يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ ءَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ 39
Translations
O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allāh, the One, the Prevailing?
Transliteration
Ya sahibay al-sijn a-arbabun mutafarriqun khayrun am Allah al-wahid al-qahhar
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yusuf (peace be upon him) addresses his two prison companions, asking them whether multiple fragmented lords (false gods and idols) are better, or Allah alone, the One and Irresistible in His power and dominion. This ayah presents a clear theological argument for monotheism by contrasting the absurdity of polytheism with the perfection of worshipping the One True God. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Yusuf uses this rhetorical question as a dawah (call to faith) tool, inviting his companions toward tawhid (monotheism) while imprisoned.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's imprisonment in Egypt, where two servants of Pharaoh are imprisoned alongside him. Yusuf seizes this opportunity to invite them to monotheism before offering to interpret their dreams. The context reflects the surah's broader theme of Yusuf's unwavering faith and his role as a preacher (da'i) to those around him, even in dire circumstances.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah' (Shirk). Additionally, Surah Al-Ikhlas (112) complements this theme: 'Say, He is Allah, One and Only' - emphasizing the message Yusuf conveys.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even in the darkest circumstances (imprisonment), a believer should remain steadfast in faith and actively invite others to the truth of monotheism. This ayah reminds us that the call to Allah's oneness is both a rational argument and a spiritual obligation, and that no circumstance exempts us from sharing our faith with those around us.
Related Ayahs
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّمَا تَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَعْوَةٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ مَرَدَّنَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ
Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no [response to a] supplication in this world or in the Hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allāh, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَيْفَ مَدَّ ٱلظِّلَّ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَجَعَلَهُۥ سَاكِنًا ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّمْسَ عَلَيْهِ دَلِيلًا
Have you not considered your Lord - how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication.
فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى هَـٰذَآ أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allāh.