قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ 17
Translations
They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."
Transliteration
Qāloo yā abānā innā dhahabnā nastabiq wa taraknā Yūsuf ʿinda matāʿinā fa-akalahu al-dhiʾb wa mā anta bi-muʾmin lanā wa law kunnā sādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yusuf's brothers fabricate a lie to their father Yaʿqub, claiming they went racing and left Yusuf with their belongings, where a wolf devoured him. Their statement 'you will not believe us even if we are truthful' reveals their knowledge of their father's expected disbelief, reflecting their guilty conscience and the weight of their deception. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this phrase exposes the brothers' awareness of how their previous behavior and jealousy had damaged their credibility with their father.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Yusuf, which presents the complete story of Prophet Yusuf in sequential order—unique among Quranic surahs. This specific ayah depicts the moment the brothers return to their father after throwing Yusuf into the well, establishing the human element of their guilt and the beginning of divine providence working through their deception.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific lie, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain numerous hadiths on the prohibition of lying (al-kadhib) and the virtue of truthfulness (al-sidq), such as the hadith: 'Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 6094).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that lies compound guilt and damage trust irreparably—the brothers' own words betray their consciousness of wrongdoing. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that dishonesty not only violates divine commands but also fractures relationships and ultimately cannot prevent Allah's plans from unfolding.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَـٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And [Joseph] said to his servants, "Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return."
قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allāh will bring them to me all together. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."
فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ
But if you do not bring him to me, no measure will there be [hereafter] for you from me, nor will you approach me."
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."