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
يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ
They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."
قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ قُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍ ۚ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allāh! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-ʿAzeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.