ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ 102
Translations
That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal, [O Muḥammad], to you. And you were not with them when they put together their plan while they conspired.
Transliteration
Dhālika min anbāʾi al-ghaybi nūḥīhi ilayka wa-mā kunta ladayhim idhā ajmaʿū amrahum wa-hum yamkurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the narrative of Prophet Yusuf by affirming that the detailed account of his story is from the unseen knowledge (al-ghayb) that Allah has revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, emphasizing that he could not have known these events through his own presence or experience. Ibn Kathir notes this serves as evidence of the Quran's miraculous nature, as the Prophet had no access to historical records about Yusuf's life. Al-Tabari explains that this verse underscores the divine origin of the narrative and refutes any suggestion that it was acquired through human means.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears at the conclusion of Surah Yusuf and represents the Quranic response to the polytheists' skepticism about the Prophet's knowledge of past events. It contextualizes the entire preceding narrative within the framework of revelation (waḥy), addressing the implicit challenge: 'How could you know these details?' This is characteristic of Meccan surahs that defend the authenticity of the Quranic message.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself (26:193-195) discusses wahy (revelation): 'And indeed, it is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. The Truthful Spirit has brought it down upon your heart.' Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet ﷺ was asked about knowledge of the unseen, and he clarified that only Allah possesses complete knowledge thereof (Ayah 34:48).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that knowledge of historical and metaphysical truths comes exclusively through divine revelation, not human reasoning alone, thereby strengthening faith in the Quran's divine origin. For modern readers, it reminds us to trust in Allah's guidance through revelation rather than relying solely on empirical or rational methods when it comes to matters of faith and unseen realities.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh; then will you not reason?
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ
They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors?
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."