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
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And when he [i.e., Joseph] reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.
قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
[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."
ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."