Qurani app iconQuraniQuran, hadith, fiqh, prayer, and audio in one place
Browse

Tafsir of Yusuf 12:21

Surah Yusuf 12:21

ﲡ ﲢ ﲣ ﲤ ﲥ ﲦ ﲧ ﲨ ﲩ ﲪ ﲫ ﲬ ﲭ ﲮ ﲯ ﲰ ﲱ ﲲ ﲳ ﲴ ﲵ ﲶ ﲷ ﲸ ﲹ ﲺ ﲻ ﲼ ﲽ ﲾ ﲿ ﳀ ﳁ ﳂ

And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

Tafsir

Al-Kashshaf

Verse range: 12:21

Open in Qurani

{And the one who bought him said...}

It is said that he was Qitfir or Itfir, the ‘Aziz (Minister) who was in charge of the treasuries of Egypt. The King at that time was al-Rayyan ibn al-Walid, a man from the Amalekites. He believed in Joseph and died during Joseph’s lifetime. After him, Qabus ibn Mus’ab reigned, whom Joseph invited to Islam, but he refused.

The ‘Aziz bought him when he was seventeen years old. He stayed in his house for thirteen years. Al-Rayyan ibn al-Walid appointed him as a minister when he was thirty. God gave him knowledge and wisdom when he was thirty-three, and he died at the age of one hundred and twenty.

It is also said that the King in his days was the Pharaoh of Moses, who lived for four hundred years, based on the verse: "And Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs" (Ghafir: 34). Others say the Pharaoh of Moses was a descendant of the Pharaoh of Joseph.

It is said the ‘Aziz bought him for twenty dinars, two pairs of sandals, and two white garments. Others say they brought him to the market to be sold, and the bidding rose until his price reached his weight in musk, silver, and silk, for which Qitfir purchased him.

{Honor his residence} Make his dwelling and stay with us honorable—that is, good and pleasing—as evidenced by his saying: *"He is my Lord, who has made good my residence"* (Yusuf: 23). The intent is: look after him with kindness and treat him with good care, so that he may be content in our company and secure under our protection. It is said to a person, "How is the father of your residence and the mother of your residence?" regarding someone who stays with another, meaning: "Are you content with your stay with him, and does he observe the rights of your stay?"

The lam in {to his wife} relates to "said," not to "bought him."

{Perhaps he will benefit us} Perhaps, once he is trained, experienced in affairs, and understands their course, we may seek his help in some of our matters, and he will benefit us through his competence and trustworthiness. Or, we may adopt him and treat him as a son; Qitfir was sterile and had no children, and he perceived righteousness in him, so he said that.

It is said that the most perceptive of people are three: The ‘Aziz when he perceived [the virtue] in Joseph and said to his wife, {Honor his residence, perhaps he will benefit us}; the woman who came to Moses and said to her father, "O my father, hire him" (al-Qasas: 26); and Abu Bakr when he appointed Umar (may God be pleased with them both) as his successor. It is narrated that he asked Joseph about himself, and Joseph told him his lineage, so he recognized him.

{And thus} The reference is to what preceded regarding his salvation and the turning of the *‘Aziz’s* heart toward him. The *kaf* is in the accusative case, meaning: "And like that salvation and affection, We established him."

{We established him in the land of Egypt} Meaning: Just as We saved him and turned the *‘Aziz* toward him, so too did We establish him in the land of Egypt, making him a ruler who acts therein by his command and prohibition.

{And that We might teach him the interpretation of events} This salvation and establishment occurred because Our purpose is nothing but that which has a praiseworthy outcome in knowledge and action.

{And God is predominant over His affair} Over His own affair: He is not prevented from what He wills, nor is He challenged in what He desires and decrees. Or, it means over the affair of Joseph; He manages it and does not entrust it to anyone else. His brothers intended toward him what they intended, but nothing happened except what God willed and ordained.

{But most of the people do not know} That the entire affair is in the hand of God.

{And when he reached his maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.}