وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ 42
Translations
And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and he [i.e., Joseph] remained in prison several years.
Transliteration
Wa-qāla li-alladhī zanna-annahū nājin minhhumā idhkurnī 'inda rabbika fa-ansāhu ash-shaytānu dhikra rabbihī fa-labitha fi as-sijn bid'a sinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yusuf asked the servant who he believed would be freed from prison to mention him to Pharaoh, hoping for his release; however, Satan caused the servant to forget this request, and consequently Yusuf remained imprisoned for several more years. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a test of Yusuf's patience and reliance on Allah, illustrating that worldly means (like human intercession) are unreliable compared to complete trust in Divine will. This ayah teaches that despite Yusuf's righteousness, he experienced human weakness in seeking help through created beings rather than solely through supplication to Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's imprisonment in Egypt, following his false accusation and imprisonment. The context shows the two fellow prisoners—one butler and one baker—who dreamed dreams that Yusuf interpreted. One was executed and one freed, yet the freed servant forgot to mention Yusuf to Pharaoh, keeping Yusuf in prison longer as part of Allah's divine plan to eventually elevate him.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths about patience in trials and reliance on Allah (tawakkul). The story of Yusuf itself is referenced in numerous ahadith as the 'best of stories' (ahsan al-qasas) mentioned in 12:3.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that relying primarily on human intermediaries rather than turning to Allah in supplication can lead to prolonged difficulties; true deliverance comes through patience, righteousness, and unwavering faith in Allah's perfect timing and wisdom, not through worldly connections alone.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]."
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was it [i.e., the Qur’ān] a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
قَالَ إِنِّى لَيَحْزُنُنِىٓ أَن تَذْهَبُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَأَخَافُ أَن يَأْكُلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَأَنتُمْ عَنْهُ غَـٰفِلُونَ
[Jacob] said, "Indeed, it saddens me that you should take him, and I fear that a wolf would eat him while you are of him unaware."
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.