۞ (In Joseph and his brethren were signs for those who ask questions.) 7 NOW [Joseph's brothers] spoke [thus to one another:] "Truly, Joseph and his brother [Benjamin] are dearer to our father than we, even though we are so many. Behold, our father is surely suffering from an aberration!" 8 Let us kill Joseph or cast him in some distant land so that we may get our father's exclusive affection; then play innocent." 9 One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph, but if you must do something, cast him into the bottom of a well; some of the travellers will pick him up." 10 They said to their father, "Why do you not trust us with Joseph? We are indeed his well-wishers. 11 Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians. 12 He said: verily it grieveth me that ye should take him away, and I fear lest a wolf may devour him while ye are negligent of him. 13 They said: "If a wolf devours him, while we are 'Usbah (a strong group) (to guard him), then surely, we are the losers." 14 So when they went away with Joseph and decided to cast him in the bottom of the dark pit, We revealed to Joseph: "Surely a time will come when you will remind them of their deed. They know nothing about the consequence of what they are doing." 15 At nightfall they came to their father weeping, 16 They said: our father! we went off competing, and left Yusuf by our stuff, so a wolf devoured him; and thou wilt put no credence in us, even though we are the truth-tellers. 17 And they came with false blood on his shirt. He said: Nay, but your minds have beguiled you into something. (My course is) comely patience. And Allah it is Whose help is to be sought in that (predicament) which ye describe. 18 And there came a caravan – so they sent their water-drawer, he therefore lowered his pail; he said, “What good luck, this is a boy!”; and they hid him as a treasure; and Allah knows what they do. 19 And the brothers sold him for an improper price, a limited number of coins; and they had no interest in him. 20