Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 6

(Ayah 6) ➊ { وَ كَذٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيْكَ رَبُّكَ : ’’يَجْتَبِيْ‘‘ ’’جَبَي يَجْبِيْ‘‘ } is a present tense verb from the form ifti‘āl of (ض), which means to gather, to select on the basis of some excellence. Rāghib has written that by Allah selecting one of His servants ({’’اِجْتِبَاءٌ‘‘}), it means to single him out for such grace from Himself that he receives various kinds of blessings without any effort of his own. This is something that is granted to the Prophets or those close to them, such as the Siddiqīn and the martyrs. (Mufradāt) Indeed, the highest degree of ijtibā’ is granted to the Prophets, Siddiqīn, and martyrs, but there are many levels of Allah’s selection, as you can reflect upon yourself: how Allah selected you, making you a human instead of a stone, plant, or animal; then making you a Muslim, not a disbeliever; then protecting you from major sins; then making you a monotheist instead of a polytheist who recites the kalimah, and a follower of the Sunnah instead of an innovator. If you have also received the blessing of knowledge of the Book, then you are among those about whom it is said: «{ ثُمَّ اَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتٰبَ الَّذِيْنَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا }» [ فاطر : ۳۲ ] “Then We gave the inheritance of the Book to those whom We chose.” If you have been granted the ability to call to Allah, then you have received even more grace. In short, there are many levels of isṭifā’ and ijtibā’, and whatever share one receives, one should be extremely grateful to Allah for it, as Allah has said: «{وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْ لَاۤ اَنْ هَدٰىنَا اللّٰهُ }» [ الأعراف : ۴۳ ] “(The people of Paradise will say) And we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us.” O Allah! By Your grace, include us among those who will enter Paradise and thank You with these words. (Ameen)

➋ In this verse, the meaning of {’’ وَ كَذٰلِكَ ‘‘} (and likewise) is that just as Allah showed you this dream, and did not show anyone else such a dream, likewise your Lord will select you and… By selection is meant the highest degree of selection, as quoted above from Imam Rāghib, that is, He will grant you prophethood and siddiqiyyah, and by the prostration of the eleven stars, the sun, and the moon is meant that by raising you to a high rank, He will grant you superiority over all the servants of your time.

➌ {وَ يُعَلِّمُكَ مِنْ تَاْوِيْلِ الْاَحَادِيْثِ: ’’ الْاَحَادِيْثِ ‘‘ ’’حَدِيْثٌ‘‘} is the plural of ‘ḥadīth’, which means “word.” {’’ تَاْوِيْلِ ‘‘} means to understand the correct meaning of a word and to reach its depth, because it is derived from {’’ تَاْوِيْلِ ‘‘ ’’أَوْلٌ‘‘}, which means “to return,” and the meaning of ta’wīl is to return something to its original purpose, that is, what is meant by it. Here, by {’’ تَاْوِيْلِ الْاَحَادِيْثِ ‘‘ } is meant sharp insight in understanding speech and, along with perfect understanding, the interpretation of dreams.

➍ {وَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهٗ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلٰۤى اٰلِ يَعْقُوْبَ … :} will complete His favor upon you just as He completed it upon your (two fathers) grandfather and great-grandfather before you, that is, He will grant you prophethood, messengership, and authority. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “({اَبَوَيْكَ} meaning upon your two fathers) the names of Ibrahim and Ishaq (peace be upon them) were mentioned, not his own, out of humility.” (Mawḍiḥ) The completion of favor upon the family of Ya‘qub means all those blessings that were bestowed upon the Children of Israel and which are mentioned in detail in the Noble Qur’an.

➎ {اِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ :} as to which of His servants is worthy of honor.