قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِى سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ 47
Translations
[Joseph] said, "You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.
Transliteration
Qala tazra'una saba'a sinina da'aban fama hasadtum fadhharuh fi sunbulih illa qalilan mimma ta'kulun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yusuf (Joseph) advises Pharaoh's officials that they should cultivate grain for seven consecutive years, and whatever they harvest should be stored in its husks (as grain heads), except for a small portion needed for consumption. This instruction preserves the grain's longevity and freshness, as grain stored in its chaff remains protected from spoilage and insects. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates Yusuf's practical wisdom combined with his prophetic guidance in addressing the anticipated famine.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Yusuf's comprehensive plan to prepare Egypt for the seven-year famine he had interpreted from Pharaoh's dream. It occurs after Yusuf has been appointed to a position of authority in Egypt (12:55), and he now provides detailed instructions for implementing the storage strategy that will save the nation from starvation.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Surah Yusuf itself is praised in a hadith where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called it 'the best of stories' (Sahih Bukhari, 3:32). Thematically, hadiths on wisdom, planning, and providence (like those in the chapters on divine decree) relate to the underlying principles demonstrated here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers the importance of strategic planning and wise stewardship of resources—balancing preparation for future hardship with meeting present needs. It exemplifies how faith in Allah's guidance should motivate practical, intelligent action rather than passive resignation.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."
وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّى لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ
And when the caravan departed [from Egypt], their father said, "Indeed, I find the smell of Joseph [and would say that he was alive] if you did not think me weakened in mind."
قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
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
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.