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
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ ءَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allāh, the One, the Prevailing?
قَالَ هِىَ رَٰوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى ۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
[Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." And a witness from her family testified, "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars.
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَـٰهِلُونَ
He said, "Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?"
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allāh! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."