When they returned to their father, they said, ‘Father, we have been denied any more corn, but send our brother back with us and we shall be given another measure. We shall guard him carefully.’

He said, ‘Am I to entrust him to you as I did his brother before? God is the best guardian and the Most Merciful of the merciful.’

Then, when they opened their packs, they discovered that their goods had been returned to them and they said, ‘Father! We need no more [goods to barter]: look, our goods have been returned to us. We shall get corn for our household; we shall keep our brother safe; we shall be entitled to another camel-load of grain- an extra measure so easily achieved!’

He said, ‘I will never send him with you, not unless you swear by God that you will bring him back to me if that is humanly possible.’ Then, when they had given him their pledge, he said, ‘Our words are entrusted to God.’

He said, ‘My sons, do not enter all by one gate- use different gates. But I cannot help you against the will of God: all power is in God’s hands. I trust in Him; let everyone put their trust in Him,’

and, when they entered as their father had told them, it did not help them against the will of God, it merely satisfied a wish of Jacob’s. He knew well what We had taught him, though most people do not.

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ

قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَٰفِظࣰاۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْۖ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِيۖ هَٰذِهِۦ بِضَٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَاۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرࣲۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلࣱ يَسِيرࣱ

قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِي بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْۖ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلࣱ

وَقَالَ يَٰبَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بَابࣲ وَٰحِدࣲ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبࣲ مُّتَفَرِّقَةࣲۖ وَمَآ أُغْنِي عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍۖ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِي عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةࣰ فِي نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَاۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمࣲ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَٰهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Then, when they presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his brother apart and said, ‘I am your brother, so do not be saddened by their past actions,’

and, once he had given them their provisions, he placed the drinking-cup in his brother’s pack. A man called out, ‘People of the caravan! You are thieves!’

and they turned and said, ‘What have you lost?’

They replied, ‘The king’s drinking-cup is missing,’ and, ‘Whoever returns it will get a camel-load [of grain],’ and, ‘I give you my word.’

They said, ‘By God! You must know that we did not come to make mischief in your land: we are no thieves.’

They asked them, ‘And if we find that you are lying, what penalty shall we apply to you?’

and they answered, ‘The penalty will be [the enslavement of] the person in whose bag the cup is found: this is how we punish wrongdoers.’

[Joseph] began by searching their bags, then his brother’s, and he pulled it out from his brother’s bag. In this way We devised a plan for Joseph- if God had not willed it so, he could not have detained his brother as a penalty under the king’s law- We raise the rank of whoever We will. Above everyone who has knowledge there is the One who is all knowing.

[His brothers] said, ‘If he is a thief then his brother was a thief before him,’ but Joseph kept his secrets and did not reveal anything to them. He said, ‘You are in a far worse situation. God knows best the truth of what you claim.’

They said, ‘Mighty governor, he has an elderly father. Take one of us in his place. We can see that you are a very good man.’

He replied, ‘God forbid that we should take anyone other than the person on whom we found our property: that would be unjust of us.’

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَايَةَ فِي رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَٰرِقُونَ

قَالُوا۟ وَأَقْبَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم مَّاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ

قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرࣲ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمࣱ

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَٰرِقِينَ

قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُمْ كَٰذِبِينَ

قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِي رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَٰتࣲ مَّن نَّشَآءُۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمࣱ

۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخࣱ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرࣱّ مَّكَانࣰاۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ

قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبࣰا شَيْخࣰا كَبِيرࣰا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذࣰا لَّظَٰلِمُونَ

When they lost hope of [persuading] him, they withdrew to confer with each other: the eldest of them said, ‘Do you not remember that your father took a solemn pledge from you in the name of God and before that you failed in your duty with regard to Joseph? I will not leave this land until my father gives me leave or God decides for me- He is the best decider-

so go back to your father and say, “Your son stole. We can only tell you what we saw. How could we guard against the unforeseen?

Ask in the town where we have been; ask the people of the caravan we travelled with: we are telling the truth.”’

Their father said, ‘No! Your souls have prompted you to do wrong! But it is best to be patient: may God bring all of them back to me- He alone is the All Knowing, the All Wise,’

and he turned away from them, saying, ‘Alas for Joseph!’ His eyes went white with grief and he was filled with sorrow.

They said, ‘By God! You will ruin your health if you do not stop thinking of Joseph, or even die.’

He said, ‘I plead my grief and sorrow before God. I have knowledge from God that you do not have.

My sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother and do not despair of God’s mercy- only disbelievers despair of God’s mercy.’

فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيࣰّاۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقࣰا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِي يُوسُفَۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِيٓ أَبِيٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِيۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَٰكِمِينَ

ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَٰفِظِينَ

وَسْـَٔلِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ ٱلَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا وَٱلْعِيرَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَاۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرࣰاۖ فَصَبْرࣱ جَمِيلٌۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمࣱ

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَٰلِكِينَ

قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّي وَحُزْنِيٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

يَٰبَنِيَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ

Then, when they presented themselves before Joseph, they said, ‘Mighty governor, misfortune has afflicted us and our family. We have brought only a little merchandise, but give us full measure. Be charitable to us: God rewards the charitable.’

He said, ‘Do you now realize what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?’

and they cried, ‘Could it be that you are Joseph?’ He said, ‘I am Joseph. This is my brother. God has been gracious to us: God does not deny anyone who is mindful of God and steadfast in adversity the rewards of those who do good.’

They said, ‘By God! God really did favour you over all of us and we were in the wrong!’

but he said, ‘You will hear no reproaches today. May God forgive you: He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.

Take my shirt and lay it over my father’s face: he will recover his sight. Then bring your whole family back to me.’

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَٰعَةࣲ مُّزْجَىٰةࣲ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا ٱلْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِي ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ

قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَٰهِلُونَ

قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِيۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَٰطِـِٔينَ

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

ٱذْهَبُوا۟ بِقَمِيصِي هَٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرࣰا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ

Later, when the caravan departed, their father said, ‘You may think I am senile but I can smell Joseph,’

but [people] said, ‘By God! You are still lost in that old illusion of yours!’

وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَۖ لَوْلَآ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ

قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِي ضَلَٰلِكَ ٱلْقَدِيمِ