قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَـٰلِكِينَ 85
Translations
They said, "By Allāh, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish."
Transliteration
Qalū tallāhi tafshu tadhkuru Yūsufa ḥattā takūna ḥaraḍan aw takūna mina al-hālikīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yusuf's brothers are expressing their concern and frustration to their father Ya'qub, who has been continuously grieving over the loss of Yusuf for many years. They swear by Allah that his constant remembrance and sorrow over Yusuf will either waste away his body (harad - extreme emaciation) or lead to his death. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah illustrates the intensity of Ya'qub's grief and his brothers' attempt to convince him to cease his mourning, highlighting the human struggle between patience and the burden of loss.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the latter portion of Surah Yusuf, after many years have passed since Yusuf's disappearance. The context depicts Ya'qub's unwavering loyalty to his son despite decades of separation, and his brothers' observation of his deteriorating health due to continuous grief. The surah emphasizes themes of divine providence and eventual reunion, making this moment of familial concern part of the broader narrative arc leading to the resolution of the story.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this verse, Hadith Qudsi 34 relates to patient endurance: 'Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him.' Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the Prophet's (ﷺ) patience during trials, emphasizing that grief and loss are tests from Allah requiring steadfast faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while sincere grief for loved ones is natural and human, we must maintain balance and trust in Allah's wisdom, recognizing that excessive sorrow can harm our physical and spiritual health. It reminds us that patience (sabr) in times of loss means accepting Allah's decree while caring for ourselves and our families with wisdom and hope.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ
They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَٱدَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا۠ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ فَأَرْسِلُونِ
But the one who was freed and remembered after a time said, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth."
قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ
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."