سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 47
قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِى سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿47﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[(Yûsuf (Joseph)] said: "For seven consecutive years, you shall sow as usual and that (the harvest) which you reap you shall leave it in the ears, (all) except a little of it which you may eat.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
تَزْرَعُونَ
tazraʿūna
You will sow
سَبْعَ
sabʿa
(for) seven
سِنِينَ
sinīna
years
دَأَبًۭا
da-aban
as usual
فَمَا
famā
and that which
حَصَدتُّمْ
ḥaṣadttum
you reap
فَذَرُوهُ
fadharūhu
so leave it
فِى
fī
in
سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ
sunbulihi
its ears
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a little
مِّمَّا
mimmā
from which
تَأْكُلُونَ
takulūna
you (will) eat
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 47) ➊ The pronoun in {قَالَ تَزْرَعُوْنَ سَبْعَ سِنِيْنَ دَاَبًا …: ’’ دَاَبًا ‘‘ ’’ تَزْرَعُوْنَ ‘‘} is in the state of condition, meaning {’’دَائِبِيْنَ‘‘ } are those who continuously and repeatedly cultivate with effort. Yusuf (peace be upon him) not only gave the interpretation but also provided the solution. Here, {’’ تَزْرَعُوْنَ ‘‘} means {’’اِزْرَعُوْا‘‘}, that is, "cultivate continuously with effort for seven years," because it is mentioned ahead that whatever you reap, leave it in its ears. To emphasize more, the imperative is brought in the form of the present tense, as He said: «{ وَ اِذْ اَخَذْنَا مِيْثَاقَ بَنِيْۤ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ لَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ اِلَّا اللّٰهَ }» [ البقرۃ : ۸۳ ] "And when We took a firm covenant from the Children of Israel that you will not worship anyone except Allah." Thousands of years ago, Yusuf (peace be upon him) described the best method to protect wheat from rot, pests, and insects, which even the most modern researchers have not surpassed.
➋ { اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا مِّمَّا تَاْكُلُوْنَ:} means to clean only as much wheat from the ears as is needed for eating, and that too as little as possible, so that as much as possible can be preserved, and during those seven years, besides people, the straw can also be used for animals. Both medicine and Shariah agree on the emphasis of eating less. Its limit was stated by our Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as a few morsels, he said: [ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَثُلُثٌ لِطَعَامِهٖ وَثُلُثٌ لِشَرَابِهٖ وَثُلُثٌ لِنَفَسِهٖ ] [ ترمذی، الزھد، باب ما جاء في کراھیۃ کثرۃ الأکل : ۲۳۸۰، و صححہ الألبانی ] "If you must eat more, then keep one part of your stomach for food, one for drink, and one for breath."
➋ { اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا مِّمَّا تَاْكُلُوْنَ:} means to clean only as much wheat from the ears as is needed for eating, and that too as little as possible, so that as much as possible can be preserved, and during those seven years, besides people, the straw can also be used for animals. Both medicine and Shariah agree on the emphasis of eating less. Its limit was stated by our Noble Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as a few morsels, he said: [ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَثُلُثٌ لِطَعَامِهٖ وَثُلُثٌ لِشَرَابِهٖ وَثُلُثٌ لِنَفَسِهٖ ] [ ترمذی، الزھد، باب ما جاء في کراھیۃ کثرۃ الأکل : ۲۳۸۰، و صححہ الألبانی ] "If you must eat more, then keep one part of your stomach for food, one for drink, and one for breath."
