Quran Universe
12:3

نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡقَصَصِ بِمَآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ لَمِنَ ٱلۡغَٰفِلِينَ

Nahnu naqussu AAalayka ahsana alqasasi bima awhayna ilayka hatha alqurana wain kunta min qablihi lamina alghafileena

We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.

Word by word
  1. نَحۡنُWe
  2. نَقُصُّrelate
  3. عَلَيۡكَto you
  4. أَحۡسَنَthe best
  5. ٱلۡقَصَصِof the narrations
  6. بِمَآin what
  7. أَوۡحَيۡنَآWe have revealed
  8. إِلَيۡكَto you
  9. هَٰذَا(of) this
  10. ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَthe Quran
  11. وَإِنalthough
  12. كُنتَyou were
  13. مِنbefore it
  14. قَبۡلِهِۦbefore it
  15. لَمِنَsurely among
  16. ٱلۡغَٰفِلِينَthe unaware
Yusuf · 12:3Makkah

The best of stories, told to someone who did not know it.

A story the Prophet ﷺ could not have learned elsewhere

Where the story came from
the Prophet ﷺunaware of it before
receives
the best of storiesthrough revelation
Where to look for stories
other bookstrue and false mixed
this Quranwhite and pure

Ibn Abbas reported that the companions asked the Prophet ﷺ to tell them stories, and this verse came. The opponents expected him to stall. Instead a full story arrived that he had never known before.

Your evening is full of stories: series, reels, a podcast about someone's life. Some lift you, many just fill time. Here is a story Allah calls the best, and it is sitting unread on your shelf.

Good stories are found in shows and novels.

The best story is the one Allah chose to tell, and it is waiting for me.

Try this

Tonight, swap ten minutes of a show for reading the next few verses of Yusuf.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 12:1)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ - إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ - نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ

(1. Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book that is clear.)(2. Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand.)(3. We relate unto you the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of this Qur'an. And before this, you were among those who knew nothing about it.)

Qualities of the Qur'an

In the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah we talked about the separate letters, Allah said,

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ

(These are the verses of the Book) in reference to the Clear Qur'an that is plain and apparent, and explains, clarifies and makes known the unclear matters. Allah said next,

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

(Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand.) The Arabic language is the most eloquent, plain, deep and expressive of the meanings that might arise in one's mind. Therefore, the most honorable Book, was revealed in the most honorable language, to the most honorable Prophet and Messenger ﷺ, delivered by the most honorable angel, in the most honorable land on earth, and its revelation started during the most honorable month of the year, Ramadan. Therefore, the Qur'an is perfect in every respect. So Allah said,

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ

(We relate unto you the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of this Qur'an.)

Reason behind revealing Ayah (12:3)

On the reason behind revealing Ayah (12:3), Ibn Jarir At-Tabari recorded that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas said, "They said, 'O, Allah's Messenger! Why not narrate to us stories?' Later on, this Ayah was revealed,

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ

(We relate unto you the best of stories...)" There is a Hadith that is relevant upon mentioning this honorable Ayah, which praises the Qur'an and demonstrates that it is sufficient from needing all books besides it. Imam Ahmad recorded a narration from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab came to the Prophet ﷺ with a book that he took from some of the People of the Book. 'Umar began reading it to the Prophet ﷺ who became angry. He said,

أَمُتَهَوِّكُونَ فِيهَا يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ؟ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَقَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِهَا بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً، لَا تَسْأَلُوهُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَيُخْبِرُوكُمْ بِحَقٍّ فَتُكَذِّبُونَهُ، أَوْ بِبَاطِلٍ فَتُصَدِّقُونَهُ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَنَّ مُوسَى كَانَ حَيًّا مَا وَسِعَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَتَّبِعَنِي

(Are you uncertain about it Ibn Al-Khattab? By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I have come to you with it white and pure. Do not ask them about anything, for they might tell you something true and you reject it, or they might tell you something false and you believe it. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If Musa were living, he would have no choice but to follow me.)

Imam Ahmad also recorded a narration from 'Abdullah bin Thabit who said, "'Umar came to Allah's Messenger and said; 'O Messenger of Allah! I passed by a brother of mine from [the tribe of] Qurayzah, so he wrote some comprehensive statements from the Tawrah for me, should I read them to you' The face of Allah's Messenger changed [with anger]. So I said to him, 'Don't you see the face of Allah's Messenger?" 'Umar said, 'We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad as our Messenger.' So the anger of the Prophet ﷺ subsided, and he said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَصْبَحَ فِيكُمْ مُوسَى ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُمُوهُ وَتَرَكْتُمُونِي لَضَلَلْتُمْ، إِنَّكُمْ حَظِّي مِنَ الْأُمَمِ، وَأَنَا حَظُّكُمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ

(By the One in Whose Hand is Muhammad's soul, if Musa appeared among you and you were to follow him, abandoning me, then you would have strayed. Indeed you are my share of the nations, and I am your share of the Prophets.)"