قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـٰرِقِينَ 73
Translations
They said, "By Allāh, you have certainly known that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, and we have not been thieves."
Transliteration
Qaalū taallaahi laqad 'alimtum mā ji'nā linufsida fil-ardi wa mā kunnā sāriqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The brothers of Yusuf swear by Allah, asserting their innocence and righteousness, claiming they did not come to Egypt to cause corruption in the land nor are they thieves. This statement reflects their defense against the accusation of theft regarding the drinking cup found in Benjamin's sack. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this oath demonstrates how the brothers attempted to establish their honorable character and trustworthiness, though it also reveals their desperation and anxiety in this critical moment when Benjamin faces imprisonment.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's test of his brothers, specifically after the cup (the king's drinking vessel) is discovered in Benjamin's bag. The brothers are responding to the accusation of theft, trying to defend both their character and Benjamin's innocence. This scene illustrates the divine wisdom in how Yusuf orchestrated events to bring about family reconciliation and the revelation of his identity.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this verse, the theme of false oaths and truthful testimony is related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned against swearing oaths unnecessarily. The brothers' oath here, though meant to be truthful, reflects the gravity with which oaths were taken in Islamic tradition.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that sincere protestation of innocence, coupled with trust in Allah's justice, is the proper response to unjust accusations. It reminds us that Allah tests the righteous through trials, and maintaining integrity and truthfulness during such tests ultimately leads to clarity and divine resolution.
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."
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"
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?"
وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allāh.