Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And said he who bought him from Egypt, to his wife: “Be thou honourable in his dwelling; it may be that he will benefit us, or we will take him as a son.” And thus did We establish Joseph in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of narratives; and God prevails over His affair, but most men understand not.

وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرٰيهُ مِنْ مِصْرَ لِامْرَاَتِه۪ٓ اَكْرِم۪ي مَثْوٰيهُ عَسٰٓى اَنْ يَنْفَعَنَٓا اَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَداًۜ وَكَذٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْاَرْضِۘ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِنْ تَأْو۪يلِ الْاَحَاد۪يثِۜ وَاللّٰهُ غَالِبٌ عَلٰٓى اَمْرِه۪ وَلٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Waqala allathee ishtarahumin misra limraatihi akrimee mathwahu AAasaan yanfaAAana aw nattakhithahu waladan wakathalikamakkanna liyoosufa fee al-ardi walinuAAallimahu minta/weeli al-ahadeethi wallahu ghalibunAAala amrihi walakinna akthara annasila yaAAlamoon
#wordmeaningroot
1waqālaAnd saidقول
2alladhīthe one who
3ish'tarāhubought himشري
4minof
5miṣ'raEgyptمصر
6li-im'ra-atihito his wifeمرا
7akrimīMake comfortableكرم
8mathwāhuhis stayثوي
9ʿasāPerhapsعسي
10anthat
11yanfaʿanā(he) will benefit usنفع
12awor
13nattakhidhahuwe will take himاخذ
14waladan(as) a sonولد
15wakadhālikaAnd thus
16makkannāWe establishedمكن
17liyūsufaYusuf
18in
19l-arḍithe landارض
20walinuʿallimahuthat We might teach himعلم
21min(the) interpretation of
22tawīli(the) interpretation ofاول
23l-aḥādīthithe eventsحدث
24wal-lahuAnd Allah
25ghālibun(is) Predominantغلب
26ʿalāover
27amrihiHis affairsامر
28walākinnabut
29aktharamostكثر
30l-nāsi(of) the peopleنوس
31(do) not
32yaʿlamūnaknowعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    The Egyptian who had bought him told his wife, ‘Look after him with honour and respect. It’s possible he will be of use to us or perhaps we might adopt him as a son.’ And thus We established Yusuf in the land to teach him the true meaning of events. Allah is in control of His affair. However, most of mankind do not know.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay generous, perhaps he will benefit us or we may take him as a son. " And it was thus that We established Joseph in the land and to teach him the interpretation of dreams. And God has full power over matters, but most of mankind do not know.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Receive him honorably. Take good care of him. May be he can help us or we can adopt him as a son." We, thus, established Joseph in Egypt and arranged for him proper education and training. He was gifted with a great insight into events. Allah's Command always prevails although most people won't understand the stages of cause and effect.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And said he who bought him from Egypt, to his wife: “Be thou honourable in his dwelling; it may be that he will benefit us, or we will take him as a son.” And thus did We establish Joseph in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of narratives; and God prevails over His affair, but most men understand not.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Andhe from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay generous, perhaps he will benefit us or we may take him as a son." And it was thus that We established Joseph in the land and to teach him the interpretation of the narrations. And God has full control over his situation, but most of the people do not know.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    The one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay generous, perhaps he will benefit us or we may take him as a son." It was thus that We established Joseph in the land and to teach him the interpretation of dreams. God has full power over matters, but most of the people do not know.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Take good care of him. Maybe he can help us, or maybe we can adopt him." We thus established Joseph on earth, and we taught him the interpretation of dreams. GOD's command is always done, but most people do not know.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    The Egyptian who bought him instructed his wife: "House him honourably. He may be of use to us. We may even adopt him as a son." So, We firmly established Joseph in the land, and taught him the interpretation of dreams. God dominated in his affairs, though most men do not know.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And the man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay honourable; he may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus We gave unto Joseph a firm place on earth; and so that We might impart unto him some understanding of the inner meaning of happenings. For, God always prevails in whatever be His purpose: but most people know it not.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    The man* from Egypt who bought him said to his wife*: "Take good care of him, possibly he might be of benefit to us or we might adopt him as a son."* Thus We found a way for Joseph to become established in that land and in order that We might teach him to comprehend the deeper meaning of things.* Allah has full power to implement His design although most people do not know that.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Being divinely gifted with the letter of credit nature has written upon his face honoured wherever presented, he was outbid in the slave market by a high court Egyptian official (AZIZ) who said to his wife: " Treat him kindly and with honour and respect to enjoy his stay; he may prove useful to us and helpful in effecting a purpose, or we may adopt him as a son. " Thus did We establish him firmly in the land, wherefore We imparted to him the knowledge of interpreting visions and sense impressions in sleep and what they prefigure of future events. Allah prevails upon His edict which inevitably produces its intended effect and answers its purpose, but most people do not realize this fact.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    The person who bought him in Egypt said to his wife: "Take good care of him; he may prove himself to be worthy of being adopted as our son. " This was the way that I set the stage for Joseph to get established and taught him the knowledge of unknown. God is in control but most people do not realize it.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And he (the man) from Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay comfortable, may be he will profit us or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Yûsuf (Joseph) in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allâh has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    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.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    The man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Take good care of him, perhaps he may be useful to us or we may adopt him as a son." This is how We established Joseph in the land, so that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah’s Will always prevails, but most people do not know.

  • Taqi Usmani

    And the one who bought him from Egypt said to his wife, "Make his stay graceful. He may be useful for us. Or, we may adopt him as a son." And thus We established Yūsuf in the land, so that We should teach him the interpretation of events. Allah is powerful in (enforcing) His command, but most of the people do not know.

  • Abdul Haleem

    The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, ‘Look after him well! He may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ In this way We settled Joseph in that land and later taught him how to interpret dreams: God always prevails in His purpose, though most people do not realize it.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    He that bought him, being of Egypt, said to his wife, 'Give him goodly lodging, and it may be that he will profit us, or we may take him for our own son. ' So We established Joseph in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of tales. God prevails in His purpose, but most men know not.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And the man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, 'Honour his abiding here; it may be he will be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son. ' Thus did we establish Joseph in the land; and we did surely teach him the interpretation of sayings; for God can overcome His affairs, though most men do not know.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    And they sold him for a mean price, a few dirham counted out- in such low estimation did they hold him.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And he who traded him, being of Misr, (Egypt) said to his wife, "Give him honorable lodging; it may be that he will profit us, or it may be that we take him to ourselves (as) a son. " And thus, We established Yûsuf (Joseph) in the land, and that We may teach him some of the interpretation of discourses. And Allah is Overcomer with (Literally: Over) His Command, but most men do not know.

  • George Sale

    And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, use him honourably; peradventure he may be serviceable to us, or we may adopt him for our son. Thus did we prepare an establishment for Joseph in the earth, and we taught him the interpretation of dark sayings: For God is well able to effect his purpose; but the greater part of men do not understand.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And he (the man) in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (respectful and) honorable: Maybe he will bring us a lot of good, or we shall make him an adopted-son. " Like this We made a place for Yusuf (Joseph) in the land, so that We might teach him the interpretations (the true meaning) of the stories (and events). And Allah has full power and control on His affairs; But most of mankind do not know it.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And (Joseph was taken to Egypt and resold there;) the man from Egypt who bought him (from the travellers) said to his wife, `Make his stay honourable. He may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son.' In this way did We grant Joseph an honourable position in the country and (We did it) that We might impart to him knowledge of the interpretation of some (Divine) sayings. And Allâh has full power over His decree, but most people do not know (this).

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    The man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, ‘Give him an honourable place . Maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ Thus We established Joseph in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah has command of His affairs, but most people do not know.