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
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."
۞ وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And women in the city said, "The wife of al-ʿAzeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."
قَالُوا۟ لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."
فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِى يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِىٓ أَبِىٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِى ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
So when they had despaired of him, they secluded themselves in private consultation. The eldest of them said, "Do you not know that your father has taken upon you an oath by Allāh and [that] before you failed in [your duty to] Joseph? So I will never leave [this] land until my father permits me or Allāh decides for me, and He is the best of judges.