Which Surah and Juz is Quran 12:53 from?

This ayah is from Surah Yusuf (Joseph), the 12th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 13.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 12:53?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sahih Muslim, Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

What tafsir is available for Quran 12:53?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 12:53 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Ar-Raheem, Al-Ghafur, Divine Mercy, Forgiveness, Accountability.

Ayah 52

ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْب...

12:53Yusuf

Q: What does Quran 12:53 mean?

Quran 12:53 (Surah Yusuf, Ayah 53) translates to: "And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.""

Ayah 54

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ ...

۞ وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Wa maa ubarri'u nafsee; innan nafsa la ammaaratum bissooo'i illaa maa rahima Rabbee; inna Rabbee Ghafoorur Raheem

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

Themes in this ayah

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Mercy & forgiveness96 Repentance58

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12:53Ayah 1111

7 ayahs in Yusuf are strongly about mercy and forgiveness. This is one of them.

Next on Mercy & forgiveness →12:56And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will,

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 12:53→

Yet I do not exculpate my own soul of slipping into error; verily the soul as such is ever inciting to evil except that whereon meaning the person upon whom my Lord has mercy and so protects from sin. Truly my Lord is Forgiving Merciful’.

Verily Allah forgave my people the evil promptings which arise within their hearts as long as they did not speak about them or did not act upon them.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3321Narrated Asma bint Yazid:Sahih

"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting: 'Say: "O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins and I do not mind (referring to 39:53)."

Sahih Muslim #6691Al-Agharr al-Muzani, who was one amongst the Companions (of the Holy Prophet) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:Sahih

There is (at times) some sort of shade upon my heart, and I seek forgiveness from Allah a hundred times a day.

Sahih Muslim #6936Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Sahih

There is none whose deeds alone would entitle him to get into Paradise. It was said to him: And, Allah's Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that my Lord wraps me in Mercy.

Sahih Muslim #5728'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said:Sahih

None of you should say: "My soul has become evil," but he should say: "My soul has become remorseless." This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Bakr with a slight variation of wording.