Surah Yusuf

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Verses 36 to 68

﴾٣٦﴿ وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًۭا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْءَاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًۭا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa dakhala ma'ahus sijna fatayaan; qaala ahaduhumaaa inneee araaneee a'siru khamranw wa qaalal aakharu inneee araaneee ahmilu fawqa ra'see khubzan taakulut tairu minh; nabbi'naa bitaaweelihee innaa naraaka minal muhsineen

And two young men entered the prison with him. One of them said, "I see myself pressing wine." And the other said, "I see myself carrying bread on my head, from which the birds are eating. Inform us of its interpretation. We see that you are among those who do good."

﴾٣٧﴿ قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌۭ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَٰفِرُونَ

Qaala laa yaateekumaa ta'aamun turzaqaaniheee illaa nabbaatukumaa bitaaweelihee qabla any yaatiyakumaa; zaali kumaa mimmaa 'allamanee rabbee; innee taraktu millata qawmil laa yu'minoona billaahi wahum bil aakhirati hum kaafiroon

He said, "No food will come to you as provision except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. I have left the way of a people who do not believe in Allah and who reject the hereafter.

﴾٣٨﴿ وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

Wattab'tu millata aabaaa'eee Ibraaheema wa Ishaaqa wa Ya'qoob; maa kaana lanaaa an nushrika billaahi min shai' zaalikamin fadlil laahi 'alainaa wa 'alan naasi wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa yashkuroon

And I have followed the way of my fathers, Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub. It was not for us to associate anything with Allah. That is from the bounty of Allah upon us and upon people, but most people are not grateful.

﴾٣٩﴿ يَٰصَىٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ ءَأَرْبَابٌۭ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ

Yaa saahibayis sijni 'a-arbaabum mutafarriqoona khayrun amil laahul waahidul qahhaar

My two companions of the prison, are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the Dominant?

﴾٤٠﴿ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءًۭ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Maa ta'budoona min doonihee illaaa asmaaa'an sam maitumoohaaa antum wa aabaaa'ukum maaa anzalal laahu bihaa min sultan; inilhukmu illaa lillaah; amara allaa ta'budooo illaaa iyyaah; zaalikad deenul qaiyimu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

What you worship besides Him are only names you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to Allah alone. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.

﴾٤١﴿ يَٰصَىٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًۭا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْءَاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ

Yaa saahibayis sijni ammaaa ahadukumaa fa yasqee rabbahoo khamranw wa ammal aakharu fa yuslabu fataakulut tairu mir raasih; qudiyal amrul lazee feehi tastaftiyaan

My two companions of the prison, one of you will give his master wine to drink. As for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter you are asking about has been decided."

﴾٤٢﴿ وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ

Wa qaala lillazee zanna annahoo najim minhumaz kurnee 'inda rabbika fa-ansaahush Shaitaanu zikra Rabbihee falabisa fis sijni bad'a sineen

And he said to the one he thought would be saved of the two, "Mention me to your master." But Satan made him forget the mention to his master, so he remained in prison for several years.

﴾٤٣﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍۢ سِمَانٍۢ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌۭ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَٰتٍ خُضْرٍۢ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَٰتٍۢ ۖ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ

Wa qaalal maliku inneee araa sab'a baqaraatin simaaniny yaakuluhunna sab'un 'ijaafunw wa sab'a sumbulaatinkhudrinw wa ukhara yaabisaat; yaaa ayuhal mala-u aftoonee fee nu'yaaya in kuntum lirru'yaa ta'buroon

And the king said, "I see seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry. Chiefs, explain to me my vision, if you can interpret visions."

﴾٤٤﴿ قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَٰثُ أَحْلَٰمٍۢ ۖ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحْلَٰمِ بِعَٰلِمِينَ

Qaalooo adghaasu ahlaa minw wa maa nahnu bitaaweelil ahlaami bi'aalimeen

They said, "Confused dreams. And we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."

﴾٤٥﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَٱدَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا۠ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ فَأَرْسِلُونِ

Wa qaalal lazee najaa minhumaa waddakara ba'da ummatin ana unabbi'ukum bitalweelihee fa-arsiloon

And the one of the two who was saved, and remembered after a time, said, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me."

﴾٤٦﴿ يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍۢ سِمَانٍۢ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌۭ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَٰتٍ خُضْرٍۢ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَٰتٍۢ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Yoosufu ayyuhas siddee qu aftinaa fee sab'i baqaraatin simaaniny yaakuluhunna sab'un 'ijaafunw wa sabi'i sumbulaatin khudrinw wa ukhara yaabisaatil la'alleee arj'u ilan naasi la'allahum ya'lamoon

"Yusuf, man of truth, explain to us the seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others dry, so that I may return to the people, so that they may know."

﴾٤٧﴿ قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًۭا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِى سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ

Qaala tazra'oona sab'a sineena da aban famaa basattum fazaroohu fee sumbu liheee illaa qaleelam mimmaa taakuloon

He said, "You will plant for seven years as usual. Whatever you harvest, leave it in its ear, except a little from which you eat.

﴾٤٨﴿ ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبْعٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ

Summa yaatee mim ba'di zaalika sab'un shidaaduny yaa kulna maa qaddamtum lahunna illaa qaleelam mimma tuhsinoon

Then after that will come seven hard years, which will consume what you stored for them, except a little of what you preserve.

﴾٤٩﴿ ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَامٌۭ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعْصِرُونَ

Summa yadtee mim ba'di zaalika 'aamun feehi yughaa sun naasu wa feehi ya'siroon

Then after that will come a year in which people will be given rain, and in which they will press."

﴾٥٠﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌۭ

Wa qaalal maliku'toonee bihee falammaa jaaa'ahur rasoolu qaalar-ji ilaa rabbika fas'alhu maa baalun niswatil laatee qatta'na aydiyahunn; inna Rabbee bikaidihinna 'Aleem

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, he said, "Return to your master and ask him about the case of the women who cut their hands. My Lord is Knowing of their scheming."

﴾٥١﴿ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ قُلْنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍۢ ۚ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٰٔنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

Qaala maa khatbukunna iz raawattunna Yoosufa 'annafsih; qulna haasha lillaahi maa 'alimnaa 'alaihi min sooo'; qaalatim ra atul 'Azeezil 'aana hashasal haqq, ana raawat tuhoo 'an nafsihee wa innahoo laminas saadiqeen

He said, "What was your case when you sought to seduce Yusuf?" They said, "Allah forbid. We know of no evil in him." The wife of the Aziz said, "Now the truth has come out. I sought to seduce him, and he is among the truthful.

﴾٥٢﴿ ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ

Zaalika liya'lama annee lam akhunhu bilghaibi wa annal laaha laa yahdee kaidal khaaa'ineen

That is so that he may know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not guide the scheming of the treacherous.

﴾٥٣﴿ ۞ وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa maa ubarri'u nafsee; innan nafsa la ammaaratum bissooo'i illaa maa rahima Rabbee; inna Rabbee Ghafoorur Raheem

And I do not declare myself free of blame. The soul is a persistent commander of evil, except those on whom my Lord has mercy. My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful."

﴾٥٤﴿ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌۭ

Wa qaalal maliku' toonee biheee astakhlishu linafsee falammaa kallamahoo qaala innakal yawma ladainaa makeenun ameen

And the king said, "Bring him to me. I will take him for myself." And when he had spoken with him, he said, "You are today established with us, secure and trusted."

﴾٥٥﴿ قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

Qaalaj 'alnee 'alaa khazaaa'inil ardi innee hafeezun 'aleem

He said, "Set me over the storehouses of the land. I am a knowing guardian."

﴾٥٦﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

Wa kazaalika makkannaa li Yoosufa fil ardi yatabawwa'u minhaa haisu yashaaaa'; nuseebu birahmatinaa man nashaaa'u wa laa nudee'u ajral muhsineen

And in this way We established Yusuf in the land, to settle in it wherever he willed. We reach with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not waste the reward of those who do good.

﴾٥٧﴿ وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ

Wa la ajrul Aakhirati khairul lillazeena aamanoo wa kaanoo yattaqoon

And the reward of the hereafter is better for those who believed and were mindful of Allah.

﴾٥٨﴿ وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ

Wa jaaa'a ikhwatu Yoosufa fadakhaloo 'alaihi fa'arafahum wa hum lahoo munkiroon

And the brothers of Yusuf came and entered upon him, and he recognized them while they did not know him.

﴾٥٩﴿ وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍۢ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ

Wa lammaa jahhazahum bijahaazihim qaala' toonee bi akhil lakum min abeekum; alaa tarawna anneee oofil kaila wa ana khairul munzileen

And when he had supplied them with their provisions, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of hosts?

﴾٦٠﴿ فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ

Fa il lam taatoonee bihee falaa kaila lakum 'indee wa laa taqraboon

And if you do not bring him to me, there is no measure for you with me, and do not come near me."

﴾٦١﴿ قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَٰعِلُونَ

Qaaloo sanuraawidu 'anhu abaahu wa innaa lafaa'iloon

They said, "We will try to persuade his father for him, and we will do it."

﴾٦٢﴿ وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Wa qaala lifityaanihij 'aloo bidaa'atahum fee rihaalihim la'allahum ya'rifoonahaaa izan qalabooo ilaaa ahlihim la'allahum yarji'oon

And he said to his servants, "Put their goods back into their saddlebags, so that they may recognize them when they return to their family, so that they may come back."

﴾٦٣﴿ فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ

Falammaa raja'ooo ilaaa abeehim qaaloo yaaa abaanaa muni'a minnal kailu fa arsil ma'anaaa akhaanaa naktal wa innaa lahoo lahaafizoon

So when they returned to their father, they said, "Our father, the measure has been withheld from us, so send our brother with us, and we will receive a measure. And we will guard him."

﴾٦٤﴿ قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَٰفِظًۭا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ

Qaala hal aamanukum 'alihi illaa kamaa amintukum 'alaaa akheehimin qabl; fal laahu khairun haafizanw wa Huwa arhamur Raahimeen

He said, "Shall I trust you with him except as I trusted you with his brother before? Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."

﴾٦٥﴿ وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَٰذِهِۦ بِضَٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍۢ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌۭ يَسِيرٌۭ

Wa lammaa fatahoo mataa 'ahum wajadoo bidaa'atahum ruddat ilaihim qaaloo yaaa abaanaa maa nabghee; haazihee bida 'atunaa ruddat ilainaa wa nameeru ahlanaa wa nahfazu akhaanaa wa nazdaadu kaila ba'eer; zaalika kailuny yaseer

And when they opened their belongings, they found their goods returned to them. They said, "Our father, what more could we want? These are our goods, returned to us. And we will bring provision to our family, and we will guard our brother, and we will gain an extra camel's load. That is an easy measure."

﴾٦٦﴿ قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًۭا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِى بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌۭ

Qaala lan ursilahoo ma'akum hattaa tu'tooni mawsiqam minal laahis lataa tunnanee biheee illaaa nay yuhaata bikum falammaaa aatawhu mawsiqahum qaalal laahu 'alaa maa naqoolu Wakeel

He said, "I will never send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge by Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you are surrounded." And when they gave him their pledge, he said, "Allah is Guardian over what we say."

﴾٦٧﴿ وَقَالَ يَٰبَنِىَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بَابٍۢ وَٰحِدٍۢ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبٍۢ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍۢ ۖ وَمَآ أُغْنِى عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

Wa qaala yaa baniyya laa tadkhuloo mim baabinw waa hidinw wadkhuloo min abwaabim mutafarriqah; wa maaa ughnee 'ankum minal laahi min shai'in; inil hukmu illaa lillaahi 'alaihi tawakkaltu wa 'alaihi fal yatawakkalil Mutawakkiloon

And he said, "My sons, do not enter by one gate, but enter by different gates. I cannot avail you against Allah in anything. Judgment belongs only to Allah. Upon Him I rely, and upon Him let those who rely, rely."

﴾٦٨﴿ وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةًۭ فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍۢ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَٰهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Wa lammaa dakhaloo min haisu amarahum aboohum maa kaana yughnee 'anhum minal laahi min shai'in illaa haajatan fee nafsi Ya'qooba qadaahaa; wa innahoo lazoo 'ilmil limaa 'allamnaahu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

And when they entered as their father commanded them, it did not avail them against Allah in anything, except a need in the soul of Yaqub which he fulfilled. And he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most people do not know.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What This Part Means

Overview

The Prison, and the Storehouse.

Part Two covers the years nobody wants and the promotion that ends them. A man who has done nothing wrong spends an unspecified stretch in a cell, is forgotten by the one person who could have spoken for him, and then, when the door finally opens, refuses to walk through it until his name is cleared. What he does inside that prison is the part most readers skip. Two men ask him to read their dreams and he answers a different question first. And when the position finally comes, the two words he uses to describe himself in verse 55 are the same two qualities the Book uses everywhere else to identify a man worth trusting with something.

Verses 36 to 42

He Preached Before He Answered.

Verse 36 sets the situation. Two cellmates come to him with dreams, and their reason for asking is stated: we see that you are among those who do good. His conduct in the cell had already made the case before he opened his mouth. Verse 37 is how he begins, and the order is deliberate. First he establishes the credential, without boasting: no food will come to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes, and that is from what my Lord has taught me. He proves the source before he uses the platform. Then, in verses 38 through 40, he preaches. To two prisoners. In a cell. Having been asked about something else entirely. Verse 39 is the question he puts to them, and it is one of the cleanest formulations of tawhid in the Quran. My two companions of the prison, are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the Dominant? Verse 40 gives the argument in one clause. What you worship besides Him are only names you have named. Not powers, not beings. Names, assigned by men, with nothing behind them. Only then, in verse 41, does he answer what they actually asked, and he does not soften the hard half. One of you will give his master wine to drink. As for the other, he will be crucified. Then verse 42, which is the most human moment in the section. He asks the one who is leaving to mention him to his master. Then the verse: But Satan made him forget the mention to his master, so he remained in prison for several years. He took a reasonable step. The step failed. The years were added anyway.

Verses 43 to 57

Ask Him About the Women.

Verse 44 is the professional class answering the king. Confused dreams. And we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams. Two admissions in one line: they dismissed the thing, and then admitted they were not qualified to dismiss it. Verse 46 shows the cupbearer coming back to the cell after years and addressing him as as-siddiq, the man of truth. The title had survived his absence. Verses 47 through 49 are the plan, and it is worth reading as an actual policy. Plant as usual for seven years. Leave what you harvest in the ear, which is storage advice, since grain keeps longer unthreshed. Eat only a little. Then seven hard years will consume the stores. And then verse 49, which nobody asked about: after that comes a year of rain, and in it they will press. He was asked to interpret a dream and he delivered a fourteen-year operating plan, and then added a fifteenth year of relief that was not in the question. Verse 50 is the one that separates him from almost everyone. The king says bring him to me, the door opens, and he does not walk out. Return to your master and ask him about the case of the women who cut their hands. He had been in that cell for years. He refuses release until the record is corrected, because he understood that a man who leaves under a cloud carries it into whatever comes next. Verse 51 gives the confession, and verses 52 and 53 continue in a voice the mufassirun differ over, some reading it as her words continuing and some as Yusuf speaking. Either way, verse 53 is one of the most useful sentences in the Book. And I do not declare myself free of blame. The soul is a persistent commander of evil, except those on whom my Lord has mercy. Ammaratun bis-su', an intensive form, something that commands repeatedly and insistently. Verse 55 is his request for the job, and it should be read by anyone who has ever been offered a position. Set me over the storehouses of the land. I am a knowing guardian. Hafiz, one who protects what he is given. Alim, one who knows what he is doing. Integrity and competence, named together, exactly as Al-Qasas pairs strong and trustworthy. He asks for the hardest post in a famine, and he states his qualifications rather than his need.

Verses 58 to 68

The Brothers at the Door.

Verse 58 is one line and contains a whole silence. The brothers of Yusuf came and entered upon him, and he recognized them while they did not know him. They are standing in front of the man they threw into a well, asking him for food, and he says nothing. Verse 62 shows what he does instead of confronting them. He orders their goods put back into their saddlebags, quietly, so that they will find it at home. The first thing he does for the men who sold him is give them their money back without telling them. Verse 64 is Yaqub, decades later, being asked to hand over the second son. His answer names the wound without shouting about it: shall I trust you with him except as I trusted you with his brother before? And then he does not stay in the grievance. Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful. Verse 66 shows him taking the practical measure anyway, extracting a solemn pledge, and then closing it with Allah is Guardian over what we say. And verse 67 is the verse from this part worth carrying into any risk. Do not enter by one gate, but enter by different gates. A father tells his sons to split up, which is ordinary prudence about attracting attention. And then, in the same breath, he removes any power from the precaution: I cannot avail you against Allah in anything. Judgment belongs only to Allah. Upon Him I rely. He takes the measure and refuses to credit it. That is the whole of tawakkul in one verse. Tie the camel, and know that the rope is not what holds it. Verse 68 confirms the reading. It did not avail them against Allah in anything, except a need in the soul of Yaqub which he fulfilled. The precaution satisfied something in the man taking it, and changed nothing about the outcome, and the verse says so plainly without calling it foolish.

Structural Summary

Verses Thirty-Six to Sixty-Eight. I Am a Knowing Guardian.

In a cell, a man asked to read dreams first proves where his knowledge comes from and then preaches tawhid to two prisoners before answering their question. He takes a reasonable step to get out, the step fails, and the years are added anyway. When the door finally opens he refuses to leave until his name is cleared, because a man who exits under a cloud carries it forward. He turns a dream into a fourteen year plan and adds a year of relief nobody asked about. He asks for the hardest post in a famine and names two qualifications rather than his need. Then he stands in front of the brothers who sold him, says nothing, and sends their money home in their bags. And a father tells his sons to split up and denies the precaution any power in the same sentence.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 42. Name the reasonable step you took that did not work. Then read that verse and note that the years were added anyway, and the account did not end there.

Verse 50. If your name is under a cloud somewhere, do not accept the next opportunity until you have asked for the record to be corrected.

Verse 67. Take the sensible precaution in front of you this week, and then say out loud that it is not what holds the outcome.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 361 / 12

The Verse

Why do the two prisoners ask Yusuf about their dreams, in verse 36?