وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 68
Translations
And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allāh at all except [it was] a need [i.e., concern] within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.
Transliteration
Wa lammā dakhaloō min hayth amarahum abūhum mā kāna yughnī 'anhum minallāhi min shay'in illā hājatan fī nafsi Ya'qūba qadāhā wa innahū la-dhū 'ilmin limā 'allamnahū wa lākin akthara alnāsi lā ya'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the sons of Jacob entered Egypt from the gate he had instructed them to use, this obedience to their father's counsel could not protect them from Allah's decree—except for fulfilling a need (longing) in Jacob's heart, which Allah satisfied through their safe arrival and subsequent reunion. The ayah emphasizes that while human precautions and wisdom have value, only Allah's will ultimately determines outcomes, and Jacob possessed knowledge from Allah's teachings, though most people lack such understanding of divine wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative of Jacob's sons entering Egypt during the famine. Jacob had advised them to enter from different gates (a precaution against the evil eye), demonstrating his piety and wisdom. The context shows how Jacob's counsel reflected his deep trust in Allah while acknowledging human responsibility—his instruction was an act of tawakkul (reliance on Allah) combined with reasonable precaution, ultimately serving Allah's greater plan for family reunion.
Related Hadiths
The concept of combining effort with reliance on Allah is reflected in the hadith: 'Trust in Allah, but tie your camel' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith regarding the evil eye and protective measures: 'The evil eye is real' (Sahih Muslim) relates to Jacob's wisdom in instructing his sons to enter by different gates.
Themes
Key Lesson
True wisdom lies in taking reasonable precautions while ultimately trusting in Allah's plan, recognizing that our efforts are merely means while Allah alone controls outcomes. Parents should impart spiritual knowledge and protective guidance to their children, trusting that such teachings plant seeds of faith that Allah will nurture.