Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 103–111

12. Yusuf · Joseph

Makkan111 verses

وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

12:103Yet most people will not have faith, however eager you should be.

وَمَا تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ

12:104You do not ask them any reward for it: it is just a reminder for all the nations.

وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ

12:105How many a sign there is in the heavens and the earth that they pass by while they are disregardful of it!1

وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ

12:106And most of them do not believe in Allah without ascribing partners to Him.

أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَٰشِيَةٌۭ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةًۭ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

12:107Do they feel secure from being overtaken by a blanket punishment from Allah, or being overtaken by the Hour, suddenly, while they are unaware?

قُلْ هَٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

12:108Say, ‘This is my way. I summon to Allah with insight—I and he who follows me. Immaculate is Allah, and I am not one of the polytheists.’

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًۭا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

12:109We did not send [any apostles] before you except as men from among the people of the towns, to whom We revealed. Have they not travelled over the land so that they may observe how was the fate of those who were before them? And the abode of the Hereafter is surely better for those who are Godwary. Do you not exercise your reason?2

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

12:110When the apostles lost hope and they thought that they had been told lies, Our help came to them, and We delivered whomever We wished, and Our punishment will not be averted from the guilty lot.*

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌۭ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًۭا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ

12:111There is certainly a moral in their accounts for those who possess intellect. This [Quran] is not a fabricated discourse; rather, it is a confirmation of what was [revealed] before it, and an elaboration of all things, and a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 108

1.In the light of history and traditions it was only Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) who followed the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in all respects since he was sent for preaching of Surah Baraat and he was always ready to invite people. After the death of the Prophet (s.a.) the responsibility of Islam was upon him and no one else and there is a prominent personality among Muslims whose character is pure and spotless and have not bowed down his head before other gods even for a moment.

Verse 110

2.Sometimes it happens that prophets frighten people of Allah’s chastisement and the chastisement gets delayed by the will of Allah. Now the people start taunting instead of being happy and say we are cheated and that chastisement is not a fact and after that Providence is infuriated and it destroys the sinners and helps the pious people and drown the enemies of Islam.

Verse 111

3.We should know that the story of Yusuf (a.s.) is not the story of love and elegance as some people think. There is nothing like this in the Quran. This is against the glory and grandeur of the Holy Quran. This is an exemplary incident that highlights the following points: (1) One should not prefer ones desires against religion (2) One should not care of any troubles that come in the way of truth, sincerity and fear of Allah. (3) One should never be disappointed of Allah’s mercy (4) One should not flatter unjust people in difficult times. (5) If a guilty regrets his deed he should be forgiven.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    On the basis of some narrations the polytheism which comes together with belief is Riyakari (show off). It is having the position of hidden polytheism.

  2. 1

    ‘Ka’ayyin’ is a word whose root is ‘Kaf’ of simile and ‘Ayyin’. It denotes ‘Kam’. That is, so what if the call of the prophet is refuted? In spite of there being so many signs of nature the people deny the existence of Allah. They turn away from the clear signs. Even those who bring faith make someone or the other a partner to Allah. Some make Uzair, some Isa (a.s.), some angels and some idols the partners of Allah. Very few are those who have untainted belief in Tawheed.

  3. 2

    Qariya does not denote a village. It indicates inhabitations, whether small or big. The opposite of this is desert where the Bedouins dwell, who have not been given messengership. The word ‘Rijal’ indicates that a woman has also never been made a prophet. And Allah knows best regarding His hidden wisdom.

  4. Benefit

    In the 110th ayat the object of ‘zanno’ are the prophets and this means that the seriousness of the situation has made them prone to danger even from the believers. That even they might also support the deniers. Otherwise not to trust the promise of Allah is against the dignity of prophets.