Tafsir of Surah Yusuf | quranmazid.com

Allah narrated to Muhammad, peace be upon him, the story of Yusuf and his brothers and how Allah raised him over them, giving him the better end, triumph, the sovereignty and wisdom (i.e., Prophethood), even though they tried to harm and kill him.

Allah said, `This and similar stories are part of the unseen incidents of the past, O Muhammad,

نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ

(which We reveal to you) and inform you of, O Muhammad, because it carries a lesson, for you to draw from and a reminder to those who defy you.'

Allah said next,

وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ

`You were not (present) with them,

you did not witness their conference nor saw them,

إِذْ أَجْمَعُواْ أَمْرَهُمْ

when they arranged their plan together,

to throw Yusuf into the well,

وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ

and (while) they were plotting.

against him. We taught you all this through Our Revelation which We sent down to you.'

Allah said in other Ayat,

وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُون أَقْلَـمَهُمْ

You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens.

and,

وَمَا كُنتَ بِجَانِبِ الْغَرْبِىِّ إِذْ قَضَيْنَأ إِلَى مُوسَى الاٌّمْرَ

And you were not on the western side, when We made clear to Musa the commandment... (28:44) until,

وَمَا كُنْتَ بِجَانِبِ الطُّورِ إِذْ نَادَيْنَا

And you were not at the side of the Tur when We did call. (28:46)

Allah also said,

وَمَا كُنتَ ثَاوِياً فِى أَهْلِ مَدْيَنَ تَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتِنَا

And you were not a dweller among the people of Madyan, reciting Our verses to them. (28:45)

Allah states that Muhammad is His Messenger and that He has taught him the news of what occurred in the past, which carry lessons for people to draw from, so that they acquire their safety in their religious affairs as well as their worldly affairs. Yet, most people did not and will not believe, so Allah said,

وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُوْمِنِينَ