سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 41
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ ﴿41﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"O two companions of the prison! As for one of you, he (as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord (king or master) to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head. Thus is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ
yāṣāḥibayi
O my two companions
ٱلسِّجْنِ
l-sij'ni
(of) the prison
أَمَّآ
ammā
As for
أَحَدُكُمَا
aḥadukumā
one of you
فَيَسْقِى
fayasqī
he will give drink
رَبَّهُۥ
rabbahu
(to) his master
خَمْرًۭا ۖ
khamran
wine
وَأَمَّا
wa-ammā
and as for
ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ
l-ākharu
the other
فَيُصْلَبُ
fayuṣ'labu
he will be crucified
فَتَأْكُلُ
fatakulu
and will eat
ٱلطَّيْرُ
l-ṭayru
the birds
مِن
min
from
رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ
rasihi
his head
قُضِىَ
quḍiya
Has been decreed
ٱلْأَمْرُ
l-amru
the matter
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
about which
فِيهِ
fīhi
about which
تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
tastaftiyāni
you both inquire
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.
(Ayah 41) ➊ {يٰصَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ …:} Observe the beauty of expression of Yusuf (peace be upon him) while interpreting the dream: firstly, he did not specify which of the two the interpretation referred to, that this is the result of your dream and that is the result of yours, even though it was clear from the answer that the cupbearer would be reinstated to his position and the other would be crucified. Rather, he said, "For one of you, the interpretation is this, and for the other, it is that." Also, note that he first mentioned the interpretation that brought good news, and the other one later. The purpose was to delay the heartbreak as much as possible and to deliver the good news as soon as possible.
➋ {قُضِيَ الْاَمْرُ الَّذِيْ فِيْهِ تَسْتَفْتِيٰنِ :} That is, this decision has been made, which can no longer be averted. Here, the word { ’’ قُضِيَ ‘‘} shows that the word {’’ ظَنَّ ‘‘} coming in the next verse is used here in the sense of certainty. Some have written that the interpretation of dreams was an ijtihadi assumption, therefore this assumption is in its original meaning. (Ibn Kathir, Ruh al-Ma'ani) It is stated in Mudih: {’’ ظَنَّ ‘‘} was used, which shows that the interpretation of dreams is not certainty but conjecture, but if a prophet makes a conjecture, then it is indeed certain, that is, it is not conjecture."
➋ {قُضِيَ الْاَمْرُ الَّذِيْ فِيْهِ تَسْتَفْتِيٰنِ :} That is, this decision has been made, which can no longer be averted. Here, the word { ’’ قُضِيَ ‘‘} shows that the word {’’ ظَنَّ ‘‘} coming in the next verse is used here in the sense of certainty. Some have written that the interpretation of dreams was an ijtihadi assumption, therefore this assumption is in its original meaning. (Ibn Kathir, Ruh al-Ma'ani) It is stated in Mudih: {’’ ظَنَّ ‘‘} was used, which shows that the interpretation of dreams is not certainty but conjecture, but if a prophet makes a conjecture, then it is indeed certain, that is, it is not conjecture."
