وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 21
Translations
And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.
Transliteration
Wa-qala alladhee ishtaraahu min Misra li-imra'atihi akrimi mathwaahu asa an yanfa'ana aw nattakhidhahu walada. Wa-kadhalika makkanna li-Yusufa fi al-ardi wa-li-nu'allimahu min ta'wil al-ahadith. Wa-Allahu ghalibun ala amrihi wa-lakin akthara al-nasi la ya'lamun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Egyptian nobleman who purchased Yusuf (Joseph) commanded his wife to treat him honorably, hoping he might benefit them or they might adopt him as a son. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this act of kindness was divinely ordained to provide Joseph a place of safety and education. Allah established Joseph in the land of Egypt and taught him the interpretation of dreams, demonstrating that despite human plans and ignorance, Allah's will prevails—a truth most people fail to comprehend.
Revelation Context
This ayah continues the narrative of Yusuf's journey after being sold into slavery in Egypt. It establishes the turning point where his circumstances improve through divine providence, setting the stage for his rise to prominence in Egypt. The context demonstrates how Allah orchestrates events to fulfill His purposes and Joseph's prophetic destiny.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3399): The Prophet Muhammad said, 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.' This relates to the nobleman's command to honor Joseph's dwelling. Additionally, there are traditions about the Prophet's admiration for Prophet Joseph's patience and character.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that beneath apparent hardships lie divine blessings and purposes we may not immediately comprehend; trust in Allah's plan and treat others with dignity, for we never know how Allah may use kindness to fulfill His greater designs. It reminds us that worldly success and knowledge are blessings from Allah meant to purify the soul and strengthen faith.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allāh with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allāh; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."
وَقَالَ يَـٰبَنِىَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بَابٍ وَٰحِدٍ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَآ أُغْنِى عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] Allāh at all. The decision is only for Allāh; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who would rely [indeed] rely."
فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ ٱلْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ فَٱرْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allāh that which you do not know?"
قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِى سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ
[Joseph] said, "You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.