وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ 18
Translations
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allāh is the one sought for help against that which you describe."
Transliteration
Wa jaa'oo 'alaa qamiiṣihi bi-damim kadhib. Qala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amraa, fa-sabrun jameel. Wa-Allahu al-mustaa'anu 'alaa maa taṣifoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Jacob's sons brought a false bloodstained shirt to their father, claiming a wolf had devoured Joseph, but Jacob immediately recognized their deception through divine insight and rejected their fabricated account. Rather than succumb to despair or anger, Jacob exemplified beautiful patience (sabr jameel), entrusting his affair to Allah alone. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that Jacob's response demonstrates unwavering trust in Allah despite the apparent tragedy, and his statement 'Allah is the Helper against what you describe' reflects his conviction that Allah knows the truth behind their false claims.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Yusuf (Meccan period), specifically in the scene where Joseph's jealous brothers present false evidence of his death to their father Jacob. The broader context spans 12:11-18, depicting the brothers' deception after they cast Joseph into a well. This narrative sequence illustrates themes central to the Meccan period's emphasis on divine knowledge, patience, and ultimate justice.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this verse, Sahih Bukhari contains narrations about Prophet Muhammad's patience in adversity, demonstrating the Prophetic example of 'sabr jameel' (beautiful patience). Additionally, hadiths emphasizing that 'patience is beautiful when faced with calamity' (as-sabru jameel) relate thematically to Jacob's response.
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing trials and deception, believers should respond with patient endurance and steadfast reliance on Allah rather than despair or accusation, trusting that Allah's knowledge encompasses all hidden truths. This ayah teaches that genuine strength lies not in reactive anger but in composed submission to Allah's will and wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof [i.e., sign] of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِـِٔينَ
They said, "O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners."
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.