قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ 72
Translations
They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."
Transliteration
Qaaluu nafqidu swaa'a al-maliki wa liman jaa'a bihi himlu ba'irin wa ana bihi za'eem
Tafsir (Explanation)
The officials of Egypt announce that the King's drinking cup (al-swaa') is missing and offer a reward of a camel-load of grain to whoever brings it back, with one of them guaranteeing this reward. This occurs after Yusuf's brothers have been accused of theft as part of Yusuf's plan to detain his youngest brother Binyamin. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that the swaa' was the King's cup used for measuring grain and drinking, and the reward reflects the cup's value to the King, setting the stage for Yusuf to frame Binyamin and keep him in Egypt.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative sequence in Surah Yusuf describing Yusuf's reunion with his brothers in Egypt. After his brothers arrive seeking provisions, Yusuf devises a plan to keep his youngest brother Binyamin with him by planting the King's cup in his belongings. This verse presents the announcement of the missing cup and the reward, demonstrating divine wisdom working through seemingly intricate circumstances.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific ayah, the general theme of truthfulness and divine providence is reflected in the hadith: 'The closest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who are most truthful in speech' (Tirmidhi). The surah's overall theme of patience and divine wisdom is central to Islamic tradition.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's plan often unfolds through complex circumstances and apparent difficulties, and that those with wisdom and patience can navigate challenges while maintaining their integrity and faith. It teaches believers to trust in divine providence even when situations seem unclear or challenging.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’ān that you might understand.
وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh; then will you not reason?
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."