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 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?
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِـِٔينَ
They said, "O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners."
وَمَا تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And you do not ask of them for it any payment. It is not except a reminder to the worlds.