Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 4
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
➋ { يٰۤاَبَتِ :} This was originally { ’’يَا أَبِيْ‘‘ } "O my father!" The ya was omitted and replaced with the feminine ta, and the kasrah of the ba was transferred to it. This is a way of expressing affection, just as in Urdu "Abba" is sometimes said as "Abu."
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
4. 2. Some commentators have said that by the eleven stars are meant the brothers of Hazrat Yusuf (عليه السلام), who were eleven in number. By the sun and the moon are meant the mother and father, and the interpretation of the dream appeared after forty or eighty years, when all these brothers, along with their parents, went to Egypt and there prostrated before Hazrat Yusuf (عليه السلام), as this detail will come at the end of the surah.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
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The Reasons for the Love of Sayyiduna Yusufؑ by His Father:
Sayyiduna Yusufؑ had only one real brother, Binyamin, who was younger than him. The remaining ten brothers were stepbrothers and were older than him. Sayyiduna Yaqubؑ, his father, had deep love for Sayyiduna Yusufؑ. There are several reasons for this. For example, one is that parents generally have relatively more affection for their younger children. Secondly, the mother of these two brothers had passed away. Thirdly, Sayyiduna Yusufؑ was very handsome and beautiful, and fourthly, he was of good character compared to all his brothers. Due to these reasons, he became the center of his father's attention, which caused the elder brothers to become jealous of him. At a young age, heؑ saw a dream and told his father, who saw in this dream the bright future of his son, because the dream was very clear and left no room for doubt. The eleven stars referred to the eleven brothers. The sun referred to Sayyiduna Yusufؑ's father, Sayyiduna Yaqubؑ, and the moon referred to his stepmother.
Prostration of Reverence?
As for the matter that prostrating to other than Allah is shirk, then how did the father, who was a prophet, and the son, who was to become a prophet, accept this as correct? Some scholars have answered that this was a prostration of reverence, which was permissible in previous laws. However, in our Shariah of Muhammad ﷺ, even such a prostration of reverence has been declared haram. According to some scholars, the prostration here does not refer to the technical prostration performed in prayer, but rather to mere bowing, which is its literal meaning. However, at the end of this Surah, the words ﴿خَرُّوْا لِلّٰهِ سُجَّدًا﴾ appear, and before the word ﴿خَرُّوْا﴾, the first opinion is confirmed.
