ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَـٰفِظِينَ 81
Translations
Return to your father and say, 'O our father, indeed your son has stolen, and we did not testify except to what we knew. And we were not witnesses of the unseen.
Transliteration
Irji'u ilā abīkum faqūlū yā abānā inna ibnaka saraqā wa mā shahidnā illā bimā 'alamnā wa mā kunnā li-al-ghaybi hāfizīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The brothers of Yusuf return to their father Ya'qub with false accusations that Yusuf stole the royal cup, instructing them to tell their father while emphasizing their testimony was limited to what they witnessed. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this statement contains both deceit (the false accusation) and a partial truth (they honestly witnessed the cup being found in Yusuf's saddlebag, though they were complicit in planting it). The phrase 'we are not guardians of the unseen' reveals their attempt to deflect responsibility while maintaining plausible deniability regarding their knowledge of the setup.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the climactic section of Surah Yusuf where the brothers' jealousy and deception reach their apex. After selling Yusuf into slavery years earlier, they now attempt another scheme by planting the royal drinking cup in his possession to remove him from Egypt. This verse reflects their continued moral corruption and desperation as divine justice slowly unfolds.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this ayah, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The truthful merchant will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment,' establishing the Islamic principle that truthfulness is a foundational virtue opposed to the deception shown by Yusuf's brothers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns against bearing false witness and constructing lies with half-truths, demonstrating how deception ultimately fails against Allah's plan. It teaches that those who scheme against the innocent for selfish reasons will eventually face exposure, as Yusuf's eventual vindication and elevation exemplifies.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ
And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."
ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ
Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you advanced [i.e., saved] for them, except a little from which you will store.
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof [i.e., sign] of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.
وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with Allāh. That is from the favor of Allāh upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.