Tafsir of Yusuf 12:108

Surah Yusuf (12:108)

"Say: 'This is my way (sabilī)...'"

The exegetes (Mufassirūn) have said: Say, O Muhammad, "This is the call to which I invite, and the path upon which I stand—my sabil (way), my Sunnah, and my methodology."

The religion is named a sabil because it is the path that leads to reward. This is similar to His saying, the Exalted: {Invite to the way of your Lord} (An-Nahl: 125).

Know that sabil in its original linguistic sense means 'road' or 'path.' Beliefs are likened to it because a person passes upon them toward Paradise.

"...inviting to Allah with insight (alā basīrah)..."

I invite to Allah with clear evidence (ḥujjah) and proof (burhān). I, and those who follow me, are upon my course and path, and the course of my followers is the invitation to Allah. This is because everyone who presents evidence and refutes doubt has invited to Allah to the extent of their capacity.

This indicates that inviting to Allah, the Exalted, is only proper and permissible with this condition: that it must be based on insight regarding what one says, and upon guidance (hudā) and certainty (yaqīn). If it is not so, then it is sheer delusion.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "The scholars are the trustees of the Messengers concerning the servants of Allah, in that they preserve what they call them toward."

It has also been suggested that the speech might be cut off after {Invite to Allah}, and then a new sentence begins: {with insight—I and those who follow me}.

"...I and those who follow me."

"And Subḥān Allāh (Glory be to Allah)..."

This is connected (conjoined) to the statement "This is my way," meaning: Say, "This is my way," and say, "Subḥān Allāh," as a declaration of God's transcendence from what the polytheists associate with Him—from those who take an adversary, a rival, an equal, or a son alongside Allah.

This verse indicates that the discipline of dialectics (ḥirfat al-kalām) and the science of fundamental principles (ʿilm al-uṣūl) are the disciplines of the Prophets (peace be upon them), and that Allah did not send them to creation except for this purpose.

Surah Yusuf (12:109)

{And We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed, from the people of the towns. Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the Home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah; will you not then use reason?}

We did not send before you, O Muhammad, except men to whom We revealed, from the people of the towns (al-qurā).

Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those who came before them?

And the Home of the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah; will you not then use reason (taʿqilūn)?