إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 8
Translations
When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.
Transliteration
Idh qalū liyūsufu wa-akhūhu ahabbu ilā abīnā minnā wa-nahnu 'usbah. Inna abānā lafī dhalālin mubīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the jealous complaint of Yusuf's brothers, who resented their father's preference for Yusuf and his full brother (Benjamin) over themselves, despite their numerical strength as a group. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the brothers' accusation that their father was in 'clear error' ('dhalālin mubīn') reflects their spiritual blindness and unjust judgment, as Yaqub's preference was based on wisdom and the exceptional character of his beloved sons. The ayah illustrates how envy ('hasad') corrupts reasoning and leads people to condemn the just decisions of their elders.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the broader narrative of Surah Yusuf, which was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced opposition from his own people. The surah employs the story of Yusuf to console the Prophet and demonstrate how Allah's plan unfolds through trials. This specific verse sets the stage for the brothers' conspiracy against Yusuf, establishing the emotional roots of their betrayal.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, and the second greatest is envy' (Musnad Ahmad). Additionally, the Prophet warned against 'hasad' (envy), saying it consumes good deeds as fire consumes wood (Sunan Abu Dawud).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that envy blinds the heart and corrupts one's judgment, leading to accusations of injustice against those who act with wisdom and fairness. We must guard ourselves against the disease of hasad and trust in Allah's wisdom regarding His distribution of blessings and love among His creation.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."
قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ قُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍ ۚ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٔـٰنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allāh! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-ʿAzeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And when he [i.e., Joseph] reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ ءَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allāh, the One, the Prevailing?