قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـٰطِـِٔينَ 91
Translations
They said, "By Allāh, certainly has Allāh preferred you over us, and indeed, we have been sinners."
Transliteration
Qalū tallāhi laqad āthharaka -llāhu 'alaynā wa-in kunnā lakhaṭi'īn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The brothers of Yusuf confess to their father that Allah has indeed favored Yusuf over them, acknowledging both his superiority and their own wrongdoing in how they treated him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects the brothers' recognition of divine favor (tafḍīl) and their admission of guilt (khaṭī'ah), demonstrating a moment of sincere acknowledgment after years of concealment. Al-Qurtubi notes this represents their gradual spiritual reform as they witness Yusuf's authority and prosperity in Egypt.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the climactic reunion scene in Surah Yusuf when the brothers encounter Yusuf in Egypt and gradually realize his identity. The brothers make this confession to their father Yaʿqūb after being confronted with evidence of Yusuf's position and status, prompting them to finally admit the truth about their past actions and divine favor upon their brother. This moment concludes the central narrative arc of the surah.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the theme of acknowledging past wrongs and seeking forgiveness relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ emphasizes sincere repentance (tawbah). Additionally, the concept of divine preference and justice connects to hadith collections discussing qadr (divine decree) and fairness among children.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine repentance begins with honest acknowledgment of wrongdoing and recognition of others' worth, reminding us that sincere confession can bridge even the deepest family rifts and restore broken relationships through humility before Allah's wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.
ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَـٰفِظِينَ
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.
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.