They asked, turning back, “What have you lost?”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They said while approaching them, "What is it you are missing?"
— Saheeh International
The herald ˹along with the guards˺ replied, “We have lost the King’s measuring cup. And whoever brings it will be awarded a camel-load ˹of grain˺. I guarantee it.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."
— Saheeh International
Joseph’s brothers replied, “By Allah! You know well that we did not come to cause trouble in the land, nor are we thieves.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They said, "By Allah, you have certainly known that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, and we have not been thieves."
— Saheeh International
Joseph’s men asked, “What should be the price for theft, if you are lying?”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They [the accusers] said, "Then what would be its recompense1 if you should be liars?"
— Saheeh International
Joseph’s brothers responded, “The price will be ˹the enslavement of˺ the one in whose bag the cup is found. That is how we punish the wrongdoers.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense.1 Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."
— Saheeh International
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.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
So he began [the search] 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 [i.e., law] of the king except that Allah willed. We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing.1
— Saheeh International
˹To distance themselves,˺ Joseph’s brothers argued, “If he has stolen, so did his ˹full˺ brother before.”1 But Joseph suppressed his outrage—revealing nothing to them—and said ˹to himself˺, “You are in such an evil position,2 and Allah knows best ˹the truth of˺ what you claim.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them.1 He said, "You are worse in position, and Allah is most knowing of what you describe."
— Saheeh International
They appealed, “O Chief Minister! He has a very old father, so take one of us instead. We surely see you as one of the good-doers.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They said, "O ʿAzeez,1 indeed he has a father [who is] an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you as a doer of good."
— Saheeh International
Joseph responded, “Allah forbid that we should take other than the one with whom we found our property. Otherwise, we would surely be unjust.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."
— Saheeh International
When they lost all hope in him, they spoke privately. The eldest of them said, “Do you not know that your father had taken a solemn oath by Allah from you, nor how you failed him regarding Joseph before? So I am not leaving this land until my father allows me to, or Allah decides for me. For He is the Best of Judges.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
So when they had despaired of him, they secluded themselves in private consultation. The eldest of them said, "Do you not know that your father has taken upon you an oath by Allah and [that] before you failed in [your duty to] Joseph? So I will never leave [this] land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me,1 and He is the best of judges.
— Saheeh International
Return to your father and say, ‘O our father! Your son committed theft. We testify only to what we know. We could not guard against the unforeseen.1
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Return to your father and say, 'O our father, indeed your son has stolen, and we did not testify except to what we knew. And we were not witnesses of the unseen.1
— Saheeh International