This is the rest of the Story of Joseph from the Qur'an...

In the city women were saying: 'The Prince's wife has sought to seduce her servant. She has conceived a passion for him (fallen in love with him). It is clear that she has gone astray.'

When she heard of their intrigues (secret discussions), she invited them to a banquet at her house. To each she gave a knife, and ordered Joseph to present himself before them. When they saw him, they were amazed at him and cut their hands, exclaiming: 'Allah preserve us! This is no mortal, but a gracious angel.'

'This is the man,' she said, 'on whose account you reproached (criticized) me. I sought to seduce him, but he was unyielding. If he declines to do my bidding (do what I ask), he shall be thrown into prison and held in scorn.'

'Lord,' said Joseph, 'sooner would I go to prison than give in to their advances. Shield me from their cunning, or I shall yield to them and lapse into folly.'

His Lord heard his prayer and warded off their wiles from him (protected him from their tricks). He hears all and knows all. Yet despite the evidence they had seen, the Egyptians thought it right to jail him for a time.

Two young men went to prison with him. One of them said: 'I dreamt that I was pressing grapes.'

And the other said: 'I dreamt that I was carrying a loaf upon my head, and that the birds came and ate of it. Tell us the meaning of these dreams, for we can see you are a man of learning.'

Joseph replied: 'I can interpret them long before they are fulfilled. This knowledge my Lord has given me, for I have left the faith of those that disbelieve in the One God and deny the life to come. I follow the faith of my forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We must never serve idols besides Allah. Such is the gift which God has bestowed upon us and all mankind. Yet most men do not give thanks.

'Fellow-prisoners! Are numerous gods better than Allah, the One, the Almighty? Those whom you serve besides Him are names which you and your fathers have invented and for which Allah has revealed no sanction. Judgment rests with Allah only. He has commanded you to worship none but Him. That is the true faith: yet most men do not know it.

'Fellow-prisoners, one of you will serve his king with wine. The other will be crucified (hung on a cross to die), and the birds will peck at his head. That is the meaning of your dreams.'

And Joseph said to the prisoner who he knew would be freed: 'Remember me in the presence of your king.'

But Satan (the devil) made him forget to mention Joseph to his king, so that he stayed in prison for several years.

Now it so chanced that one day the king said: I saw seven fatted cows which seven lean (thin) ones devoured; also seven green ears of corn and seven others dry. Tell me the meaning of this vision, my nobles, if you can interpret visions.'

They replied: 'It is but an idle dream; nor can we interpret dreams.'

Thereupon the man who had been freed remembered Joseph after all those years. He said: 'I shall tell you what it means. Give me leave to go.'

He said to Joseph: 'Tell us, man of truth, of the seven fatted cows which seven lean ones devoured; also of the seven green ears of corn and the other seven which were dry: for I would inform my masters.'

Joseph replied: 'You shall sow (plant seeds) for seven consecutive years (seven years in a row). Leave in the ear the corn you reap (save the corn you harvest for future planting), except a little which you may eat. Then there shall follow seven hungry years which will consume (eat) all but little of that which you have stored for them. Then there will come a year of abundant rain, in which the people will press the grape.' The king said: 'Bring this man before me.' But when the king's envoy (messenger) came to him, Joseph said: ' Go back to your master and ask him about the women who cut their hands. My master knows their cunning.'

The king questioned the women, saying: ' Why did you seek to entice Joseph ? '

'Allah forbid! ' they replied. 'We know no evil of him.' 'Now the truth must come to light,' said the Prince's wife.' It was I who sought to seduce him. He has told the truth.'

'From this,' said Joseph, 'my lord will know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not guide the work of the treacherous. Not that I am free from sin: man's soul is prone to evil, except his to whom Allah has shown mercy. My Lord is forgiving and merciful.'

The king said: 'Bring him before me. I will make him my personal servant.'

And when he had spoken with him, the king said: 'You shall henceforth (from now on) dwell (live) with us, honored and trusted.'

Joseph said: 'Give me charge (Put me in charge) of the granaries (storage places for grain) of the realm (kingdom). I shall husband (take care of) them wisely.'

Thus We gave power to Joseph, and he dwelt at his ease (lived comfortably) in that land. We bestow Our mercy on whom We will, and never deny the righteous their reward. Better is the reward of the life to come for those who believe in Allah and keep from evil.

Joseph's brothers came and presented themselves before him. He recognized them, but they knew him not. And when he had given them their provisions (goods, supplies), he said: 'Bring me your other brother from your father. Do you not see that I give just measure and am the best of hosts? If you do not bring him, you shall have no corn, nor shall you come near me again.'

They replied: 'We will request his father to let him come with us. This we will surely do.'

Joseph said to his servants: 'Put their money into their packs, so that they may find it when they return to their people. Perchance (perhaps, maybe) they will come back.'

When they returned to their father, they said: 'Father, corn is henceforth (after this) denied us. Send our brother with us and we shall have our measure. We will take good care of him.'

He replied: 'Am I to trust you with him as I once trusted you with his brother? But Allah is the best of guardians: of all those that show mercy He is the most merciful.'

When they opened their packs, they found that their money had been returned to them. 'Father,' they said, 'what more can we desire? Here is our money untouched. We will buy provisions for our people and take good care of our brother. We shall receive an extra camel-load; that should not be hard to get.'

He replied: I shall not let him go with you until you swear in Allah's name to bring him back to me, unless you are prevented.'

And when they had given him their pledge (promise), he said: 'Allah is the witness of your oath. My sons, enter the town by different gates. If you do wrong, I cannot ward off from you the wrath (anger) of Allah: judgment is His alone. In Him I have put my trust. In Him alone let the faithful put their trust.'

And when they entered as their father had advised them, his counsel availed them nothing against the decree of Allah. It was but a wish in Jacob's soul which he had thus fulfilled. He was possessed of knowledge which We had given him, though most men were unaware of it.

When they presented themselves before him, Joseph embraced his brother, and said: 'I am your brother. Do not grieve at what they did.'

And when he had given them their provisions, he hid a drinking cup in his brother's pack. Then a crier called out after them: 'Travelers, you are thieves!'

They turned back and asked: 'What have you lost ?'

'The king's drinking-cup,' he replied. 'He that restores it shall have a camel-load of corn. I pledge my word for it.'

'By Allah,' they cried, 'you know we did not come to do evil in this land. We are no thieves.'

The Egyptians said: 'What penalty shall we inflict on him that stole it, if you prove to be lying?'

They replied: 'He in whose pack the cup is found shall be your bondsman (servant). Thus we punish the wrongdoers.'

Joseph searched their bags before his brother's, and then took out the cup from his brother's bag.

Thus We directed Joseph. By the king's law he had no right to seize his brother: but God willed otherwise. We exalt in knowledge whom We will: but above those that have knowledge there is One more knowing.

They said: 'If he has stolen - know then that a brother of his has committed a theft before him.''

But Joseph kept his secret and did not reveal it to them. He thought: 'Your crime was worse. Allah well knows that you are lying.'

They said: 'Noble prince, this boy has an aged father. Take one of us, instead of him. We can see you are a generous man.'

He replied: 'Allah forbid that we should seize any but the man with whom our property was found: for then we should be unjust.'

When they despaired of him, they went aside to confer (to talk, to conference) together. The eldest said: ' Have you forgotten that you gave your father a solemn pledge, and that you broke your faith before this concerning Joseph? I shall not stir from this land until my father gives me leave or Allah makes known to me His judgment: He is the best of judges. Return to your father and say to him: "Your son has committed a theft. We testify only to what we know. How could we guard against the unforeseen? Ask the townsfolk with whom we stayed and the caravan in which we traveled. We speak the truth." 'No ! ' cried their father. 'Your souls have tempted you to evil. But I will be patient.

Allah may bring them all to me. He alone is wise and all-knowing.' And he turned away from them, crying: 'Alas for Joseph ! ' His eyes went white with grief and he was oppressed with silent sorrow.

His sons exclaimed: 'By Allah, will you not cease to think of Joseph until you ruin your health and die?'

He replied: I complain to God of my sorrow and sadness. He has made known to me things beyond your knowledge. Go, my sons, and seek news of Joseph and his brother. Do not despair of Allah's spirit; none but unbelievers despair of Allah's spirit.'

And when they presented themselves before Joseph, they said: 'Noble prince, we and our people are scourged with famine. We have brought but little money. Give us some corn, and be charitable to us: Allah rewards the charitable.'

'Do you know,' he replied, 'what you did to Joseph and his brother in your ignorance? '

They cried: 'Can you indeed be Joseph ? '

I am Joseph,' he answered, ' and this is my brother. Allah has been gracious to us. Those that keep from evil and endure with fortitude (strength, bravery), Allah will not deny them their reward.'

'By the Lord,' they said, ' Allah has exalted (honored, raised) you above us all. We have indeed been guilty.'

He replied: 'None shall reproach (accuse, criticize) you this day. May Allah forgive you: He is most merciful. Take this shirt of mine and throw it over my father's face: he will recover his sight. Then return to me with all your people.'

When the caravan departed their father said: 'I feel the breath of Joseph, though you will not believe me.'

'By Allah,' said those who heard him, 'this is but your old illusion.'

And when the bearer of good news arrived, he threw Joseph's shirt over the old man's face, and his sight came back. Nor were the apostles whom We sent before you other than mortals inspired by Our will and chosen from among their people.

Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those who disbelieved before them? Better is the world to come for those that keep from evil. Can you not understand?

And when at length Our apostles despaired and thought that none would believe in them. Our help came down to them, delivering whom We pleased. The evil-doers did not escape Our scourge (punishment).

Their history is a lesson to men of understanding. This is no invented tale, but a confirmation of previous scriptures (writings), an explanation of all things, a guide and a blessing to true believers.

The Story of Joseph is from the Internet site The Koran, An English Translation.

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