قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ ءَاثَرَكَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـٰطِـِٔينَ 91
Translations
They said, "By Allāh, certainly has Allāh preferred you over us, and indeed, we have been sinners."
Transliteration
Qalū tallāhi laqad āthharaka -llāhu 'alaynā wa-in kunnā lakhaṭi'īn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The brothers of Yusuf confess to their father that Allah has indeed favored Yusuf over them, acknowledging both his superiority and their own wrongdoing in how they treated him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects the brothers' recognition of divine favor (tafḍīl) and their admission of guilt (khaṭī'ah), demonstrating a moment of sincere acknowledgment after years of concealment. Al-Qurtubi notes this represents their gradual spiritual reform as they witness Yusuf's authority and prosperity in Egypt.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs in the climactic reunion scene in Surah Yusuf when the brothers encounter Yusuf in Egypt and gradually realize his identity. The brothers make this confession to their father Yaʿqūb after being confronted with evidence of Yusuf's position and status, prompting them to finally admit the truth about their past actions and divine favor upon their brother. This moment concludes the central narrative arc of the surah.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the theme of acknowledging past wrongs and seeking forgiveness relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ emphasizes sincere repentance (tawbah). Additionally, the concept of divine preference and justice connects to hadith collections discussing qadr (divine decree) and fairness among children.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that genuine repentance begins with honest acknowledgment of wrongdoing and recognition of others' worth, reminding us that sincere confession can bridge even the deepest family rifts and restore broken relationships through humility before Allah's wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
And most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers.
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and that I am the best of accommodators?
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, "O ʿAzeez, indeed he has a father [who is] an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you as a doer of good."
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh; then will you not reason?