وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 22
Translations
And when he [i.e., Joseph] reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.
Transliteration
Wa-lamma balagha ashuddahu ataynahhu hukman wa 'ilman, wa-kadhalika najzi al-muhsineen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah granted Prophet Yusuf wisdom (hikma) and knowledge ('ilm) when he reached maturity and full strength (ashudd). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this refers to both spiritual maturity and prophetic wisdom that enabled Yusuf to navigate the trials ahead with discernment. The ayah concludes with a universal principle: Allah rewards those who do good (al-muhsinun) with similar blessings of guidance and understanding.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of the broader narrative of Yusuf's life in Surah Yusuf (a Meccan surah). It marks the transition from Yusuf's childhood to his adulthood, positioned between his years in Potiphar's household and the trial of temptation he would soon face. The context illustrates how Allah prepares His servants spiritually before testing them.
Related Hadiths
The concept of hikma (wisdom) is elaborated in Surah Luqman 31:12 and related to the Prophet's supplication in Surah 2:251. A thematically related hadith: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3662), which aligns with the principle that goodness (ihsan) brings divine reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
As we mature, we should seek wisdom and knowledge not merely for worldly gain but as gifts from Allah that enable us to serve His purposes. Excellence in character and conduct (ihsan) invites divine blessings of understanding and guidance that sustain us through life's inevitable challenges.
Related Ayahs
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.
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
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
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.
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."