we’ll protect our brother;
and we’ll get an extra camel-load
of grain, an easy load!”
66Jacob answered, “I’ll never
send him with you, until you pledge
to me—by God—that you’ll bring him
to me, unless you’re somehow ensnared.”
When they made their pledge,
he said, “God is Custodian
over all that we say.”
67He continued, “My sons,
don’t enter by one gate,
but various gates;
yet I can’t help you at all
against [the Will of] God.
Judgment is from God alone:
I trust in Him—let everyone
trust in Him.”
68And when they entered
in the way their father
had directed, this did not help them
at all against [the Will of] God,
for it was just a need in Jacob,
which he gratified.
For he possessed knowledge
that We taught him.
But most people do not know.
SECTION 9
69When they came before Joseph,
he drew his brother to him, saying,
“I am your own brother!
So don’t grieve over
what they’ve been doing.”
70And while he was
preparing their supplies,
he planted a drinking cup
in his brother’s saddlebag.
Then a town crier cried aloud,
“You, in the caravan!
You are thieves!”
71Turning toward them, they said,
“What are you missing?”
72He said, “We’re missing
the chalice of the king;
whoever brings it will get
a camel-load, I pledge.”
73They said, “By God!
You well know, we haven’t come
to make mischief in the realm,
nor are we thieves!”
74He replied,
“Then what penalty
should there be for this,
if you are lying?”
75They said, “As penalty,
the person who’s found with it
in his saddlebag should himself
be detained. That’s how
we punish wrongdoers.”
76So Joseph began with their bags,
before searching his brother’s bag.
At length, he lifted it out
of his brother’s bag.
We contrived this for Joseph,
else he could not detain his brother
within the law of the king,
without God’s will.
We raise in station whom We will;
yet above all those who know
is the All Knowing.
77They said, “If he has stolen,
well, he has a brother who stole
before him.” But Joseph said
—to himself, not disclosing
anything to them—
“You are in the worst situation,
and God knows best the truth
of what you claim.”
78They said, “Governor,
he has a father who’s very old;
so take one of us in his place;
for we can see that
you’re a virtuous person.”
79He responded, “God forbid
that we detain any but the one
caught with our property—
that would be wrong.”
SECTION 10
80Losing hope of persuading him,
they conferred in private.
The eldest spoke, “Don’t you know
your father took a pledge from you,
in the name of God—and before this,
you failed in your duty with Joseph?
I won’t leave this land until my father
gives me leave or God decrees it so—
He is the Most Excellent of Judges.
81“[As for the rest of you],
go back to your father, and say,
‘Father of ours, your son
has been stealing—we can tell you
only we what we witnessed;
we could not prevent
something so unforeseen.
82“ ‘Ask anyone in the town
where we were,
and the caravan we came with—
we’re telling the truth.’ ”
83[When they said this
to their father,] Jacob replied,
“No, your minds have enticed you
to some misdeed.
But patience is a fine thing;
perhaps God will bring them
all back to me. For He is
the Knowing, the Wise.”
84And he turned away
from them, and sighed:
“How great is my grief
over Joseph!” His eyes
grew white in sorrow,
and he grieved inside.
85They said, “By God,
will you not cease
to remember Joseph
until you reach
the fatal edge of disease,
or pass away?”
86He said, “I complain
only to God of my grief,
my sorrow,
and I know from God
what you do not know.
87“My sons, go to inquire
after Joseph and his brother,
and don’t despair of God’s grace.
None but disbelievers
despair of God’s grace.”
88When they came before Joseph,
they entreated, “Governor,
our family was struck by adversity.
We bring but meager wares,
yet remit a full measure to us,
show charity to us, for God
rewards those who are charitable.”
89He asked, “Do you know
what you did with Joseph
and his brother,
in your ignorance?”
90They remarked,
“You are Joseph, really?”
“I am Joseph, and
this is my brother:
God has been Gracious to us.
He does not overlook
the reward of those
who are pious and patient,
those who do good.”
91They said, “By God!
God has favored you over us,
and we are in the wrong.”
92He said, “Let no reproach
weigh upon you this day.
May God forgive you,
for He is the Most Merciful
of the merciful.
93“Go, take this shirt of mine,
and throw it over my father’s face:
his eyes will light up with sight—
then come back with
your entire family.”
SECTION 11
94After the caravan left,
their father said, “I detect
the scent of Joseph—though you
might think me senile.”
95[Those with him] said, “By God,
you still harbor your old delusion.”
96Then the person who came
with good news threw the shirt
over Jacob’s face, and he regained
his vision. He proclaimed,
“Did I not say to you
that I know from God
what you do not know?”
97They implored, “Father,
ask forgiveness for our sins,
for we were at fault.”
98He replied, “Soon I shall ask
my Lord to forgive you,
for He is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.”
99When they came before Joseph,
he embraced his parents, saying,
“Enter into Egypt, in safety,
if this is the will of God.”
100And he raised his parents,
both, on the throne, and
all of them fell down,
bowing before him.
“My dear father, here is
the deeper meaning
of my dream of long ago:
My Lord has brought it to pass.
He was good to me
when He brought me
out of prison
and brought you
out of the desert,
after Satan had sown
discord between me
and my brothers.
My Lord is Subtle
in all that He wills.
He is All Knowing, All Wise.
101“My Lord, you have given me
authority, and you have taught me
the deeper meaning of events.
Maker of the heavens and earth,
You are my Protector, in this world
and the hereafter. Receive me,
as one who submits to Your will,
and unite me with the righteous.”
102This is from the chronicles
of the unseen, which we reveal
to you.° You, Prophet, were not
with them when they all concocted
their [abominable] plot.
103Most of humankind
will not believe,
however ardently you strive.
104And you do not seek reward
from them for this. This is no less
than a reminder to all the worlds.
SECTION 12
105And how many signs
in the heavens and earth
do they pass by,
turning away.
106Most of them don’t believe in God
without joining other gods with Him.
107Do they feel safe, then,
from the enveloping calamity
of God’s punishment, or
from the sudden descending
of the hour, while they
are unaware?
108Say, “This is my way;
I call to God, with clear vision,
I, and whoever follows me.
Glory be to God, that I am
not one of those who join
other gods with Him.”
109And We sent before you
only men whom we inspired,
from the people of the cities.
Did they not travel the earth,
and behold the fate
of those before them?
The home of the hereafter
is finer for those who are
mindful of God.
Will you not, then, use reason?
110When messengers despaired,
thinking they had been denied,
Our help came to them;
We saved whom We will.
But Our wrath will never be
turned from a wicked people.
111In their stories, there is
a lesson for people of insight.
This is not an invented tale,
but it confirms what came before,
an exposition of all things,
a guide and a mercy
for people who believe.
SURA 13
Thunder (Al-Raʿd)
Uncertain in its dating, but probably late Meccan, with some additions from the Medinan period, this sura takes its name from v. 13. “Thunder” focuses on divine guidance, consequential for those who accept but also for those who deny it. Confirmation of prophetic agency recurs through its 43 verses, with Muhammad reassured that the Book common to all prophets was revealed to him in Arabic (v. 37).
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra.°
These are the verses of the Book.
What was revealed to you
from your Lord is truth,
but most people don’t believe.
2It is God who raised up the heavens
with no visible pillars;
then He set Himself upon the throne.
He controlled the sun and moon, each
sailing in its orbit for a certain term.
He orders all phenomena,
and explains the signs,
that you might be certain
of meeting your Lord.
3It is He who spread out the earth,
set upon it sturdy mountains and rivers,
created fruit of every kind, in pairs.
He veils the day with night. In all this
are signs for people who think.
4In the earth are neighboring tracts
and gardens of vineyards, with
sown fields, as well as date palms,
some with clusters, some without,
all watered by the same rain,
yet We make some finer to taste
than others. In all this
are signs for people who reason.
5Prophet, if you’re amazed at all,
you’ll be amazed by what they say,
“After we are dust, shall we be
raised again as a new creation?”
These are the people
who deny their Lord;
they shall bear iron collars
around their necks;
they shall be inmates
of the fire—forever.
6They challenge you
to bring on their punishment,
rather than any reward, even though
many examples of punishment
have passed before them.
Your Lord is Full of Forgiveness
toward people, despite their wrongs.
Yet God is Severe in Requital.
7And those who disbelieve ask,
“Why hasn’t a sign been sent down
to him from his Lord?”
You are only here to warn,
and every people has a guide.
SECTION 2
8God knows what each female bears,
and how much their womb
contracts or expands; with Him,
all things exist in due proportion.
9Knowing the unseen and the seen;
He is Great, Most Exalted.
10It is the same whether any of you
speaks secretly or openly, whether
they hide beneath the cover of night
or walk about freely during the day.
11Each person has a train of angels
before them and behind them,
guarding them by God’s command.
God never changes a people’s state
until they change what is in themselves.
When God intends ill for a people,
there is no turning it back.
Besides Him, they have no protector.
12It is He who shows you
the lightning, arousing fear and hope,
and He raises the clouds,
heavy with rain.
13The thunder resounds in His praise,
as do the angels, in awe of Him;
and He sends the thunderbolts
to strike whom He will.
Yet still they dispute about God—
He Who is Supreme in Strategy.
14True prayer is to Him alone.
As for those who pray to others
besides Him, those gods will not
answer them at all, any more than
someone stretching out his hand
toward water to make it reach
his mouth: it will never get there.
The prayer of disbelievers
is nothing but delusion.°
15All beings in the heavens and earth
bow down to God, willing or unwilling,
as do their shadows,
morning and evening.
16Ask, Prophet, “Who is the Lord
of the heavens and the earth?”
Answer, “God.”
Ask, “Do you take other gods
than Him as protectors—who can
neither profit nor harm even
themselves?”
And ask, “Are the blind
and the
