Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

When they said: “Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than are we, when we are a group; our father is in manifest error.

اِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَاَخُوهُ اَحَبُّ اِلٰٓى اَب۪ينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌۜ اِنَّ اَبَانَا لَف۪ي ضَلَالٍ مُب۪ينٍۚ
Ith qaloo layoosufu waakhoohu ahabbuila abeena minna wanahnu AAusbatuninna abana lafee dalalin mubeen
#wordmeaningroot
1idhWhen
2qālūthey saidقول
3layūsufuSurely Yusuf
4wa-akhūhuand his brotherاخو
5aḥabbu(are) more belovedحبب
6ilāto
7abīnāour fatherابو
8minnāthan we
9wanaḥnuwhile we
10ʿuṣ'batun(are) a groupعصب
11innaIndeed
12abānāour fatherابو
13lafī(is) surely in
14ḍalālinan errorضلل
15mubīninclearبين
  • Aisha Bewley

    When they declared, ‘Why! Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we are although we constitute a powerful group. Our father is clearly making a mistake.

  • Progressive Muslims

    For they said: "Joseph and his brother are more loved by our father than us, while we are a numerous group. Our father is clearly misguided."

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Now Joseph's brothers spoke thus to one another, "Joseph and his brother, Benjamin, are dearer to our father even though we are so many. Indeed our father is in plain aberration."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    When they said: “Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than are we, when we are a group; our father is in manifest error.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    For they said: "Joseph and his brother are more loved by our father than us, while we are a numerous group. Our father is clearly misguided."

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    For they said, "Joseph and his brother are more loved by our father than us, while we are a gang. Our father is clearly misguided."

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    They said, "Joseph and his brother are favored by our father, and we are in the majority. Indeed, our father is far astray.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    "Surely Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, " (said his half brothers) "even though we are a well-knit band. Our father is surely in the wrong.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    When they said, "Joseph and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, while we are a clan. Indeed, our father is in clear error.

  • Muhammad Asad

    NOW spoke "Truly, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, even though we are so many. Behold, our father is surely suffering from an aberration!"

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    When they said: Verily Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, many though we be. Lo! our father is in plain aberration.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And call to mind when the brothers of Joseph conferred together and said: "Surely Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, although we are a group of so many. Our father is clearly mistaken.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Conspiring against him, the brothers said: "Yusuf and his brother -full brother, Benjamin- are indeed nearer to our father's heart and closer to his affection than we are, our father stands indeed manifest of error; he manifests forth a straying mind. "

  • Bijan Moeinian

    This is how the story begins: Joseph’s brothers (who were upset that their father spoils his two youngest sons the most) got together and said: "It seems that our father has lost his mind as he is favoring Joseph and his brother and does not pay any attention to us. This is not fair as we are united and stronger (which does not necessarily mean being better.)"

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    When they said: "Truly, Yûsuf (Joseph) and his brother (Benjamin) are dearer to our father than we, while we are a strong group. Really, our father is in a plain error.

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    They said: "Truly Joseph and his brother are loved more by our father than we: But we are a goodly body! really our father is obviously wandering (in his mind)!

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    ˹Remember˺ when they said ˹to one another˺, "Surely Joseph and his brother ˹Benjamin˺ are more beloved to our father than we, even though we are a group of so many. Indeed, our father is clearly mistaken.

  • Taqi Usmani

    (It happened) when they said, "Yūsuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we are, while we are a whole group. Surely, our father is in clear error.

  • Abdul Haleem

    The brothers said , ‘Although we are many, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we are–– our father is clearly in the wrong.’

  • Arthur John Arberry

    When they said, 'Surely Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, though we are a band. Surely our father is in manifest error.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    When they said, 'Surely, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, a band although we be; verily, our father is in obvious error.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    In Joseph and his brethren were signs to those who inquire (or seek Truth).

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    As they said, "Indeed Yûsuf and his brother are more beloved to our father than we, and we are a band. Surely our father is indeed in evident error.

  • George Sale

    when they said to one another, Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than we, who are the greater number: Our father certainly maketh a wrong judgment.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    When they (his older half-brothers) said: "Truly Yusuf, (Joseph) and his (full) brother are loved more by our father than we are: But we have a strong group! True our father is clearly swaying (in his mind)!

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    (Recall) when they (- brothers of Joseph) said (to one another), `Surely, Joseph and his brother (Benjamin) are dearer to our father than we are, though we are a formidable party. Surely, our father is cherishing a love that has gone too far.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    When they said, ‘Surely Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than us, though we are a hardy group. Our father is indeed in manifest error.’