Surah Yusuf, Ayah 11 (12:11)

يُوسُف

قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا لَكَ لَا تَأْمَ۫نَّا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَنَٰصِحُونَ

Quran 12:11 is ayah 11 of Surah Yusuf (“Joseph”), a Meccan surah of 111 ayahs. It is in Juz 12, on page 236 of the Madani Mushaf.

12:11
قَالُوا۟يَٰٓأَبَانَامَالَكَلَاتَأْمَ۫نَّاعَلَىٰيُوسُفَوَإِنَّالَهُۥلَنَٰصِحُونَ١١
qālū yāabānā mā laka lā tamannā ʿalā yūsufa wa-innā lahu lanāṣiḥūna

They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors?(11)

Word by word

  1. قَالُوا۟qālūThey said
  2. يَٰٓأَبَانَاyāabānāO our father
  3. مَاmāWhy
  4. لَكَlaka(do) you
  5. لَاlānot
  6. تَأْمَ۫نَّاtamannātrust us
  7. عَلَىٰʿalāwith
  8. يُوسُفَyūsufaYusuf
  9. وَإِنَّاwa-innāwhile indeed, we
  10. لَهُۥlahu(are) for him
  11. لَنَٰصِحُونَlanāṣiḥūnasurely well-wishers

Tafsir (commentary) of 12:11

Available in English, Bengali, Urdu, Arabic, Russian.

English · EnglishTafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

This commentary explains ayahs 12:11–12 together.

Yusuf's Brothers ask for Their Father's Permission to take Yusuf with Them

When Yusuf's brothers agreed to take him and throw him down the well, taking the advice of their elder brother Rubil, they went to their father Ya`qub, peace be upon him. They said to him, "Why is it that you,

لاَ تَأْمَنَّا عَلَى يُوسُفَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَنَـصِحُونَ

(do not trust us with Yusuf though we are indeed his well-wishers)." They started executing their plan by this introductory statement, even though they really intended its opposite, out of envy towards Yusuf for being loved by his father. They said,

أَرْسِلْهُ مَعَنَا

"(Send him with us) tomorrow so that we all enjoy ourselves and play." Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and As-Suddi said similarly. Yusuf's brothers said next,

وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَـفِظُونَ

(and verily, we will take care of him.), we will protect him and ensure his safety for you.

Read the full Surah Yusuf