وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ 38
Translations
And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was not for us to associate anything with Allāh. That is from the favor of Allāh upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful.
Transliteration
Wa-ittaba'tu millata aba'i Ibrahima wa-Ishaq wa-Ya'qub. Ma kana lana an nushrika billahi min shay'. Dhalika min fadli Allahi alayna wa-ala al-nas. Wa-lakin akthara al-nas la yashkurun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Yusuf proclaims his adherence to the monotheistic faith of his forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, categorically rejecting any form of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Ibn Kathir notes that Yusuf emphasizes this pure legacy of tawhid as a divine blessing upon his family and all of humanity, yet laments that most people fail to recognize and be grateful for this favor from Allah. The ayah serves as a powerful testimony to Yusuf's unwavering commitment to pure monotheism despite the temptations and pressures of the Egyptian court.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Yusuf's response to the prison inmates' inquiry about his knowledge of dream interpretation (12:36-40). After revealing the tawhid-based source of his knowledge, Yusuf uses this moment to preach monotheism to his fellow prisoners, establishing that his wisdom stems not from worldly learning but from his adherence to the prophetic tradition of his ancestors. This represents a crucial theme in Surah Yusuf: maintaining faith and moral integrity in isolation and adversity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), reflecting the importance of following the righteous legacy of one's forefathers. Additionally, the hadith 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Muslim 45) relates to the universal concern for humanity's guidance mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true strength lies in maintaining our religious principles and values regardless of our circumstances, and that we should take pride in following the righteous legacy of those who came before us while actively inviting others to pure monotheism. It also reminds us that gratitude for Allah's blessings—including the gift of guidance and sound beliefs—is a fundamental obligation that most people negligently overlook.