ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ 52
Translations
That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.
Transliteration
Dhālika liya'lama annī lam akhunhu bil-ghaybi wa-anna Allāha lā yahdī kayda al-khāinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Yusuf's statement to the king, declaring that his request to be placed in charge of the treasury was made so that Allah would know he had not betrayed his former master (al-'Azīz) in secret, and to demonstrate that Allah does not grant success to the schemes of those who betray trusts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, Yusuf emphasizes his integrity and reliance on divine guidance, showing that his moral rectitude was not hidden from Allah even when no one else was watching, and that Allah's justice ensures betrayers do not prosper.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's vindication and rise to power in Egypt. After being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife (al-'Azīz's wife) and imprisoned, Yusuf interprets the king's dream and is rewarded with authority. This statement reflects Yusuf's consciousness of his past trials and his unwavering commitment to honesty and trustworthiness throughout his ordeal, demonstrating the thematic focus of Surah Yusuf on patience, integrity, and divine providence.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Abu Hurairah in Sahih Bukhari: "The truthful and trustworthy merchant will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment" relates to Yusuf's emphasis on trustworthiness. Additionally, the hadith "Whoever betrays a trust has lost his faith" (Tirmidhi) directly parallels the ayah's condemnation of betrayal.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere intention and ethical conduct, even when unwitnessed by others, are known to Allah and will ultimately lead to success and honor. For modern readers, it emphasizes that integrity should stem from God-consciousness rather than fear of human judgment, and that trustworthiness is a pathway to both spiritual reward and worldly advancement.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍ ۖ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحْلَـٰمِ بِعَـٰلِمِينَ
They said, "[It is but] a mixture of false dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."
قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. May Allāh forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful.
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.
وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with Allāh. That is from the favor of Allāh upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.