The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاء الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ...

12: 102. Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee:

C1784. The story is finished.

But is it a story?

It is rather a recital of forces and motives, thoughts and feelings, complications and results, ordinarily not seen by men. However much they concert their plans and unite their forces, whatever dark plots they back with all their resources, -the plan of Allah works irresistibly, and sweeps away all their machinations.

The good win through in the end, but not always as they planned: the evil are foiled, and often their very plots help the good.

What did the brothers desire in trying to get rid of Joseph, and what actually happened?

How the Courtier's wife, encouraged by the corrupt women of her acquaintance, tried and failed to seduce Joseph and how Allah listened to his prayer and saved him from her vile designs?

How wrong was it of the cup-bearer to forget Joseph, and yet how his very forgetfulness kept Joseph safe and undisturbed in prison until the day came when he should tackle the great problems of Pharaoh's kingdom?

With every character in the story there are problems, and the whole is a beautifully balanced picture of the working of Allah's providence in man's chequered destiny. (R).

...وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُواْ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ ﴿١٠٢﴾

nor wast thou (present) with them when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.

C1785. The holy Prophet was no actor in those scenes; yet by inspiration he was able to expound them in the divine light, as they had never been expounded before, whether in the Pentateuch or by any Seer before him. And allegorically they figured his own story, -how his own brethren sought to betray and kill him how by Allah's providence he was not only saved but he won through. (R).

Other versions:

12: 102

Yusuf Ali Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen which We reveal by inspiration unto thee: nor wast thou (present) with them when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.

Pickthall This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they were scheming.

Yuksel That is from the news of the unseen that We inspire to you. You were not amongst them when they arranged their plan and were scheming.

Transliteration Za_lika min amba_'il gaibi nu_hihi ilaik(a), wa ma_ kunta ladaihim iz ajma'u_ amrahum wa hum yamkuru_n(a).