وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 56
Translations
And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
Transliteration
Wa-kadhalika makkanna li-Yusuf fi al-ardi yatabawwa'u minha haythu yasha'u. Nusibu bi-rahmatina man nasha'u wa-la nudhi'u ajra al-muhsinin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah established Yusuf's authority and position in Egypt, granting him the power to govern and settle where he wished. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this represents the culmination of Yusuf's trials and vindication—his elevation from slavery and imprisonment to a position of honor and authority was a sign of Allah's mercy upon those who remain patient and righteous. The ayah concludes with a universal principle: Allah grants His mercy to whom He wills, and never wastes the reward of those who do good (al-muhsinun).
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's rise to power in Egypt after interpreting the king's dream. It comes after his release from prison and appointment as minister, representing the thematic resolution of the surah's central narrative arc about patience, divine providence, and justice. The broader context emphasizes that despite human plots and hardships, Allah's plan ultimately prevails for the righteous.
Related Hadiths
The concept of divine reward for righteousness is reinforced in Hadith Qudsi: 'I am with the slave as long as he calls upon Me' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the principle of protecting the reward of good-doers relates to the general hadith in Sahih Bukhari that 'the best of you are those who have the best character.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere faith, patience through trials, and consistent righteousness are rewarded by Allah in both this life and the next, while also reminding believers that divine mercy is ultimately Allah's prerogative—humbling human agency while encouraging virtue. For modern readers, it provides hope that injustice experienced in this life can be reversed by Allah's wisdom, and that maintaining integrity during hardship is never wasted effort.
Related Ayahs
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."
وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and he [i.e., Joseph] remained in prison several years.
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ ۖ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَـٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ
And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."
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.