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
قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ
[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."
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."
قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍ ۖ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحْلَـٰمِ بِعَـٰلِمِينَ
They said, "[It is but] a mixture of false dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."