سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 37
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ ﴿37﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He said: "No food will come to you (in wakefulness or in dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in Allâh and are disbelievers in the Hereafter (i.e. the Kan‘anyyûn of Egypt who were polytheists and used to worship sun and other false deities).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
لَا
lā
Not
يَأْتِيكُمَا
yatīkumā
(will) come to both of you
طَعَامٌۭ
ṭaʿāmun
food
تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ
tur'zaqānihi
you are provided with
إِلَّا
illā
but
نَبَّأْتُكُمَا
nabbatukumā
I will inform both of you
بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ
bitawīlihi
of its interpretation
قَبْلَ
qabla
before
أَن
an
[that]
يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ
yatiyakumā
[it] comes to both of you
ذَٰلِكُمَا
dhālikumā
That
مِمَّا
mimmā
(is) of what
عَلَّمَنِى
ʿallamanī
has taught me
رَبِّىٓ ۚ
rabbī
my Lord
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed, I
تَرَكْتُ
taraktu
[I] abandon
مِلَّةَ
millata
(the) religion
قَوْمٍۢ
qawmin
(of) a people
لَّا
lā
not
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
they believe
بِٱللَّهِ
bil-lahi
in Allah
وَهُم
wahum
and they
بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ
bil-ākhirati
in the Hereafter
هُمْ
hum
[they]
كَـٰفِرُونَ
kāfirūna
(are) disbelievers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Yusuf said, “Before the food you are provided with comes to you, I will inform you of the interpretation of your dreams. This is the knowledge [37] my Lord has taught me. I have left the religion of those who do not believe in Allah and who deny the Hereafter.”
[37]
Prophet Yusuf Explains the Principles of Islam to the Prisoners:
Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) replied to them that he would certainly tell them the interpretation of their dreams, and he would inform them even before their food arrived. But before that, he considered it necessary to explain that the knowledge of dream interpretation which Allah had taught him was a special favor of Allah upon him, and Allah’s grace and favor are bestowed only upon those who devote themselves solely to Allah, worship Him alone, trust in Him, and do not associate anyone with Him. He said that he would never accept the religion of those people (the Egyptians) who neither believe in Allah nor in the Day of Judgment. Rather, he followed the religion of his forefathers, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him), and these elders used to worship Allah alone and never associated anyone with Him in worship. Adopting such a religion is indeed a great favor and grace of Allah. If only people would understand this. On this occasion, from Prophet Yusuf’s explanation of the principles of religion to those prisoners, several things become apparent, for example:
1.
The Best Time for Preaching:
The best opportunity for preaching is when the listener himself is eager to listen. These prisoners certainly wanted to hear the interpretation of their dreams and were waiting for it. Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) took full advantage of this opportunity and first began to explain to them the principles of religion. If he had told them the interpretation of their dreams first, perhaps they would not have been willing to listen to such things afterward, or even if they listened, they would not have taken any interest in them.
2. There had been countless ups and downs in Prophet Yusuf’s previous life, but he had never preached in this manner at any occasion. This shows that it was during these days that he was granted prophethood.
3.
The Era of Prophet Yusuf’s Prophethood:
During this preaching, by mentioning the names of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), Ishaq (peace be upon him), and Yaqub (peace be upon him), it becomes clear that these elders were quite famous in the region of Egypt as well, and this was a good reputation. It was also intended to clarify that he was not presenting anything new, but rather saying what the people of truth have always said.
4. Just as he considered this opportunity valuable and took advantage of it, during the long period of eight or nine years in prison, he must have had many such opportunities. Thus, this prison itself became the center of his preaching activities.
[37]
Prophet Yusuf Explains the Principles of Islam to the Prisoners:
Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) replied to them that he would certainly tell them the interpretation of their dreams, and he would inform them even before their food arrived. But before that, he considered it necessary to explain that the knowledge of dream interpretation which Allah had taught him was a special favor of Allah upon him, and Allah’s grace and favor are bestowed only upon those who devote themselves solely to Allah, worship Him alone, trust in Him, and do not associate anyone with Him. He said that he would never accept the religion of those people (the Egyptians) who neither believe in Allah nor in the Day of Judgment. Rather, he followed the religion of his forefathers, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and Prophet Yaqub (peace be upon him), and these elders used to worship Allah alone and never associated anyone with Him in worship. Adopting such a religion is indeed a great favor and grace of Allah. If only people would understand this. On this occasion, from Prophet Yusuf’s explanation of the principles of religion to those prisoners, several things become apparent, for example:
1.
The Best Time for Preaching:
The best opportunity for preaching is when the listener himself is eager to listen. These prisoners certainly wanted to hear the interpretation of their dreams and were waiting for it. Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) took full advantage of this opportunity and first began to explain to them the principles of religion. If he had told them the interpretation of their dreams first, perhaps they would not have been willing to listen to such things afterward, or even if they listened, they would not have taken any interest in them.
2. There had been countless ups and downs in Prophet Yusuf’s previous life, but he had never preached in this manner at any occasion. This shows that it was during these days that he was granted prophethood.
3.
The Era of Prophet Yusuf’s Prophethood:
During this preaching, by mentioning the names of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), Ishaq (peace be upon him), and Yaqub (peace be upon him), it becomes clear that these elders were quite famous in the region of Egypt as well, and this was a good reputation. It was also intended to clarify that he was not presenting anything new, but rather saying what the people of truth have always said.
4. Just as he considered this opportunity valuable and took advantage of it, during the long period of eight or nine years in prison, he must have had many such opportunities. Thus, this prison itself became the center of his preaching activities.
