me the interpretation of events; Originator of the heavens and the earth, You are my Protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous.

102. That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you; and you were not with them when they resolved their affair while they were plotting.

103. And most of the people, even if you eagerly desire it, are not believers.

104. And you do not ask them for any reward for it; it is nothing but a reminder for the worlds.

105. And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by, while they are turning away from them.

106. And most of them do not believe in Allah except while they associate others with Him.

107. Do they then feel secure that an overwhelming punishment from Allah will not come upon them, or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?

108. Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with clear insight — I and whoever follows me. And glory be to Allah, and I am not of those who associate others with Him."

109. And We did not send before you except men from among the people of the towns, to whom We revealed. Have they not traveled on earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And surely the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who are mindful of Allah; will you not then reason?

110. Until, when the messengers despaired and thought that they had been lied to, Our help came to them; then whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the criminal people.

111. Certainly, in their stories is a lesson for those of understanding. It is not a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it, and a detailed explanation of all things, and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.