قَالُوا۟ وَأَقْبَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم مَّاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ 71
Translations
They said while approaching them, "What is it you are missing?"
Transliteration
Qalū wa-aqbalū ʿalayhim mādhā tafqidūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The officials of the king's household approached the caravan (carrying Joseph's brothers) asking, 'What have you lost?' This occurs after the royal cup was placed in Benjamin's saddlebag as a test. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this question reveals the beginning of the plot's unfolding—the cup had been hidden among their goods, and now the search would expose the truth. The officials' direct question sets the stage for Joseph's brothers to be caught, eventually leading to Benjamin's detention and the revelation of Joseph's identity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative sequence in Surah Yusuf describing Joseph's masterplan to keep his brother Benjamin with him. The context follows Joseph's instruction to hide the king's cup in Benjamin's saddlebag. This entire surah was revealed in Mecca and presents the story of Joseph as a comprehensive lesson in patience, trust in Allah, and divine wisdom overcoming human schemes.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain hadiths about the virtue of patience (sabr) in trials, which is the overarching theme of Joseph's story. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything' (Sahih Muslim 2999), reflecting Joseph's steadfastness throughout his trials.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's plans unfold perfectly in His own time, and that our attempts to manipulate situations for good often require divine orchestration that we cannot foresee. For believers facing difficult circumstances, it teaches reliance on Allah's wisdom rather than our own schemes, trusting that He alone guides all affairs toward ultimate justice and mercy.