ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ 52
Translations
That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.
Transliteration
Dhālika liya'lama annī lam akhunhu bil-ghaybi wa-anna Allāha lā yahdī kayda al-khāinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Yusuf's statement to the king, declaring that his request to be placed in charge of the treasury was made so that Allah would know he had not betrayed his former master (al-'Azīz) in secret, and to demonstrate that Allah does not grant success to the schemes of those who betray trusts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, Yusuf emphasizes his integrity and reliance on divine guidance, showing that his moral rectitude was not hidden from Allah even when no one else was watching, and that Allah's justice ensures betrayers do not prosper.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's vindication and rise to power in Egypt. After being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife (al-'Azīz's wife) and imprisoned, Yusuf interprets the king's dream and is rewarded with authority. This statement reflects Yusuf's consciousness of his past trials and his unwavering commitment to honesty and trustworthiness throughout his ordeal, demonstrating the thematic focus of Surah Yusuf on patience, integrity, and divine providence.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Abu Hurairah in Sahih Bukhari: "The truthful and trustworthy merchant will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment" relates to Yusuf's emphasis on trustworthiness. Additionally, the hadith "Whoever betrays a trust has lost his faith" (Tirmidhi) directly parallels the ayah's condemnation of betrayal.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere intention and ethical conduct, even when unwitnessed by others, are known to Allah and will ultimately lead to success and honor. For modern readers, it emphasizes that integrity should stem from God-consciousness rather than fear of human judgment, and that trustworthiness is a pathway to both spiritual reward and worldly advancement.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allāh with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allāh; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ ۖ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَـٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ
And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."
قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ
She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased."
فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ ٱلْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ فَٱرْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allāh that which you do not know?"