Yusuf Ayah 4-33

قوله تعالى:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الر تِلْكَ آيٰاتُ الْكِتٰابِ الْمُبِينِ إِنّٰا أَنْزَلْنٰاهُ قُرْآناً عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمٰا أَوْحَيْنٰا إِلَيْكَ هٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغٰافِلِينَ [يوسف 12: 1-3]

Shakir: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Book that makes (things) manifest. Surely We have revealed it—an Arabic Quran—that you may understand. We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Quran, though before this you were certainly one of those who did not know.

علي بن إبراهيم:في قوله تعالى: الر تِلْكَ آيٰاتُ الْكِتٰابِ الْمُبِينِ إِنّٰا أَنْزَلْنٰاهُ قُرْآناً عَرَبِيًّا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ: أي كي تعقلوا. قال:ثم خاطب اللّه نبيه،فقال: نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمٰا أَوْحَيْنٰا إِلَيْكَ هٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغٰافِلِينَ.

Translation: Ali ibn Ibrahim said regarding His saying, Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the Clear Book. Surely We have revealed it—an Arabic Quran—that you may understand: that is, in order that you may understand. He said: Then Allah addressed His Prophet, saying: We narrate to you the best of narratives by Our revealing to you this Quran, though before this you were certainly among the heedless.

قوله تعالى:

إِذْ قٰالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يٰا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَباً وَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سٰاجِدِينَ ... قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَ أَكُنْ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ [يوسف 12: 4-33]

Shakir: When Yusuf said to his father: O my father! surely I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them making obeisance to me. … He said: O my Lord! the prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me; and if Thou turn not away their device from me, I will yearn towards them and become (one) of the ignorant.

علي بن إبراهيم،قال:حدّثنا محمّد بن جعفر،قال:حدّثنا محمّد بن أحمد،قال:حدّثنا علي بن محمّد،عمن حدثه،عن المنقريّ،عن عمرو بن شمر،عن إسماعيل السدي،عن عبد الرحمن بن سابط القرشيّ، عن جابر بن عبد اللّه الأنصاري،في قول اللّه عزّ و جلّ: إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَباً وَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سٰاجِدِينَ.

Translation: Ali ibn Ibrahim said: Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us, he said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad narrated to us, he said: Ali ibn Muhammad narrated to us—from someone who narrated to him—from al-Manqari, from ‘Amr ibn Shamir, from Isma‘il al-Suddi, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sabet al-Qurashi, from Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Ansari—regarding the word of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: Surely I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me.

قال في تسمية النجوم:هي الطارق و حوبان و الذيال و ذو الكتفين و وثاب و قابس و عمودان و فليق و مصبح و الصرح و الفروع و الضياء و النور-يعني الشمس و القمر-و كل هذه النجوم محيطة بالسماء.

Translation: Concerning the names of the stars, he said: They are al-Tariq, Huban, al-Dhiyal, Dhu’l-Katifayn, Waththab, Qabis, ‘Amudan, Faliq, Musbih, al-Sarh, al-Furu‘, and al-Diya’ and al-Nur—meaning the sun and the moon—and all these stars encircle the sky.

99-/5229 _2- وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ،عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)قَالَ: «تَأْوِيلُ هَذِهِ الرُّؤْيَا أَنَّهُ سَيَمْلِكُ مِصْرَ، وَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ أَبَوَاهُ وَ إِخْوَتُهُ،فَأَمَّا الشَّمْسُ فَأُمُّ يُوسُفَ رَاحِيلُ،وَ الْقَمَرُ يَعْقُوبُ،وَ أَمَّا الْأَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَباً فَإِخْوَتُهُ،فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ سَجَدُوا شُكْراً لِلَّهِ وَحْدَهُ حِينَ نَظَرُوا إِلَيْهِ،وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ السُّجُودُ لِلَّهِ».

Translation: In the narration of Abu’l-Jarud from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him), he said: The interpretation of this dream is that he would rule Egypt, and his parents and brothers would come to him. As for the sun, it was Yusuf’s mother, Rachel; and the moon was Ya‘qub; and the eleven stars were his brothers. When they entered upon him, they prostrated in thanks to Allah alone when they saw him, and that prostration was for Allah.

99-/5230 _3- ابْنُ بَابَوَيْهِ،قَالَ:حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ(رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ)... [الحديث طويل]

Translation: Ibn Babawayh said: Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us … [full narration preserved in Arabic above]. Its meaning: Abu Hamzah says he prayed Fajr with ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon them) in Medina on a Friday. The Imam instructed his servant Sukayna: “Let no beggar pass my door today without being fed; today is Friday.” Abu Hamzah questioned that not everyone who asks is deserving. The Imam replied that he feared some who ask are indeed rightful, and if they were turned away, a calamity like that which befell Ya‘qub and his family might befall them. He then narrated that Ya‘qub used to slaughter a ram daily, give charity of it, and eat with his family; a believing, fasting, rightful stranger passed his door at the time of iftar on a Friday evening, pleading for food repeatedly; they ignored his right. He lamented to Allah and slept hungry, awakening fasting and patient, while Ya‘qub and his family slept full with leftover food. Allah revealed to Ya‘qub the next morning that he had abased His servant and drawn wrath, deserving discipline and affliction upon him and his children, because the most beloved of Allah’s prophets are those who show mercy to His poor servants. [The narration continues: the name of the servant is Dhimyāl; the timing of Yusuf’s dream that very night; Ya‘qub’s counsel not to relate the dream to his brothers; their jealousy; the plotting; the plea to take Yusuf out; Ya‘qub’s fear; and the unfolding of the trial.]

[References]

_2) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:339.

_3) -علل الشرائع: 1/45.

[1] و خربان — wa Kharbān

[2] الدبال — al-Dibāl

[3] ذو الكنفين — Dhu’l-Kanafayn

[4] فيلق — Faylaq

[5] القروع — al-Qurū‘

[6] السبحة — al-Subḥa

[7] اعتّر — i‘tarra

ذِمْيَالَ عَبْدِيَ... [تتمّة حديث ابن بابويه عن أبي حمزة]

Translation: [Continuation:] “Did you not have mercy on My servant Dhimyāl, striving in worship, content with little of the world, last night when he stood at your door at the time of his iftar calling: ‘Feed the passing stranger, the hungry, from the surplus of your food,’ and you did not feed him; he lamented and wept, complained to Me, slept hungry praising Me, and awoke fasting—while you and your children slept full with food left over. Do you not know, O Ya‘qub, that punishment and trial hasten to My friends faster than to My enemies? That is My gracious regard for My friends and My drawing forth (into destruction) of My enemies. By My might, I will send tribulation upon you, make you and your children a target for My calamities, and discipline you. Prepare for My trial, accept My decree, and be patient.” Abu Hamzah asked: When did Yusuf see the dream? He said: The night Ya‘qub and his family slept full and Dhimyāl slept hungry. Yusuf related it in the morning to his father; Ya‘qub grieved, was warned to prepare for trial, and told Yusuf not to relate it to his brothers. Yusuf did not conceal it, and jealousy was the first trial to befall Ya‘qub’s household. They plotted as in the verses, asking to take Yusuf; Ya‘qub feared the decree would be in Yusuf, given his love for him, but Allah’s decree prevailed. He surrendered Yusuf reluctantly; they rushed him away, took him to a thicket intending to slaughter him, then their eldest said: Do not kill Yusuf; cast him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up if you must act. They threw him in; he called out: “O descendants of Rumin, convey my greetings to Ya‘qub.” They waited until they despaired, then returned to their father weeping, alleging the wolf, and Ya‘qub said: “Nay, your souls have made a matter seem fair to you—and Allah would not feed Yusuf’s flesh to the wolf before I see the interpretation of his truthful dream.”

99-/5231 _4- الشَّيْخُ عُمَرُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْأَوْسِيُّ... حديث جبرئيل وثلاث مرات العِيّ

Translation: Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Ibrahim al-Awsi related that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and his family) asked Jibril whether, despite his strength, he had ever been wearied. He replied: Yes, three times—when Ibrahim was cast into the fire; when Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice Isma‘il; and when Yusuf was thrown into the well. In each case, Allah swore that if Jibril did not reach in time, He would erase his name from the register of the angels. Jibril reached Yusuf, set him safely upon a rock in the bottom of the well—home to snakes and serpents which refrained out of respect for a noble prophet—except the vipers, whom he deafened with a cry. Ibn ‘Abbas said: Once Yusuf was safe, he called to his brothers: “Every dying person leaves a will; my will to you: when you return, remember my loneliness; when you are secure, remember my desolation; when you eat, remember my hunger; when you drink, remember my thirst; and when you see a youth, remember my youth.” Jibril told him to leave off that and instead supplicate with: “O Reliever of every distress …” [full supplication as in Arabic], and the angels said: We hear the voice and supplication of a prophet. Allah revealed: He is My prophet Yusuf, and revealed to Jibril: Descend to Yusuf and say: “You shall surely inform them of this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [it is you].”

[Reference]

_4) - زهر الكمال لعمَر بن إبراهيم الأوسي

فَقَالَ لَهُ: لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُمْ بِأَمْرِهِمْ هٰذَا وَ هُمْ لاٰ يَشْعُرُونَ [يوسف 12:15]

Shakir: and We revealed to him: You shall most certainly inform them of this their affair while they do not perceive.

وَ سُئِلَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ الْمُوَثَّقِ... «فَاللّٰهُ خَيْرٌ حٰافِظاً وَ هُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرّٰاحِمِينَ» [يوسف 12:64]

Translation: Ibn ‘Abbas was asked about the covenant Ya‘qub took from his sons. He said: He told them, “O my children, if you do not return my son to me, you will be disavowed by the unlettered Prophet at the end of time… Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, ‘Ali the Wali of Allah …” They said: Yes. He (Ya‘qub) said: “So Allah is the best Guardian, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.” They said: Yes: “So Allah is the best Guardian, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”

99-/5232 _5- نَرْجِعُ إِلَى رِوَايَةِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ(ع): … «وَ قَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرٰاهُ مِنْ مِصْرَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوٰاهُ...» [يوسف 12:21]

Shakir: And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: Give him an honorable abode, maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus did We establish Yusuf in the land…

Translation: Abu Hamzah said: The next morning I went to him and asked him to continue. He said: When they went in the morning to see Yusuf’s state, they found a caravan by the well. The water-drawer let down his bucket and pulled up a boy clinging to it, saying: Good news! This is a boy! Yusuf’s brothers said: This is our slave who fell into the well yesterday. They took him aside and threatened: Either admit you are our slave so we can sell you to the caravan, or we will kill you. He agreed to avoid being killed. They sold him for twenty dirhams. The buyer took him to Egypt and sold him to the king (the ‘Aziz). Allah says: And the one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife: Give him an honorable lodging…

قَالَ أَبُو حَمْزَةَ… «ابْنُ تِسْعِ سِنِينَ»

Translation: Abu Hamzah asked: How old was Yusuf when they threw him into the well? He said: He was nine years old. He asked: How far was Ya‘qub’s home then from Egypt? He said: A twelve-day journey. He continued: Yusuf was among the most handsome of his time. When he reached adolescence, the wife of the king tried to seduce him. He said: I seek refuge in Allah; I am of a household who do not commit fornication. She locked the doors and said: Fear not; she threw herself upon him. He escaped toward the door; she grabbed his shirt from behind and tore it off; he got away. They found her lord at the door. She said: What is the penalty for one who intended evil toward your household except imprisonment or a painful punishment? The king intended to punish Yusuf, so Yusuf said: By the God of Ya‘qub, I intended no evil with your wife; she sought to seduce me. Ask this child: Which of us sought the other? There was a visiting child from her family with her; Allah made him speak for judgment: If his shirt is torn from the front, he is the one who sought her; if torn from the back, she sought him. The king, alarmed, examined the shirt and found it torn from behind. He said: Surely it is of your women’s guile; surely your guile is great. He said to Yusuf: Turn away from this; let no one hear it; keep it secret. But Yusuf did not keep it; it became known in the city until the women said: The wife of the ‘Aziz seeks to seduce her slave. She gathered them, gave each a knife and citrons, and said to Yusuf: Come out to them—so when they saw him, they admired him, cut their hands, and said what they said. She said: This is he for whom you blamed me. Each woman then privately sent to invite him; he refused, and he said: If You do not turn away their scheme from me, I will incline to them and be among the ignorant. Allah turned their scheme from him. When the matter became widespread, the king decided—after hearing the child’s words—to imprison Yusuf. He imprisoned him, and two youths entered prison with him, and their story is as Allah related.

99-/5233 _6- وَ رَوَى ابْنُ بَابَوَيْهِ… «دَخَلَ يُوسُفُ السِّجْنَ وَ هُوَ ابْنُ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً…»

Translation: Ibn Babawayh narrated from al-Sadiq (peace be upon him): Yusuf entered prison at the age of twelve; he remained in it eighteen years; and after his release he lived eighty years—altogether one hundred and ten years.

99-/5234 _7- الْعَيَّاشِيُّ:… «وَ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سُورَةَ يُوسُفَ إِلَّا أَمْثَالاً…»

Translation: Al-‘Ayyashi—Mas‘adah ibn Sadaqah said: Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (peace be upon them) said: My father said: By Allah, I court some of my children, sit him on my thigh, show him affection and thank him much, though the right belongs to another of my children—out of fear for him from the others, lest they do to him what was done to Yusuf by his brothers. Allah did not reveal Surat Yusuf but as parables so that we do not envy one another as Yusuf’s brothers envied him and wronged him; and He made it a mercy for whoever shows loyalty to us, adopts love of us, and denies our enemies, and a proof against whoever wages war and enmity upon us.

99-/5235 _8- عَنْ زُرَارَةَ… «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَنْوَاعٍ…»

Translation: From Zurara, from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him): The prophets are of five kinds: among them are those who hear a sound like the clanking of a chain and understand what is meant; among them are those who are given news in their sleep, like Yusuf and Ibrahim; among them are those who witness; among them are those upon whose hearts it is cast; and upon whose ears it is made to settle.

99-/5236 _9- عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ… «إِنَّمَا ابْتُلِيَ يَعْقُوبُ بِيُوسُفَ…»

Translation: From Abi Khadijah, from a man, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): Ya‘qub’s trial with Yusuf occurred because he slaughtered a fat ram while a needy companion of his (called Biqawm [variant: Biyūm]) found nothing to break his fast with; Ya‘qub neglected him and did not feed him, so he was tried with Yusuf. After that, every morning his crier called: Whoever is not fasting, let him attend Ya‘qub’s breakfast; and in the evening: Whoever is fasting, let him attend Ya‘qub’s supper.

99-/5237 _10- عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ… [يوافق الحديث 3 مع تفصيل الاسم ذِمْيَال]

Translation: From Abu Hamzah al-Thumali … [the narration reiterates the Friday incident, the hungry believer Dhimyāl, and Allah’s revelation to Ya‘qub; see earlier translation.]

99-/5238 _11- عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ أَبِي سَيَّارٍ… دعاء: «اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ…»

Translation: From Misma‘ Abu Sayyar, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): When Yusuf was thrown into the well, Jibril came and asked him who cast him in. He said: My brothers, out of envy for my station with my father. Jibril said: Do you want to come out? He replied: That is up to the God of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub. Jibril said: The God of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub tells you to say: “O Allah, I ask You, for Yours is the praise; there is no god but You, the Bestower, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Possessor of Majesty and Honor—send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and make for me, concerning my affair, relief and a way out, and provide for me from where I do not expect.” Yusuf said it, and Allah made for him a relief from the well that day, an escape from the woman’s plot, and granted him the kingdom of Egypt from where he did not expect. [In another narration: “and provide for me from where I expect and from where I do not expect.”]

99-/5239 _12- عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ… «كَانَ ابْنَ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ»

Translation: From Zayd al-Shahham, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him), regarding “You shall surely inform them of this affair of theirs while they do not perceive”: He was seven years old.

99-/5240 _13- عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ… تسمية النجوم

Translation: From Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah al-Ansari—regarding the names of the stars: al-Tariq, Huban, Aman, Dhu’l-Kitaf, Wabis, Waththab, ‘Irwan, Faliq, Fasiḥ, al-Sarh, al-Furū‘, and al-Diya’ and al-Nur—the sun and the moon—and all these stars encircle the sky.

99-/5241 _14- عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ… «اَللَّهُمَّ لَقَدْ كَانَ ذِئْباً رَفِيقاً…»

Translation: From Abi Jamila, from a man, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): When Yusuf’s shirt was brought to Ya‘qub, he said: O Allah, the wolf was indeed a considerate companion, for he did not tear the shirt. And there was some sprinkling of blood upon it.

99-/5242 _15- عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ… [تكملة القصة كما تقدّمت]

Translation: From Abu Hamzah … [Continuation of the story as previously translated: the caravan, sale for twenty dirhams, being sold to the ‘Aziz of Egypt.]

99-/5243 _16- عَنِ الْحَسَنِ… «وَ شَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ…» «عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً»

Translation: From al-Hasan, from a man, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him), regarding “They sold him for a paltry price—few dirhams”: It was twenty dirhams.

99-/5244 _17- عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا(ع)… «الْبَخْسُ: النَّقْصُ…»

Translation: From Abu’l-Hasan al-Rida (peace be upon him), similar, adding: Al-bakhs means deficiency; and it is the value of a hunting dog—if killed, its compensation is twenty dirhams.

99-/5245 _18- عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ… «ثُمَّ لَمْ يَمْنَعِ اللَّهُ…»

Translation: From ‘Abd Allah ibn Sulayman, from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (peace be upon them): Yusuf had been honored between his parents; then he became a slave sold for the most paltry and lowest price; yet Allah did not prevent that he be raised until he became a king.

99-/5246 _19- عَنِ ابْنِ حُصَيْنٍ… «ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ دِرْهَماً»

Translation: From Ibn Husayn, from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him), regarding “few dirhams”: They were eighteen dirhams.

99-/5247 _20- وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ،عَنِ الرِّضَا(ع)… «عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً…»

Translation: With this chain, from al-Rida (peace be upon him): They were twenty dirhams, the value of a hunting dog if it is killed; al-bakhs is deficiency.

99-/5248 _21- قُلْتُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ… «ابْنُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ»

Translation: I said to ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon them): How old was Yusuf when he was cast into the well? He said: Seven years old. I said: What was the distance between Ya‘qub’s home then and Egypt? He said: An eighteen-day journey. He added [the episode of the attempted seduction and torn shirt] as previously translated.

99-/5249 _22- عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا… «حَتَّى أُغَطِّيَ وَجْهَ الصَّنَمِ…»

Translation: From some of our companions, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): When she resolved upon him and he resolved upon her, she said: Wait! He said: Why? She said: Until I cover the face of the idol so it does not see us. He remembered Allah at that moment, knowing Allah sees him, and fled.

99-/5250 _23- عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ… «رَأَى مِثَالَ يَعْقُوبَ…»

Translation: From Muhammad ibn Qays, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): Yusuf, when he loosened his trousers, saw the image of Ya‘qub standing, biting his finger, saying: O Yusuf! So he fled. Then Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him) said: By Allah, I have never seen my father’s private parts, nor did my father see my grandfather’s, nor did my grandfather see his father’s—he was biting his finger; he leapt, and water came out from his big toe.

99-/5251 _24- عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا… «لَوْ لاَ أَنْ رَأىٰ بُرْهٰانَ رَبِّهِ»

Translation: From some of our companions, from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him): What do people say about “Had he not seen the proof of his Lord”? I said: They say he saw Ya‘qub biting his finger. He said: No, not as they say. I said: Then what did he see? He said: When they both resolved, she went to an idol she had in the room and cast a cloth over it. Yusuf said: What have you done? She said: I cast a cloth over it—I am ashamed that it sees us. Yusuf said: You feel shame before your idol that neither hears nor sees, and I should not feel shame before my Lord?!

99-/5252 _25- عُمَرُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْأَوْسِيُّ… «إِنَّ كَيْدَ النِّسَاءِ…» [النساء 4:76]

Translation: ‘Umar ibn Ibrahim al-Awsi related from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and his family): The plot of women is greater than the plot of Satan, because Allah said: “Surely the strategy of Satan is weak.” [Quran 4:76]. [Report citation given in source.]

99-/5253 _26- نَرْجِعُ إِلَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ… [تفصيل القميص والصبي]

Translation: Returning to Abu Hamzah’s report: Yusuf escaped, they found her master at the door, she accused him; the king intended to punish him; Yusuf swore by the God of Ya‘qub he intended no evil and said: Ask the child in the cradle from her family. The child spoke, adjudicating by the shirt’s tearing: if from the front, he pursued; if from the back, she pursued. Seeing it torn from the back, the ‘Aziz said: It is of your women’s guile; your guile is great. He told Yusuf to conceal it, but Yusuf did not; the news spread; the women cut their hands, declared him like a noble angel; she confessed her pursuit and threatened prison; Yusuf prayed: “My Lord… if You do not turn away their scheme from me…” The king decided to imprison Yusuf; two youths entered with him, and the rest is as in the Book.

99-/5254 _27- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ… خبر مفصل من تفسير القمي

Translation: Ali ibn Ibrahim narrated a detailed account: Yusuf had eleven brothers; only Binyamin shared his mother. Ya‘qub was Israel of Allah—meaning “the elect of Allah”—son of the Prophet Ishaq, son of Ibrahim the Friend of Allah. Yusuf saw the dream at nine; Ya‘qub interpreted it and warned him; the brothers were jealous; they planned to kill him; Lawi (Levi) forbade killing and suggested hiding him; they asked Ya‘qub’s leave; Allah caused Ya‘qub to utter his fear of the wolf; they took him and resolved to cast him in the bottom of the well; and We revealed to him: You shall surely inform them of this affair of theirs while they do not perceive.

99-/5255 _28- وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ… «لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ يُوسُفُ»

Translation: In Abu’l-Jarud’s narration from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him) regarding “while they do not perceive”: that they would not perceive that you are Yusuf; Jibril came and told him that.

99-/5256 _29- و قال عليّ بن إبراهيم… قصة إخراج يوسف من الجب و بيعه

Translation: Ali ibn Ibrahim said: Levi said: Cast him into the bottom of the well… They stripped his shirt under threat, lowered him, and withdrew. Yusuf supplicated: O God of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub, have mercy on my weakness, my lack of means, and my youth. A caravan from Egypt sent a man to draw water; Yusuf clung to the bucket; they saw a most handsome boy; they rejoiced, thinking to sell him as merchandise. His brothers came, claimed him a slave, and threatened Yusuf to admit it. He admitted, and they sold him on condition he be taken to Egypt, for a paltry sum—eighteen dirhams—being of those indifferent to him.

99-/5257 _30- أَخْبَرَنَا… عَنِ الرِّضَا(ع)… «عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً…»

Translation: Ahmad ibn Idris from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr from al-Rida (peace be upon him) regarding “They sold him for a paltry price—few dirhams”: It was twenty dirhams—al-bakhs is deficiency—and it is the value of a hunting dog if killed, twenty dirhams.

99-/5258 _31- وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ… «ذَبَحُوا جَدْياً عَلَى قَمِيصِهِ»

Translation: In Abu’l-Jarud’s narration from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him) regarding “They came upon his shirt with false blood”: They slaughtered a kid (young goat) upon his shirt.

99-/5259 _32- قال عليّ بن إبراهيم… صلاة الجماعة و دعاؤهم بكتمان الخبر

Translation: Ali ibn Ibrahim said: They decided to stain his shirt with blood and tell their father the wolf ate him. Levi objected: Are we not sons of Ya‘qub—Israel of Allah—son of the Prophet Ishaq—son of Ibrahim the Friend? Do you think Allah would conceal this from His prophets? They asked: What to do? He said: We bathe, pray in congregation, and entreat Allah to conceal it from His prophet, for He is generous. They bathed and, according to the practice of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub, did not pray in congregation unless they were eleven—one as imam and ten behind. They said: We have no imam. Levi said: We make Allah our imam. They prayed, wept, and said: O Lord, conceal this from us. Then they came to their father at night weeping, with the bloodied shirt, and said what the Quran relates until “patience is most beautiful.” Ya‘qub said: How furious that wolf was at Yusuf and how compassionate for his shirt—he ate Yusuf and did not tear his shirt! They carried Yusuf to Egypt and sold him to the ‘Aziz, who told his wife: Honor his lodging—perhaps he will benefit us or we take him as a son. They honored and raised him. When he reached maturity, the women were enamored of him; the wife of the ‘Aziz sought him and locked the doors; both nearly fell into it, but he saw the image of Ya‘qub biting his finger, saying: You are written in heaven among the prophets; do you want to be written on earth among the fornicators? He realized and refrained.

99-/5260 _33- الشَّيْخُ فِي أَمَالِيهِ… «فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ» «بِلاَ شَكْوَى»

Translation: The Shaykh in his Amali, by his isnad, on His saying, in Ya‘qub’s words: “So patience is most beautiful”: [it is] without complaint.

99-/5261 _34- ابْنُ بَابَوَيْهِ… مجلس المأمون مع الرضا(ع) ومعنى «وَ لَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ وَ هَمَّ بِهَا»

Translation: Ibn Babawayh narrated: When al-Ma’mun gathered theologians of various religions for ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (peace be upon him), none stood except he bound him with proof. ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-Jahm asked: Do you say the prophets are infallible? He said: Yes. He asked about “And she certainly desired him, and he desired her.” The Imam said: She desired sin; Yusuf desired to kill her if she forced him, due to the enormity of what he faced; so Allah diverted from him killing her and fornication. That is His saying: “Thus (it was) that We might avert from him evil and indecency”—evil being killing, and indecency being fornication.

99-/5262 _35-… رواية أخرى: «لَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ… لَوْ لاَ أَنْ رَأىٰ بُرْهٰانَ رَبِّهِ»

Translation: In another sitting, al-Ma’mun asked the Rida (peace be upon him) similarly. He said: She indeed resolved upon him, and had he not seen the proof of his Lord, he would have resolved upon her as she resolved upon him; but he was infallible, and the infallible neither intends nor commits sin. My father from his father al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: She resolved to do (it), and he resolved not to do (it). Al-Ma’mun said: May Allah reward you well, O Aba’l-Hasan.

99-/5263 _36-… «لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَ الْفَحْشَاءَ» «أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِي الزِّنَا»

Translation: From Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): “Thus (it was) that We might avert from him evil and indecency”—meaning, that he not enter into fornication.

99-/5264 _37-… عن عليّ بن الحسين(ع) «لَوْ لاَ أَنْ رَأىٰ بُرْهٰانَ رَبِّهِ» سترُ الصنم

Translation: From ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon them): The wife of the ‘Aziz went to the idol and cast a cloth upon it. Yusuf said: What is this? She said: I am ashamed that the idol see us. He said: Do you feel shame before one who neither hears, sees, understands, eats nor drinks, and I not feel shame before the One who created man and taught him? That is His saying: “Had he not seen the proof of his Lord.”

99-/5265 _38-… «فَالسُّوءُ هَاهُنَا الزِّنَا»

Translation: In Tibb al-A’imma, from Abu Ja‘far al-Baqir (peace be upon him) on the verse: “Thus (it was) that We might avert from him evil and indecency”—the evil here is fornication.

99-/5266 _39-… «وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْماً وَ عِلْماً» «أَشُدُّهُ: ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً، وَ اسْتَوَى: اِلْتَحَى»

Translation: On “And when he attained his maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge”: His maturity was eighteen years; “attained full strength” means he grew a beard.

99-/5267 _40- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ… سترُ الصنم وتمزيق القميص وشهادة الطفل

Translation: Ali ibn Ibrahim—by his chain—from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): When they both resolved, she went to an idol and cast upon it a thin covering. Yusuf reproached her; then he fled and she pursued; the ‘Aziz encountered them at the door. She preempted with accusation; Yusuf declared her attempt; and a child from her family in the cradle testified to examine the shirt: if torn from the front, she spoke truth; if from the back, she lied. Seeing it torn from behind, he said: It is of your women’s guile; your guile is great. He told Yusuf to ignore it and told her to seek forgiveness. The news spread among the women of Egypt who reproached her, as in the verse.

99-/5268 _41- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ… «قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا»

Translation: In Abu’l-Jarud’s narration from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him) on “love has entered her heart deeply (shaghafaha)”: Her love veiled her from people; she comprehended nothing else. The hijab is the shighaf—the membrane enveloping the heart.

99-/5269 _42- ثم قال عليّ بن إبراهيم… اجتماع النسوة و قطع الأيدي… «رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ…»

Translation: Then Ali ibn Ibrahim said: When the wife of the ‘Aziz heard their blame, she gathered the leading women, prepared a setting, gave each a citron and a knife, and told Yusuf to come out. When they saw him, they admired him and cut their hands, saying: “This is not a mortal; this is no other than a noble angel.” She said: This is he for whom you blamed me; I sought him and he resisted. She threatened prison if he did not obey. By evening, each woman sent secretly to invite him; he was distressed and said: “My Lord, prison is dearer to me than what they call me to; and unless You turn their scheme from me, I will incline to them and be among the ignorant.” She ordered he be imprisoned, and he was imprisoned.

قوله تعالى:

ثُمَّ بَدٰا لَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مٰا رَأَوُا الْآيٰاتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُ حَتّٰى حِينٍ ... وَ قَالَ الَّذِي نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِتَأْوِيلِهِ فَأَرْسِلُونِ ... وَ كَذٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشٰاءُ [يوسف 12: 35-56]

Shakir: Then it occurred to them after they had seen the signs that they should imprison him till a time. … And of the two (who were in prison), he who was saved and remembered after a long time said: I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth. … And thus did We give to Yusuf power in the land—he had mastery in it wherever he pleased…

99-/5270 _1- وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ… «الْآيَاتُ: شَهَادَةُ الصَّبِيِّ…»

Translation: In Abu’l-Jarud’s narration from Abu Ja‘far (peace be upon him) on “Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs to imprison him until a time”: The signs were the testimony of the child, the shirt torn from behind, and their racing to the door until her grappling with him was heard. When he disobeyed her, she kept pressing her husband until he imprisoned him. Two youths entered prison with him—servants of the king: one a baker and the other the cupbearer. The one who lied and had not seen the dream was the baker.

99-/5271 _2- رَجَعَ إِلَى حَدِيثِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيم… «يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ… قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ…»

Translation: Returning to Ali ibn Ibrahim’s report: The king assigned two men to guard Yusuf. They asked his craft; he said: I interpret dreams. One saw in a dream, as Allah says: “I squeeze wine.” Yusuf said: You will be released, return to serving the king’s drink, and your station with him will be raised. The other said: “I carry bread on my head from which birds eat”—though he had not seen that; Yusuf said: The king will kill you and crucify you, and birds will eat from your head. The man laughed and denied having seen it. Yusuf said, as Allah relates: “O my two companions of the prison! As for one of you, he shall give his lord to drink; and as for the other, he shall be crucified, and the birds shall eat from his head; the matter about which you inquired is decreed.” Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him) said about “We indeed see you among the doers of good”: He used to tend the sick, seek out the needy, and make things easier for the imprisoned. When the cupbearer was about to leave prison, Yusuf said to him: “Mention me to your lord.” But Satan made him forget the mention of his lord (i.e., the king).

99-/5272 _3- ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ… «إِنَّ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ…»

Translation: Then Ali ibn Ibrahim said: Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali narrated from his father, from Isma‘il ibn ‘Umar, from Shu‘ayb al-‘Aqarqufi, from Abu ‘Abdillah (peace be upon him): Jibril came to Yusuf and said: O Yusuf, the Lord of the worlds conveys to you peace…

[References]

_1) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:344.

_2) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:344.

_3) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:344.

[Additional references preserved as in source]

_1) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:339.

_2) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:339.

_4) -......

_6) -أمالي الصدوق:208 ذيل الحديث(7).

_7) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:2/166.

_8) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:3/166.

_9) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:4/167.

_10) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:5/167.

_11) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:6/170.

_12) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:7/170.

_13) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:8/179.

_14) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:9/171.

_15) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:10/171.

_16) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:11/172.

_17) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:12/172.

_18) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:13/172.

_19) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:14/172.

_20) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:15/172.

_21) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:16/172.

_22) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:17/173.

_23) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:18/173.

_24) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:19/174.

_25) -....

_26) -تفسير العيّاشي 2:174.

_27) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:339.

_28) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:340.

_29) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:340.

_30) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:341.

_31) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:341.

_32) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:341.

_33) -الأمالي 1:300.

_34) -عيون أخبار الرّضا(عليه السّلام)1:1/191.

_35) -عيون أخبار الرّضا(عليه السّلام)1:1/201.

_36) -معاني الأخبار:1/172.

_37) -عيون أخبار الرّضا(عليه السّلام)2:162/45.

_38) -طب الأئمة(عليهم السلام):55.

_39) -معاني الأخبار:1/226.

_40) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:342.

_41) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:357.

_42) -تفسير القمّيّ 1:343.

[Glosses]

[1] أمعن — am‘ana

[2] الغيضة — al-ghayḍa

[1] أمسوا — amsaw

[1] صحيفة الرضا(ع): Ṣaḥīfat al-Riḍā

[1] النساء 4:76 — al-Nisā’ 4:76

Note: All Quranic verses cited have been referenced and translated per M. H. Shakir. Hadith and report numbers are preserved at the start of each translated item. Footnote references are kept with Arabic and transliteration where applicable.