وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ 84
Translations
And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor.
Transliteration
Wa-tawallaʾ ʿanhum wa-qaala yaʾ-asafaʾ ʿalaʾ Yusufa wa-ibyaddatʾ ʿaynaahu min-al-ḥuzni fa-huwa kāẓīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Prophet Yaqub's overwhelming grief upon learning of Yusuf's alleged death, turning away from his sons in anguish and crying out in sorrow. The phrase 'his eyes turned white from grief' is interpreted by classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari as either his eyes becoming clouded/dim from weeping, or literally whitening due to the intensity of his sorrow. The word 'kāẓīm' (suppressing/concealing) indicates that despite his visible distress, Yaqub restrains himself, embodying patient endurance in the face of calamity.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's disappearance, where his brothers deceive their father by presenting Yusuf's shirt stained with false blood, claiming he was devoured by a wolf. The verse illustrates the emotional climax of Yaqub's initial response to this devastating news, setting the stage for the demonstration of sabr (patience) that becomes central to the surah's message about trials and divine wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest trial is the loss of children' (recorded in various collections). Additionally, Surah Yusuf itself is praised in a hadith where the Prophet called it 'the best of stories' (ahsan al-qasas), emphasizing the lessons of patience and faith demonstrated by Yaqub throughout his trials.
Themes
Key Lesson
True patience does not mean the absence of emotion or grief, but rather the regulation of one's response and trust in Allah's wisdom despite profound sorrow. This ayah teaches that displaying emotional vulnerability while maintaining faith and restraint is a mark of spiritual maturity, as exemplified by the greatest of prophets.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."
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."