Surah Yusuf — Verse 98

Key Words and Their Meanings:

• Sawfa (سَوْفَ): A particle indicating the future, often implying a delay or a promise to do something soon.
• Astaghfiru (أَسْتَغْفِرُ): I will seek forgiveness, asking Allah to pardon sins.
• Al-Ghafoor (الْغَفُورُ): The Oft-Forgiving, the One Who repeatedly forgives sins no matter how many times they are committed.
• Ar-Raheem (الرَّحِيمُ): The Most Merciful, the One Who shows compassion and kindness to His creation.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this blessed verse, we see the beautiful response of Prophet Ya‘qoob (Jacob, peace be upon him) to his sons after they confessed their wrongdoing against their brother Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him). Instead of scolding them harshly or turning them away, he responded with gentleness, mercy, and hope. He said: "I will soon ask my Lord to forgive you."

He deliberately delayed his supplication for them, choosing a time when prayers are more likely to be answered—such as the last third of the night (the time of *sahar*), when the gates of heaven are open and the Lord descends to the lowest heaven, asking, "Who is calling upon Me so I may respond to him?" This shows his deep wisdom and his desire for their forgiveness to be complete and sincere.

He then reassured them with the most comforting words: "Indeed, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." He did not say "I will forgive you" because forgiveness from a human is limited; rather, he directed them to the ultimate source of forgiveness—Allah, the One whose mercy encompasses everything and whose pardon knows no bounds. He is the One Who forgives the sins of His repentant servants and showers them with His mercy, no matter how great their faults may be.

A Da‘wah Message for the Reader:

This verse carries a profound lesson for every believer. No matter how great your sins may seem, the door of repentance is always open. Allah’s mercy is far greater than your mistakes. Just as Ya‘qoob did not lose hope in Allah’s forgiveness for his sons, you should never lose hope in Allah’s mercy for yourself. Turn to Him sincerely, seek His forgiveness, and trust that He is indeed Al-Ghafoor, Ar-Raheem. He loves those who repent and is always ready to welcome them back with open arms. Let this verse be a source of hope and a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of Allah’s infinite mercy.