Tafseer of Joseph · Yusuf · 12:111
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the words of Allah the Exalted: لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَى وَلَكِنْ تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (Indeed, in their story there was a lesson for those possessed of understanding. It was not a fabricated narrative, but rather a confirmation of what came before it, an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.) [12:111]
Abū Jaʿfar said: Allah the Exalted says: Indeed, in the stories of Yūsuf and his brothers there was a lesson for those possessed of intellect and understanding, which they draw from them, and an admonition by which they are admonished. That is because Allah, magnified be His praise, after Yūsuf was cast into the well that he might perish, then was sold as slaves (ʿabīd) are sold for a paltry price, and after the imprisonment and the long incarceration — gave him rule over Egypt, established him in the land, raised him above those among his brothers who wished him harm, united him by His power with his parents and brothers within his dominion, after a long time, and brought them to him from distant, far-flung regions. Thus Allah, magnified be His praise, said to the polytheists (mushrikīn) of Quraysh from the people of His prophet Muḥammad ﷺ: Indeed, there was for you, O people, in their stories a lesson, had you drawn instruction from it — namely, that the One who did this to Yūsuf and his brothers, it is not impossible for Him to do something similar with Muḥammad ﷺ, by which He brings him forth from your midst, then makes him triumph over you, establishes him in the lands, and supports him with battle-troops and men from his followers and companions (ṣaḥāba), even though hardships pass and days, nights, ages, and years elapse.
Mujāhid said: its meaning is: indeed, in their story there was a lesson for Yūsuf and his brothers.
Mention of the report concerning that:
20038 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to us, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word: (Indeed, in their story there was a lesson) — for Yūsuf and his brothers.
20039 — Al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad related to us, saying: Shabāba related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid: a lesson for Yūsuf and his brothers.
20040 — Al-Muthanná related to me, saying: Abū Ḥudhayfa related to us, saying: Shibl related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, identically.
20041 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word: (Indeed, in their story there was a lesson for those possessed of understanding) — he said: Yūsuf and his brothers.
Abū Jaʿfar said: This view which Mujāhid adopted, even though it has an approach that the interpretation can bear, the view which we adopted is the more fitting. That is because this follows upon the report concerning our Prophet ﷺ and concerning his people from among the polytheists, and upon the threat and warning directed at them for disbelief in Allah and His messenger Muḥammad ﷺ, and it is detached from the report concerning Yūsuf and his brothers. Moreover, it is a general report concerning all those possessed of understanding, that their stories are a lesson for them, and it is not specific to particular persons to the exclusion of others. If the matter is as we have described, it is more fitting that the report convey that it is a lesson for others than them. The report which we cited from Mujāhid by way of Ibn Jurayj is more fitting to be from his word, because it agrees with the view which we adopted.
His word: (It was not a fabricated narrative) — Allah the Exalted says: this word was not a narrative that was invented, fabricated, and forged, as in:
20042 — Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: (It was not a fabricated narrative) — and "al-firya" (the fabrication) is the lie.
(but rather a confirmation of what came before it) — he says: but rather it is a confirmation of the books of Allah that came before it, which He revealed to His prophets before him, such as the Tawrāt, the Gospel, and the Psalms — it confirms all of this and testifies of it that all of that is a truth from Allah, as in:
20043 — Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: (but rather a confirmation of what came before it) — and the Furqān is a confirmation of the scriptures that came before it and testifies of it.
His word: (an exposition of all things) — Allah the Exalted says: and it is also an exposition of everything that the servants have need of, consisting of the clarification of Allah's command and prohibition, His permitted and His forbidden, His obedience and His disobedience.
His word: (and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe) — Allah the Exalted says: and it is a clarification of His command and a guidance for whoever does not know the path of truth and is blind to it — when he follows it, he is led by it out of his straying — "and a mercy" for whoever believes in it and acts according to what is in it: it saves him from Allah's wrath and painful punishment (ʿadhāb), and causes him to inherit in the Hereafter: His Gardens and the eternal abode in the abiding glory — (for a people who believe) — he says: for a people who affirm the Qurʾān and the promises and warnings of Allah and His command and prohibition contained in it, who act according to His command therein, and who refrain from that which His prohibition therein entails.
End of the tafsīr of Sūra Yūsuf
