Tafsir Al-Jalalayn: Yusuf, Ayah 21
Common Words
Other Scholars on This Ayah
Tafsir
(And he of Egypt) the Chief Official, who was the treasurer of the king and the chief of his soldiers. His name was Potiphar (Qitfir) (who purchased him said unto his wife) Zelicha (Zulaykha): Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us) in our farm (or we may adopt him as a son). This man bought Joseph for the price of 20 silver coins, a garment and a pair of sandals. (Thus We established Joseph) We gave him authority (in the land) of Egypt (that We might teach him the interpretation of events) the interpretation of dreams. (And Allah was predominant in his career) Allah is dominant in things destined; no one can repel His destined things, (but most of mankind) the people of Egypt (know not) nor believe; it is also said that this means: most do not know that Allah is dominant in the things that He destined.
Al-Jalalayn Commentary
And he of Egypt who purchased him Potifar the Court Officer Qitfīr al-‘azīz said to his wife Zulaikha Zulaykhā ‘Give him an honourable place an honourable residence with us. Maybe he will be useful to us or we may adopt him as a son’ — for he was chaste. Thus just as We delivered him from being killed and from the well and softened the Court Officer’s heart for him We established Joseph in the land the land of Egypt until he attained what status he attained that We might teach him the interpretation of events the interpretation of visions wa-li-nu‘allimahu min ta’wīli’l-ahādīth is a supplement to an implied missing part connected to makkannā ‘We established’ in other words an implied li-numallikahu ‘so that We might give him kingship’; or else the wāw of wa-li-nu‘allimahu ‘that We might teach him’ is to be understood as being extra. God’s way always prevails exalted be He nothing being beyond Him but most people — and they are the disbelievers — do not know this.