Then after that will come a year in which the people will receive abundant rain and in which they will press their produce.'

The king said, 'Bring him to me.' But when the messenger came to him, Joseph said, 'Go back to your master and ask him about the women who cut their hands. My Lord knows their scheme well.'

The king said, 'What happened when you tried to seduce Joseph?' They said, 'Allah preserve us! We know nothing bad about him.' The governor's wife said, 'Now the truth has become clear. I was the one who tried to seduce him, and he is certainly truthful.'

'This is so he may know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not guide the scheme of betrayers.

I do not declare myself innocent. The human self certainly urges toward evil, except when my Lord has mercy. My Lord is truly Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.'

The king said, 'Bring him to me. I will appoint him especially for myself.' Then, when he had spoken with him, he said, 'Today you are established with us, trusted.'

Joseph said, 'Put me in charge of the storehouses of the land. I am a careful guardian with knowledge.'

In this way We established Joseph in the land, free to settle wherever he wished. We grant Our mercy to whoever We will, and We never let the reward of those who do good go to waste.

And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and are mindful of Allah.

Joseph's brothers came and entered before him. He recognized them, while they did not recognize him.

When he had supplied them with their provisions, he said, 'Bring me a brother of yours from your father's side. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of hosts?

But if you do not bring him to me, you will have no measure from me, and do not come near me.'

They said, 'We will try to persuade his father to let him come. We will certainly do it.'

Joseph told his servants, 'Put their merchandise back into their bags so they will recognize it when they return to their family, and perhaps they will come back.'

When they returned to their father, they said, 'Our father, further measure has been denied to us. Send our brother with us so we can receive our measure. We will certainly protect him.'

He said, 'Should I trust you with him as I trusted you with his brother before? Allah is the best Guardian, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.'

When they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, 'Our father, what more could we ask? Here is our merchandise returned to us. We can get provisions for our family, protect our brother, and gain an extra camel-load. That is an easy measure.'

He said, 'I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge by Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you are completely surrounded.' When they gave him their pledge, he said, 'Allah is witness over what we say.'

He said, 'My sons, do not enter through one gate, but enter through different gates. Yet I cannot protect you from Allah in any way. Judgment belongs only to Allah. In Him I trust, and in Him let those who trust place their trust.'

When they entered as their father had instructed them, it did not protect them from Allah in any way. It only fulfilled a need in Jacob's heart. He certainly possessed knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most people do not know.

When they entered before Joseph, he drew his brother close and said, 'I am your brother, so do not grieve over what they used to do.'

Then, when he had supplied them with their provisions, he placed the drinking cup in his brother's bag. Then a caller announced, 'People of the caravan, you are surely thieves!'

They turned toward them and said, 'What are you missing?'

They said, 'We are missing the king's cup. Whoever brings it will receive a camel-load, and I guarantee it.'