قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَـٰفِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ 64
Translations
He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allāh is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."
Transliteration
Qāla hal āmantukum 'alayhi illā kamā amintukum 'alā akhīhi min qablu ۖ fa-Allāhu khayru ḥāfiẓan ۖ wa-huwa arḥamu ar-rāḥimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Yaʿqūb expresses his reluctance to entrust his youngest son Benjamin to his brothers, reminding them of the betrayal they committed against his older brother Yūsuf years before. He places his ultimate trust in Allāh alone, declaring that Allāh is the best guardian and the most merciful of those who show mercy. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Ṭabarī note this ayah demonstrates the psychological weight of past trauma on Yaʿqūb's heart, while simultaneously showcasing his profound reliance on divine providence despite his human anxiety.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yaʿqūb's sons requesting to take Benjamin to Egypt to meet Yūsuf (whom they had sold into slavery). The context reflects Yaʿqūb's deep concern, stemming from the loss of Yūsuf twenty years prior, and his internal struggle between his paternal love, fear of loss, and faith in Allāh's plan.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari (3391) contains hadiths about trusting in Allāh's decree (tawakkul), and Sunan At-Tirmidhi (2516) records the Prophet's teaching that 'Whoever trusts in Allāh, He is sufficient for him.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Even righteous believers experience fear and anxiety when facing difficult circumstances, yet true faith manifests in ultimately surrendering our concerns to Allāh's care and wisdom. This ayah teaches us that acknowledging our human vulnerability while trusting in Allāh's perfect guardianship and mercy is the path to peace.
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."
يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـٰذَا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنۢبِكِ ۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلْخَاطِـِٔينَ
Joseph, ignore this. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you were of the sinful."
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَـٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And [Joseph] said to his servants, "Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return."
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allāh is most knowing of what you describe."