Surah 12:21
Show Full Scripture Context (12:21-22) — 2 Verses
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِي ٱشۡتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصۡرَ لِٱمۡرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكۡرِمِي مَثۡوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدٗاۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأۡوِيلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِيثِۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ
The one who bought him, (being) from Egypt, said to his wife, ‘Make his dwelling place honorable. It may be that he will benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ In this way We established Joseph in the land, and (this took place) in order that We might teach him about the interpretation of dreams. God is in control of His affair, but most of the people do not know (it).
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗاۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
When he reached his maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. In this way We repay the doers of good.
He also ordered his wife to be kind to Yusuf and had good hopes for his future, because of his firm righteous behavior. He said to his wife,
{Make his stay comfortable, maybe he will profit us or we shall adopt him as a son.}
The man who bought Yusuf was the minister of Egypt at the time, and his title was 'Aziz'. Abu Ishaq narrated that Abu 'Ubaydah said that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said, "Three had the most insight: the 'Aziz of Egypt, who said to his wife,
{Make his stay comfortable...}, the woman who said to her father,
{O my father! Hire him...}, and Abu Bakr As-Siddiq when he appointed 'Umar bin Al-Khattab to be the Khalifah after him, may Allah be pleased with them both."
Allah said next that just as He saved Yusuf from his brothers,
{Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land}, in reference to Egypt,
{that We might teach him the interpretation of events.} the interpretation of dreams, according to Mujahid and As-Suddi. Allah said next,
{And Allah has full power and control over His affairs,}
if He wills something, then there is no averting His decision, nor can it ever be stopped or contradicted. Rather, Allah has full power over everything and everyone else. Said bin Jubayr said while commenting on Allah's statement,
{And Allah has full power and control over His affairs,}
"He does what ever He wills." Allah said,
{but most of men know not.} meaning, have no knowledge of Allah's wisdom with regards to His creation, compassion and doing what He wills. Allah said next,
{And when he attained}, in reference to Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him,
{his full manhood}, sound in mind and perfect in body,
{We gave him wisdom and knowledge}, which is the prophethood that Allah sent him with for the people he lived among,
{thus We reward the doers of good.} because Yusuf used to do good in the obedience of Allah the Exalted.