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
قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَـٰفِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allāh is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.
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."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِـِٔينَ
They said, "O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners."