قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا۟ لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ 5
Translations
He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.
Transliteration
Qāla yā bunayya lā taqsus ru'yāka ʿalā ikhwatika fayakīdū laka kaydan, inna ash-shaytāna lil-insāni ʿaduwwun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Jacob (Yaʿqūb) advises his son Joseph not to tell his brothers about his dream, as this would provoke their envy and malice toward him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Jacob's wisdom in recognizing human nature and satanic influence demonstrates prophetic insight—he foresaw the danger of sharing the dream with brothers who would be jealous. The ayah emphasizes that Satan uses jealousy and enmity to turn people against one another, making the concealment of Joseph's vision a prudent measure.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs at the opening of Surah Yusuf and provides the narrative foundation for the subsequent story of Joseph's trials. It reflects the historical account of Joseph's dream and his father's protective counsel. The surah, though revealed in Mecca during a difficult period for the Prophet Muhammad, contains profound lessons about patience, divine providence, and trials—themes that resonated with the early Muslim community's struggles.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains traditions about the Prophet Muhammad's dreams and the importance of discretion in sharing visions. Additionally, hadiths about guarding oneself from envy and Satan's influence (e.g., in Sahih Muslim) relate thematically to Jacob's warning about satanic enmity.
Themes
Key Lesson
Parents and leaders should cultivate wisdom in guiding others away from unnecessary harm, recognizing that sharing certain matters can provoke envy and malice. Believers must be aware that Satan exploits human weaknesses like jealousy to create division and enmity, and thus should exercise discretion and rely on Allah's protection in their affairs.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, "O ʿAzeez, indeed he has a father [who is] an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you as a doer of good."
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ
And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."
قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِى بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
[Jacob] said, "Never will I send him with you until you give me a promise [i.e., oath] by Allāh that you will bring him [back] to me, unless you should be surrounded [i.e., overcome by enemies]." And when they had given their promise, he said, "Allāh, over what we say, is Entrusted."