قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَـٰصِحُونَ 11
Translations
They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors?
Transliteration
Qalū yā abānā mā laka lā ta'mannā ʿalā Yūsufa wa-innā lahu lanāṣihūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The sons of Yaʿqūb petition their father, asking why he does not trust them with Yūsuf, asserting their sincere intention to care for him. This verse reveals the brothers' apparent concern for their father's trust while masking their true envious intent—a subtle portrayal of hypocrisy that Ibn Kathīr highlights as central to understanding their later betrayal. Al-Ṭabarī notes that their claim of being well-wishers (nāṣihūn) contrasts sharply with their actual malice, demonstrating how the Qur'ān exposes the discrepancy between outward words and hidden intentions.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs early in Sūrah Yūsuf, establishing the narrative tension that drives the surah's plot. The brothers' request to take Yūsuf out with them marks the beginning of the crisis that will separate him from his father. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) faced opposition, and the themes of patience, trust in Allah, and divine providence are woven throughout.
Related Hadiths
While no ḥadīth directly addresses this ayah, the principle of sincere advice (nṣīḥah) is emphasized in the ḥadīth: 'The religion is sincere advice' (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim). Additionally, ḥadīths on trusting one's children and recognizing hidden intentions relate thematically to Yaʿqūb's paternal concern.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that words alone cannot be trusted without examining the hearts behind them; we should develop spiritual discernment to recognize sincere counsel from deceptive claims. It also reminds us that even those closest to us may harbor hidden malice, and that our ultimate trust should rest with Allah, who alone knows the unseen realities of human hearts.
Related Ayahs
۞ لَّقَدْ كَانَ فِى يُوسُفَ وَإِخْوَتِهِۦٓ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ
Certainly were there in Joseph and his brothers signs for those who ask, [such as]
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَـٰلِكِينَ
They said, "By Allāh, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish."
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allāh! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."
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."