What Quran Says About “Most Great)”(Kabeer)
Verily this Qur'an doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward; [17:9]
We have explained (things) in various (ways) in this Quran, in order that they may receive admonition, but it only increases their flight (from the Truth)! [17:41] Say: If there had been (other) gods with Him, as they say,- behold, they would certainly have sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne! [17:42] Glory to Him! He is high above all that they say!- Exalted and Great (beyond measure)! [17:43]
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. [11:9] 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. [11:10] Not so do those who show patience and constancy, and work righteousness; for them is forgiveness (of sins) and a great reward.[11:11]
If it were Our Will, We could take away that which We have sent thee by inspiration:then wouldst thou find none to plead thy affair in that matter as against Us,- [17:86] Except for Mercy from thy Lord: for his bounty is to thee (indeed) great. [17:87]
A. L. R. (This is) a Book, with verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning), further explained in detail,- from One Who is Wise and Well-acquainted (with all things): [11:1] (It teacheth) that ye should worship none but Allah. (Say): "Verily I am (sent) unto you from Him to warn and to bring glad tidings: [11:2] "(And to preach thus), 'Seek ye the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance; that He may grant you enjoyment, good (and true), for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace on all who abound in merit! But if ye turn away, then I fear for you the penalty of a great day:[11:3]
Allah doth know what every female (womb) doth bear, by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion. [13:8] He knoweth the unseen and that which is open: He is the Great, the Most High.[13:9]
Believe in Allah and His apostle, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a great Reward. [57:7]
To orphans restore their property (When they reach their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. For this is indeed a great sin. [4:2]
Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin. [17:31]
Nay, seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit,- [2:45]
They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein. [2:217]
It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the Bedouin Arabs of the neighbourhood, to refuse to follow Allah's Apostle, nor to prefer their own lives to his: because nothing could they suffer or do, but was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness,- whether they suffered thirst, or fatigue, or hunger, in the cause of Allah, or trod paths to raise the ire of the Unbelievers, or received any injury whatever from an enemy: for Allah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those who do good;- [9:120] Nor could they spend anything (for the cause) - small or great- nor cut across a valley, but the deed is inscribed to their credit: that Allah may requite their deed with the best (possible reward). [9:121]
Those who believed, and adopted exile, and fought for the Faith, with their property and their persons, in the cause of Allah, as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid,- these are (all) friends and protectors, one of another. As to those who believed but came not into exile, ye owe no duty of protection to them until they come into exile; but if they seek your aid in religion, it is your duty to help them, except against a people with whom ye have a treaty of mutual alliance. And (remember) Allah seeth all that ye do. [8:72] The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless ye do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on earth, and great mischief. [8:73]
Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From the Faith). Indeed it was (A change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah Make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people Most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful. [2:143]
O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (For evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of Allah, More suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves, there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witness whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah. For it is Allah that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things. [2:282]
They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may consider- [2:219]
Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes. [18:46] One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. [18:47] And they will be marshalled before thy Lord in ranks, (with the announcement), "Now have ye come to Us (bare) as We created you first: aye, ye thought We shall not fulfil the appointment made to you to meet (Us)!": [18:48] And the Book (of Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say, "Ah! woe to us! what a Book is this! It leaves out nothing small or great, but takes account thereof!" They will find all that they did, placed before them: And not one will thy Lord treat with injustice. [18:49]
Such as fear not the meeting with Us (for Judgment) say: "Why are not the angels sent down to us, or (why) do we not see our Lord?" Indeed they have an arrogant conceit of themselves, and mighty is the insolence of their impiety! [25:21]
Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness, with the (Qur'an). [25:52]
Then give the Glad Tidings to the Believers, that they shall have from Allah a very great Bounty. [33:47]
((Allah) will say): "Now have they proved you liars in what ye say: so ye cannot avert (your penalty) nor (get) help." And whoever among you does wrong, him shall We cause to taste of a grievous Penalty. [25:19]
Verily Allah has cursed the Unbelievers and prepared for them a Blazing Fire,- [33:64] To dwell therein for ever: no protector will they find, nor helper. [33:65] The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say: "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Apostle!" [33:66] And they would say: "Our Lord! We obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us as to the (right) Path. [33:67] "Our Lord! Give them double Penalty and curse them with a very great Curse!" [33:68]
For those who reject Allah, is a terrible Penalty: but for those who believe and work righteous deeds, is Forgiveness, and a magnificent Reward. [35:7]
To any that desires the tilth of the Hereafter, We give increase in his tilth, and to any that desires the tilth of this world, We grant somewhat thereof, but he has no share or lot in the Hereafter. [42:20] What! have they partners (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the Wrong- doers will have a grievous Penalty. [42:21] Thou wilt see the Wrong-doers in fear on account of what they have earned, and (the burden of) that must (necessarily) fall on them. But those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in the luxuriant meads of the Gardens: they shall have, before their Lord, all that they wish for. That will indeed be the magnificent Bounty (of Allah.. [42:22]
Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure. [54:49] And Our Command is but a single (Act),- like the twinkling of an eye. [54:50] And (oft) in the past, have We destroyed gangs like unto you: then is there any that will receive admonition? [54:51] All that they do is noted in (their) Books (of Deeds): [54:52] Every matter, small and great, is on record. [54:53]
For those who reject their Lord (and Cherisher) is the Penalty of Hell: and evil is (such), Destination. [67:6] When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath even as it blazes forth, [67:7] Almost bursting with fury: Every time a Group is cast therein, its Keepers will ask, "Did no Warner come to you?" [67:8] They will say: "Yes indeed; a Warner did come to us, but we rejected him and said, '(Allah) never sent down any (Message): ye are nothing but an egregious delusion!'" [67:9]
They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!" [67:10] They will then confess their sins: but far will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions of the Blazing Fire! [67:11] As for those who fear their Lord unseen, for them is Forgiveness and a great Reward. [67:12]
And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk. [76:12] Reclining in the (Garden) on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's) excessive cold. [76:13] And the shades of the (Garden) will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility. [76:14] And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and goblets of crystal,- [76:15] Crystal-clear, made of silver: they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes). [76:16] And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Zanjabil,- [76:17] A fountain there, called Salsabil. [76:18] And round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness): If thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls. [76:19] And when thou lookest, it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent. [76:20]
For those who believe and do righteous deeds, will be Gardens; beneath which rivers flow: That is the great Salvation, (the fulfilment of all desires), [85:11]
And We gave (Clear) Warning to the Children of Israel in the Book, that twice would they do mischief on the earth and be elated with mighty arrogance (and twice would they be punished)! [17:4] When the first of the warnings came to pass, We sent against you Our servants given to terrible warfare: They entered the very inmost parts of your homes; and it was a warning (completely) fulfilled. [17:5] Then did We grant you the Return as against them: We gave you increase in resources and sons, and made you the more numerous in man-power. [17:6] If ye did well, ye did well for yourselves; if ye did evil, (ye did it) against yourselves. So when the second of the warnings came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to disfigure your faces, and to enter your Temple as they had entered it before, and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power. [17:7]
Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our Servants as We have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace. [35:32]
Behold! We told thee that thy Lord doth encompass mankind round about: We granted the vision which We showed thee, but as a trial for men,- as also the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur'an: We put terror (and warning) into them, but it only increases their inordinate transgression! [17:60]
Behold, thy Lord called Moses: "Go to the people of iniquity,- [26:10] "The people of the Pharaoh: will they not fear Allah?" [26:11] He said: "O my Lord! I do fear that they will charge me with falsehood: [26:12] "My breast will be straitened. And my speech may not go (smoothly): so send unto Aaron. [26:13] "And (further), they have a charge of crime against me; and I fear they may slay me." [26:14] Allah said: "By no means! proceed then, both of you, with Our Signs; We are with you, and will listen (to your call). [26:15] "So go forth, both of you, to Pharaoh, and say: 'We have been sent by the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds; [26:16] "'Send thou with us the Children of Israel.'" [26:17] (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life? [26:18] "And thou didst a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an ungrateful (wretch)!" [26:19] Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error. [26:20] "So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgment (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the apostles. [26:21] "And this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me,- that thou hast enslaved the Children of Israel!" [26:22] Pharaoh said: "And what is the 'Lord and Cherisher of the worlds'?" [26:23] (Moses) said: "The Lord and Cherisher of the heavens and the earth, and all between,- if ye want to be quite sure." [26:24] (Pharaoh) said to those around: "Did ye not listen (to what he says)?" [26:25] (Moses) said: "Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers from the beginning!" [26:26] (Pharaoh) said: "Truly your apostle who has been sent to you is a veritable madman!" [26:27] (Moses) said: "Lord of the East and the West, and all between! if ye only had sense!" [26:28] (Pharaoh) said: "If thou dost put forward any god other than me, I will certainly put thee in prison!" [26:29] (Moses) said: "Even if I showed you something clear (and) convincing?" [26:30] (Pharaoh) said: "Show it then, if thou tellest the truth!" [26:31] So (Moses) threw his rod, and behold, it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)! [26:32] And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all beholders! [26:33] (Pharaoh) said to the Chiefs around him: "This is indeed a sorcerer well- versed: [26:34] "His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?" [26:35] They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities heralds to collect- [26:36] "And bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed." [26:37] So the sorcerers were got together for the appointment of a day well-known, [26:38] And the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?- [26:39] "That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" [26:40] So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win? [26:41] He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)." [26:42] Moses said to them: "Throw ye - that which ye are about to throw!" [26:43] So they threw their ropes and their rods, and said: "By the might of Pharaoh, it is we who will certainly win!" [26:44] Then Moses threw his rod, when, behold, it straightway swallows up all the falsehoods which they fake! [26:45] Then did the sorcerers fall down, prostrate in adoration, [26:46] Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, [26:47] "The Lord of Moses and Aaron." [26:48] Said (Pharaoh): "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? surely he is your leader, who has taught you sorcery! but soon shall ye know! [26:49]
(Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees: so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!" [20:71]
We rehearse to thee some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Truth, for people who believe. [28:3] Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections, depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew, but he kept alive their females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief. [28:4] And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs, [28:5] To establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions. [28:6] So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: "Suckle (thy child), but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our apostles." [28:7] Then the people of Pharaoh picked him up (from the river): (It was intended) that (Moses) should be to them an adversary and a cause of sorrow: for Pharaoh and Haman and (all) their hosts were men of sin. [28:8] The wife of Pharaoh said: "(Here is) joy of the eye, for me and for thee: slay him not. It may be that he will be use to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not (what they were doing)! [28:9] But there came to be a void in the heart of the mother of Moses: She was going almost to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart (with faith), so that she might remain a (firm) believer. [28:10] And she said to the sister of (Moses), "Follow him" so she (the sister) watched him in the character of a stranger. And they knew not. [28:11] And we ordained that he refused suck at first, until (His sister came up and) said: "Shall I point out to you the people of a house that will nourish and bring him up for you and be sincerely attached to him?"... [28:12] Thus did We restore him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted, that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is true: but most of them do not understand. [28:13] When he reached full age, and was firmly established (in life), We bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge: for thus do We reward those who do good. [28:14] And he entered the city at a time when its people were not watching: and he found there two men fighting,- one of his own religion, and the other, of his foes. Now the man of his own religion appealed to him against his foe, and Moses struck him with his fist and made an end of him. He said: "This is a work of Evil (Satan): for he is an enemy that manifestly misleads!" [28:15] He prayed: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul! Do Thou then forgive me!" So (Allah) forgave him: for He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [28:16] He said: "O my Lord! For that Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace on me, never shall I be a help to those who sin!" [28:17] So he saw the morning in the city, looking about, in a state of fear, when behold, the man who had, the day before, sought his help called aloud for his help (again). Moses said to him: "Thou art truly, it is clear, a quarrelsome fellow!" [28:18] Then, when he decided to lay hold of the man who was an enemy to both of them, that man said: "O Moses! Is it thy intention to slay me as thou slewest a man yesterday? Thy intention is none other than to become a powerful violent man in the land, and not to be one who sets things right!" [28:19] And there came a man, running, from the furthest end of the City. He said: "O Moses! the Chiefs are taking counsel together about thee, to slay thee: so get thee away, for I do give thee sincere advice." [28:20] He therefore got away therefrom, looking about, in a state of fear. He prayed "O my Lord! save me from people given to wrong-doing." [28:21] Then, when he turned his face towards (the land of) Madyan, he said: "I do hope that my Lord will show me the smooth and straight Path." [28:22] And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man." [28:23]
We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his rectitude of conduct, and well were We acquainted with him. [21:51] Behold! he said to his father and his people, "What are these images, to which ye are (so assiduously) devoted?" [21:52] They said, "We found our fathers worshipping them." [21:53] He said, "Indeed ye have been in manifest error - ye and your fathers." [21:54] They said, "Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who jest?" [21:55] He said, "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, He Who created them (from nothing): and I am a witness to this (Truth). [21:56] "And by Allah, I have a plan for your idols - after ye go away and turn your backs".. [21:57] So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn (and address themselves) to it. [21:58]
They said, "Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety!" [21:59] They said, "We heard a youth talk of them: He is called Abraham." [21:60] They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may bear witness." [21:61] They said, "Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Abraham?" [21:62] He said: "Nay, this was done by - this is their biggest one! ask them, if they can speak intelligently!" [21:63]
Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs (or symbols) for seekers (after Truth). [12:7] 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)! [12:8] "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!" [12:9] 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." [12:10] They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph,- seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers? [12:11] "Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him." [12:12] (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." [12:13] They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party, then should we indeed (first) have perished ourselves!" [12:14] 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' [12:15] Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping. [12:16] 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." [12:17] 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".. [12:18] 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! [12:19] The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! [12:20] 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. [12:21] When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right. [12:22] 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!" [12:23] 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. [12:24] 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?" [12:25] 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! [12:26] "But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then is she the liar, and he is telling the truth!" [12:27] 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! [12:28] "O Joseph, pass this over! (O wife), ask forgiveness for thy sin, for truly thou hast been at fault!" [12:29] 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." [12:30] 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!" [12:31] 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!" [12:32] 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." [12:33] So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and knoweth (all things). [12:34] Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the signs, (that it was best) to imprison him for a time. [12:35] 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)." [12:36] 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. [12:37] "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. [12:38] "O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are many lords differing among themselves better, or the One Allah, Supreme and Irresistible? [12:39] "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... [12:40] "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"... [12:41] 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. [12:42] 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." [12:43] They said: "A confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams." [12:44] 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)." [12:45] "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." [12:46] (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. [12:47] "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. [12:48] "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)." [12:49] 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." [12:50] (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). [12:51] "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. [12:52] "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." [12:53] 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! [12:54] (Joseph) said: "Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance)." [12:55] 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. [12:56] But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and are constant in righteousness. [012:057] Then came Joseph's brethren: they entered his presence, and he knew them, but they knew him not. [12:58] 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? [12:59] "Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall ye (even) come near me." [12:60] They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his father: Indeed we shall do it." [12:61] 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. [12:62] 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." [12:63] 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!" [12:64] 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. [12:65] (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!" [12:66] 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." [12:67] 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. [12:68] 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." [12:69] 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!" [12:70] They said, turning towards them: "What is it that ye miss?" [12:71] 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." [12:72] (The brothers) said: "By Allah! well ye know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!" [12:73] (The Egyptians) said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?" [12:74] 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!" [12:75] 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. [12:76] 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!" [12:77] 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." [12:78]
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." [12:78] 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. [12:79] 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. [12:80]