Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 1

This surah is Makki. In Makkah, the way the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and other Muslims were subjected to mountains of oppression and cruelty by their own relatives and close ones, you used to be extremely saddened by this. Sometimes, by Allah’s command, you would even say to them that if you do not accept my words, that is your choice, but at least consider the kinship that exists between me and you. It is said: «{ قُلْ لَّاۤ اَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ اَجْرًا اِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبٰى} » [ الشوریٰ : ۲۳ ] “Say: I do not ask you for any reward for this except the love which is due to kinship—at least consider that.” On such an occasion, Surah Yusuf was revealed, in which there is immense consolation for you (peace be upon him): that no matter how far the enemy goes, even if one’s own brothers and relatives, out of jealousy, cross all limits of justice and humanity, still, what happens is only what Allah wills, so you should remain unconcerned. In this surah, there is grief of the highest degree, then happiness of the same or even greater degree, utter helplessness and then supreme authority, blinding separation and the glad tidings of a reunion that brightens the eyes, extreme lust and invitation to sin and, in contrast, utmost chastity, immense oppression and perfect forgiveness—in short, there are strange and wonderful events and themes that both sadden and gladden. The scholars say, and experience also proves, that whoever reads this surah while reflecting on its meanings, even a sad and hopeless person becomes happy, and the lamp of hope in Allah’s mercy is lit in his heart. The Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to recite Surah Yusuf often in the Fajr prayer. Abdullah ibn Shaddad says, I heard Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sobbing with hiccups while I was in the last rows, and he was reciting this verse: «{ اِنَّمَاۤ اَشْكُوْا بَثِّيْ وَ حُزْنِيْۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ }» [ یوسف : ۸۶ ] “(Jacob, peace be upon him, said) I only complain of my anguish and my sorrow to Allah.” [بخاری، قبل الحدیث:۷۱۶]

In this surah, there is much consolation for the heart of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): just as the brothers who threw Yusuf (peace be upon him) into the well, due to his piety and patience, were compelled by the unseen means of Allah the Dominant to one day bow before him and seek forgiveness, so too will your relatives and close ones one day stand humbly before you and clearly acknowledge your superiority. It is said: «{ قَالُوْا تَاللّٰهِ لَقَدْ اٰثَرَكَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْنَا وَ اِنْ كُنَّا لَخٰطِـِٕيْنَ }» [ یوسف : ۹۱ ] “They said (to Yusuf, peace be upon him), By Allah! Surely Allah has preferred you over us, and surely we were indeed in error.”

(Ayah 1) {الٓرٰتِلْكَ اٰيٰتُ الْكِتٰبِ الْمُبِيْنِ:’’ الٓرٰ ‘‘} — see the first verse of Surah al-Baqarah. {’’ الْمُبِيْنِ ‘‘ ’’ أَبَانَ يُبِيْنُ‘‘} is an active participle from the form IV verb, and can be intransitive, as in: «{ اِنَّهٗ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِيْنٌ }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۶۸ ] “Indeed, he is your open (clear) enemy.” It can also be transitive, meaning one who explains, one who makes clear. {’’ الْكِتٰبِ الْمُبِيْنِ ‘‘} means whose style of expression is clear and understandable to everyone, or whose being the word of Allah is absolutely manifest and above all doubt and suspicion.

These are the verses of the clear Book.

The tafsir of this ayah is included with the following verse(s).