سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 77
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ ﴿77﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They [(Yûsuf’s (Joseph) brothers] said: "If he steals, there was a brother of his [Yûsuf (Joseph)] who did steal before (him)." But these things did Yûsuf (Joseph) keep in himself, revealing not the secrets to them. He said (within himself): "You are in worst case, and Allâh is the Best Knower of that which you describe!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ قَالُوٓا۟
qālū
They said
إِن
in
If
يَسْرِقْ
yasriq
he steals
فَقَدْ
faqad
then verily
سَرَقَ
saraqa
stole
أَخٌۭ
akhun
a brother
لَّهُۥ
lahu
of his
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ ۚ
qablu
before
فَأَسَرَّهَا
fa-asarrahā
But Yusuf kept it secret
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
But Yusuf kept it secret
فِى
fī
within
نَفْسِهِۦ
nafsihi
himself
وَلَمْ
walam
and (did) not
يُبْدِهَا
yub'dihā
reveal it
لَهُمْ ۚ
lahum
to them
قَالَ
qāla
He said
أَنتُمْ
antum
You
شَرٌّۭ
sharrun
(are the) worse
مَّكَانًۭا ۖ
makānan
(in) position
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
and Allah
أَعْلَمُ
aʿlamu
knows best
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَصِفُونَ
taṣifūna
you describe
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.
(Ayah77) ➊ { فَقَدْ سَرَقَ اَخٌ لَّهٗ مِنْ قَبْلُ :} Their gesture was towards Yusuf (peace be upon him). They had previously said: «{ مَا كُنَّا سٰرِقِيْنَ }» that we have never been thieves, but now, seeing that the stolen goods were found with the younger brother, in order to cover their own embarrassment and to show their own innocence, they immediately separated themselves from this brother and, using his crime as a pretext, falsely accused his brother of theft as well. From this, one can imagine how these brothers must have treated this brother after Yusuf (peace be upon him) was lost.
Here, the commentators have written some incidents from Israeli traditions about Yusuf (peace be upon him) stealing in his childhood, which are not mentioned in the Qur’an or Hadith, and from which Yusuf (peace be upon him) is completely innocent. Furthermore, searching for incidents of Yusuf (peace be upon him) stealing at the brothers’ claim would only be valid if the brothers of Yusuf had never lied. From lying to their father to now swearing on behalf of all their brothers that none of them has ever been a thief, they immediately placed the accusation of theft on their long-lost brother. Yet some of our commentators are concerned with proving the brothers’ lie to be true by somehow finding an incident of Yusuf (peace be upon him) stealing. [ إِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ]
➋ { فَاَسَرَّهَا يُوْسُفُ فِيْ نَفْسِهٖ وَ لَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ:} Because if he had revealed it, they would have realized that this was Yusuf, and the time to reveal this secret had not yet come. Despite being in such a high position, to bear such a bitter accusation in his heart and remain patient is the courage of Yusuf (peace be upon him) alone.
➌ { قَالَ اَنْتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا :} That is, whether Yusuf stole or not, there is no doubt about your being thieves, because you stole him from your father and threw him into a well. Moreover, you are now committing the injustice of declaring yourselves innocent and calling Yusuf a thief?
➍ { وَ اللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُوْنَ :} That is, the reality of the accusation you are making against Yusuf is well known to Allah Almighty; you may deceive people by lying, but you cannot deceive Allah Almighty.
Here, the commentators have written some incidents from Israeli traditions about Yusuf (peace be upon him) stealing in his childhood, which are not mentioned in the Qur’an or Hadith, and from which Yusuf (peace be upon him) is completely innocent. Furthermore, searching for incidents of Yusuf (peace be upon him) stealing at the brothers’ claim would only be valid if the brothers of Yusuf had never lied. From lying to their father to now swearing on behalf of all their brothers that none of them has ever been a thief, they immediately placed the accusation of theft on their long-lost brother. Yet some of our commentators are concerned with proving the brothers’ lie to be true by somehow finding an incident of Yusuf (peace be upon him) stealing. [ إِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ]
➋ { فَاَسَرَّهَا يُوْسُفُ فِيْ نَفْسِهٖ وَ لَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ:} Because if he had revealed it, they would have realized that this was Yusuf, and the time to reveal this secret had not yet come. Despite being in such a high position, to bear such a bitter accusation in his heart and remain patient is the courage of Yusuf (peace be upon him) alone.
➌ { قَالَ اَنْتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا :} That is, whether Yusuf stole or not, there is no doubt about your being thieves, because you stole him from your father and threw him into a well. Moreover, you are now committing the injustice of declaring yourselves innocent and calling Yusuf a thief?
➍ { وَ اللّٰهُ اَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُوْنَ :} That is, the reality of the accusation you are making against Yusuf is well known to Allah Almighty; you may deceive people by lying, but you cannot deceive Allah Almighty.
