Al-Qur'an Surah Yusuf Verse 88

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, when they came to him (Yūsuf), they said, “‘Azīz, we and our family are struck by distress, and we have brought some goods of very little worth. So, give us the full measure (of grain) and be charitable to us. Surely, Allah rewards the charitable.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

When they entered Joseph’s presence, they pleaded, “O Chief Minister! We and our family have been touched with hardship, and we have brought only a few worthless coins, but ˹please˺ give us our supplies in full and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

When they came into Joseph’s presence, they said, “O chief minister, we and our family have been struck with adversity, and we have brought some goods of scanty worth. So give us full measure [of grain] and be charitable to us, for Allah rewards those who are charitable.”

A. J. Arberry

So, when they entered unto him, they said, 'O mighty prince, affliction has visited us and our people. We come with merchandise of scant worth. Fill up to us the measure, and be charitable to us; surely God recompenses the charitable.'

Abdul Haleem

Then, when they presented themselves before Joseph, they said, ‘Mighty governor, misfortune has afflicted us and our family. We have brought only a little merchandise, but give us full measure. Be charitable to us: God rewards the charitable.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And when they entered unto him, they said: O Aziz! distress hath touched us and our household, and we have brought poor goods, wherefore give us full measure, and be charitable unto us; verily Allah recompenseth the charitable.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph's) presence they said; "O exalted one! distress has seized us and our family; we have (now) brought but scanty capital; so pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to us; for Allah doth reward the charitable."

Abul Ala Maududi

On going to Egypt they presented themselves to Joseph and said to him: "O chief! We and our family are struck with distress and have brought only a paltry sum. So give us corn in full measure, and give it to us in charity. Allah rewards those who are charitable."

Ahmed Ali

When they returned to him, they said (to Joseph): "O Minister, calamity has befallen us and our people. We have brought but a meagre sum, but give us full measure as alms bestowed. God surely rewards those who give alms."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Then when they reached in the company of Yusuf they said, “O governor! Calamity has struck us and our household, and we have brought goods of little value, so give us the full measure and be generous to us; undoubtedly Allah rewards the generous.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Then, when they entered into his presence, they said, ‘O emir! Distress has befallen us and our family, and we have brought [just] a meagre sum. Yet grant us the full measure, and be charitable to us! Indeed Allah rewards the charitable.’

Ali Ünal

They (went back to Egypt and once more) presented themselves before Joseph, saying: "O minister! Hardship has visited us and our family, and we have brought only merchandise of scant worth; but fill up for us the measure and be charitable to us. Surely God rewards the charitable."

Amatul Rahman Omar

And when they (- Joseph´s brothers) came again before him (- Joseph) they said, `O noble chief! distress and poverty (due to famine) has befallen us and our family. We have brought only a scanty amount of money. Give us (nonetheless) full measure (of corn) and show us charity. Surely, Allâh rewards the charitable.´

English Literal

So when they entered on (to) him, they said: "You, you Elaziz/Egyptian ruler, the harm touched us and our family and we came with little/poor or bad goods/merchandise, so fulfill/complete for us the measuring/weighing device and give charity on us, that God rewards the charity givers."

Faridul Haque

Then when they reached in the company of Yusuf they said, "O governor! Calamity has struck us and our household, and we have brought goods of little value, so give us the full measure and be generous to us; undoubtedly Allah rewards the generous."

Hamid S. Aziz

"O my sons! Go and inquire concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of Allah´s comfort (soothing mercy); for, verily, none despairs of the Mercy of Allah save a faithless people."

Hilali & Khan

Then, when they entered unto him [Yusuf (Joseph)], they said: "O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O my sons, go and inquire about Joseph and his brother, and despair not of Allah’s mercy. Surely none despairs of Allah’s mercy except the disbelieving people.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

So when they came in to him, they said: O chief! distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought scanty money, so give us full measure and be charitable to us; surely Allah rewards the charitable.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And when they came (again) before him (Joseph) they said: O ruler! Misfortune hath touched us and our folk, and we bring but poor merchandise, so fill for us the measure and be charitable unto us. Lo! Allah will requite the charitable,

Muhammad Sarwar

When they entered Joseph's court, they said, "Noble Prince, hardship has struck us and our people. We have come with a little money, so give us a measure of grain and be charitable to us. God will give the reward to those who give charity".

Qaribullah & Darwish

And when they presented themselves before him they said: 'O mighty prince, we and our people are afflicted with distress. We have brought but little merchandise. Fill up the measure, and be charitable to us; Allah rewards the charitable'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Then, when they entered unto him, they said: "O `Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable."

Wahiduddin Khan

When his brothers presented themselves before Joseph, they pleaded, "Exalted one, distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought only a paltry sum; but give us full measure. Be charitable to us. Truly, God rewards the charitable."

Talal Itani

Then, when they entered into his presence, they said, “Mighty governor, adversity has befallen us, and our family. We have brought scant merchandise. But give us full measure, and be charitable towards us—God rewards the charitable.”

Tafsir jalalayn

And so when they entered to him, they said, `O Court officer, misfortune, hunger, has befallen us and our family; and we have come with reject merchandise, refused by any person who sees it, because of its worthlessness -- it consisted of counterfeit dirhams or something else -- so fill up, complete, for us the measure and be charitable to us, by overlooking the worthlessness of our merchandise; truly God requites the charitable', He rewards them; he [Joseph] thus took pity on them and he was overtaken by compassion [for them] and removed the partition between them and himself.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَيْهِ



Then, when they entered unto him,

when they went back to Egypt and entered upon Yusuf,

قَالُواْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ

they said;"O Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family..."

because of severe droughts and the scarcity of food,

وَجِيْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ

and we have brought but poor capital,

means, `we brought money for the food we want to buy, but it is not substantial,' according to Mujahid, Al-Hasan and several others.

Allah said that they said next,

فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ

so pay us full measure,

meaning, `in return for the little money we brought, give us the full measure that you gave us before.'

Ibn Mas`ud read this Ayah in a way that means,

"So give the full load on our animals and be charitable with us."

Ibn Jurayj commented,

"So be charitable to us by returning our brother to us."

And when Sufyan bin Uyaynah was asked if the Sadaqah (charity) was prohibited for any Prophet before our Prophet, he said,

"Have you not heard the Ayah,

فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ

وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَأ إِنَّ اللّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ



so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable."

Ibn Jarir At-Tabari collected this statement