The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 266
CH. 12 YUSUF PT. 13 كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ thee. And thou wast not with وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ them when they agreed upon their plan while they were plotting 1602 وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَضْتَ And most men will not. 104 بِمُؤْمِنِينَ believe even though thou eagerly desire it. 1603 وَمَا تَسْلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا And thou dost not ask of. 105 them any reward for it. On the b contrary, it is but a source of honour for all mankind. 1604 "18:7. 38:88; 81:28. 1602. Commentary: Having finished the life story of Joseph, the Surah beautifully turns to the people of Mecca, who were like brethren unto the Holy Prophet. This verse thus makes it clear that this account of Joseph was not a mere story. It embodied mighty prophecies relating to the future of the Holy Prophet and of Islam, for, as pointed out in the course of comments on this chapter, many important events in the life of Joseph had their counterparts in the life of the Holy Prophet. The word "they" in the clause, while they were plotting, refers not to the brothers of Joseph, but to the people of the Holy Prophet, who is told that what he had been listening to was "of the tidings of the unseen" embodying mighty prophecies over which no human being could have any control. These prophecies must, therefore, be regarded as emanating from God Who is the Knower of all secrets. ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَلَمِينَ 1603. Commentary: The Holy Prophet is told here that, despite his intense desire, it is so decreed that, like the brothers of Joseph, people would not believe in him unless they saw him rise to power and glory and themselves suffered humiliation and disgrace. 1604. Important Words: 53 (honour) means, remembrance; praise or eulogy; eminence or honour, etc. (Lane). See also 2:153. Commentary: The word having been used here in the sense of eminence and honour, the verse asks, why the people should take umbrage at the promises of greatness and glory given to the Holy Prophet, when, if they accept him, they are to share those blessings with him; and why, like the brothers of Joseph, should they think that the Holy Prophet's greatness would mean their own downfall? The verse thus implies another resemblance of the Holy Prophet with Joseph, inasmuch 1474