Surah Yusuf 12:98
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ · Meccan · Verse 98 of 111
قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Translation
He replied, ‘I shall ask my Lord to forgive you: He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah Yusuf, after years of separation and trials, Prophet Ya'qub (Jacob) is reunited with his sons. They confess their great error in their treatment of Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon them both, and humbly seek their father's intercession for forgiveness from Allah. It is at this poignant moment that Ya'qub responds with this verse. Here, Prophet Ya'qub, as the speaker, addresses his penitent sons, promising to ask Allah, his Lord, for their forgiveness, offering them hope and solace in the vastness of Divine mercy.
A Timely Promise
Ya'qub says, "سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ" (I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord). The word "سَوْفَ" (sawfa), meaning "will" or "later," is crucial here. Rather than immediately saying, "I am asking for your forgiveness," Ya'qub uses a particle that indicates a future action. Scholars offer several profound insights into this choice of wording.
Some, like al-Jalalayn, al-Zamakhshari, and al-Razi, suggest that Ya'qub intended to delay his supplication until a time particularly known for its closeness to Divine acceptance. This could be the pre-dawn hours (sahar) or the blessed night of Friday. This teaches us the importance of choosing optimal times for *du'a* (supplication), approaching Allah with mindfulness and hope.
Another perspective, mentioned by al-Zamakhshari and al-Razi, is that Ya'qub wished to first ascertain the sincerity of his sons' repentance. This delay would allow their heartfelt remorse to deepen and manifest, ensuring their request for forgiveness stemmed from true contrition. Furthermore, Ibn Ashur and others explain that by using "sawfa," Ya'qub was promising not just a single instance of seeking forgiveness but a continuous, ongoing prayer for them in the future, signifying the gravity of their past sin and the persistent need for Allah's mercy. This implies that while he may have prayed for them immediately (as Ibn Ashur suggests), the emphasis on "sawfa" highlights his commitment to keep seeking forgiveness for them over time.
His Name, Our Hope
Ya'qub concludes by affirming, "إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ" (Indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful). The structure of this phrase carries immense weight. The particle "إِنَّهُۥ" (innahū - indeed He) provides emphasis and certainty. This is further strengthened by the pronoun "هُوَ" (huwa - He), which Ibn Ashur notes is used for powerful affirmation, reinforcing the fact that *He alone* possesses these attributes.
The choice of these specific Divine Names, "ٱلْغَفُورُ" (al-Ghafūr - The All-Forgiving) and "ٱلرَّحِيمُ" (al-Raḥīm - The Most Merciful), perfectly aligns with the context of seeking forgiveness. "Al-Ghafūr" signifies Allah's perfect ability to conceal and forgive sins, while "al-Raḥīm" speaks to His expansive, continuous mercy towards His creation. Together, these names are a source of profound hope, justifying Ya'qub's promise to ask for forgiveness and encouraging his sons that Allah's boundless mercy can encompass even their greatest mistakes, if they turn to Him sincerely.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Qur'anic Worlds
This poignant verse, Surah Yusuf (12:98), draws us into the "Worlds of Past Nations" and a tender moment in the life of Prophet Ya'qub (Jacob, peace be upon him). After years of separation and profound grief, his sons finally stood before him, humbled and remorseful for their grievous error with Yusuf. Their plea was direct: "O our father, ask forgiveness for us for our sins. Indeed, we have been wrongdoers." Ya'qub's reply, infused with both mercy and wisdom, was, "I will pray to my Lord to forgive you..." (قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّىٓ).
A Father's Promise
Prophet Ya'qub, addressing his sons, promises to seek forgiveness from his Lord on their behalf. The word "سوف" (sawfa), meaning "soon" or "I will," suggests a deliberate delay rather than an immediate prayer. This isn't a hesitation, but a thoughtful choice by the Prophet, revealing his profound understanding of the optimal times for approaching Allah, especially for such a weighty matter.
Wisdom in Delay
Scholars have pondered the wisdom behind Ya'qub's promise to pray later. As Mufti Shafi and al-Baghawi explain, he intended to pray for them specifically during the last third of the night, a blessed period known as *sahar* (the pre-dawn hours). During *sahar*, a time of deep tranquility and spiritual closeness, Allah's mercy is said to be particularly manifest, with the promise that prayers made then are especially answered. This practice underscores the importance of choosing moments of deep concentration and devotion when seeking divine forgiveness. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir also report narrations suggesting that Ya'qub may have chosen the night of Jumu'ah (Friday night) for his supplication, another period revered for its spiritual significance. Sayyid Qutb offers another beautiful insight, suggesting that the delay allowed time for the hearts, wounded by past actions, to truly purify and for sincerity to settle. This wisdom indicates that true repentance and forgiveness involve not just words, but a transformation of the inner state.
Allah's Boundless Mercy
Ya'qub then affirms, "Indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful" (إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ). This declaration is not just an assurance to his sons; it is a profound testament to Allah's boundless compassion, His readiness to forgive those who sincerely turn to Him. It reminds us that even after grave errors, the door to Allah's mercy remains wide open, especially when sought with a repentant heart and through sincere supplication at blessed times.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), Ibn Kathir, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Yusuf 12:98 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Yusuf 12:98 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.