Al-Qur'an Surah Yusuf Verse 110

Mufti Taqi Usmani

(Punishment was often delayed) until when the messengers were in despair and thought that they were wrong in their estimation, Our help came to them, then saved were those whom We willed. And Our punishment is not averted from the guilty.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And when the messengers despaired and their people thought the messengers had been denied help, Our help came to them ˹at last˺. We then saved whoever We willed, and Our punishment is never averted from the wicked people.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Until when the messengers lost all hope and realized that they were dismissed as liars, Our help came to them, so We saved whom We willed, and Our punishment cannot be averted from the wicked people.

A. J. Arberry

Till, when the Messengers despaired, deeming they were counted liars, Our help came to them and whosoever We willed was delivered. Our might will never be turned back from the people of the sinners.

Abdul Haleem

When the messengers lost all hope and realized that they had been dismissed as liars, Our help came to them: We saved whoever We pleased, but Our punishment will not be turned away from guilty people.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Respited were they until when the apostles had despaired and imagined that they were deluded, there came unto them Our succour; then whomsoever We willed was delivered. las And Our wrath is not warded off from a people sinful.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(Respite will be granted) until, when the messengers give up hope (of their people) and (come to) think that they were treated as liars, there reaches them Our help, and those whom We will are delivered into safety. But never will be warded off our punishment from those who are in sin.

Abul Ala Maududi

(It also happened with the earlier Messengers that for long they preached and people paid no heed) until the Messengers despaired of their people, and the people also fancied that they had been told lies (by the Messengers), then suddenly Our help came to the Messengers. And when such an occasion comes We rescue whom We will; as for the guilty, Our chastisement cannot be averted from them.

Ahmed Ali

When the apostles despaired and thought they were made false promises, Our help arrived, and We delivered whom We pleased; but never will Our punishment be averted from the sinners.

Ahmed Raza Khan

To the extent that when the Noble Messengers lost hope from the visible means, and the people thought that they had spoken wrongly, Our help came to them – therefore whoever We willed was saved; and Our punishment is never averted from the guilty.

Ali Quli Qarai

When 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.

Ali Ünal

So far so that when they (the earlier Messengers who all had to suffer much persecution for a long time) nearly lost hope and were convinced that they were denied, Our help came to them. And whoever We willed was saved. But Our mighty punishment cannot be averted from the guilty people committed to accumulating sin.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(It always happened with the previous Messengers as well, they went on with their teachings) till when those Messengers despaired (of believing on the part of their people) and they (the people of their nation) thought that they have been told only lies (in the name of revelations), Our help reached these (Messengers) suddenly, delivering those whom We pleased. Surely, Our punishment is not averted from the people who sever their ties (with Us).

English Literal

Until when the messengers despaired , and they thought/assumed that they had been lied to/denied, Our victory/aid came to them, so We save/rescue whom We will/want, and Our courage/might/power does not be returned from the nation the criminals/sinners.

Faridul Haque

To the extent that when the Noble Messengers lost hope from the visible means, and the people thought that they had spoken wrongly, Our help came to them - therefore whoever We willed was saved; and Our punishment is never averted from the guilty.

Hamid S. Aziz

We never sent before you any, save men whom We inspired, from among the people of the townships (or communities). Have they not journeyed in the earth and beheld the consequences for those who were before them? Verily, the abode of Hereafter is surely better for those who believe; have they then no sense?

Hilali & Khan

(They were reprieved) until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied (by their people), then came to them Our Help, and whomsoever We willed were delivered. And Our Punishment cannot be warded off from the people who are Mujrimun (criminals, disobedients to Allah, sinners, disbelievers, polytheists).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And We sent not before thee any but men, from the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelation. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is best for those who keep their duty. Do you not then understand?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Until when the apostles despaired and the people became sure that they were indeed told a lie, Our help came to them and whom We pleased was delivered; and Our punishment is not averted from the guilty people.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Till, when the messengers despaired and thought that they were denied, then came unto them Our help, and whom We would was saved. And Our wrath cannot be warded from the guilty.

Muhammad Sarwar

When at last the Messengers lost all hope of achieving success in their task and thought that everyone had called them liars, We gave them victory and saved whomever We chose to save. The guilty ones can not escape Our wrath.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And when at length Our Messengers despaired and reckoned that they would be belied, Our help came down to them, saving whom We pleased. OurMight cannot be withheld from the guilty nation.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

(They were reprieved) until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied, then came to them Our help, and whomsoever We willed were rescued. And Our punishment cannot be warded off from the people who are criminals.

Wahiduddin Khan

When the messengers lost all hopes and thought that they had been told lies, Our help came to them: We saved whoever We pleased, but Our punishment will not be averted from the guilty.

Talal Itani

Until, when the messengers have despaired, and thought that they were rejected, Our help came to them. We save whomever We will, and Our severity is not averted from the guilty people.

Tafsir jalalayn

Until (hatt indicates the end [result] indicated by [the previous statement] wa-m arsaln min qablika ill rijlan, And We did not send before you [any messengers] save men [above, Q. 12;109]), that is, [to whom] Our support waned until, when the messengers despaired and thought, [when] the messengers were certain, that they were denied (read kudhdhib, to mean [that they were denied] to such an extent that [they believed that] there would not be any [possible acceptance of] faith thereafter; or read kudhib, to mean that the communities thought that their messengers had been lied to concerning the victory which they had been promised), Our help came to them and whomever We willed We delivered (read fa-nunajj or fa-nunj; or fa-nujjiya, as past tense, `[whomever We wished] was delivered'). And Our wrath, Our chastisement, cannot be averted from the sinning, the idolatrous, folk.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah's Prophets are aided by Victory in Times of Distress and Need

Allah says;

حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ جَاءهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاء

وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ



(They were reprieved) until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied, then came to them Our help, and whomsoever We willed were rescued.

Allah states that He sends His aid and support to His Messengers, peace be upon them, when distress and hardship surround them and they eagerly await Allah's aid.

Allah said in another Ayah,

وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ
and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah!" (2;214)

As for saying of Allah,
كُذِبُواْ
(they were denied),

There are two recitations for it.

One of them is with a Shadda (meaning;they were betrayed by their people).

And this is the way A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, recited it.

Al-Bukhari said that Urwah bin Az-Zubayr narrated that he asked Aishah about the meaning of the following verse,
حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ
(`Until when the Messengers give up hope...),

Respite will be granted, is it denied or betrayed?

A'ishah replied, "betrayed."

Urwah said, "I said, `They were sure that their people betrayed them, so why use the word `thought"?

She said, `Yes, they were sure that they betrayed them.'

I said,
وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ
(and they thought that they were denied (by Allah))!

A'0ishah said, `Allah forbid! The Messengers did not suspect their Lord of such a thing.'

I asked, `So what does this Ayah mean?'

She said,

`This Verse is concerned with the Messengers' followers who had faith in their Lord and believed in their Messengers. The period of trials for those followers was long and Allah's help was delayed until the Messengers gave up hope for the conversion of the disbelievers amongst their nation and suspected that even their followers were shaken in their belief, Allah's help then came to them."'

Ibn Jurayj narrated that Ibn Abi Mulaikah said that Ibn Abbas read this Ayah this way,

وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ

and they thought they were denied.

Abdullah bin Abi Mulaikah said,

"Then Ibn Abbas said to me that they were humans. He then recited this Ayah,

حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah!"

Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near! (2;214)"

Ibn Jurayj also narrated that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Urwah narrated to him that;

Aishah did not agree to this and rejected it. She said,

"Nothing that Allah has promised Muhammad, peace be upon him, but Muhammad knew for certainty that it shall come, until he died. However, the Messengers were tried with trials until they thought that those believers, who were with them, did not fully support them."

Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Urwah narrated that Aishah recited this Ayah this way,

وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذَّبُواْ

and they thought that they were betrayed.

Therefore, there is another way of reciting this word, and there is a difference of opinion about its meaning.

We narrated the meaning that Ibn Abbas gave.

Ibn Mas`ud said, as Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated from him, that he read the Ayah this way,

حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ

until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied.

Abdullah commented that this is the recitation that you dislike.

Ibn Abbas also commented on the Ayah,
حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ
(until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied),

"When the Messengers gave up hope that their people would accept their messages, and their people thought that their Messengers had not said the truth to them, Allah's victory came then,
فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاء
(and whomsoever We willed were rescued).

Ibn Jarir At-Tabari narrated that Ibrahim bin Abi Hamzah (Hurrah) Al-Jazari said,

"A young man from Quraysh asked Sa'id bin Jubayr `O, Abu Abdullah! How do you read this word, for when I pass by it, I wish I had not read this Surah,

حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ


until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied...

He said, `Yes, it means, when the Messengers gave up hope that their people will believe in them and those to whom the Messengers were sent thought that the Messengers were not truthful."'

Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim commented,

"I have not seen someone who is called to knowledge and is lazy accepting the invitation, until today! If you traveled to Yemen just to get this explanation, it will still be worth it."

Ibn Jarir At-Tabari narrated that;

Muslim bin Yasar asked Sa`id bin Jubayr about the same Ayah and he gave the same response. Muslim stood up and embraced Sa'id bin Jubayr, saying, "May Allah relieve a distress from you as you relieved a distress from me!"

This was reported from Sa'id bin Jubayr through various chains of narration.

This is also the Tafsir that Mujahid bin Jabr and several other Salaf scholars gave for this Ayah.

However, some scholars said that the Ayah,
وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ
(and thought that they were denied),

is in reference to the believers who followed the Messengers, while some said it is in reference to the disbelievers among the Messengers' nation. In the latter case, the meaning becomes;

`and the disbelievers thought that the Messengers were not given a true promise of victory.'

Ibn Jarir At-Tabari narrated that Tamim bin Hadhlam said that I heard Abdullah bin Mas`ud comment on this Ayah,
حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ
(until, when the Messengers gave up hope),

"their people will believe in them, and their people thought when the respite was long, that the Messengers were not given a true promise.