The Quran

سورة یُوسُف

Surah Yûsuf 12:38

Joseph · Verse 38 of 111

وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

Abdul Mannan Omar

`And I have followed the creed of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is not proper for us to associate anything as a partner with Allâh. That (He taught us unity of God) is entirely due to Allâh´s grace upon us and upon (other) people. But most people do not render thanks (for this blessing).

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah: that (comes) of the grace of Allah to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful.

Ahmed Ali

I follow the faith of my fathers, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. We cannot associate anyone with God. This is among God´s favours to us and to all mankind; but most men are not grateful.

12 more translations

Ali Unal

"I have followed the way of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not for us to associate anything with God as partner. This (His teaching and calling us to belief in Him without associating any partners with Him) is from God’s grace and bounty on us and on all people, but most people do not give thanks (in return, by believing firmly in His Oneness and worshipping Him alone).

Daryabadi

And I have followed the creed of my fathers, Ibrahim and Is´haq and ya´qub: it is not for us to associate aught with Allah. That is of Allah´s and upon mankind; but grace upon us most of mankind thank not.

Faridul Haque

"And I have chosen the religion of my forefathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqub; it is not rightful for us to ascribe anything as a partner to Allah; this is a grace of Allah upon us and upon mankind, but most men are not thankful."

Maulana Muhammad Ali

And I follow the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It beseems us not to associate aught with Allah. This is by Allah

Maulvi Sher Ali

`And I have followed the religion of my fathers - Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It behoves us not to associate anything as partner with ALLAH. This is of ALLAH's grace upon us and upon mankind, but most men are ungrateful;

Muhammad Asad

and I follow the creed of my forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is not conceivable that we should [be allowed to] ascribe divinity to aught beside God: this is [an outcome] of God's bounty unto us and unto all mankind - but most people are ungrateful.

Muhammad Musin Khan

And I have followed the religion of my fathers, - Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaque (Isaac) and Ya'qub (Jacob), and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah, nor worship Him).

Muhammad Pickthall

And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us to attribute aught as partner to Allah. This is of the bounty of Allah unto us (the seed of Abraham) and unto mankind; but most men give not thanks.

Muhammad Sarwar

and I have embraced the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We are not supposed to consider anything equal to God. This is part of God's blessing to us and the people, but most people do not give thanks.

Muhammed ali Shakir

And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq and Yaqoub; it beseems us not that we should associate aught with Allah; this is by Allah's grace upon us and on mankind, but most people do not give thanks:

Rashad Khalifa

And I followed instead the religion of my ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We never set up any idols beside GOD. Such is the blessing from GOD upon us and upon the people, but most people are unappreciative.

Shabbir Ahmed

“I follow the Creed of such of my ancestors as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not conceivable that we ever ascribe partners to God. This (belief in Monotheism) is the bounty of God upon us and upon all mankind. (It frees us from bondage to superstition and to ‘men of religion’). But the majority of people fail to grasp this point, and thus remain ungrateful.”

Commentary 12:38 Joseph wanted to use this opportunity to guide his fellow-prisoners towards the truth. Thus before explaining to his fellow-prisoners the meanings of…

ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

12:38 Joseph wanted to use this opportunity to guide his fellow-prisoners towards the truth. Thus before explaining to his fellow-prisoners the meanings of their dreams, he asked them to first listen to a short discourse on the oneness of God. The verses 12:37-41 contain the same preaching as that practiced by other Prophets. It is also similar to what the Holy Prophet (pbuh) later preached.