قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 98
Translations
He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Transliteration
Qala sawfa astaghfiru lakum rabbi, innahu huwa al-ghafuru al-raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Yusuf responds to his brothers' request for forgiveness by saying he will seek forgiveness for them from his Lord, affirming that Allah is indeed the Most Forgiving and the Most Merciful. This demonstrates Yusuf's noble character, his reliance upon Allah's attributes, and his refusal to hold grudges despite the grave injustices his brothers committed against him. The scholars, including Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, note that this response reflects the highest standard of Islamic morality—responding to past wrongs with mercy, compassion, and intercession rather than retribution.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs near the conclusion of Surah Yusuf, after Yusuf's brothers come before him seeking forgiveness for their sin of selling him into slavery decades earlier. The verse is part of the climactic reconciliation scene where Yusuf's character of forbearance and noble conduct reaches its pinnacle, demonstrating the fruits of his patience and steadfastness throughout his trials.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). This echoes Yusuf's treatment of his brothers with kindness despite their betrayal, exemplifying familial compassion.
Themes
Key Lesson
True greatness lies not in the ability to take revenge, but in the capacity to forgive and intercede for those who have wronged us. By entrusting our grievances to Allah's infinite mercy and forgiveness, we free ourselves from bitterness and align our hearts with divine compassion.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَـٰعِلُونَ
They said, "We will attempt to dissuade his father from [keeping] him, and indeed, we will do [it]."
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."
ثُمَّ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ
Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you advanced [i.e., saved] for them, except a little from which you will store.
فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِى يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِىٓ أَبِىٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِى ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
So when they had despaired of him, they secluded themselves in private consultation. The eldest of them said, "Do you not know that your father has taken upon you an oath by Allāh and [that] before you failed in [your duty to] Joseph? So I will never leave [this] land until my father permits me or Allāh decides for me, and He is the best of judges.