Surah 12

"Return to your father and say, ‘O our father! Verily, your son (Benjamin) has stolen, and we testify not except according to what we know, and we could not know the Unseen!

"And ask (the people of) the town where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned; and indeed we are telling the truth."

He [Ya‘qûb (Jacob)] said: "Nay, but your ownselves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allâh will bring them (back) all to me. Truly He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise."

And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yûsuf (Joseph)!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.

They said: "By Allâh! You will never cease remembering Yûsuf (Joseph) until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead."

He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allâh, and I know from Allâh that which you know not.

"O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yûsuf (Joseph) and his brother, and never give up hope of Allâh’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allâh’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve."

Then, when they entered unto him [Yûsuf (Joseph)], they said: "O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allâh does reward the charitable."

He said: "Do you know what you did with Yûsuf (Joseph) and his brother, when you were ignorant?"

They said: "Are you indeed Yûsuf (Joseph)?" He said: "I am Yûsuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allâh has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allâh with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allâh makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112) to be lost."

They said: "By Allâh! Indeed Allâh has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners."

He said: "No reproach on you this day; may Allâh forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy![4]

"Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring me all your family."

And when the caravan departed, their father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Yûsuf (Joseph), if only you think me not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."

They said: "By Allâh! Certainly, you are in your old error."

Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, ‘I know from Allâh that which you know not.’"

They said: "O our father! Ask Forgiveness (from Allâh) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners."

He said: "I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

Then, when they came in before Yûsuf (Joseph), he took his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allâh wills, in security."

And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Shaitân (Satan) had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.