Surah Yusuf >> Currently viewing Surah Yusuf Ayat 19 (12:19)

Surah Yusuf Ayat 19 in Arabic Text

وَجَآءَتۡ سَيَّارَةٞ فَأَرۡسَلُواْ وَارِدَهُمۡ فَأَدۡلَىٰ دَلۡوَهُۥۖ قَالَ يَٰبُشۡرَىٰ هَٰذَا غُلَٰمٞۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَٰعَةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَعۡمَلُونَ
Wa jaaa’at saiyaaratun fa-arsaloo waaridahum fa adlaa dalwah; qaala yaa bushraa haaza ghulaam; wa asarroohu bi-daa’ah; wallaahu ‘aleemun bimaa ya’maloon

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 19

Sahih International
And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, “Good news! Here is a boy.” And they concealed him, [taking him] as merchandise; and Allah was knowing of what they did.

Yusuf Ali
Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)… He said: “Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!” So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth well all that they do!

Abul Ala Maududi
And a caravan came, and they sent their water drawer to draw water. As he let down his bucket in the well he (observed Joseph) and cried out: “This is good news. There is a boy.” They concealed him, considering him as part of their merchandise, while Allah was well aware of what they did.

Muhsin Khan
And there came a caravan of travellers; they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket (into the well). He said: “What good news! Here is a boy.” So they hid him as merchandise (a slave). And Allah was the All-Knower of what they did.

Pickthall
And there came a caravan, and they sent their waterdrawer. He let down his pail (into the pit). He said: Good luck! Here is a youth. And they hid him as a treasure, and Allah was Aware of what they did.

Dr. Ghali
And (there) came travelers; so they sent their water-drawer; then he let down his bucket. He said, “What good tidings! Here is this youth.” And they secretly kept him (i.e., the travelers hid him) as merchandise; and Allah is Ever-Knowing of whatever they do.

Abdel Haleem
Some travellers came by. They sent someone to draw water and he let down his bucket. ‘Good news!’ he exclaimed. ‘Here is a boy!’ They hid him like a piece of merchandise- God was well aware of what they did-

Muhammad Junagarhi
اور ایک قافلہ آیا اور انہوں نے اپنے پانی ﻻنے والے کو بھیجا اس نے اپنا ڈول لٹکا دیا، کہنے لگا واه واه خوشی کی بات ہے یہ تو ایک لڑکا ہے، انہوں نے اسے مال تجارت قرار دے کر چھپا دیا اور اللہ تعالیٰ اس سے باخبر تھا جو وه کر رہے تھے

Quran 12 Verse 19 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Yusuf ayat 19, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(12:19) And a caravan came, and they sent their water drawer to draw water. As he let down his bucket in the well he (observed Joseph) and cried out: “This is good news. There is a boy.” They concealed him, considering him as part of their merchandise, while Allah was well aware of what they did.


There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.

Ibn-Kathir

19. And there came a caravan of travelers and they sent their water-drawer, and he let down his bucket (into the well). He said: “What good news! Here is a boy.” So they hid him as merchandise (a slave). And Allah was the All-Knower of what they did. 20. And they sold him for a Bakhs price, – for a few Dirhams. And they were of those who regarded him insignificant.


Yusuf is Rescued from the Well and sold as a Slave

Allah narrates what happened to Yusuf, peace be upon him, after his brothers threw him down the well and left him in it, alone, where he remained for three days, according to Abu Bakr bin `Ayyash. Muhammad bin Ishaq said, “After Yusuf’s brothers threw him down the well, they remained around the well for the rest of the day to see what he might do and what would happen to him. Allah sent a caravan of travelers that camped near that well, and they sent to it the man responsible for drawing water for them. When he approached the well, he lowered his bucket down into it, Yusuf held on to it and the man rescued him and felt happy,

﴿يبُشْرَى هَـذَا غُلاَمٌ﴾

(“What good news! Here is a boy.”) Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas commented, “Allah’s statement,

﴿وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَـعَةً﴾

(So they hid him as merchandise), is in reference to Yusuf’s brothers, who hid the news that he was their brother. Yusuf hid this news for fear that his brothers might kill him and preferred to be sold instead. Consequently, Yusuf’s brothers told the water drawer about him and that man said to his companions,

﴿يبُشْرَى هَـذَا غُلاَمٌ﴾

(“What good news! Here is a boy.”), a slave whom we can sell. Therefore, Yusuf’s own brothers sold him.” Allah’s statement,

﴿وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾

(And Allah was the All-Knower of what they did. ) states that Allah knew what Yusuf’s brothers, and those who bought him, did. He was able to stop them and prevent them from committing their actions, but out of His perfect wisdom He decreed otherwise. He let them do what they did, so that His decision prevails and His appointed destiny rules,

﴿أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾

(Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the all that exists!) ﴿7:54﴾ This reminds Allah’s Messenger Muhammad , that Allah has perfect knowledge in the persecution that his people committed against him and that He is able to stop them. However, He decided to give them respite, then give Muhammad the victory and make him prevail over them, just as He gave Yusuf victory and made him prevail over his brothers. Allah said next,

﴿وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ﴾

(And they sold him for a Bakhs price, – for a few Dirhams) in reference to Yusuf’s brothers selling him for a little price, according to Mujahid and `Ikrimah. `Bakhs’ means decreased, just as Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,

﴿فَلاَ يَخَافُ بَخْساً وَلاَ رَهَقاً﴾

(shall have no fear, either of a Bakhs (a decrease in the reward of his good deeds) or a Rahaq (an increase in the punishment for his sins).) ﴿72:13﴾ meaning that Yusuf’s brothers exchanged him for a miserably low price. Yet, he was so insignificant to them that had the caravan people wanted him for free, they would have given him for free to them! Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Ad-Dahhak said that,

﴿وَشَرَوْهُ﴾

(And they sold him), is in reference to Yusuf’s brothers. They sold Yusuf for the lowest price, as indicated by Allah’s statement next,

﴿دَرَهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ﴾

(for a few Dirhams), twenty Dirhams, according to `Abdullah bin Mas`ud. Similar was said by Ibn `Abbas, Nawf Al-Bikali, As-Suddi, Qatadah and `Atiyah Al-`Awfi, who added that they divided the Dirhams among themselves, each getting two Dirhams. Ad-Dahhak commented on Allah’s statement,

﴿وَكَانُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ الزَهِدِينَ﴾

(And they were of those who regarded him insignificant.) “Because they had no knowledge of his prophethood and glorious rank with Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.”

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surah yusuf ayat 19
surah yusuf ayat 20
surah yusuf ayat 21
surah yusuf ayat 22
surah yusuf ayat 23

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