قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 75
Translations
[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."
Transliteration
Qāloo jaza'uhu man wujida fee raḥlihi fahuwa jaza'uhu; kadhālika najzī aẓ-ẓālimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The brothers of Yusuf propose that whoever is found with the king's cup in his possession shall become a slave as recompense, establishing their own law before knowing the actual penalty. This ayah illustrates their hasty judgment and sets the stage for the revelation of truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates how the wrongdoers (ẓālimūn) often devise their own punishments, and Allah's justice ultimately prevails when the truth emerges.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf (Joseph) where his brothers have traveled to Egypt seeking provisions. The cup of the king has been secretly placed in Binyamin's (Benjamin's) saddlebag by Yusuf's servants as a test. The brothers' immediate suggestion of punishment reflects their state of panic and the customs of justice in their understanding, setting up the dramatic revelation scene that follows.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific ayah, Sunan Ibn Majah and other collections contain hadiths on the principle of justice and the consequences of wrongdoing, such as the hadith in Sahih Muslim about how Allah gives respite to the wrongdoer but when He seizes them, He does not let them escape.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that hasty judgments and self-imposed punishments often reflect our own biases and fears rather than true justice; we should trust in Allah's ultimate wisdom and patience for truth to emerge, as He perfectly judges all affairs.