سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 80
فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِى يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِىٓ أَبِىٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِى ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ ﴿80﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So, when they despaired of him, they held a conference in private. The eldest among them said: "Know you not that your father did take an oath from you in Allâh’s Name, and before this you did fail in your duty with Yûsuf (Joseph)? Therefore I will not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allâh decides my case (by releasing Benjamin) and He is the Best of the judges.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
So when
ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟
is'tayasū
they despaired
مِنْهُ
min'hu
of him
خَلَصُوا۟
khalaṣū
they secluded themselves
نَجِيًّۭا ۖ
najiyyan
(in) private consultation
قَالَ
qāla
Said
كَبِيرُهُمْ
kabīruhum
the eldest among them
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَعْلَمُوٓا۟
taʿlamū
you know
أَنَّ
anna
that
أَبَاكُمْ
abākum
your father
قَدْ
qad
has taken
أَخَذَ
akhadha
has taken
عَلَيْكُم
ʿalaykum
upon you
مَّوْثِقًۭا
mawthiqan
a promise
مِّنَ
mina
by
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
وَمِن
wamin
and before
قَبْلُ
qablu
and before
مَا
mā
that
فَرَّطتُمْ
farraṭtum
you failed
فِى
fī
concerning
يُوسُفَ ۖ
yūsufa
Yusuf
فَلَنْ
falan
So never
أَبْرَحَ
abraḥa
will I leave
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the land
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يَأْذَنَ
yadhana
permits
لِىٓ
lī
me
أَبِىٓ
abī
my father
أَوْ
aw
or
يَحْكُمَ
yaḥkuma
Allah decides
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah decides
لِى ۖ
lī
for me
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
خَيْرُ
khayru
(is) the Best
ٱلْحَـٰكِمِينَ
l-ḥākimīna
(of) the judges
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.
(Ayah80) ➊ {فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْـَٔسُوْا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوْا نَجِيًّا: ’’ اسْتَيْـَٔسُوْا ‘‘} here is in the same meaning as {’’ يَئِسُوْا‘‘ } (became hopeless). The form "istif‘āl" is for emphasis, meaning they became completely hopeless, just as in {’’عَجِبَ‘‘}, {’’اِسْتَعْجَبَ‘‘ ، ’’سَخِرَ‘‘}, and {’’ اِسْتَسْخَرَ ‘‘}, the "sīn" and "tā’" are only for emphasis, the meaning is the same. The same point is in {’’اِسْتَعْصَمَ‘‘} (Ayah 32) earlier. {’’ خَلَصُوْا ‘‘} means there was no one else among them, they began to consult alone. {’’ نَجِيًّا ‘‘ ’’فَعِيْلٌ‘‘} is on this pattern, meaning consultation, those who whisper, etc. This pattern is used for singular, dual, plural, and both masculine and feminine in the same way, that is why with {’’خَلَصُوْا ‘‘} the singular is used.
➋ { قَالَ كَبِيْرُهُمْ اَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اَبَاكُمْ … :} Their eldest said (meaning the eldest in age, or the one who was their chief in knowledge, understanding, and leadership): "Do you not know that your father took a firm oath from you that you must surely bring your brother back with you, and before this, what negligence you committed regarding Yusuf? Now how can I go before my father? As for myself, I have decided that I will never leave this land until my father gives me permission to return, or Allah decides something about me, that is, a way for my brother’s release is found, or my death comes."
➋ { قَالَ كَبِيْرُهُمْ اَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اَبَاكُمْ … :} Their eldest said (meaning the eldest in age, or the one who was their chief in knowledge, understanding, and leadership): "Do you not know that your father took a firm oath from you that you must surely bring your brother back with you, and before this, what negligence you committed regarding Yusuf? Now how can I go before my father? As for myself, I have decided that I will never leave this land until my father gives me permission to return, or Allah decides something about me, that is, a way for my brother’s release is found, or my death comes."
