12.21 . And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife : Receive him honorably . 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 .

12.22 . And when he reached his prime We gave him wisdom and knowledge . Thus We reward the good .

12.23 . And she , in whose house he was , asked of him an evil act . She bolted the doors and said : Come! He said : I seek refuge in Allah! Lo! he is my lord , who hath treated me honorably . Wrong doers never prosper .

12.24 . She verily desired him , and he would have desired her if it had not been that he saw the argument of his lord . Thus it was , that We might ward off from him evil and lewdness . Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves .

12.25 . And they raced with one another to the door , and she tore his shirt from behind , and they met her lord and master at the door . She said : What shall be his reward , who wisheth evil to thy folk , save prison or a painful doom?

12.26 . ( Joseph ) said : She it was who asked of me an evil act . And in witness of her own folk testified : If his shirt is torn from before , then she speaketh truth and he is of the liars .

12.27 . And if his shirt is torn from behind , then she hath lied and he is of the truthful .

12.28 . So when he saw his shirt torn from behind , he said : Lo! this is of the guile of you women . Lo! the guile of you is very great .

12.29 . O Joseph! Turn away from this , and thou , ( O woman ) , ask forgiveness for thy sin . Lo! thou art of the sinful .

12.30 . And women in the city said : The ruler ' s wife is asking of her slave boy an ill deed . Indeed he has smitten her to the heart with love . We behold her in plain aberration .

12.31 . And when she heard of their sly talk , she sent to them and prepared fur them a cushioned couch ( to lie on at the feast ) and gave to every one of them a knife and said ( to Joseph ) : Come out unto them! And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their bands , exclaiming : Allah Blameless! This is not a human being . This is no other than some gracious angel .

12.32 . She said : This is he on whose account ye blamed me . I asked of him an evil act , but he proved continent , but if he do not my behest he verily shall be imprisoned , and verily shall him of those brought low .

12.33 . He said : O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me , and if Thou fend not off their wiles from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish .

12.34 . So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him . Lo! He is Nearer , Knower .

12.35 . And it seemed good to them ( the men folk ) after they had seen the signs ( of his innocence ) to imprison him for a time .

12.36 . And two young men went to prison with him . One of them said : I dreamed that I was pressing wine . The other said I dreamed that I was carrying upon my head bread whereof the birds were eating . Announce unto us the interpretation , for we see thee of those good ( at interpretation ) .

12.37 . He said : The food which ye are given ( daily ) shall not come unto you but I shall tell you the interpretation ere it cometh unto you . This is of that which my Lord hath taught me . Lo! I have forsaken the religion of folk who believe not in Allah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter .

12.38 . And I have followed the religion of my fathers , Abraham and Isaac and Jacob . It never was for us to attribute aught as partner to Allah . This is of the bounty of Allah unto us ( the seed of Abraham ) and unto mankind ; but most men give not thanks .

12.39 . O my two fellow prisoners! Are divers lords better , or Allah the One , the Almighty?

12.40 . Those whom ye worship beside Him are but names which ye have named , ye and your fathers . Allah hath revealed no sanction for them . The decision rests with Allah only , Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him . This is the right religion , but most men know not .