The Book of
Joseph and Zuleikha
by
Mulláná Abdulrahmán Jámí
Translated into English Verse by
Alexander Rogers
CONTENTS
	Page
Title Page
Translator's Preface	vii
Preface	1
The Opening of the Book in the one-Name	2
The setting forth in Order of the Proofs of the Real Existence of the Most High, and taking Delight in reflecting thereon.	3
Lifting up of the Hand in Prayer for Aid to the Needy	5
The Reservation of Supplication to the Ruler for Aid to Companions and Associates	6
The Praise of the Lord of Created Things, the Chief of Beings, the Blessing of Allah be on Him and his Descendants, with Peace	8
The Ascent of the Asylum of Prophecy, on whom and his Family be the Blessing of Allah and Peace	10
The Clothing Oneself with Humility, and Begging for Intercession	13
Seeking a Blessing by Reciting the Name of Khájah Ubeidullah Ihrar, the Saint and his own Spiritual Guide	15
To set Forth that Every One from Beauty and Love is a Bird flown out of the Nest of Unity, and that has rested in the Thicket of the Manifestation of Plurality	17
The Palm Tree of setting forth the Excellence of Being in Love, and the Branch of the Commencement of the Reason for the Composition of the Book to Attach to it	19
The Gathering of the Nosegay of Flowers from the Mead of Excellencies of Love, and the Twisting upon it of the Finishing String of the Reason for Compiling the Book	22
The Story of the Lighting of the Candle of Joseph's Beauty in the Night-place of the Hidden World, and the Burning of the Moth of Adam's Heart by its Flame	24
The Bringing of the Plant of Beauty of Joseph from the Spring-garden of the Hidden World to the Garden of Manifestation, and Water­ing it with the Water of Jacob's Eye and Nourishing it with the Air of Zuleikha's Heart	26
Concerning the Lineage of Zuleikha, from the Rising of the Sun, of whose Perfection the West became the East, and moreover passed beyond it by Thousands of Degrees	30
The Seeing by Zuleikha for the First Time of the Sword of the Sun of the Beauty of Joseph in the Sheath of a Dream, and her Being Killed with Love of him by that Sword	35
The Blowing of the Morning Breeze on Zuleikha, and the Opening of Her Drowsy Eye	38
The Knotting with Perplexity of the Rope of Anxiety of her Maids from their seeing the Change in the Condition of Zuleikha, and the unloosing by her Nurse with the Point of the Finger of Enquiry of the Knots of that Rope	40
The Seeing by Zuleikha of Joseph for a Second Time in a Dream, and the Shaking of the Chain of his Love, and Casting him into the Whirl­pool of Darkness	45
The Seeing of Joseph (on him be Peace!) by Zuleikha in a Dream for the Third Time, and her Asking his Name and Place, and the Return of Zuleikha to Wisdom and Sense	49
The Arrival of Ambassadors to demand the Hand of Zuleikha, and their Return Disappointed	53
The Sending by Zuleikha's Father of a Mes­senger to the Vazir of Egypt, and the bringing forward of Zuleikha to him and his Acceptance of her	56
The Blowing of the Breeze of Acceptance from the Direction of Egypt, and the Passing of Zuleikha's Litter, like the Litter of the Rose, to Egypt	59
The Hearing by the Vazir of Egypt of Zulei­kha's Approach, and his Arising with the Intent to go to meet her, and Adorning himself with Ornaments with his Egyptian Attendants	63
The Seeing of the Vazir of Egypt by Zuleikha through a Hole in the Tent, and her Raising a Cry that this is not he whom I Saw in my dream, and for whom I have been Troubled for Years	65
The Arrival of Zuleikha with the Vazir of Egypt, and the Coming out of the Egyptians and making Offerings of Golden Boxes on the Litter of Zuleikha	68
The Passing of her Life by Zuleikha in Separa­tion from Joseph (on whom be Peace!), and her Lamentation and Sighing by Night and by Day	71
The Commencement of the Story of the Envy borne towards Joseph by his Brothers, and of their Arranging to take Vengeance on him in Concert	76
The Beholding by Joseph in a Dream of the Worship of the Sun and Moon and the Eleven Planets, the Hearing of the same by his Brothers, and the Increase of their Envy against him	78
The Conspiring of the Brothers with each other in order to remove Joseph (on whom be Peace!) from his Father	80
The Asking by the Brothers for Joseph from their Father, and the Taking of Joseph (on whom be Peace!) before their Father	82
The Carrying away of Joseph by his Brothers from before his Father, and Throwing him into a Well	84
The Arrival of the Caravan at the Well, and the Bringing up of Joseph (on whom be Peace!) like the Moon	88
The Bringing of Joseph by Malik into the Neigh­bourhood of Egypt, and the Sending of the Vazir by the King to meet him	91
The Coming of Joseph to the Water of the Nile and Washing off the Dust of the Journey and Sitting on a Lofty Seat	93
The Coming of Zuleikha to the King's Court, and Asking the Reason of the Assembly, and Seeing the Beauty of Joseph	95
The Coming of Joseph to the Place of Sale, and his Purchase by Zuleikha at double Price	97
The Story of a Girl by Name Bazigha, of the Race of the Ádis, who in Secret became enamoured of the Beauty of Joseph (on whom be Peace!), and in Beholding in that Mirror the Beauty of Truth passed from what is Feigned to what is True	101
The Preparation by Zuleikha of Things for the Ease of Joseph and her performing Services for him	106
The Setting forth by Joseph of the Story of the Pain of his Journey, and the Trouble of the Well, and the becoming aware by Zuleikha that the Sorrow she had had that Day had arisen from it	109
The Desiring by Joseph of the Office of a Shepherd for the Reason that there had been no Prophet who had not performed a Shepherd's Office	111
The Demanding by Zuleikha of Union with Joseph, and Joseph's Independence	113
The Questioning of Zuleikha by her Nurse as to the Reason of her Melting away at the Sight of the Candle of Joseph's Beauty	116
The Sending of her Nurse by Zuleikha to Joseph in Search of her Object, and his Rejection of it	118
The Going of Zuleikha to Joseph and Humbling herself, and making Excuse to Joseph for the Fulfilment of her Object	120
The Sending of Joseph by Zuleikha to a Garden, and the Preparation of its Apparatus	124
The Displaying of their Beauty to Joseph by the Handmaids	127
The Humiliation of Zuleikha before her Nurse, and her Plotting for Union with Joseph	130
The Building by the Nurse of the House in which were the Pictures of Joseph and Zuleikha	133
The Calling of Joseph to that House by Zuleikha, and her demanding Union with him	135
The Bringing of Joseph by Zuleikha into the Seventh House and demanding her Object from him	140
The Finding by the Vazir of Joseph outside that House, and the Discovery of her Secret by Zuleikha	148
The Taking of Joseph to Prison, and the giving of Evidence by a Sucking Child as to his Purity, and the Vazir leaving him	152
Letting loose the Tongue of Reproach against Zuleikha by the Women of Egypt with Regard to Joseph's Love	155
The Holding excused of Zuleikha by the Women of Egypt after having seen Joseph's Beauty	161
The Preparing of Zuleikha by the Women of Egypt to send Joseph to Prison	165
The Repentance of Zuleikha for having sent Joseph to Prison	169
The Impatience of Zuleikha at Separation from Joseph, and her Going with her Nurse to the Jail at Night	174
The Going up of Zuleikha on to the Terrace of the Palace, and Looking at the Jail and Weeping at Separation from Joseph	177
Setting forth the Benefits conferred by Joseph on the People in the Jail, and his Interpreta­tion of the Dream of the Servants of the King of Egypt, and their Recommendation to recall him to the King's Memory	181
The Sending for Joseph by the King of Egypt for the Interpretation of his own Dream	183
The Coming of Joseph out of the Prison, and the Honouring of him by the King, and the Death of the Vazir	188
Setting forth the Condition of Zuleikha through the Death of the Vazir of Egypt, and her being overpowered by the Love of Joseph	191
The Coming of Zuleikha on to Joseph's Road, and her Building a House of Reeds, that she might enjoy the Sound of him and his Army passing	196
The Taking hold of Joseph by Zuleikha and Finding Favour with him, and her being Converted	199
The Coming of Zuleikha to the House of Joseph, and regaining her Sight, Beauty, and Youth through his Prayer	202
The Marriage of Zuleikha with Joseph by the Command of God the Most High (Glory be to Him), and the Wedding Night	206
Concerning the Communication of Zuleikha's Love to Joseph, and his Running after her and Tearing her Robe, and the Founding of a House of Worship	208
The Seeing by Joseph of his Father and Mother in a Dream, and Asking for his own Death from God	211
The Death of Joseph and the Destruction of Zuleikha through Separation from him	214
Story	219
Rebuke of Heaven, which having twisted its Folds like a Snake round the World, and having brought all within the Circle of its Dominion, inflicts a Wound on one and gives Poison to another	220
Giving Advice and imposing Bonds on his beloved Son that he should be zealous in acquiring Perfection	225
A Talk with regard to himself, and advancing him from the low Ground of Selfishness to the Summit of Magnanimity	231
Conclusion in Thankfulness for Completion, and the Date of Finishing, and Prayer to God the Most High for Favour in the World to come	234