Yusuf · Makki · ayah 111 of 111

Yusuf 12:111

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

“There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was it [i.e., the Qur’ān] a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The surah ends by handing the reader a ferry: their story is one bank, your life is the other, and the lesson is the crossing.

A reflection

A ferry between two banks

In their stories there is truly an ʿibra for people of understanding.

ʿIbra is usually translated as a lesson. The root underneath is crossing. The lexicons say ʿibr is a river's bank, and ʿubūr is crossing to the other side, by swimming, by boat or by bridge. A tear crosses the cheek. Words cross the air from tongue to ear. An ʿibra, one lexicon explains, sets two cases side by side, like two banks facing each other. What happened to them, and what could happen to you.

One commentary defines taking a lesson as crossing from the known side to the unknown side. Another early lexicographer describes it as the state by which a person passes from what is seen to what is not seen.

That is the held image of this ayah. A ferry. On one bank, a family in Canaan and Egypt, long ago. On the other bank, you. The story is not finished until someone crosses.

This surah has used the root before. The king of Egypt dreamed of seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones. He asked his courtiers: explain my dream, if you can taʿburūn dreams (12:43). Interpreting a dream was crossing it, from its images to its meaning.

Yusuf crossed dreams for others all his life. Now the surah asks the reader to do the same with Yusuf's own story. Do not stay on their bank, admiring the scenery. Cross to your own.

The full entry has 7 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.