Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

So he began with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he brought it forth from the bag of his brother. (Thus did We plan for Joseph; he could not have taken his brother within the doctrine of the King save that God had so willed. We raise in degree whom We will; and over every possessor of knowledge is One knowing.)

فَبَدَاَ بِاَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَٓاءِ اَخ۪يهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ وِعَٓاءِ اَخ۪يهِۜ كَذٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَۜ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ اَخَاهُ ف۪ي د۪ينِ الْمَلِكِ اِلَّٓا اَنْ يَشَٓاءَ اللّٰهُۜ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَنْ نَشَٓاءُۜ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذ۪ي عِلْمٍ عَل۪يمٌ
Fabadaa bi-awAAiyatihim qabla wiAAa-iakheehi thumma istakhrajaha min wiAAa-i akheehi kathalikakidna liyoosufa ma kana liya/khuthaakhahu fee deeni almaliki illa an yashaa AllahunarfaAAu darajatin man nashao wafawqa kulli theeAAilmin AAaleem
#wordmeaningroot
1fabada-aSo he beganبدا
2bi-awʿiyatihimwith their bagsوعي
3qablabeforeقبل
4wiʿāi(the) bagوعي
5akhīhi(of) his brotherاخو
6thummathen
7is'takhrajahāhe brought it outخرج
8minfrom
9wiʿāi(the) bagوعي
10akhīhi(of) his brotherاخو
11kadhālikaThus
12kid'nā(did) We planكيد
13liyūsufafor Yusuf
14He could not
15kānaHe could notكون
16liyakhudhatakeاخذ
17akhāhuhis brotherاخو
18by
19dīnithe lawدين
20l-maliki(of) the kingملك
21illāexcept
22anthat
23yashāaAllah willedشيا
24l-lahuAllah willed
25narfaʿuWe raiseرفع
26darajātin(in) degreesدرج
27manwhom
28nashāuWe willشيا
29wafawqabut overفوق
30kullieveryكلل
31dhīpossessor
32ʿil'min(of) knowledgeعلم
33ʿalīmun(is) the All-Knowerعلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    He started with their bags before his brother’s. and then produced it from his brother’s bag. In that way We devised a cunning scheme for Yusuf. He could not have held his brother according to the statutes of the King – only because Allah had willed it so. We raise the rank of anyone We will. Over everyone with knowledge is a Knower.

  • Progressive Muslims

    So he began with their bags before his brother's bag. Then he brought it out of his brother's bag. It was such that We planned for Joseph, for he would not have been able to take his brother under the King's system, except that God wished it so. We raise the degrees of whom We please, and over every one of knowledge is the All Knowledgeable.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    They were brought before Joseph for the search. He began with the bags of his half-brothers before the bag of his brother (Benjamin). And finally extracted the cup out of his brother's bag. We thus perfected the plan for Joseph. He could not have detained his brother under the King's law. But that was the Will of Allah. We raise people in ranks according to Our Laws. And above every person of knowledge there is One who knows all.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    So he began with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he brought it forth from the bag of his brother. (Thus did We plan for Joseph; he could not have taken his brother within the doctrine of the King save that God had so willed. We raise in degree whom We will; and over every possessor of knowledge is One knowing.)

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    So he began with their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of the bag of his brother. It was such that We planned for Joseph, for he would not have been able to take his brother under the system of the king, except that God wished it so. We raise the degrees of whom We please, and over every one of knowledge is the All Knowledgeable.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    So he began with their bags before his brother's bag. Then he brought it out of his brother's bag. It was such that We planned for Joseph, for he would not have been able to take his brother under the King's system, except that God wished it so. We raise the degrees of whom We please, and over every one of knowledge is the All Knowledgeable.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    He then started by inspecting their containers, before getting to his brother's container, and he extracted it out of his brother's container. We thus perfected the scheme for Joseph; he could not have kept his brother if he applied the king's law. But that was the will of GOD. We exalt whomever we choose to higher ranks. Above every knowledgeable one, there is one who is even more knowledgeable.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    So he searched their saddle-bags before his brother's, then produced the cup from his brother's bag. That is how We planned an excuse for Joseph, for under the law of the king he could not detain his brother unless God so willed. We raise the status of whom We please. Over every man of knowledge there is one more knowing.

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

    So he began with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he extracted it from the bag of his brother. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother within the religion of the king except that Allah willed. We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one knowing.

  • Muhammad Asad

    Thereupon he began with the bags of his half-brothers before the bag of his brother : and in the end he brought forth the drinking Cups out of his brother's bag. In this way did We contrive for Joseph : under the King's law, he would not have been able to detain his brother, had not God so willed. We do raise to degrees whomever We will - but above everyone who is endowed with knowledge there is One who knows all.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Then he (Joseph) began the search with their bags before his brother's bag, then he produced it from his brother's bag. Thus did We contrive for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother according to the king's law unless Allah willed. We raise by grades (of mercy) whom We will, and over every lord of knowledge there is one more knowing.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Then Joseph began searching their bags before searching his own brother's bag. Then he brought forth the drinking-cup from his brother's bag. Thus did We contrive to support Joseph. He had no right, according to the religion of the king (i.e. the law of Egypt), to take his brother, unless Allah so willed. We exalt whomsoever We will over others by several degrees. And above all those who know is the One Who truly knows.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    He –Yusuf- began the search with their sacks before searching that of his brother -Benjamin-, then he brought it out of Benjamin's saddle bags. Thus did We design a stratagem for Yusuf to outwit his brothers according to the inspired plan. He could not have detained his brother -Benjamin- by exercising judicial authority not conformable to the statutes of the realm, nor could he have applied the Jewish law of full restitution for the theft or the enslavement by the state unless Allah had willed. So it was. We raise whom We will to higher ranks and exalt them in dignity, wisdom and power. Above every one having mastery of knowledge, there is one who is endowed with more substantial knowledge; and above every one whose sum of knowledge with grace divine imbued there is AL-'Alim (the All-Knowing, the Omniscient).

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Joseph then started to search his (step) brothers’ loads first, before searching his brother’s bag. Then he took the cup out from the pack of his brother (Benjamin.) This is how I helped Joseph to complete his plan in order to be able to keep his brother with him. He could not have kept his brother, if he had applied the law of the land. Yes; it was the will of God. I rais whoever I will to a higher rank; and above every knowledgeable person, there is One All-Knowledgeable Who is above all knowledgeable ones.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    So he began (the search) in their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of his brother’s bag. Thus did We plan for Yûsuf (Joseph). He could not take his brother by the law of the king (as a slave), except that Allâh willed it. (So Allâh made the brothers to bind themselves with their way of "punishment, i.e. enslaving of a thief.") We raise to degrees whom We will, but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allâh).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother: at length he brought it out of his brother's baggage. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the king except that Allah willed it (so). We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is one, the All-Knowing.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Joseph began searching their bags before that of his brother ˹Benjamin˺, then brought it out of Benjamin’s bag. This is how We inspired Joseph to plan. He could not have taken his brother under the King’s law, but Allah had so willed. We elevate in rank whoever We will. But above those ranking in knowledge is the One All-Knowing.

  • Taqi Usmani

    So, he started with their bags before (searching) the bag of his brother, then, recovered it from the bag of his brother.This is how We planned for Yūsuf. He had no right to take his brother according to the law of the king, unless Allah so willed. We elevate in ranks whomsoever We will. Above every man of knowledge, there is someone more knowledgeable.

  • Abdul Haleem

    began by searching their bags, then his brother’s, and he pulled it out from his brother’s bag. In this way We devised a plan for Joseph- if God had not willed it so, he could not have detained his brother as a penalty under the king’s law- We raise the rank of whoever We will. Above everyone who has knowledge there is the One who is all knowing.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    So he made beginning with their sacks, before his brother's sack, then he pulled it out of his brother's sack. So We contrived for Joseph's sake; he could not have taken his brother, according to the king's doom, except that God willed. Whomsoever We will, We raise in rank; over every man of knowledge is One who knows.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    And he began with their sacks before the sacks of his brother; then he drew it forth from his brother's sack. Thus did we devise a stratagem for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the king's religion except God pleased;- we raise the degrees of whomsoever we please, and over every possessor of knowledge is one who knows.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    They said, "The recompense thereof is he in whose pack it is found - he shall be the recompense (atonement) thereof (as a bondsman); thus do we recompense the unjust. "

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    So he began with their sacks before his brother's sack; thereafter he drew it forth out of his brother's sack. Thus We plotted for Yûsuf; in no way indeed could he take his brother, in the king's religion (OR: law) except that Allah decided. We raise in degree (s) whomever We decide; and above every (man) owning knowledge is One Who is Ever-Knowing.

  • George Sale

    Then he began by their sacks, before he searched the sack of his brother; and he drew out the cup from his brother's sack. Thus did we furnish Joseph with a stratagem. It was not lawful for him to take his brother for a bondman, by the law of the king of Egypt, had not God pleased to allow it, according to the offer of his brethren. We exalt to degrees of knowledge and honour whom we please: And there is one who is knowing above all those who are indued with knowledge.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    So he (Yusuf) began (the search) through their bags, before (he came to) the bag of his (full) brother: At the end, he brought it out of his (full) brother’s bag. Thus did We plan for Yusuf (Joseph). He could not take his brother by the law of the king except that Allah willed it (so). We raise to (different) levels (of wisdom) whom We please: But above all blessed with knowledge is One, the All Knowing (Aleem).

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Then he (- the king's herald) began (the search) with the sacks of others before (he came to) the sack of his (- Joseph's) brother (Benjamin). (Finding the vessel therein) he brought it out of his brother's sack. That is how We contrived for Joseph (to keep Benjamin with him, otherwise) he could not have taken his brother according to the king's law. Yet it came about as Allâh willed. We raise in degrees (of rank) whomsoever We will. And over and above every possessor of knowledge there is One (Almighty God), Who is All Knowing.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Then he began with their sacks, before his brother’s sack. Then he took it out from his brother’s sack. Thus did We devise for Joseph’s sake. He could not have held his brother under the king’s law unless Allah willed . We raise in rank whomever We please, and above every man of knowledge is One who knows best.