Surah Yusuf Ayat 78 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 78
They said, “O ‘Azeez, indeed he has a father [who is] an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you as a doer of good.”
They said: “O exalted one! Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable, (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place; for we see that thou art (gracious) in doing good.”
They said: “O powerful chief (al-aziz)! His father is an age-stricken man, (and in order that he may not suffer) seize one of us in his stead. We indeed consider you an excellent person.”
They said: “O ruler of the land! Verily, he has an old father (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place. Indeed we think that you are one of the Muhsinun (good-doers – see V. 2:112).”
They said: O ruler of the land! Lo! he hath a very aged father, so take one of us instead of him. Lo! we behold thee of those who do kindness.
They said, “O you mighty (Governor), (Literally: the ever-Mighty Al-c azîz) surely he has a father, aged and great with years; so take one of us in his place; surely we see that you are one of the fair-doers.”
They said, ‘Mighty governor, he has an elderly father. Take one of us in his place. We can see that you are a very good man.’
انہوں نے کہا کہ اے عزیز مصر! اس کے والد بہت بڑی عمر کے بالکل بوڑھے شخص ہیں۔ آپ اس کے بدلے ہم میں سے کسی کو لے لیجئے۔ ہم دیکھتے ہیں کہ آپ بڑے نیک نفس ہیں
Quran 12 Verse 78 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Yusuf ayat 78, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(12:78) They said: “O powerful chief (al-aziz)![62] His father is an age-stricken man, (and in order that he may not suffer) seize one of us in his stead. We indeed consider you an excellent person.”
62. The use of the title Al-Aziz, ruler of the land, with which they addressed Prophet Joseph has given rise to the confusion that he held the same office as the husband of Zuleikha held before him. Then this misunderstanding let the commentators to the invention of further comments, such as. Al-Aziz had died and Prophet Joseph was appointed in his place, and Zuleikha was rejuvenated by a miracle and was married to him by the king. They have not stopped at this. They have, somehow or other, discovered even the conversation that took place between Prophet Joseph and Zuleikha in the first night of their marriage. In fact, all this is mere fiction, for, as has already been pointed out, the word Al-Aziz was the Arabic translation or equivalent of some Egyptian title, and was not the designation of any particular office. It was merely a title used for the high ones in Egypt like “His Excellency” or “Your Excellency”, etc. As regards to the said marriage, this fiction has been built on the story of Prophet Joseph’s marriage in the Bible and the Talmud. According to these, he was married with Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah. As the name of the husband of Zuleikha was Potiphar, the two names got confused together. Accordingly, when the story was handed down from the traditions of the Israelites from one commentator to the other, the name Potiphar got interchanged with Poti-pherah because the two were so like each other in sound. Consequently, the daughter in the story was replaced by wife. Then Potiphar was killed in order to facilitate the marriage. Then the only remaining difficulty, that is, the disparity of their ages, was gotten over with the help of a miracle. She was rejuvenated so completely as to enable her to become the worthy wife of the ruler of the land.
Ibn-Kathir
78. They said: “O `Aziz! Verily, he has an old father (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place. Indeed we think that you are one of the doers of good.” 79. He said: “Allah forbid, that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property. Indeed (if we did so), we should be wrongdoers.”
When it was decided that Benyamin was to be taken and kept with Yusuf according to the law they adhered by, Yusuf’s brothers started requesting clemency and raising compassion in his heart for them,
(They said, “O `Aziz! Verily, he has an old father…”) who loves him very much and is comfor- ted by his presence from the son that he lost,
(so take one of us in his place.), instead of Binyamin to remain with you,
(Indeed we think that you are one of the doers of good.), the good doers, just, and accepting fairness,
(He said: “Allah forbid, that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property…”), `according to the judgement that you gave for his punishment,
(Indeed, we should be wrongdoers.), if we take an innocent man instead of the guilty man. ‘
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