Al-Qur'an Surah Yusuf Verse 21

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And the one who bought him from Egypt said to his wife, “Make his stay graceful. He may be useful for us. Or, we may adopt him as a son.” And thus We established Yūsuf in the land, so that We should teach him the interpretation of events. Allah is powerful in (enforcing) His command, but most of the people do not know.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The man from Egypt[[ Potiphar, the Chief Minister of Egypt (Al-’Azîz). ]] who bought him said to his wife, “Take good care of him, perhaps he may be useful to us or we may adopt him as a son.” This is how We established Joseph in the land, so that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah’s Will always prevails, but most people do not know.

Ruwwad Translation Center

The man in Egypt who bought him said to his wife, “Make his stay comfortable; perhaps he will benefit us or we may adopt him as a son.” This is how We established Joseph in the land, so that We may teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah’s decree always prevails, but most people do not know.

A. J. Arberry

He that bought him, being of Egypt, said to his wife, 'Give him goodly lodging, and it may be that he will profit us, or we may take him for our own son.' So We established Joseph in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of tales. God prevails in His purpose, but most men know not.

Abdul Haleem

The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, ‘Look after him well! He may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ In this way We settled Joseph in that land and later taught him how to interpret dreams: God always prevails in His purpose, though most people do not realize it.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And he who bought him in Misr said unto his wife: make his dwelling honourable: belike he may profit us or we may take him as a son. And Thus We made a place for Yusuf in the land, and it was in order that We may teach him the interpretation of discourses. And Allah is Dominant in His purpose, but most of men know not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife; "Make his stay (among us) honourable; may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of stories (and events). And Allah hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.

Abul Ala Maududi

The man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Take good care of him, possibly he might be of benefit to us or we might adopt him as a son." Thus We found a way for Joseph to become established in that land and in order that We might teach him to comprehend the deeper meaning of things. Allah has full power to implement His design although most people do not know that.

Ahmed Ali

The Egyptian who bought him instructed his wife: "House him honourably. He may be of use to us. We may even adopt him as a son." So, We firmly established Joseph in the land, and taught him the interpretation of dreams. God dominated in his affairs, though most men do not know.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And the Egyptian who purchased him said to his wife, “Keep him honourably – we may derive some benefit due to him or we may adopt him as our son”; and this is how we established Yusuf in the land, and that We might teach him how to interpret events; and Allah is Dominant upon His works, but most men do not know.

Ali Quli Qarai

The man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, ‘Give him an honourable place [in the household]. Maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ Thus We established Joseph in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah has [full] command of His affairs, but most people do not know.

Ali Ünal

The man who bought him in Egypt said to his wife: "Give him honorable, good lodging. It may be that he will prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land (Egypt), that We would impart to him knowledge and understanding of the inner meaning of events, including dreams. God always prevails in whatever be His Will, but most people do not know (that it is so).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And (Joseph was taken to Egypt and resold there;) the man from Egypt who bought him (from the travellers) said to his wife, `Make his stay honourable. He may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son.´ In this way did We grant Joseph an honourable position in the country and (We did it) that We might impart to him knowledge of the interpretation of some (Divine) sayings. And Allâh has full power over His decree, but most people do not know (this).

English Literal

And said who bought him from (the) city/border/region/Egypt to/for his woman (wife): "Be generous/kind (in) his home/residence , perhaps he benefits us, or we take him (as) a child (son)." And like that, We highly positioned/secured to Joseph in the earth/Planet Earth, and to teach/instruct him from interpreting/explaining the information/speeches , and God (is) defeater/conqueror on His order/command/matter/affair, and but most (of) the people do not know.

Faridul Haque

And the Egyptian who purchased him said to his wife, "Keep him honourably - we may derive some benefit due to him or we may adopt him as our son"; and this is how we established Yusuf in the land, and that We might teach him how to interpret events; and Allah is Dominant upon His works, but most men do not know.

Hamid S. Aziz

And they sold him for a mean price, a few dirham counted out- in such low estimation did they hold him.

Hilali & Khan

And he (the man) from Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay comfortable, may be he will profit us or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Yusuf (Joseph) in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver, and they showed no desire for him.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And the Egyptian who bought him said to his wife: Give him an honorable abode, maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus did We establish Yusuf in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of sayings; and Allah is the master of His affair, but most people do not know.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife: Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him as a son. Thus we established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in His career, but most of mankind know not.

Muhammad Sarwar

The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, "Be kind to him, perhaps he will be of some benefit to us or we may adopt him." Thus, We settled Joseph in the land so that We could teach him the interpretation of dreams. God has full control over His affairs but most people do not know.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The Egyptian that bought him said to his wife: 'Make his stay honorable. He may benefit us, or take him for our son' As such We established Joseph in the land, so that We might teach him the interpretation of visions. Allah prevails in His affairs, though most people do not know.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And he (the man) from Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay comfortable, maybe he will profit us or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah has full power and control over His affairs, but most of men know not.

Wahiduddin Khan

The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, "Lodge him honourably, he may prove of benefit to us, or we may even adopt him as our son." Thus We established Joseph in the land, so that We might teach him the true meaning of events. God has power over all things. However, most people do not know this.

Talal Itani

The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, “Take good care of him; he may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.” We thus established Joseph in the land, to teach him the interpretation of events. God has control over His affairs, but most people do not know.

Tafsir jalalayn

And he of Egypt who purchased him, Potifar, the Court Officer (Qitfr al-`azz), said to his wife, Zulaikha (Zulaykh), `Give him an honourable place, [an honourable] residence with us. Maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son' -- for he was chaste. Thus, just as We delivered him from being killed and from the well, and softened the Court Officer's heart for him, We established Joseph in the land, the land of Egypt, until he attained what [status] he attained, that We might teach him the interpretation of events, the interpretation of visions (wa-li-nu`allimahu min ta'wli'l-ahdth is a supplement to an implied [missing part] connected to makkann, `We established', in other words, [an implied] li-numallikahu, `so that We might give him kingship'; or else the ww [of wa-li-nu`allimahu, `that We might teach him'] is [to be understood as being] extra). God's way [always] prevails, exalted be He, nothing being beyond Him, but most people -- and they are the disbelievers -- do not know, this.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Yusuf in Egypt

Allah tells;

وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ

And he (the man) from Egypt who bought him, said to his wife;

Allah mentions the favors that He granted Yusuf, peace be on him, by which He made the man from Egypt who bought him, take care of him and provide him with a comfortable life. 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,

أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا

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,
أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ
(Make his stay comfortable...),

the woman who said to her father,
يَا أَبَتِ اسْتَأْجِرْهُ
(O my father! Hire him...), (28;26)

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,

وَكَذَلِكَ مَكَّنِّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الَارْضِ

Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land,

in reference to Egypt,

وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الَاحَادِيثِ

that We might teach him the interpretation of events.

the interpretation of dreams, according to Mujahid and As-Suddi.

Allah said next,

وَاللّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ

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.

Sa`id bin Jubayr said while commenting on Allah's statement,

"He does what ever He wills."

Allah said,

وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ



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