Verse 12:81 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring together in private. Their leader said, “Know ye not that your father has taken from you a solemn promise in the name of Allah and how, before this, you failed in your duty with respect to Joseph? I will, therefore, not leave the land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me. And He is the Best of judges.

English - Five Volume Translation

And when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring together in private. Their leader said, “Know ye not that your father has taken from you a solemn promise in the name of Allah and how, before this, you failed in your duty with respect to Joseph? I will, therefore, not leave the land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me. And He is the Best of judges.[1580]

Important Words:

خلصوا (they retired) is derived from خلص which means: (1) it was or became clear or pure or unmixed. They say خلص من القومi.e. he retired or withdrew or went away from the people. The Quranic expression خلصوا نجیا means, they retired, conferring privately together (Lane).

نجیا (conferring together in private). نجى is derived from نجا and means: (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; (3) one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).

کبیر (leader) means, great in body or rank or nobility; big or full-grown; learned or most knowing; teacher or master; lord or chief; old or advanced in age, etc. (Lane). See also 11:4.

Commentary:

Christian critics of the Quran accuse it of being ignorant of even well-known facts of history, basing their criticism on the fact that it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them—as they take the word کبیر(leader) to mean—who declared that he would not go back to his father without Benjamin. It is strange that, whenever these self-styled judges of the Quran happen to come across any difference between the narrative of the Quran and that of the Bible, they complacently assume the Bible to be right, as if it is altogether free from anachronism and misstatements, while the fact is that it has been shown even by Christian writers themselves to occupy a very low place among reliable books of history. To doubt the authenticity of an historical fact related by the Quran merely on the basis that it does not agree with the Bible is, to say the least, simply capricious. But even assuming the present Biblical account to be correct, the Quranic account cannot be found fault with. The word which the Quran has used with respect to the brother who refused to go is کبیر which means, "big" or "elder" and not اکبر which means "the eldest." Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the big or elder brothers of Joseph.

Again, کبیر does not always mean "big" or "elder" but, as shown under Important Words, it also means "leader" and "great in estimation, rank or dignity," and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and applies to Judah and not to Reuben. For, according to the Bible, the misconduct of Judah’s three elder brothers had resulted in his taking precedence over them (Gen. 49:3-8). Of him Jacob said, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise…thy father’s children shall bow down before thee." (Gen. 49:8). That Judah was greater than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob is also apparent from the fact that, when Reuben offered his two sons as hostages for Benjamin, Jacob refused to send Benjamin (Gen. 42:37, 38), but when Judah said, "I will be surety for him," Jacob gave his consent (Gen. 43:9-10).

Jacob’s prediction of Judah’s superiority started the long feud which later separated Judah and Israel.

English - Short Commentary Translation

And when they despaired of him, they retired, conferring together in private.[1399A] Then their leader[1400] said, ‘Know ye not that your father has taken from you a solemn pledge in the name of Allah and how, before this, you failed in your duty with respect to Joseph? I will not, therefore, leave the land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me. And He is the Best of judges;’

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

پس جب وہ اس سے مایوس ہو گئے تو مشورہ کے لئے علیحدہ ہوئے۔ ان کے بڑے نے کہا کہ کیا تم جانتے نہیں کہ تمہارے باپ نے اللہ کے حوالہ سے تم پر واجب پختہ عہد لیا تھا اور (اس سے) پہلے بھی جو تم یوسف کے معاملہ میں زیادتی کر چکے ہو۔ پس میں ہرگز یہ ملک نہیں چھوڑوں گا یہاں تک کہ میرا باپ مجھے اجازت دے یا میرے لئے اللہ کوئی فیصلہ کردے اور وہ فیصلہ کرنے والوں میں سب سے بہتر ہے۔

French

Et lorsqu’ils se furent désespérés à son égard, ils se retirèrent pour conférer entre eux en privé. Leur frère aîné dit : « Ne savez-vous pas que votre père a pris une promesse solennelle de vous au nom d’Allāh ? Et souvenez-vous de cette injustice que vous avez commise auparavant contre Joseph. Je ne quitterai donc pas le pays avant que mon père ne me le permette, ou avant qu’Allāh n’en décide pour moi. Et Il est le Meilleur des juges.

German

Als sie an ihm verzweifelten, gingen sie abseits, heimlich beratend. Es sprach ihr Ältester: «Wisst ihr nicht, dass euer Vater von euch ein feierliches Versprechen im Namen Allahs empfangen hat und wie ihr zuvor eure Pflicht gegen Joseph gefehlt habt? Ich will darum das Land nicht verlassen, bis mein Vater es mir erlaubt oder Allah für mich entscheidet, und Er ist der beste Richter.

Chinese

当他们对他 (尤素夫) 失望时, 他们便退下来私下商量。他们的大哥说: “难道你们不知道你们的父亲曾令你们奉安拉之名做了庄严的誓约, 以及从前你们怎样忽略了对尤素夫的责任? 所以, 除非我父亲给我许可或者安拉为我作个决定, 我将不离开这个国土。他是最好的判决者;

Italian

E quando disperarono di salvarlo si ritirarono in disparte a consultarsi. Quindi il fratello più anziano disse: «Non sapete che vostro padre ha avuto da voi una solenne promessa nel nome di Allah e non ricordate l'ingiustizia che commetteste contro Giuseppe? Io perciò non lascerò il paese finché mio padre non lo permetta o Allah abbia deciso per me, ed Egli è il migliore dei Giudici.

Spanish

Y cuando desesperaron de él, se retiraron, hablando entre ellos en privado. Su hermano mayor dijo: “¿Ignoráis acaso que vuestro padre hubo recibido de vosotros una promesa solemne en el nombre de Al-lah? y recordad la injusticia que cometisteis respecto a José; por lo tanto, no abandonaré la tierra mientras mi padre no me lo permita o Al-lah decida por mí. Pues Él es el Mejor de los Jueces;

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

پس جب وہ اس سے (یعنی یوسف سے) ناامید ہو گئے تو آپس میں باتیں کرتے ہوئے (لوگوں سے) الگ ہوگئے (تب) ان میں سے بڑے نے کہا (کہ) کیا تمہیں معلوم نہیں کہ تمہارے باپ نے تم سے پکا قول لیا (ہوا) ہے جو اللہ (کی قسم) سے (موکد) ہے اور یہ کہ (اس سے) پہلے تم یوسف کے بارہ میں بھی کوتاہی کر چکے ہو اس لئے جب تک میرا باپ مجھے (خاص طور پر) اجازت (نہ) دے یا (خود) اللہ میرے حق میں فیصلہ (کی کوئی راہ پیدا نہ) کرے میں اس ملک کو نہیں چھوڑوں گا اور وہ (اللہ) سب فیصلہ کرنے والوں سے بہتر (فیصلہ کرنے والا) ہے۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

جب وہ یوسفؑ سے مایوس ہو گئے تو ایک گوشے میں جا کر آپس میں مشورہ کرنے لگے ان میں جو سب سے بڑا تھا وہ بولا "تم جانتے نہیں ہو کہ تمہارے والد تم سے خدا کے نام پر کیا عہد و پیمان لے چکے ہیں اور اس سے پہلے یوسفؑ کے معاملہ میں جو زیادتی تم کر چکے ہو وہ بھی تم کو معلوم ہے اب میں تو یہاں سے ہرگز نہ جاؤں گا جب تک کہ میرے والد مجھے اجازت نہ دیں، یا پھر اللہ ہی میرے حق میں کوئی فیصلہ فرما دے کہ وہ سب سے بہتر فیصلہ کرنے والا ہے

English - Sahih

So when they had despaired of him, they secluded themselves in private consultation. The eldest of them said, "Do you not know that your father has taken upon you an oath by Allah and [that] before you failed in [your duty to] Joseph? So I will never leave [this] land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me, and He is the best of judges.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

پھر جب اس سےناامید ہوئے مشورہ کرنے کے لیے اکیلے ہو بیٹھے ان میں سے بڑے نے کہا کیا تمہیں معلوم نہیں کہ تمہارے باپ نے تم سے الله کا عہد لیا تھا اور پہلے جویوسف کے حق میں قصور کر چکے ہو سو میں تو اس ملک سے ہرگز نہیں جاؤں گا یہاں تک کہ میرا با پ مجھے حکم دے یا میرے لیے الله کوئی حکم فرمائے اور وہ بہتر فیصلہ کرنے والا ہے

English - Talal Itani

So when they despaired of him, they secluded themselves (in) private consultation. Said the eldest among them, "Do not you know that your father, has taken upon you a promise by Allah, and before that you failed concerning Yusuf? So never will I leave the land until permits me my father or Allah decides for me, and He (is) the Best (of) the judges.

Chinese Commentary ^*

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

When they despaired of moving him, they conferred privily apart. Said the eldest of them, 'Do you not know how your father has taken a solemn pledge from you by God, and aforetime you failed regarding Joseph? Never will I quit this land, until my father gives me leave, or God judges in my favour; He is the best of judges.

English - Maududi

Then, when they had despaired of Joseph they went to a corner and counselled together. The eldest of them said: "Do you not know that your father has taken a solemn promise from you in the name of Allah, and you failed in your duty towards Joseph? So I will not depart from this land until my father permits me, or Allah pronounces His judgement in my favour. He is the best of those who judge."

English - Ahmed Ali

When they despaired of (persuading) him, they went aside to confer. The oldest of them said: "You know that your father has pledged you in the name of God, and you have been guilty of iniquity in the case of Joseph before. I will not leave this place unless my father permits or God decides for me, for He is the best of all judges.

English - Yusuf Ali

Now when they saw no hope of his (yielding), they held a conference in private. The leader among them said: "Know ye not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's name, and how, before this, ye did fail in your duty with Joseph? Therefore will I not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah commands me; and He is the best to command.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

1580

Important Words:

خلصوا (they retired) is derived from خلص which means: (1) it was or became clear or pure or unmixed. They say خلص من القومi.e. he retired or withdrew or went away from the people. The Quranic expression خلصوا نجیا means, they retired, conferring privately together (Lane).

نجیا (conferring together in private). نجى is derived from نجا and means: (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; (3) one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).

کبیر (leader) means, great in body or rank or nobility; big or full-grown; learned or most knowing; teacher or master; lord or chief; old or advanced in age, etc. (Lane). See also 11:4.

Commentary:

Christian critics of the Quran accuse it of being ignorant of even well-known facts of history, basing their criticism on the fact that it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them—as they take the word کبیر(leader) to mean—who declared that he would not go back to his father without Benjamin. It is strange that, whenever these self-styled judges of the Quran happen to come across any difference between the narrative of the Quran and that of the Bible, they complacently assume the Bible to be right, as if it is altogether free from anachronism and misstatements, while the fact is that it has been shown even by Christian writers themselves to occupy a very low place among reliable books of history. To doubt the authenticity of an historical fact related by the Quran merely on the basis that it does not agree with the Bible is, to say the least, simply capricious. But even assuming the present Biblical account to be correct, the Quranic account cannot be found fault with. The word which the Quran has used with respect to the brother who refused to go is کبیر which means, "big" or "elder" and not اکبر which means "the eldest." Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the big or elder brothers of Joseph.

Again, کبیر does not always mean "big" or "elder" but, as shown under Important Words, it also means "leader" and "great in estimation, rank or dignity," and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and applies to Judah and not to Reuben. For, according to the Bible, the misconduct of Judah’s three elder brothers had resulted in his taking precedence over them (Gen. 49:3-8). Of him Jacob said, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise…thy father’s children shall bow down before thee." (Gen. 49:8). That Judah was greater than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob is also apparent from the fact that, when Reuben offered his two sons as hostages for Benjamin, Jacob refused to send Benjamin (Gen. 42:37, 38), but when Judah said, "I will be surety for him," Jacob gave his consent (Gen. 43:9-10).

Jacob’s prediction of Judah’s superiority started the long feud which later separated Judah and Israel.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

1399A

Najiyy means, (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).

1400

According to the Bible it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them, who refused to go back to his father without Benjamin. The word which the Qur’an has used is Kabir which means, 'big' or 'elder' and not Akbar which means, 'the eldest.' Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the bigger or elder brothers of Joseph. Moreover, Kabir does not only mean 'big' or 'elder' but also means 'leader' and 'great in estimation, rank or dignity,' and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and so applies to Judah and not to Reuben. Judah was more important than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob (Gen. 43: 8-10).

English - Pickthall

So, When they despaired of (moving) him, they conferred together apart. The eldest of them said: Know ye not how your father took an undertaking from you in Allah's name and how ye failed in the case of Joseph aforetime? Therefore I shall not go forth from the land until my father giveth leave or Allah judgeth for me. He is the Best of Judges.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

So when they despaired of him, they conferred together privately. The eldest of them said: Know you not that your father took from you a covenant in Allah’s name, and how you fell short of your duty about Joseph before? So I shall not leave this land, until my father permits me or Allah decides for me; and He is the Best of the judges.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

When they despaired of him, they withdrew conferring among themselves. Their leader said: Do you not recall that your father has taken from you a solemn promise in the name of Allah, and, how, aforetime, you were guilty of a default with respect to Joseph? I will, therefore, not leave this land until my father gives me special permission or Allah decrees something in my favour. He is the best of Judges.

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