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
قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَـٰعِلِينَ
Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."
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."
أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَـٰشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming [aspect] of the punishment of Allāh or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."