ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ 102
Translations
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal, [O Muḥammad], to you. And you were not with them when they put together their plan while they conspired.
Transliteration
Dhālika min anbāʾi al-ghaybi nūḥīhi ilayka wa-mā kunta ladayhim idhā ajmaʿū amrahum wa-hum yamkurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the narrative of Prophet Yusuf by affirming that the detailed account of his story is from the unseen knowledge (al-ghayb) that Allah has revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, emphasizing that he could not have known these events through his own presence or experience. Ibn Kathir notes this serves as evidence of the Quran's miraculous nature, as the Prophet had no access to historical records about Yusuf's life. Al-Tabari explains that this verse underscores the divine origin of the narrative and refutes any suggestion that it was acquired through human means.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the conclusion of Surah Yusuf and represents the Quranic response to the polytheists' skepticism about the Prophet's knowledge of past events. It contextualizes the entire preceding narrative within the framework of revelation (waḥy), addressing the implicit challenge: 'How could you know these details?' This is characteristic of Meccan surahs that defend the authenticity of the Quranic message.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself (26:193-195) discusses wahy (revelation): 'And indeed, it is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. The Truthful Spirit has brought it down upon your heart.' Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet ﷺ was asked about knowledge of the unseen, and he clarified that only Allah possesses complete knowledge thereof (Ayah 34:48).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that knowledge of historical and metaphysical truths comes exclusively through divine revelation, not human reasoning alone, thereby strengthening faith in the Quran's divine origin. For modern readers, it reminds us to trust in Allah's guidance through revelation rather than relying solely on empirical or rational methods when it comes to matters of faith and unseen realities.
Related Ayahs
الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the clear Book.
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.
قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ
They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."
قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَـٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّظَـٰلِمُونَ
He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."