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 37
Translations
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.
Transliteration
Qala la ya'tīkumā ta'āmun turزaqānīhi illā nabbā'tukumā bi-ta'wīlih qabla an ya'tīyakumā. Dhālikumā mimmā 'allamānī rabbī. Innī taraktu millata qawmin lā yu'minūn billāh wa-hum bil-ākhirati hum kāfirūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yūsuf (Joseph), while imprisoned, declares to his two cellmates that he possesses knowledge of interpreting dreams and the unseen, and will inform them of the interpretation of their food before it arrives—a gift from his Lord. He emphasizes that he has abandoned the religion of his disbelieving people and rejects their polytheism and denial of the afterlife, establishing his exclusive devotion to Allāh's monotheism. Classical scholars like Al-Ṭabarī and Ibn Kathīr note this passage demonstrates Yūsuf's steadfast faith even in captivity, his confidence in divine knowledge, and his dawah (calling others to Allāh) even in prison.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yūsuf's imprisonment in Egypt. Two servants of the king have been imprisoned alongside him and ask him to interpret their dreams. Before interpreting their visions, Yūsuf uses this opportunity to communicate his faith and distinguish himself as a believer, making this an important moment of his da'wah while maintaining his Islamic principles in a hostile environment.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly references this verse, Hadith Qudsī emphasizes divine knowledge: 'I am as My servant expects Me to be' (Sahih Bukhari 7405). Additionally, the Prophet's (ﷺ) statement about dream interpretation in Sunan Ibn Mājah and Sunan Abū Dāwud relates to the knowledge of ta'wīl (interpretation) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers should never compromise their faith even in the most difficult circumstances, and that trials are opportunities to witness to one's beliefs and call others to Allāh. The true measure of a person is their steadfast devotion to monotheism and their willingness to prioritize divine guidance over worldly comfort or acceptance.
Related Ayahs
ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَـٰفِظِينَ
Return to your father and say, 'O our father, indeed your son has stolen, and we did not testify except to what we knew. And we were not witnesses of the unseen.
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And when he [i.e., Joseph] reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.
قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ
They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."
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."