الٓر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
Aif, Lam, Ra. These are the signs of the Manifest Book.
Commentary on Quran 12:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:1] See commentary of al Baqarah: 1 for Alif, Lam, Ra (huruf muqatta-at) and al Baqarah: 2 and Ya Sin: 12. for "the verses of manifest book" .
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Indeed We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may exercise your reason.
Commentary on Quran 12:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:2] No people in the world, perhaps, manifest such enthusiastic admiration for literary expression and are so moved by the word, spoken or written, as the Arabs. Hardly any language seems capable of exercising over the minds of its users such irresistible influence as Arabic. So the Quran was revealed in the Arabic language but it contains the law Allah has made for the whole mankind in all ages. Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said: "Learn the Arabic, the language of the final word of Allah."
نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
We will recount to you the best of narratives in what We have revealed to you of this Quran, and indeed prior to it you were among those who are unaware [of it].
Commentary on Quran 12:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:3] The story of Yusuf son of Yaqub son of Is-haq son of Ibrahim as given in the Quran is not identical with the Biblical story. The atmosphere is wholly different. The Biblical story is a folk-tale in which morality has no place. It exalts the clever and financially-minded Jew against the Egyptian, and to explain certain ethnic and tribal peculiarities in later Jewish history, Yusuf is shown as buying up all the cattle and the land of the poor Egyptians for the state under the stress of famine conditions, and making the Jews "rulers" over the Firawn's cattle. The Quranic story, on the other hand, is less a narrative than a highly spiritual sermon or allegory explaining the seeming contradictions in life, the enduring nature of virtue in a world full of flux and change, and the marvellous working of Allah's eternal purpose in His plan as unfolded to us on the wide canvas of history. Imam Ali said to Imam Hasan: "O my son, although I have not lived with the people gone by but I have so closely studied their deeds, the events which took place, and the traditions and vestiges they have left behind, as if I have become one of them, as if I have lived with the first and the last of them". (Nahj al Balagha) It is the most detailed of any story in the Quran and is full of description of vicissitudes of human life, and therefore deservedly appeals to men and women of all classes. It paints in vivid colours, with their spiritual implications, the most varied aspects of life-Yaqub's old age and the confidence between him and his little beloved son, the elder brothers' jealousy, their plot, Yaqub's grief, the sale of Yusuf into slavery for a petty price, carnal love contrasted with purity and patience and fortitude, chastity, false charges, prison, the divine gift of interpretation of the dreams, evil life and spiritual life, innocence raised to honour, forgiveness and benevolence, matters of administration, humility in glory, filial love, and the ultimate triumph of piety and truth. When the tribal chiefs of the Quraysh asked the Holy Prophet about the cause of the migration of the children of Yaqub to Egypt from Syria, this surah was revealed. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Except four verses (the first three and the seventh according to Ibn Abbas) this surah was revealed in Makka on the eve of the Holy Prophet's migration to Madina. If true, it proves that the date and the sequence of the revelations were not taken into consideration by the Holy Prophet. It must be noted that like Yusuf the Holy Prophet also had to leave his birth place on account of the conspiracy of his near relatives. This surah gave confidence and hope to him that they would also encounter the same fate as the brothers of Yusuf met. Like Yusuf the Holy Prophet also declared clemency for his relatives and tribesmen. After the fall of Makka he said: "I say that which my brother Yusuf said to his brothers in the end." Yusuf son of Yaqub was a very beautiful youth. The truth, which Yusuf, the prophet of Allah, saw in his vision, was unpalatable to his half-brothers, who plotted against him and sold him into slavery to a merchant for a few pieces of silver. Yusuf was taken by the merchant into Egypt, was bought by a great Egyptian court dignitary, Aziz. The beauty of Yusuf was so irresistible that the dignitary's wife fell in love with him on first sight and sought to entice Yusuf to the delights of earthly love, but Yusuf, a faithful servant of Allah and His prophet, did not yield to the temptation. His self-control and faith in Allah could not be shaken just for the pleasure of a fleeting moment. He preferred the misery of imprisonment to the disgrace he would have to face if he had succumbed to the lure of Shaytan. Although some commentators have given many notes of mystic nature connected with the story of Yusuf, yet it is advisable to rely upon that which has been narrated in the Quran. The knowledge and wisdom of the Holy Prophet is based upon the revelations sent to him from Allah. These verses narrate the story of Yusuf. Those who want to know other details, not mentioned in the Quran, may refer to the "Glimpses of the Prophets", an English translation of Hayat ul Qulub, published by this Trust. Yusuf, born of Yaqub's beloved wife Rachel, occupied the first place in his father's affections. Rachel gave birth to another child, Benjamin, Yusuf's real brother, after which she died. When Yusuf was about twelve years of age he dreamed a dream in which he saw a light had enveloped the whole environment. Every creature was singing the song of Allah's glory. Then the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to him. As soon as Yaqub, also a prophet of Allah, heard this dream, he knew its interpretation immediately. (It is reported on the authority of Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari that one day Bashan, a Jew of Madina, came to the Holy Prophet and asked him whether he knew the names of the stars which Yusuf saw in his dream. The Holy Prophet gave him the following names: Hurban, Turaq, Zi-al, Zulkitfani, Qabisth, Wathab, Amud, Faluq, Masbah, Saduh, Zul Qarh.) Yaqub advised Yusuf not to relate his dream to his brothers who hated and envied him because they saw that their father loved him more than all of them, and that Yusuf was a very beautiful boy, a gift of Allah bestowed on him as a distinctive excellence. There was a tree in Yaqub's house. Whenever a son was born, a new branch used to grow on the tree. As soon as that son reached puberty, Yaqub would cut the branch and give it to the boy to be used as a staff. On the birth of Yusuf no such branch grew. Yaqub prayed to Allah. In reply Allah sent a heavenly branch for Yusuf. The brothers envied him for this divine favour. Yusuf dreamed another dream that all the brothers planted their staves in the earth, but his staff grew higher and higher and reached the sky. Then a violent storm destroyed the staves of his brothers, leaving his staff intact. Yaqub told him that the dream showed his high position near Allah. His brothers became furious with jealousy and hatred-all negative and wicked characteristics are the promptings of Shaytan, an open enemy of man. As a chosen prophet of Allah Yusuf had to understand and interpret signs and events aright. The dreams of the righteous prefigure events correctly. Yusuf could look back to his fathers upto Ibrahim, the upright, who through all adversities kept his faith pure and won through. In Yusuf's story there is good and evil contrasted in many different ways. The brothers of Yusuf proposed to kill him so that the favour of their father might be given to them alone, but one of them suggested to throw him in a well, in which case some travellers passing by would pick him up and remove him to a far country and they would be free from the charge of murder. The plot having been formed, they approached their father to let Yusuf go with them to play and enjoy. Yaqub had strong misgivings and apprehension. He told them that while they were attending to their own affairs a wolf might devour him. In the end they prevailed upon him and took Yusuf with them, and threw him into a well. Allah was with Yusuf in his sufferings and sorrows and reassured him that one day they would stand before him, seeking his help, not knowing that he was their betrayed brother. They stained Yusuf's shirt with the blood of a goat and showed it to their father to convince him that while they were playing a wolf had devoured Yusuf who was guarding their things. Yaqub did not believe them. He saw that there had been some foul play.
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَاأَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ
When Joseph said to his father, ‘Father! I saw eleven planets, and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrating themselves before me,’
Commentary on Quran 12:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:4] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ يَابُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَى إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
he said, ‘My son, do not recount your dream to your brothers, lest they should devise schemes against you. Satan is indeed man’s manifest enemy.
Commentary on Quran 12:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:5] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَكَذَلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى آلِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَا أَتَمَّهَا عَلَى أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
That is how your Lord will choose you, and teach you the interpretation of dreams, and complete His blessing upon you and upon the house of Jacob, just as He completed it earlier for your fathers, Abraham and Isaac. Your Lord is indeed all-knowing and all-wise.’
Commentary on Quran 12:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:6] (see commentary for verse 3)
لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِي يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ آيَاتٌ لِّلسَّائِلِينَ
In Joseph and his brothers there are certainly signs for the seekers.
Commentary on Quran 12:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:7] (see commentary for verse 3)
إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَى أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
When they said, ‘Surely Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than [the rest of] us, though we are a hardy band. Our father is indeed in manifest error.’
Commentary on Quran 12:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:8] (see commentary for verse 3)
اقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ
‘Kill Joseph or cast him away into some [distant] land, so that your father’s attention may be exclusively towards you, and thereafter you may become a righteous lot.’
Commentary on Quran 12:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:9] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ السَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ
One of them said, ‘Do not kill Joseph, but cast him into the recess of a well so that some caravan may pick him up, if you are to do [anything].’
Commentary on Quran 12:10
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:10] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا يَاأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَنَّا عَلَى يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَنَاصِحُونَ
They said, ‘Father! Why is it that you do not trust us with Joseph? We are indeed his well-wishers.
Commentary on Quran 12:11
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:11] (see commentary for verse 3)
أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Let him go with us tomorrow so that he may eat lots of fruits and play, and we will indeed take [good] care of him.’
Commentary on Quran 12:12
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:12] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ إِنِّي لَيَحْزُنُنِي أَن تَذْهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَافِلُونَ
He said, ‘It really upsets me that you should take him away, and I fear the wolf may eat him while you are oblivious of him.’
Commentary on Quran 12:13
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:13] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّخَاسِرُونَ
They said, ‘Should the wolf eat him while we are a hardy band, then we will indeed be losers!’
Commentary on Quran 12:14
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:14] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُوا بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُوا أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَابَتِ الْجُبِّ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
So when they took him away and conspired to put him into the recess of a well, We revealed to him, ‘[A day will come when] you will surely inform them about this affair of theirs while they are not aware [of your identity].’
Commentary on Quran 12:15
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:15] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَجَاءُوا أَبَاهُمْ عِشَاءً يَبْكُونَ
In the evening, they came weeping to their father.
Commentary on Quran 12:16
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:16] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا يَاأَبَانَا إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَاعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ الذِّئْبُ وَمَا أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَادِقِينَ
They said, ‘Father! We had gone racing and left Joseph with our things, whereat the wolf ate him. But you will not believe us even if we spoke truly.’
Commentary on Quran 12:17
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:17] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَجَاءُوا عَلَى قَمِيصِهِ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ
And they produced sham blood on his shirt. He said, ‘No, your souls have made a matter seem decorous to you. Yet patience is graceful, and Allah is my resort against what you allege.’
Commentary on Quran 12:18
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:18] (see commentary for verse 3) [Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq has said that while Yusuf was in the well, Jabra-il advised him to invoke Allah in the following words: ALLAHUMMA INNI AS-ALUKA BI-ANNA LAKAL HAMDU LA ILAHA ILLA ANTAL MANNANU BADI-US SAMAWATI WAL ARD DHUL JALALI WAL IKRAM AN TUSALLIYA ALA MUHAMMADIN WA ALI MUHAMMAD WA AN TAJ-ALLI MIN AMRI FARAJAN WA MAKHRAJAN WA TARZUQNI MIN HAYSU AHTASIB WA MIN HAYSU LA AHTASIB O Allah, I beseech You, praise be to You, there is no god save You, the benign, the originator of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of grandeur and honour, send Your blessings on Muhammad and on the children of Muhammad, and make my affair easy, and let it find a way-out, and provide me from wherewith I reckon, and from wherewith I do not reckon.] A caravan of merchants pulled Yusuf up with a bucket which was let down to bring water from the well. For the merchants Yusuf was an item of merchandise. The brothers, who were visiting the well daily, came to claim his price as a runaway slave, but dared not haggle over the price, lest their plan, to get rid of him, should be defeated. The shrewd merchants bought Yusuf for the paltry sum of a few dirhams. In Egypt, a high court official purchased him when he was put for sale in a public auction. He took him to his house and instructed his wife to make his stay honourable so that they might adopt him as a son. So Allah firmly established Yusuf in the land and taught him the interpretation of dreams, and when he reached the prime of life He gave him wisdom and knowledge, because Allah rewards those who are good. The wife of the high official, Zulaykha, tried to seduce him. She desired him very much. As Yusuf was one of Allah's chosen devotees, He enabled him to avert both evil and lechery from himself. She grabbed and rent his shirt from behind. Both of them raced to the door. There they met her husband outside the door. At once she saw the trouble and put the blame on Yusuf and said: 'There is no other penalty for a man who wanted to outrage your wife but imprisonment or grievous punishment." Yusuf said that it was she who wanted to seduce him. He had to tell the truth. A witness from her family testified. Yusuf's shirt was torn at the back, he must obviously have been retreating and Zulaykha must have been tugging from behind. Everybody knew the guilty party. The husband was convinced that indeed it was a woman's ruse-the wiles of women are terrible. He asked Yusuf to ignore the affair and ordered his wife to ask forgiveness for her sin. In the city the women gossiped. When she heard their slanderings, she invited them to a sumptuous feast and gave each of them a knife and called Yusuf to come out before them. When they saw him, the women were so wonderstruck with his beauty that they cut their hands.
وَجَاءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَأَرْسَلُوا وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَى دَلْوَهُ قَالَ يَابُشْرَى هَذَا غُلَامٌ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَاعَةً وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
There came a caravan, and they sent their water-drawer, who let down his bucket. ‘Good news!’ he said. ‘This is a young boy!’ So they hid him as [a piece of] merchandise, and Allah knew best what they were doing.
Commentary on Quran 12:19
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:19] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ
And they sold him for a cheap price, a few dirhams, for they set small store by him.
Commentary on Quran 12:20
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:20] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَكَذَلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
The man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, ‘Give him an honourable place [in the household]. Maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ Thus We established Joseph in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah has [full] command of His affairs, but most people do not know.
Commentary on Quran 12:21
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:21] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
When he came of age, We gave him judgement and [sacred] knowledge, and thus do We reward the virtuous.
Commentary on Quran 12:22
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:22] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الْأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
The woman in whose house he was, solicited him. She closed the doors and said, ‘Come!!’ He said, ‘God forbid! Indeed He is my Lord; He has given me a good abode. Indeed the wrongdoers are not felicitous.’
Commentary on Quran 12:23
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:23] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَى بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ كَذَلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ
She certainly made for him; and he would have made for her [too] had he not beheld the proof of his Lord. So it was, that We might turn away from him all evil and indecency. He was indeed one of Our dedicated servants.
Commentary on Quran 12:24
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:24] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَاسْتَبَقَا الْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَى الْبَابِ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا إِلَّا أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
They raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind, and they ran into her husband at the door. She said, ‘What is to be the requital of him who has evil intentions for your wife except imprisonment or a painful punishment?’
Commentary on Quran 12:25
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:25] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ هِيَ رَاوَدَتْنِي عَن نَّفْسِي وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ
He said, ‘It was she who solicited me.’ A witness of her own household testified [thus]: ‘If his shirt is torn from the front, she tells the truth and he lies.
Commentary on Quran 12:26
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:26] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ
But if his shirt is torn from behind, then she lies and he tells the truth.’
Commentary on Quran 12:27
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:27] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا رَأَى قَمِيصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قَالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ
So when he saw that his shirt was torn from behind, he said, ‘This is [a case] of you women’s guile! Your guile is indeed great!
Commentary on Quran 12:28
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:28] (see commentary for verse 3)
يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَذَا وَاسْتَغْفِرِي لِذَنبِكِ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَاطِئِينَ
Joseph, let this matter alone, and you, woman, plead for forgiveness for your sin, for you have indeed been erring.’
Commentary on Quran 12:29
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:29] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ تُرَاوِدُ فَتَاهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا إِنَّا لَنَرَاهَا فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
Some of the townswomen said, ‘The chieftain’s wife has solicited her slave boy! He has captivated her love. Indeed we see her to be in manifest error.’
Commentary on Quran 12:30
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:30] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَأً وَآتَتْ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ اخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
When she heard of their machinations, she sent for them and arranged a repast, and gave each of them a knife, and said [to Joseph], ‘Come out before them.’ So when they saw him, they marvelled at him and cut their hands [absent-mindedly], and they said, ‘Good heavens! This is not a human being! This is but a noble angel!’
Commentary on Quran 12:31
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:31] (see commentary for verse 3) [Hasha lillah is a phrase which denotes remoteness from imperfection or the like, or freedom therefrom; generally implying wonder or admiration-How far (or how free) is Allah from every imperfection! It implies wonder at the power of Allah as manifested in the creation of a beautiful person like Yusuf.] The women all agreed that no man had a right to resist their solicitations, so Zulaykha, in her tragic guilt, threatened Yusuf with imprisonment and disgrace. Yet, inspite of having seen the clear proofs of his innocence, the men, as a political move, sent him to prison for a time, until the scandalous gossip of the town regarding the high official's wife had ceased. There came into the prison two young men with him. They were employed in the court of Firawn. One was a cup-bearer, and the other was a cook. They were both in disgrace. The former dreamed that he was pressing grapes, the latter that he was carrying bread, but the birds ate of it. They saw in Yusuf a man of Cod endowed with His wisdom, therefore told him their dreams and asked him to interpret them. Refer to verse 21. First Yusuf taught the truth of Allah and the faith in the hereafter to both men. It was his mission, his duty. The highest good he could do to them was to teach the polytheist Egyptians the gospel of unity of Allah. He had the heritage of great men renowned for wisdom and truth such as Ibrahim, Is-haq and Yaqub, whose faith he followed, and all of them never associated anyone with Allah- belief in one Allah is a grace of Allah to mankind. All false gods are nothing but names that polytheists have named for which there is no divine sanction. Sovereignty belongs to Allah alone, therefore, worship none but Him-this is the right religion.
قَالَتْ فَذَلِكُنَّ الَّذِي لُمْتُنَّنِي فِيهِ وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ فَاسْتَعْصَمَ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَا آمُرُهُ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ
She said, ‘He is the one on whose account you blamed me. Certainly, I did solicit him, but he was continent, and if he does not do what I bid him, surely he shall be imprisoned and humbled.’
Commentary on Quran 12:32
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:32] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ
He said, ‘My Lord! The prison is dearer to me than to what they invite me. If You do not turn away their schemes from me, I will incline towards them and become one of the senseless.’
Commentary on Quran 12:33
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:33] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
So his Lord answered him and turned away their stratagems from him. Indeed, He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.
Commentary on Quran 12:34
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:34] (see commentary for verse 3)
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا الْآيَاتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُ حَتَّى حِينٍ
Then it appeared to them, after they had seen all the signs [of his innocence], that they should confine him for some time.
Commentary on Quran 12:35
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:35] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ السِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِي خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ الطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
There entered the prison two youths along with him. One of them said, ‘I dreamt that I am pressing grapes.’ The other said, ‘I dreamt that I am carrying bread on my head from which the birds are eating.’ ‘Inform us of its interpretation,’ [they said], ‘for indeed we see you to be a virtuous man.’
Commentary on Quran 12:36
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:36] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ذَلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ
He said, ‘Before the meals you are served come to you I will inform you of its interpretation. That is among things my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I renounce the creed of the people who have no faith in Allah and who [also] disbelieve in the Hereafter.
Commentary on Quran 12:37
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:37] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ذَلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
I follow the creed of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is not for us to ascribe any partner to Allah. That is by virtue of Allah’s grace upon us and upon all mankind, but most people do not give thanks.
Commentary on Quran 12:38
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:38] (see commentary for verse 3)
يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
O my prison mates! Are different masters better, or Allah, the One, the All-paramount?
Commentary on Quran 12:39
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:39] (see commentary for verse 3)
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
You do not worship besides Him but [mere] names that you and your fathers have coined, for which Allah has not sent down any authority. Sovereignty belongs only to Allah. He has commanded you to worship none except Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.
Commentary on Quran 12:40
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:40] (see commentary for verse 3)
يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَمَّا أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِي رَبَّهُ خَمْرًا وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ الطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِ قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
O my prison mates! As for one of you, he will serve wine to his master, and as for the other, he will be crucified and vultures will eat from his head. The matter about which you inquire has been decided.’
Commentary on Quran 12:41
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:41] (see commentary for verse 3) [The word sahibi (my companion) has been used by Yusuf to address the two fellow-prisoners who were polytheists. Likewise it is not necessary that all the companions of the Holy Prophet were sincere believers. Many of them were hypocrites.] Then Yusuf told them that the cup-bearer would again serve wine to Firawn, while the cook will be crucified and the birds would peck at his brain. He asked the cup-bearer to mention him to his master, but Shaytan made him forget to mention this to his master, and Yusuf remained in prison for a few more years. One day the king told his courtiers that he saw in a dream seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of corns and seven others that were withered. None of the courtiers knew how to interpret dreams. The cup-bearer told Firawn that he would give him its interpretation and went to see Yusuf in prison. He asked him to tell him the meaning of the dream.
وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
Then he said to the one whom he knew would be delivered from among the two: ‘Mention me to your master.’ But Satan caused him to forget mentioning [it] to his master. So he remained in the prison for several years.
Commentary on Quran 12:42
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:42] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ إِنِّي أَرَى سَبْعَ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ يَاأَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي رُؤْيَايَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّؤْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ
[One day] the king said, ‘I saw [in a dream] seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean ones, and seven green ears and [seven] others [that were] dry. O courtiers, give me your opinion about my dream, if you can interpret dreams.’
Commentary on Quran 12:43
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:43] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا أَضْغَاثُ أَحْلَامٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ الْأَحْلَامِ بِعَالِمِينَ
They said, ‘[These are] confused nightmares, and we do not know the interpretation of nightmares.’
Commentary on Quran 12:44
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:44] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ الَّذِي نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأْوِيلِهِ فَأَرْسِلُونِ
Said the one of the two who had been delivered, remembering [Joseph] after a long time: ‘I will inform you of its interpretation; so let me go [to meet Joseph in the prison].’
Commentary on Quran 12:45
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:45] (see commentary for verse 3)
يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِي سَبْعِ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ لَّعَلِّي أَرْجِعُ إِلَى النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
‘Joseph,’ [he said], ‘O truthful one, give us your opinion concerning seven fat cows who are eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears and [seven] others dry, that I may return to the people so that they may know [the truth of the matter].’
Commentary on Quran 12:46
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:46] (see commentary for verse 3) [Yusuf, the prophet of Allah, was a siddiq-truthful, who from his childhood worshipped no one save Allah. From this it follows that those who had worshipped a ghayrallah for the most part of their lives cannot be addressed as siddiq. ] Yusuf the truthful said that there would be seven years of abundant harvest. Of them they should take a little for their sustenance and store the rest in the ears. There would follow seven years of dreadful famine which will consume all the stores which were saved in the good years. That would be followed by a year of rain in which people would press wine and oil. The king sent a messenger to bring Yusuf. Yusuf told the messenger that his innocence was well-established before Allah, but before he came out of the prison there should be a public inquiry. Then the king sent for the ladies concerned. Among them came Zulaykha. The king demanded the whole truth. Zulaykha confessed that it was she who attempted to seduce Yusuf but undoubtedly he was a truthful man of virtue.
قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِي سُنبُلِهِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ
He said, ‘You will sow for seven consecutive years. Then leave in the ear whatever [grain] you harvest, except a little that you eat.
Commentary on Quran 12:47
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:47] (see commentary for verse 3)
ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ
Then after that there will come seven hard years which will eat up whatever you have set aside for them—all except a little which you preserve [for seed].
Commentary on Quran 12:48
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:48] (see commentary for verse 3)
ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ عَامٌ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ النَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعْصِرُونَ
Then after that there will come a year wherein the people will be granted relief and provided with rains therein.
Commentary on Quran 12:49
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:49] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ الرَّسُولُ قَالَ ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ اللَّاتِي قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ إِنَّ رَبِّي بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ
The king said, ‘Bring him to me!’ When the messenger came to him, he said, ‘Go back to your master, and ask him about the affair of women who cut their hands. My Lord is indeed well aware of their stratagems.’
Commentary on Quran 12:50
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:50] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَاوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِ قُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوءٍ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ الْآنَ حَصْحَصَ الْحَقُّ أَنَا رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ
The king said, ‘What was your business, women, when you solicited Joseph?’ They said, ‘Heaven be praised! We know of no evil in him.’ The prince’s wife said, ‘Now the truth has come to light! It was I who solicited him, and he is indeed telling the truth.’
Commentary on Quran 12:51
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:51] (see commentary for verse 3)
ذَلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّي لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِالْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي كَيْدَ الْخَائِنِينَ
[Joseph said], [‘I initiated] this [inquiry], that he may know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not further the schemes of the treacherous.’
Commentary on Quran 12:52
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:52] (see commentary for verse 3) [Some commentators say that the wordings of this verse refer to Zulaykha who blames herself and accepts Yusuf's innocence, because verses 52 and 53 are a continuation of Zulaykha's speech. Ammarah refers to the urge which commands man to do evil, but if he sincerely believes in Allah and resolves to do good at all events, Allah gives him power to control this urge and always keeps his conscience awake to safeguard himself against evil of Shaytan. The conscience which censures and holds in check the urge to do evil is called lawwamah (Al Qiyamah: 2). When he controls the ammarah, and abides by the dictates of lawwamah he is blessed with peace of mind, joy and fulfilment and deserves to be called nafs mutma-innah, the ultimate destination of which is that which has been promised in verse 8 of al Bayyinah.] The king was much impressed, and appointed Yusuf as his confidential wazir. Yusuf wanted to do real service to the people. He undertook the hardest task of organising reserves in times of plenty, against the lean years to come. He was put incharge of the granaries and store-houses. So Allah gave Yusuf authority in the land and bestowed His favours on him. He does not allow the reward of those who are good to go waste.
وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
‘Yet I do not absolve my [own carnal] soul, for the [carnal] soul indeed prompts [men] to evil, except inasmuch as my Lord has mercy. Indeed my Lord is all-forgiving, all-merciful.’
Commentary on Quran 12:53
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:53] (see commentary for verse 3)(see commentary for verse 52)
وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِي فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ الْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ
The king said, ‘Bring him to me, I will make him my favourite.’ Then, when he had spoken with him, he said, ‘Indeed today [onwards] you will be honoured and trustworthy with us.’
Commentary on Quran 12:54
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:54] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَى خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ
He said, ‘Put me in charge of the country’s granaries. I am indeed fastidious [and]well-informed.’
Commentary on Quran 12:55
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:55] (see commentary for verse 3) Aqa Mahdi Puya says: To manage the treasury of a country a knowing guardian is necessary, as per this verse, therefore, for a guardian who is entrusted with the responsibility to guide the whole mankind, in all times, unto the ultimate purpose of creation, the highest degree of wisdom (referred to in Nisa: 54-the Holy Prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt) is required. Certainly the recompense of the life to come is better for those who believe and follow the right path. There was a wide spread famine in all of Arabia, Northern Africa, Syria, Iraq and Palestine. On account of Yusuf's foresight and his able administration bread was available in Egypt only. So the brothers of Yusuf also came to Egypt and called on him. He recognised them, though they did not recognise him. See verse 15. He treated them liberally. The ten brothers had come. Yusuf asked them to bring their brother, Benjamin, whom they said his (they did not say their) father had kept with him, so that they would be able to get his share also. They went back to Yaqub and asked him to send Benjamin with them so that they could bring more grain. Yaqub said he could not trust them with Benjamin after what they did to Yusuf. Yaqub knew that Yusuf was alive, so he said Allah was the best of guardians.
وَكَذَلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَاءُ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
That is how We established Joseph in the land that he may settle in it wherever he wished. We confer Our mercy on whomever We wish, and We do not waste the reward of the virtuous.
Commentary on Quran 12:56
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:56] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَلَأَجْرُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَكَانُوا يَتَّقُونَ
And the reward of the Hereafter is surely better for those who have faith and are Godwary.
Commentary on Quran 12:57
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:57] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَجَاءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ مُنكِرُونَ
[After some years] the brothers of Joseph came and entered his presence. He recognized them, but they did not recognize him.
Commentary on Quran 12:58
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:58] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ائْتُونِي بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّي أُوفِي الْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا خَيْرُ الْمُنزِلِينَ
When he had furnished them with their provision, he said, ‘Bring me a brother that you have through your father. Do you not see that I give the full measure and that I am the best of hosts?
Commentary on Quran 12:59
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:59] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِي بِهِ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِي وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ
But if you do not bring him to me, then there will be no rations for you with me, and don’t [ever] come near me.’
Commentary on Quran 12:60
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:60] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا سَنُرَاوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَاعِلُونَ
They said, ‘We will solicit him from his father. [That] we will surely do.’
Commentary on Quran 12:61
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:61] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَانِهِ اجْعَلُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَا إِذَا انقَلَبُوا إِلَى أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
He said to his servants, ‘Put their money [back] into their saddlebags. Maybe they will recognize it when they return to their folks, and maybe they will come back [again].’
Commentary on Quran 12:62
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:62] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوا إِلَى أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا يَاأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا الْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
So when they returned to their father, they said, ‘Father, the measure has been withheld from us, so let our brother go with us so that we may obtain the measure, and we will indeed take [good] care of him.’
Commentary on Quran 12:63
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:63] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ هَلْ آمَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَا أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
He said, ‘Should I not trust you with him just as I trusted you with his brother before? Yet Allah is the best of protectors, and He is the most merciful of merciful ones.’
Commentary on Quran 12:64
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:64] (see commentary for verse 3) Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Yaqub wanted his sons to know that their undertaking to guard Benjamin had no credibility in his opinion, as was in the case of Yusuf aforetime. On both occasions Yaqub did not trust his sons; he put his faith in Allah alone. When they unpacked their goods they found the money which the servants of Yusuf had put there on his orders, so that greed might bring them back again with Benjamin. Yaqub, a man of wisdom and experience, aware of the possible suspicions the people of Egypt might have about eleven strangers parading in the city, advised them to enter from different gates. Although they did as advised by Yaqub but it did not profit them against the plan of Allah - reunion of the whole family and shaming the ten brothers into repentance. The men of Allah are full of knowledge, not as men, but as taught by the grace of Allah. Yusuf was delighted to see Benjamin, his own brother. He told him not to worry as he was going to keep Benjamin with himself. After taking the provisions, when they were departing Yusuf asked a steward to put his own drinking silver cup in Benjamin's saddle-bag; and then it was announced that Yusuf s silver cup had been stolen. As they were about to leave a steward stopped them and searched their bags, and found the silver cup in Benjamin's bag. So he was detained. It was Allah's plan to allow Yusuf to keep his brother with himself because under the law of the land he could not detain his brother.
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا مَتَاعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالُوا يَاأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِي هَذِهِ بِضَاعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ذَلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
And when they opened their baggage, they found their money restored to them. They said, ‘Father, what [more] do we want?! This is our money, restored to us! We will get provisions for our family and take care of our brother, and add another camel-load of rations. These are meagre rations.’
Commentary on Quran 12:65
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:65] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّى تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِي بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ فَلَمَّا آتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
He said, ‘I will not let him go with you until you give me a [solemn] pledge by Allah that you will surely bring him back to me, unless you are made to perish.’ When they had given him their [solemn] pledge, he said, ‘Allah is witness over what we say.’
Commentary on Quran 12:66
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:66] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَقَالَ يَابَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا مِن بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ وَمَا أُغْنِي عَنكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And he said, ‘My sons, do not enter by one gate, but enter by separate gates, though I cannot avail you anything against Allah. Sovereignty belongs only to Allah. In Him I have put my trust; and in Him let all the trusting put their trust.’
Commentary on Quran 12:67
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:67] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِي عَنْهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِي نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَاهَا وَإِنَّهُ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَاهُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
When they entered whence their father had bidden them, it did not avail them anything against Allah, but only fulfilled a wish in Jacob’s heart. Indeed, he had the knowledge of what We had taught him, but most people do not know.
Commentary on Quran 12:68
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:68] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَى يُوسُفَ آوَى إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ قَالَ إِنِّي أَنَا أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
When they entered into the presence of Joseph, he set his brother close to himself, and said, ‘Indeed I am your brother, so do not sorrow for what they used to do.’
Commentary on Quran 12:69
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:69] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ السِّقَايَةَ فِي رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا الْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَارِقُونَ
When he had furnished them with their provision, he put the drinking-cup into his brother’s saddlebag. Then a herald shouted: ‘O [men of the] caravan! You are indeed thieves!’
Commentary on Quran 12:70
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:70] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا وَأَقْبَلُوا عَلَيْهِم مَّاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ
They said, as they turned towards them, ‘What are you missing?’
Commentary on Quran 12:71
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:71] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ الْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَاءَ بِهِ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا بِهِ زَعِيمٌ
They said, ‘We miss the king’s goblet.’ ‘Whoever brings it shall have a camel-load [of grain],’ [said the steward], ‘I will guarantee that.’
Commentary on Quran 12:72
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:72] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَارِقِينَ
They said, ‘By Allah! You certainly know that we did not come to make trouble in this country, and we are not thieves.’
Commentary on Quran 12:73
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:73] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا فَمَا جَزَاؤُهُ إِن كُنتُمْ كَاذِبِينَ
They said, ‘What shall be its requital if you [prove to] be lying?’
Commentary on Quran 12:74
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:74] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا جَزَاؤُهُ مَن وُجِدَ فِي رَحْلِهِ فَهُوَ جَزَاؤُهُ كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الظَّالِمِينَ
They said, ‘The requital for it shall be that he in whose saddlebag it is found shall give himself over as its requital. Thus do we requite the wrongdoers.’
Commentary on Quran 12:75
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:75] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ كَذَلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِي دِينِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
Then he began with their sacks, before [opening] his brother’s sack. Then he took it out from his brother’s sack. Thus did We devise for Joseph’s sake. He could not have held his brother under the king’s law unless Allah willed [otherwise]. We raise in rank whomever We please, and above every man of knowledge is One who knows best.
Commentary on Quran 12:76
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:76] (see commentary for verse 3) Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Above every knowing there is a knower who knows all and more than all the knowing-Allah. The brothers said that if Benjamin had stolen, it was no wonder, his brother had stolen before. Yusuf knew well his half brothers were worse in the degree of evil. One brother stayed there, and the others went back to Yaqub and told him what had happened. Yaqub was greatly disturbed. His eyes became white with sorrow and he fell into silent melancholy, yet he hoped that it was all being done so that Allah the all-knowing, might bring his sons back to him. He asked his sons to go in search of Yusuf and Benjamin and advised them to have faith in the mercy of Allah, because those who did not believe in Allah despaired and lost hope. They returned to Yusuf, offered him what little they had and begged for his favour. Yusuf could no longer hold himself. He said: "I am Yusuf and this is my brother Benjamin. Allah has been gracious to us; for Allah verily does not deprive those who obey and follow His laws and commands and endure." The half brothers confessed their sin and wickedness. Yusuf at once forgave them and prayed to Allah to forgive them. Allah is the most merciful of all.
قَالُوا إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
They said, ‘If he has stolen [there is no wonder]; a brother of his had stolen before.’ Thereupon Joseph kept the matter to himself and he did not disclose it to them. He said, ‘You are in a worse state! And Allah knows best what you allege.’
Commentary on Quran 12:77
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:77] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا يَاأَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, ‘O emir! Indeed, he has a father, a very old man; so take one of us in his place. Indeed we see that you are a virtuous man.’
Commentary on Quran 12:78
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:78] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَاعَنَا عِندَهُ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّظَالِمُونَ
He said, ‘God forbid that we should detain anyone except him with whom we found our wares, for then we would indeed be wrongdoers.’
Commentary on Quran 12:79
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:79] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْأَسُوا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا نَجِيًّا قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِي يُوسُفَ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ
When they had despaired of [moving] him, they withdrew to confer privately. The eldest of them said, ‘Don’t you know that your father has taken a [solemn] pledge from you by Allah, and earlier you have neglected your duty in regard to Joseph? So I will never leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah passes a judgement for me, and He is the best of judges.
Commentary on Quran 12:80
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:80] (see commentary for verse 3)
ارْجِعُوا إِلَى أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا يَاأَبَانَا إِنَّ ابْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَا إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَافِظِينَ
Go back to your father, and say, ‘‘Father! Your son has indeed committed theft, and we testified only to what we knew, and we could not have forestalled the unseen.
Commentary on Quran 12:81
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:81] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ الَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا وَالْعِيرَ الَّتِي أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ
Ask [the people of] the town we were in, and the caravan with which we came. We indeed speak the truth.’’ ’
Commentary on Quran 12:82
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:82] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
He said, ‘No, your souls have made a matter seem decorous to you. Yet patience is graceful. Maybe Allah will bring them all [back] to me. Indeed He is the All-knowing, the All-wise.’
Commentary on Quran 12:83
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:83] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَاأَسَفَى عَلَى يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
He turned away from them and said, ‘Alas for Joseph!’ His eyes had turned white with grief, and he choked with suppressed agony.
Commentary on Quran 12:84
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:84] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ
They said, ‘By Allah! You will go on remembering Joseph until you wreck your health or perish.’
Commentary on Quran 12:85
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:85] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
He said, ‘I complain of my anguish and grief only to Allah. I know from Allah what you do not know.’
Commentary on Quran 12:86
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:86] (see commentary for verse 3)
يَا بَنِيَّ اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
‘Go, my sons, and look for Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed no one despairs of Allah’s mercy except the faithless lot.’
Commentary on Quran 12:87
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:87] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا يَاأَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ
Then, when they entered into his presence, they said, ‘O emir! Distress has befallen us and our family, and we have brought [just] a meagre sum. Yet grant us the full measure, and be charitable to us! Indeed Allah rewards the charitable.’
Commentary on Quran 12:88
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:88] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ
He said, ‘Have you realized what you did to Joseph and his brother, when you were senseless?’
Commentary on Quran 12:89
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:89] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَذَا أَخِي قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, ‘Are you really Joseph?!’ He said, ‘I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Certainly Allah has shown us favour. Indeed if one is Godwary and patient Allah does not waste the reward of the virtuous.’
Commentary on Quran 12:90
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:90] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَاطِئِينَ
They said, ‘By Allah, Allah has certainly preferred you over us, and we have indeed been erring.’
Commentary on Quran 12:91
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:91] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
He said, ‘There shall be no reproach on you today. Allah will forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.
Commentary on Quran 12:92
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:92] (see commentary for verse 3) [When the Holy Prophet entered into Makka, after its fall, in identical language he freely forgave the whole population of his worst foes who were entirely at his mercy.] He gave them his shirt and asked them to put it on his father's face to restore his eyesight, and then to bring the whole family to him.
اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Take this shirt of mine, and cast it upon my father’s face; he will regain his sight, and bring me all your folks.’
Commentary on Quran 12:93
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:93] (see commentary for verse 3) Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Far-tadda basira means (Yaqub) forwith regained his sight. It implies that he had lost his sight and then regained it. When the garment was put over Yaqub's face his eyesight was restored. He said: "Did I not tell you? I know from Allah what you do not know." The sons asked their father to pray for them that their sins be forgiven. Yaqub said: "Allah will forgive you. He is oft-forgiving and kind." When they went back to Yusuf, he gave his father and mother a place of honour, and seated them by his side on the throne; and they fell before him in homage.
وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ لَوْلَا أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ
As the caravan set off, their father said, ‘I sense the scent of Joseph, if you will not consider me a dotard.’
Commentary on Quran 12:94
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:94] (see commentary for verse 3)(see commentary for verse 93)
قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِي ضَلَالِكَ الْقَدِيمِ
They said, ‘By God, you persist in your inveterate error.’
Commentary on Quran 12:95
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:95] (see commentary for verse 3)(see commentary for verse 93)
فَلَمَّا أَن جَاءَ الْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَاهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
When the bearer of good news arrived, he cast it on his face, and he regained his sight. He said, ‘Did I not tell you, ‘‘I know from Allah what you do not know?’’ ’
Commentary on Quran 12:96
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:96] (see commentary for verse 3)(see commentary for verse 93)
قَالُوا يَاأَبَانَا اسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا خَاطِئِينَ
They said, ‘Father! Plead [with Allah] for forgiveness of our sins! We have indeed been erring.’
Commentary on Quran 12:97
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:97] (see commentary for verse 3)
قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّي إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
He said, ‘I shall plead with my Lord to forgive you; indeed He is the All-forgiving, the All-merciful.’
Commentary on Quran 12:98
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:98] (see commentary for verse 3)
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَى يُوسُفَ آوَى إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ
When they entered into the presence of Joseph, he set his parents close to himself, and said, ‘Welcome to Egypt, in safety, God willing!’
Commentary on Quran 12:99
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:99] (see commentary for verse 3)
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا وَقَالَ يَاأَبَتِ هَذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
And he seated his parents high upon the throne, and they fell down prostrate before him. He said, ‘Father! This is the fulfillment of my dream of long ago, which my Lord has made come true. He was certainly gracious to me when He brought me out of the prison and brought you over from the desert after that Satan had incited ill feeling between me and my brothers. Indeed my Lord is all-attentive in bringing about what He wishes. Indeed He is the All-knowing, the All-wise.’
Commentary on Quran 12:100
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:100] (see commentary for verse 3) Sajada-falling down in prostration. The father, the brothers and the aunt fell down in prostration before Yusuf. There are two types of sajdahs-one is that which is for Allah in total submission to His will, and the other is done in reverence to pay homage to a divinely chosen representative of Allah (see commentary of al Baqarah: 34). Aqa Mahdi Puya says: The sajdah by the father and the brothers was the interpretation of Yusuf's dream in verse 4. In keeping with his character as a prophet of Allah, Yusuf, in all humility, attributes everything good and worthy not to himself but to the grace of Allah. The divine grace is always based on knowledge and wisdom. Then Yusuf said: "O my father, this is the meaning of my earlier dream. My Lord has made it come true. He was gracious in getting me out of prison, and bringing you out of the desert to me after the discord created by Shaytan between me and my brothers, for my Lord is gracious to whomsoever He pleases. He is indeed all-knowing and all-wise. O my Lord, You have given me dominion and taught me the interpretation of dreams; O creator of the heavens and the earth, You alone are my saviour in this world and the hereafter, take my soul as one submitting to Your will (as a Muslim) and unite me with the righteous."
رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِي مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ
‘My Lord! You have granted me a share in the kingdom, and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Originator of the heavens and earth! You are my guardian in this world and the Hereafter! Let my death be in submission [to You], and unite me with the Righteous.’
Commentary on Quran 12:101
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:101] (see commentary for verse 3)
ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ
These are accounts from the Unseen, which We reveal to you, and you were not with them when they conspired together and schemed.
Commentary on Quran 12:102
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:102]
وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
Yet most people will not have faith, however eager you should be.
Commentary on Quran 12:103
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:103]
وَمَا تَسْأَلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
You do not ask them any reward for it: it is just a reminder for all the nations.
Commentary on Quran 12:104
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:104]
وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ آيَةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ
How many a sign there is in the heavens and the earth that they pass by while they are disregardful of it!
Commentary on Quran 12:105
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:105]
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ
And most of them do not believe in Allah without ascribing partners to Him.
Commentary on Quran 12:106
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:106]
أَفَأَمِنُوا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَاشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they feel secure from being overtaken by a blanket punishment from Allah, or being overtaken by the Hour, suddenly, while they are unaware?
Commentary on Quran 12:107
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:107]
قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, ‘This is my way. I summon to Allah with insight—I and he who follows me. Immaculate is Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists.’
Commentary on Quran 12:108
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:108] Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Those who follow the Holy Prophet, mentioned in Ali Imran: 61 and Ahzab: 33, also call people unto Allah, along with him, with clear insight of the truth, because they are surely of him as stated in Ibrahim: 36. The Holy Prophet said: "None shall preach the truth I have brought save me or he who is of me." Refer to the introduction of al Bara-at.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَى أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
We did not send [any apostles] before you except as men from among the people of the towns, to whom We revealed. Have they not travelled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? And the abode of the Hereafter is surely better for those who are Godwary. Do you not exercise your reason?
Commentary on Quran 12:109
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:109] Verse 109 makes it clear that all the forefathers of the Holy Prophet and Ali ibn abi Talib were monotheists. In the story of Yusuf, and all the events narrated in the Quran pertaining to the prophets of Allah there is a lesson for those who can study and obtain guidance from the history. Refer to Imam Ali's observation on page 557.
حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا جَاءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاءُ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
When the apostles lost hope and they thought that they had been told lies, Our help came to them, and We delivered whomever We wished, and Our punishment will not be averted from the guilty lot.
Commentary on Quran 12:110
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:110] (see commentary for verse 109)
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَى وَلَكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
There is certainly a moral in their accounts for those who possess intellect. This [Quran] is not a fabricated discourse; rather, it is a confirmation of what was [revealed] before it, and an elaboration of all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.
Commentary on Quran 12:111
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 12:111] (see commentary for verse 109)
