Yusuf 12:2 - Linguistic Miracle

Truly, We sent it down as an Arabic Quran so you may retain understanding

The pronoun it refers back to Mubeen Book in the previous verse. That clear and clarifying book that separates between right and wrong has been sent down as an Arabic Quran. Quran comes from the root Qaaf Ra Hamza which means to read. So the Mubeen Book is now being read and recited in Arabic.

Next, Allah uses the pronoun We for Himself rather I. This is the pronoun of royalty and majesty. In many languages, kings or rulers historically use “we” to indicate majesty, authority, and grandeur, even though they are singular. Arabic has this literary and formal usage as well. So when Allah says “We”, it does not imply multiplicity. It emphasizes supreme power, authority, and majesty. Then the question arises why use the plural of majesty in this verse while in other places of the Quran Allah does use the personal singular pronoun 'I' for Himself? In the previous verse, Allah used the distant demonstrative pronoun (those) for the verses of the Mubeen Book to denote the loftiness, high status and majesty of these verses. Since these verses are lofty and majestical in themselves, it was appropriate to use the pronoun of Majesty for the one who sent these verses down as well.

Next, the phrase "as an Arabic Quran" can be a Haal (حال) that can refer back to both the words "We sent it down" as well as to the phrase "Mubeen Book" in the previous verse. A Haal describes the state of something. "As an Arabic Quran" could be describing the state of How the Mubeen Book was sent down i.e The Mubeen Book was not in Arabic but Allah is now sending it down in Arabic. If the phrase "as an Arabic Quran" describes the state of the Mubeen Book, then it means that the Mubeen Book has been in Arabic language to begin with. Both interpretations are equally valid.

The word Aql has been translated as 'retain understanding' in the verse. It comes from the root Ein Qaaf Laam which was used for:

• A pearl in its shell
• A fortress or a stronghold
• Restraining or holding someone back

The core meaning is to hold or restrain something inside a fortified cavity so that it neither escapes nor gets lost like the pearl in its shell or a person in a refuge or fortress where they take shelter.

(Mu'jam al Ishtiqaqi)

This word is used in the meaning of understanding and knowing something because it is as if the knowledge or understanding of something gets retained inside the brain. Many lexicons have put the word Fahm- which means to understand - as the synonym of Aql. The question then arises why not use the word Fahm instead of Aql if they are interchangeable and synonyms of each other? The answer is that they are not truly interchangeable. Fahm simply means to understand something; but when you understand something in such a way that its understanding stays with you and affects how you behave and act, then the word Aql is used because the root meaning of Aql implies protection and preservation as explained above.

Imagine you took a big initiative and tried your best but failed. After going through this experience, you try again but this time without the mistakes you made previously which led you to fail. Now you have a clear understanding of what works and what doesn't. This understanding remains with you. That understanding and knowledge remains with you and influences the way you act next time so you don't make the same mistakes. This is what is meant by retaining understanding such that it influences how you behave and act rather than simply understanding something.

Quran does not want us to simply understand it. It wants us to understand it in such a way that its understanding influences and changes us, what we do and how we act. It is like the pearl in its shell. We become the shell that hold this pearl of Quranic understanding inside us; beautiful inside and out.

This verse describes this type of understanding as the main purpose of sending down the Quran. It is not mere knowledge, but knowledge that changes us and how we act. The phrase "as an Arabic Quran" is profound in that respect. As mentioned before, Mubeen Book refers to this surah. The story of Yusuf and his brothers is present inside the Hebrew Bible in Hebrew from where it has been translated into Greek language in the Septuagint as well in Aramaic; and it is now being told in Arabic in the Quran. Unlike those other versions of this story, the way the Quran will narrate the story of Yusuf in Arabic, will change us. The Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic versions of it in the Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint lack this quality and effect. The next verse will further expound on this where Allah will also emphasize the manner in which He narrates the story of Yusuf in addition to Arabic language. All of this also serves as an example of the Quran's superiority over the Jewish and Christian scriptures and provide proof that the Quran, being the superior book, is the word of God.

Next, the previous verse described this Surah of the Quran as a book that causes separation but what does it separate and from what? That is not specified there but after reading this verse, we are now in a position to understand what it meant. It has separated this version of Yusuf's story from other versions by saying that they are not the same; rather the Quran's version is vastly superior and possesses qualities other versions don't. It has separated the Arabic language from other languages by emphasizing that it is because of its Arabic language that this account of Yusuf's story is superior to other versions and has the power to change us; and in doing so it has established that the Quran as a book, hence, is superior to the Jewish and Christian scriptures.

Lastly, why is the whole statement emphasized with the word Truly? (إن) In Arabic, this style of speech is used when the audience is either in doubt or skeptical regarding your statement. The previous verse called this Surah Mubeen - one that separates. The question that naturally arises in the mind of the listener is what does this Surah separate and from what? Since this verse answers that question that comes up in the mind of the listener, it was emphasized with the word Truly. (إن) Also, the audience of the Prophet were skeptical and were curious where the Prophet was getting what he was reading to them of Surah Yusuf. They were not rejecting it, but were making speculations about it. Some of them might have believed it was truly from Allah but were in doubt. Therefore, Allah emphasized it to remove their doubts that it is God Himself who sent it down when He said "Truly, We sent it down..."