Tafsir for verse: 12:78
قَالُواْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبٗا شَيۡخٗا كَبِيرٗا فَخُذۡ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٧٨ ﴿78﴾
78They said, “O ‘Azīz, he has a father, a very old man. So, take one of us in his place. We see you are a generous man.”
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Commentary
They sought his sympathy by reminding him of their father Jacob's rights. They mentioned that he is an old man or of great status. They also said that Benjamin is more beloved to him than them. They had informed him that one of his sons had perished, and he is in mourning over the loss of his son. He is also comforted by his brother. 'So take one of us in his place,' they said, 'take him as a substitute in the manner of a pledge or servitude. We see you as one of the good-doers towards us, so complete your goodness. Or it is your habit to do good, so act according to your habit and do not change it.'
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Compare different scholarly perspectives on Surah Yusuf verse 78
Al-ZamakhshariAbū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd ibn ʿUmar al-Zamakhsharī
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