page79
012.030 Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) 'Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave from his (true) self: Truly
hath he inspired her with violent love: we see she is evidently going astray."
012.031 When she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them: she gave each of
them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their
amazement) cut their hands: they said, "God preserve us! no mortal is this! this is none other than a noble angel!"
012.032 She said: "There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did seek to seduce him from his (true)
self but he did firmly save himself guiltless!....and now, if he doth not my bidding, he shall certainly be cast into prison,
and (what is more) be of the company of the vilest!"
012.033 He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: Unless Thou turn away
their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant."
012.034 So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and
knoweth (all things).
012.035 Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the signs, (that it was best) to imprison him for a time.
012.036 Now with him there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: "I see myself (in a dream)
pressing wine." said the other: "I see myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head, and birds are eating, thereof." "Tell
us" (they said) "The truth and meaning thereof: for we see thou art one that doth good (to all)."
012.037 He said: "Before any food comes (in due course) to feed either of you, I will surely reveal to you the truth
and meaning of this ere it befall you: that is part of the (duty) which my Lord hath taught me. I have (I assure you)
abandoned the ways of a people that believe not in God and that (even) deny the Hereafter.
012.038 "And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners
whatever to God: that (comes) of the grace of God to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful.
012.039 "O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are many lords differing among themselves better, or the
One God, Supreme and Irresistible?
012.040 "If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which God hath
sent down no authority: the command is for none but God: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is
the right religion, but most men understand not...
012.041 "O my two companions of the prison! As to one of you, he will pour out the wine for his lord to drink: as for
the other, he will hang from the cross, and the birds will eat from off his head. (so) hath been decreed that matter
whereof ye twain do enquire"...
012.042 And of the two, to that one whom he consider about to be saved, he said: "Mention me to thy lord." But Satan
made him forget to mention him to his lord: and (Joseph) lingered in prison a few (more) years.
012.043 The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom seven lean ones devour, and seven green
ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! Expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions."
012.044 They said: "A confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams."
012.045 But the man who had been released, one of the two (who had been in prison) and who now bethought him after
(so long) a space of time, said: "I will tell you the truth of its interpretation: send ye me (therefore)."
012.046 "O Joseph!" (he said) "O man of truth! Expound to us (the dream) of seven fat kine whom seven lean ones
devour, and of seven green ears of corn and (seven) others withered: that I may return to the people, and that they may
understand."
012.047 (Joseph) said: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont: and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall
leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which ye shall eat.
012.048 "Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid by in
advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded.
012.049 "Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will
press (wine and oil)."
012.050 So the king said: "Bring ye him unto me." But when the messenger came to him, (Joseph) said: "Go thou back
to thy lord, and ask him, 'What is the state of mind of the ladies who cut their hands'? For my Lord is certainly well
aware of their snare."
012.051 (The king) said (to the ladies): "What was your affair when ye did seek to seduce Joseph from his (true) self?"