THE NIGHTLY VISITANT B In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful y the heaven, and by the nightly visitant! Would that you knew what the nightly visitant is! It is the star of piercing brightness. For every soul there is a guardian watching over it, Let man reflect from what he is created. He is created from an ¢jected fluid that issues from between the loins and the sibs. Allah has power to bring him back to life, on the day when men’s consciences are searched. Helpless he shall be, with none to succour him. By the heaven with its recurring cycles, and by the earth, ever bursting with new growth; this is a discerning utter ance, no flippant jest. ‘They scheme against you: but I, too, scheme against them. Therefore bear with the unbelievers, and let them be awhile. JOSEPH Ale the Name of Alla, the Compaesionate, the Merciful iF Jam ra. These are the verses of the Glorious Book. We have revealed the Koran in the Arabic tongue so that you may understand it, In revealing this Koran We will recount to you the best of histories, though before We revealed it you were heedless of Our signs. Joseph said to his father: ‘Father, I dreamt that eleven stars and the sun and the moon were prostrating themselves before me.’ ‘My son,’ he replied, ‘say nothing of this dream to your brothers, lest they should plot evil against you: Satan is the sworn enemy of man. You shall be chosen by your Lord. He will teach you to interpret visions and will perfect His 1, The Koran, 38 JOSEPH favour to you and to the house of Jacob, as He perfected it to your forefathers Abraham and Isaac before you. Your Lord is wise and all-knowing,’ Surely in the tale of Joseph and his brothers there are signs for doubting men. ‘They said to each other: ‘Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than ourselves, though we are many. Truly, our father is much mistaken. Let us kill Joseph, or cast him away in some far-off land, so that we may have no tivals in our father’s love, and after that be honourable men.’ One of them said: ‘Do not kill Joseph. If you must get rid of him, cast him into a dark pit. Some caravan will take him up. ‘They said to their father: ‘Why do you not trust us with Joseph? Surely we are his friends. Send him with us to- mottow, that he may play and enjoy himself, We will take good care of him. He replied: ‘It would much grieve me to let him go with you; for I fear lest the wolf should eat him when you are off your guard.’ ‘They said: ‘If the wolf could cat him despite our numbers, then we should surely be lost!” And when they took Joseph with them, they decided to cast him into a dark pit, We addressed him, saying: ‘You shall tell them of all this when they will not know you.’ At nightfall they returned weeping to their father. They said: ‘We went racing and left Joseph with our goods. ‘The wolf devoured him. But you will not believe us, though we speak the truth.’ And they showed him their brother’s shirt, stained with false blood. ‘No?’ he cried. “Your souls have tempted you to evil. But I will be patient: Allah alone can help me to bear the mis- fortune of which you speak.’ And there passed by a caravan, who sent their waterman to che pit. And when he had let down his pail, he cried: ‘Rejoice! A boy!’ ‘They took Joseph and concealed him among their goods. But Allah knew of what they did. They sold him for a trifling 39THE KORAN price, for afew pieces of silver. ‘They cared nothing for him. "The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: “Use him kindly. He may prove useful to us, oF we may adopt him as our son.” . ‘Thee We found a home for Joseph, and taught him t© interpret mysteries. Allah has power over all things, though aaeew men may not know it. And when he reached maturity reward the righteous. Tits master’s wife sought to seduce him. She bolted the doors and said: ‘Come!’ Allah forbid!” he replied. ‘My lord has treated me with Kindness. Wrongdoers never ptospet.” Sie made for him, and he himself would have yielded to hes had he not been shown a veritable sign by his Lord. Thus We warded off from him indeceney and evil, for he was one of Our faithful servants. Hye raced her to the door, but as she clung to him she tors his shirt from behind. And at the door they met her husband. ‘She cried: ‘Shall not the man who sought to violate your wife be thrown into prison or sternly punished?” Joseph said: ‘It was she who sought to seduce me? Seerpe chit is torn from the front,” said one of her people, ‘che is speaking the truth and he is lying: Tf it is torn from tehind, then he is speaking the troth and she is lying” wing “yhen her husband saw Joseph's shirt ent from behind, he said to her: “This is one of your tricks. Your cun- ning is great indeed! Joseph, say no more about this, Woman, ask paedon for your sin. You have done wrong.” ie Mthe city women were saying: “The Prince’s wife bes sought to seduce her servant. She has conceived a passion for ine It is clear that she has gone astray.” When she heard of their intrigues, she invited them to 4 banquet at her house, To each she gave 2 knife, and ordered Joseph to present himself before them. When, they saw him, they: were amazed at him and cut their hands, exclaiming: “Allah preserve usl This is no mortal, but a gracious angel.” 40 ee joserH Te This is the man,’ she said, ‘on whose a proached me. I sought to seduce him, but he wat ‘unyielding. FE he declines to do my bidding, he shall be thrown into prison and held in scorn.” “Lord? said Joseph, ‘sooner would I go to prison thas give in to their advances. Shield me from theit cunning, ot I hall yield to them and lapse into folly.” ; Fie Lord heard his prayer and warded off their wiles from him. He hears all and knows all. Yet though they were convinced of his innocence, the Egyptians thought it right to imprison bim for a time. *Two young men went to prison with him, One’ of them said: “I dveamt that I was pressing grapes.’ And the’ other . sais «L dreamt that I was carrying a loaf upon my head, and that the bisds came and ate of it, ‘Tell us the meaning of these dreams, fox we can see you are a man of learning.” “Joseph replied: ‘I can interpret them long before they are fuiklied. This knowledge my Lord has given me, for I have Ieit the faith of those that disbelieve in Allah and deny the life to come. [follow the faith of my forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, ard Jacob. We must never serve idols besides Allah. Such is the gift which Allah has bestowed upon us and all mankind. ‘Yet most men do not give thanks. “‘Fellow-prisoners! Are numerous gods better than Allah, the One, the Almighty? Those whom you serve besides Him int names which you and your fathers have invented and for art ich Allah has gevealed no sanction. Judgement rests with ‘Kllah only. He has commanded you to worship none but Him. “That is the true faith: yet most men do not know it, “Fellow-prisoners, one of you shall serve’ his king with wine. The other shall be crucified, and the birds ~will peck at his head. That is the meaning of your dreams." <> - “and Joseph said to the prisoner who he knew would be freed: ‘Remember me in the presence of your King.” ‘But Satan made him forget to mention Joseph to his king, so that he stayed in prison for several years. z ‘Now it so chanced that one day the king said: ‘T saw seven fated cows which seven lean ones devoured; also seven gree at ETHE KORAN cars of corn and seven others dry. Tell me the meaning of this vision, my nobles, if you can interpret visions,” They replied: ‘It is but an idle dream; nor can we interpret dreams.” * Thereupon the man who had been freed remembered Joseph after all those years. He said: ‘I shall tell you what it means. Give me leave to go." He said to Joseph: ‘Tell us, man of truth, of the seven fated cows which seven lean ones devoured; also of the seven green ears of corn and the other seven which were dey: for [would inform my masters.’ Joseph replied: “You shall sow for seven consecutive years. Leave in the ear the corn you reap, except a little which you may eat. Then there shall follow seven hungry years which will consume all but little of that which you have stored for them. Then there will come a year of abundant rain, in which the people will press the grape.’ The king said: ‘Bring this man before me.” But when the king’s envoy came to him, Joseph said: ‘Go back to your master and ask him about the women who cut their hands, My master knows their cunning.” ‘The king questioned the women, saying: ‘Why did you seek to entice Joseph? ‘Allah forbid!” they replied. ‘We know no evil of him.” ‘Now the truth must come to light,’ said the Prince’s wife. ‘It was I who sought to seduce him, He has spoken the truth.” ‘From this,’ said Joseph, ‘my lord will know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not guide the work of the treacherous, Not that I am free from sin: man’s soul is prone to evil, except his to whom Allah has shown mercy. My Lord is forgiving and merciful.’ The king said: ‘Bring him before me, I will make him my personal servant,” And when he had spoken with him, the king said: ‘You shall henceforth dwell with us, honoured and trusted.’ Joseph said: ‘Give me charge of the granaries of the realm, I shall husband them wisely.” Thus We gave power to Joseph, and he dwelt at his ease 42 JOSEPH . in that land. We bestow Our mercy on-whom We will, and never deny the righteous their reward. Better is the re” ward of the life to come for those who believe in Allah and keep from evil. Joseph’s brothers came and presented themselves before him. He recognized them, but they did not. And when he had given them their provisions, he said: ‘Bring me your other brother ftom your father. Do you not see that I give just ‘measure and am the best of hosts? If you do not bring him, you shall have no corn, nor shall you come neat me again.’ They replied: ‘We will request his father to let him come with us. This we will surely do,” Joseph said to his servants: ‘Put their money into their Packs, so that they may find it when they return to their people, Perchance they will come back.’ : When they returned to their father, they said: Father, corn is henceforth denied us. Send our brother with us and we shall have ous measure, We will take good cate of him’? He replied: ‘Am I to trust you with him as I once trusted you with his brother? But Allah is the best of guardians: He is most merciful.” When they opened their packs, they found that their money had been returned to them. ‘Father,’ they said, ‘what more can we desire? Here is our money untouched. We will buy provisions for our people and take good cate of our brother, We shall receive an extra camel-load; that should not be hard to get.’ He seplied: ‘I shall not let him go with you until you swear in Allah’s name to bring him back to me, unless you are prevented.” ‘And when they had given him their pledge, he said: ‘Allah is the witness of your oath, My sons, enter the town by differ. ent gates. If you do wrong, T cannot ward off from you the wrath of Allah: judgement is His alone. In Him I have put iny trust. In Him alone let the faithful put their trust,” And when they entered as their father had advised them, his counsel availed them nothing against the decree of Allah’ It was but a wishin Jacob’s soul which he had thus fulfilled, 43THE KORAN He was possessed of knowledge which We had given him, though most men were unaware of it, ‘When they presented themselves before him, Joseph em- braced his brother, and said: ‘Iam your brother. Do not grieve at what they did.” ‘And when he had given them their provisions, he hid a drinking-cup in his brother’s pack. Then a ctier called out after them: “Travellers, you are thieves!” "They turned back and asked: ‘What have you lost?” “The king’s drinking-cup,’ he replied. ‘He that restores it shall have a camel-load of corn. I pledge my word for it” “By Allah,’ they cried, ‘you know we did hot come to do evil in this land, We are no thieves.” ‘The Egyptians said: ‘What penalty shall we inflict on him that stole it, if you prove to be lying?” ‘They replied: ‘He in whose pack the cup is found shall be your bondsman. Thus we punish the wrongdoers.’ Joseph searched their bags before his brother’s, and then took out the cup from his brother’s bag. Thus We directed Joseph. By the king’s law he had no right to seize his brother: but Allah willed otherwise. We exalt in knowledge whom We will: but above those that have knowledge there is One more knowing. They said: ‘If he has stolen - know then that a brother of his has committed a theft before him.’ But Joseph kept his secret and did not reveal it to them. He thought: ‘Your crime was worse. Allah well knows that you are lying?” ‘They said: ‘Noble prince, this boy has an aged father. Take ‘one of us, instead of him, We can see you area generous man.” He replied: ‘Allah forbid that we should seize any but the man with whom our property was found: for then we should be unjust.” - When they despaired of him, they went aside to confer together. The eldest said: ‘Have you forgotten that you gave 1, Commentators say that Joseph had stolen an idol of his maternal grandfather's and broken it, so that he might not worship it. 44 JOSEPH your father a solemn pledge, and that you broke your faith before this concerning Joseph? I shall not stir from this land until my father gives me leave or Allah makes knéwn'to me His judgement: He is the best of judges, Retiitt‘to” your father and say to him: “Your son has committet'd theft: We testify only to what we know. How could we guard against the unforeseen? Ask the townsfolk with whom we'stayed and the caravan in which we travelled. We speak-the truth.” ? ‘Nol’ cried their father. ‘Your souls have tempted'you to evil. But I will be patient, Allah may bring them all tome: He alone is wise and all-knowing.’ And he turtied away from them, crying: ‘Alas for Joseph!’ His eyes went’ blind with gtief and he was oppressed-with silent sorrow. “1'/27 | His sons exclaimed: ‘By Allah, will you not céase t6 think of Joseph until you ruin your health and die? : ‘He replied: ‘I complain to Allah of my sorrow and sadness He has made known to me things beyond your knowledge. Go, my sons, and seek news of Joseph and his brother. Do not despair of Allah’s spirit; none but unbelievers despair of His spirit? And when they presented themselves before Joseph, they said: ‘Noble prince, we and our people are ‘scourged with famine, We have brought but little money. Give'us'some corn, and be chatitable to us: Allah rewards the'charitable.’ “Do you kuow,’ he replied, ‘what you did to‘Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?” anal ‘They cried: “Can you indeed be Joseph? *. : ‘Lam Joseph,’ he answered, ‘and this is my brother, Allah has been gracious to us. Those thet keep from evil and endure with fortitude, Allah will not deny them their'rewatd.’: “By the Lord,’ they said, ‘Allah has exalted you above us'alli We have indeed been sinners.’ Heoe qb ‘He replied: ‘None shall reproach you this day: May ‘Allalr forgive you: He is most merciful. Take this shirt of mine and: throw it over my father’s face: he will recover his sight. Then return to me with all your people.” : When the caravan departed their father-said:-“I feel the breath of Joseph, though you will not believe me.” 45THE KORAN ‘By Allah,’ said those who heard him, ‘this is but your old illusion.” "And when the bearer of good news arrived, he threw Joseph’s shirt over the old man’s face, and his sight came back to him. He said: ‘Did I not tell you that Allah has made known to me things beyond your knowledge?” His sons said: ‘Father, implore forgiveness for our sins. We have indeed been sinners.” He replied: ‘I shall implore my Lord to forgive you. He is forgiving and merciful.” ‘And when they presented themselves before Joseph, he embraced his parents and said: ‘Welcome to Egypt, safe, if Allah wills!” He helped his parents to a couch, and they all fell on their knees, and prostrated themselves before him. “This,’ said Joseph to his father, ‘is the meaning of my old vision: my Lord has falfilled it. He has been gracious to me. He has released me from prison and brought you out of the desert after Satan had stirred up strife between me and my brothers. My lord is gracious to whom He will. He alone is wise and all-knowing. ‘Lord, You have given me power and taught me to inter- pret mysteries, You are the Creator of the heavens and the arth, my Guardian in this world and in the next. Let me die in submission and join the righteous.’ ‘That which We have now revealed to you is secret history. ‘You were not present when Joseph’s brothers conceived their plans and schemed against him. Yet strive as you may, most men will not believe. "You shall demand of them no recompense for this, It is an admonition to all mankind. ‘Many ate the matvels of the heavens and the earth; yet they pass them by and pay no heed to them, The greater part of them believe in Ailah onlyif theycan worship other gods besides Him. ‘Are they confident that Allah’s scourge will not fall upon them, or that the Hour of Doom will not overtake them un- awares, without warning? 1. The Koran. 46JOSEPH Say: “This is my path, With sure knowledge T'call on you to have faith in Allah, I and all my followers. Glory be to ‘Him! I am no idolater.’ Nor were the apostles whom We sent before you other than mortals inspired by Our will and chosen from among their people. Have they not travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those who disbelieved before them? Better is the world to come for those that keep from evil. Can you not under- stand? "And when at length Our apostles despaired and thought that none would believe in them, Our help came down to them, delivering whom We pleased. The evil-doers did not escape Our scourge. Their history is a lesson to men of understanding. . % This is no invented tale, but a confirmation of previous scriptures, an explanation of all things, a guide and a blessing to true believers. ;