يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ 87
Translations
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allāh. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allāh except the disbelieving people."
Transliteration
Ya baniyya ithhabu fatahassu min Yusufa wa akheeh wa la tay'asu min roohil-lah innahu la yay'asu min roohil-lah illal-qawmul-kafirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yaʿqub (Jacob), speaking to his sons, commands them to search for news of Yusuf (Joseph) and his brother Benjamin, while emphasizing that they must not despair of Allah's mercy and relief. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this represents a profound teaching on balancing proactive effort with unwavering hope in Divine mercy, as Yaʿqub had lost his sight from grief over Joseph's separation yet maintained his faith that Allah's compassion would ultimately restore them.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the latter portion of Surah Yusuf, after Joseph had risen to prominence in Egypt and his brothers came seeking provisions during famine. Yaʿqub speaks these words having endured years of separation from his beloved son, demonstrating how patient believers maintain hope despite overwhelming sorrow. The context emphasizes the emotional climax of the narrative where resolution is drawing near.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you should wish for death because of a calamity befalling him; but if he must wish for death, he should say: O Allah, keep me alive as long as life is good for me, and let me die if death is better for me' (Sahih Bukhari). This reflects the spirit of not despairing of Allah's mercy mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that despair of Allah's mercy is a characteristic of the disbelievers, while hope and active effort—even in the face of seeming impossibility—reflect true faith. Modern readers should understand that maintaining optimism about Divine assistance while simultaneously taking practical steps to address their concerns is both spiritually sound and psychologically healthy.
Related Ayahs
أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَـٰشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming [aspect] of the punishment of Allāh or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا غَدًا يَرْتَعْ وَيَلْعَبْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
Send him with us tomorrow that he may eat well and play. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
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."