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
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allāh has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allāh and is patient, then indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ
And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and he [i.e., Joseph] remained in prison several years.
قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ وَأَلْقُوهُ فِى غَيَـٰبَتِ ٱلْجُبِّ يَلْتَقِطْهُ بَعْضُ ٱلسَّيَّارَةِ إِن كُنتُمْ فَـٰعِلِينَ
Said a speaker among them, "Do not kill Joseph but throw him into the bottom of the well; some travelers will pick him up - if you would do [something]."
قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَـٰفِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allāh is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."