111 Preface لَقَد كانَ في قَصَصِهِم عِبرَةٌ لِأُولِي الأَلبابِ ۗ ما كانَ حَديثًا يُفتَرىٰ وَلٰكِن تَصديقَ الَّذي بَينَ يَدَيهِ وَتَفصيلَ كُلِّ شَيءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحمَةً لِقَومٍ يُؤمِنونَYusuf AliThere is, in their stories,1 instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,-2 a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.Their stories, i.e., the stories of the Prophets or of the wicked; for the two threads interwine, as in Joseph’s story.A story like that of Joseph is not a purely imaginary fable. The People of the Book have it in their sacred literature. It is confirmed here in its main outline, but here there is a detailed spiritual exposition that will be found nowhere in earlier literature. The exposition covers all sides of human life. If properly understood, it gives valuable lessons to guide our conduct?an instance of God’s grace and mercy to people who will go to Him in faith and put their affairs in His hands.