Quran 12:21
Surah Yusuf Ayah 21
In Abdul Haleem's English translation, Quran 12:21 says: “The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, ‘Look after him well! He may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ In this way We settled Joseph in that land and later taught him how to interpret dreams: God always prevails in His purpose, though most people do not realize it.”
Translation source: Abdul Haleem
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Search suggestions
What does Quran 12:21 say in English?
In Abdul Haleem's English translation, Quran 12:21 says: “The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, ‘Look after him well! He may be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ In this way We settled Joseph in that land and later taught him how to interpret dreams: God always prevails in His purpose, though most people do not realize it.”
Which surah is Quran 12:21 in?
Quran 12:21 is in Surah Yusuf, chapter 12 of the Quran.
Guidance
This ayah belongs to Surah Yusuf (Joseph), chapter 12 of the Quran. Reading it as part of the full surah helps you see the flow before and after this verse instead of treating it as an isolated quote.
People often search for Quran 12:21 by number, translation, or theme. This page keeps the verse reference, Arabic text, and translation visible together so you can quickly confirm the ayah and then move into the surrounding passage for a fuller understanding.
Tafsir in the full surah reader is explicitly sourced from Ibn Kathir (Abridged), Al-Sa'di, or Tafsir Muyassar.
Continue reading
Use the full surah reader for nearby ayahs, or browse the popular verse hubs to discover other frequently searched Quran references.