قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 83
Translations
[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allāh will bring them to me all together. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."
Transliteration
Qāla bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amrā, fa-sabrun jamīl, 'asā -llāhu an ya'tiyani bihim jamī'ā, innahu huwa al-'alīmu al-hakīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Ya'qub (Jacob) responds to his sons' claim that Yusuf was eaten by a wolf by rejecting their account, declaring that their own souls have enticed them to concoct this false story. He chooses beautiful patience (sabr jamīl)—patience without complaint or despair—and places his trust in Allah's ability to reunite him with all his sons, affirming Allah's complete knowledge and wisdom. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Ya'qub's response demonstrates the characteristics of a true believer: discernment of truth, unwavering faith despite overwhelming grief, and reliance upon Allah's divine plan.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's sale into slavery by his jealous brothers. Ya'qub, despite losing his most beloved son and receiving a false account of his death, maintains his faith and intuitive knowledge of his son's innocence. The context reveals the broader Quranic theme of trials (balahs) as a means of spiritual purification and divine testing for the righteous.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is patient, Allah rewards with Paradise; and whoever is impatient, Allah hastens his punishment' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized that sabr jamīl (beautiful patience) is superior to all other virtues (Sahih Bukhari).
Themes
Key Lesson
Beautiful patience—maintaining composure and faith without complaint during hardship—is a mark of true servitude to Allah and yields the greatest spiritual rewards. Even in the face of seemingly unbearable loss, believers should trust in Allah's omniscience and wisdom, knowing that He orchestrates events for purposes beyond our immediate understanding.
Related Ayahs
أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ
She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased."
وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allāh.