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
وَجَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمْ عِشَآءً يَبْكُونَ
And they came to their father at night, weeping.
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.
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."
فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ ٱلْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ فَٱرْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allāh that which you do not know?"