12. Surha Yusuf (Joseph)

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمَا أُبَرِّىءُ نَفْسِي...   

12: 53.  "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame):

إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ...

the (human soul) is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy:

C1712a. Ammara: prone, impelling, headstrong, passionate.

See n. 5810 to 75:2.

...إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٥٣﴾  

but surely certainly my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

C1713. See n. 1712.

1 construe this verse to be a continuation of the speech of the wife of the 'Aziz. It is more appropriate to her than to Joseph. (R).

Other versions:

12: 53

Asad And yet, I am not trying to absolve myself: for, verily, man’s inner self does incite to evil, and saved are only they upon whom my Sustainer bestows His grace. Behold my Sustainer is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!” [see asad’s note 53]

Yusuf Ali "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human soul) is certainly prone to evil unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely certainly my Lord is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful."

Pickthall I do not exculpate myself. Lo! the (human) soul enjoineth unto evil, save that whereon my Lord hath mercy. My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.

Transliteration Wa qa_lal maliku'tu_ni bihi astakhlishu linafsi, falamma_kallamahu_ qa_la innakal yauma ladaina_ makinun amin(un).