The Majestic Quran

bit as deserving of God’s wrath as another that mocks His signs, or one that has given itself over to sexual lewdness. 12 ‘Interpretation of dreams’ also implies ‘problem-solving’. As we will see Joseph solved the problems of other people. 13 Joseph and his brother Benjamin were the son’s of Jacob’s wife Rachel and the other 10 children were his half-brothers. 14 ‘Zuhd’ is to be indifferent; refuse to have anything to do with someone or something. The people of the caravan weren’t at all interested in Joseph, they didn’t value him, 15 In the Bible (Genesis 39: 1), the Egyptian was called Potiphar, the captain of the Pharaoh’s guard. Notice the difference Potiphar valued Joseph highly. 16 Imam Razi gives two explanations of this order of Jacob: If a band of strong men entered from one gate of the city, it could arouse suspicion and they could be arrested, secondly (the one Imam Razi prefers), to avoid the evil eye. The Messenger r said “An evil eye can drive a person into a grave and a Camel into a cooking pot”. 17 Joseph gives a gift of a precious drinking cup to his brother. The King’s measuring bowl was misplaced by the guards and they suspected it was stolen by the brothers. 18 It also means “taught me to solve problems, to find solutions.” Joseph solved the problems of the Butler and the King. 19 Abdullah ibn Abbas used to recite the verse “...even the Messenger of that time and those who believed him cried out: ‘When will God's help come?’ The help of God is near” (2: 214). Meaning they were frustrated with their people and lost hope in them but they were never hopeless of God's kindness. 20 Jara in Arabic means “running” or “coursing” through the sky, however, metaphorically it means “orbiting”. 21 This is one of the verses of prostration in the Quran. 22 Umm al-Kitab literally means “the Mother of the Decree” or Book, which refers to the Lawh Mahfuz ( Al-Buruj 85: 22), “the Preserved Tablet”, containing a complete record of everything that has and will ever happen or exist. 23 This is a clear statement about 'free-choice'. The 'moral choice' humans have been given. Those who want to be guided, the Lord supports, encourages and energises them to achieve (Tawfeeq). Anyone who refuses to take the opportunity is left to wonder aimlessly. 24 “The days of God” means the time when God freed the Israelites from the Pharaoh. 25 According to Al-Qurtubi, this Arabic idiom refers to a gesture expressing shock or anger, as in Al ‘Imran 3: 119 (“they bite on their fingertips out of rage”). 26 “Good word” according to Ibn Abbas is La ilah illa God (“There is no god but God”), and by Mujahid either, a believer’s faith, or the believer (Al-Qurtubi). 27 This use of references to disobedient communities in the past is a recurrent device in the Quran. 28 Literally, “You to whom the Reminder has been revealed.” 29 Constellations are groups of stars that form recognisable patterns in the night sky. 30 The word lawaqih meant “pregnant with rainwater” and the fertilisation of plants by the process of pollination, adding a new layer of meaning and appreciation to the text for modern readers. 31 In other words, everything returns to God in the end, as it says in verse 25. 32 Iblis is one of the names of Satan. 33 “Here are my daughters” means the women of my community are your wives, so satisfy yourselves with them. 34 According to Ibn Abbas, The Messenger r is the only human by whose life God has sworn.