قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ 55
Translations
[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."
Transliteration
Qāla ijʿalnī ʿalā khazāʾini al-arḍ, innī ḥafīẓ ʿalīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) requests from the king (Pharaoh) to be appointed as guardian over the treasuries of Egypt, asserting his trustworthiness (ḥafīẓ) and knowledge (ʿalīm). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this request was made after Yusuf had interpreted the king's dream about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and demonstrates his strategic wisdom in positioning himself to manage the crisis. Al-Tabari emphasizes that Yusuf's dual qualification—loyalty and intelligence—made him the ideal candidate for such a critical administrative role, and his request reflects both humility (acknowledging his dependence on Allah) and confidence in his abilities granted by God.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's vindication and elevation in Egypt. After being sold into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned, Yusuf interprets the king's dream, which leads to his recognition and the king's willingness to employ him. The ayah reflects the historical context of Ancient Egypt and Yusuf's ascent from prison to a position of authority, demonstrating divine providence and the reward for steadfastness.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific incident, Sahih Bukhari contains several narrations about trustworthiness (amānah) and seeking positions of responsibility with sincere intention. The principle is reflected in the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) saying: 'Verily, the most truthful of you in speech is the most trustworthy of you in fulfilling trusts' (Al-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that competence combined with integrity forms the foundation of rightful leadership and success; Yusuf does not merely seek power, but offers genuine qualifications rooted in his trustworthiness and knowledge. For modern readers, it emphasizes that advancement should be pursued through demonstrated virtue and capability, and that proper leadership requires both reliable character and practical wisdom.
Related Ayahs
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."
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."
قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَـٰعِلِينَ
Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.