قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلِكَ ٱلْقَدِيمِ 95
Translations
They said, "By Allāh, indeed you are in your [same] old error."
Transliteration
Qālū tallāhi innaka lafī dhalālika al-qadīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
The brothers of Yusuf accuse their father Ya'qub of being in his old error of preferring Yusuf, suggesting that his grief over Yusuf's absence has clouded his judgment and caused him to continue favoring one son over others. This statement reflects their inability to comprehend their father's unwavering love and hope for his lost son, and their own jealousy and misunderstanding of the situation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the brothers' callousness and their attempt to dismiss their father's legitimate paternal concern as mere obsession.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the narrative of Yusuf's reunion with his family after decades of separation. The brothers are responding to their father Ya'qub's continued grief and longing for Yusuf despite the return of his other sons, not yet realizing that Yusuf is alive in Egypt. The context illustrates the tension between the brothers' indifference to their father's suffering and Ya'qub's steadfast faith and hope in Allah's mercy.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly references this ayah, Surah Yusuf itself is mentioned in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Ayat al-Qur'an: Surah Yusuf' is described as 'the most beautiful of stories' (ahsan al-qisas), highlighting the educational value of this entire surah regarding patience and trust in Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that sincere grief and hope rooted in faith in Allah's wisdom should not be mocked or dismissed by others, and reminds us to approach family members' suffering with compassion rather than judgment. It also illustrates how those blinded by jealousy and worldly concerns fail to recognize the deeper spiritual truths that sustain a believer's heart.