According to Zemahşerî, this expression is a request to die in the state of Islam and to conclude life with goodness and beauty; this may be specific to a particular situation, as in the words Yakub spoke to his children, or it may carry a general meaning. Additionally, an event that occurred between Umar b. Abd al-Aziz and Maymun b. Mihran is mentioned, noting that the wish for a righteous servant to illuminate God's sight and gather his affairs together serves as an example of this request.

طلب للوفاة على حال الإسلام ، ولأن يختم له بالخير والحسنى ، كما قال يعقوب لولده من آبائي أو على العموم

According to this exegete, the verse explains that knowledge and dominion are a gift from God, and therefore the possessor of knowledge should regard this as a great blessing. Additionally, the preposition 'min' (meaning some) in the verse indicates that the dominion and knowledge given to humans is only a limited portion compared to the infinite divine dominion and knowledge. The text also conveys the difference of opinion among exegetes about whether the prayer that follows in the verse is related to death, or whether it is a request to remain steadfast in Islam.

فكان الحاصل في الحقيقة بعضا من أبعاض الملك ، وبعضا من أبعاض العلم ، فلهذا السبب ذكر فيه كلمة ( من ) لأنها دالة على التبعيض

Kurtubî narrates the view of Qatada in the discussion of whether Yusuf desired death: Yusuf became the only prophet who desired death with eagerness to meet his Lord after the completion and attainment of blessings. According to the majority opinion, Yusuf did not desire death but rather desired to die in Islam, meaning he wished to die as a Muslim when his appointed time came. Kurtubî also discusses with hadith evidence the matter of whether desiring death is permissible, and notes that this is only permissible in times of tribulation with the fear of the religion being lost.

قال قتادة : لم يتمن الموت أحد نبي ولا غيره إلا يوسف عليه السلام حين تكاملت عليه النعم وجمع له الشمل اشتاق إلى لقاء ربه عز وجل وقيل : إن يوسف لم يتمن الموت وإنما تمنى الوفاة على الإسلام أي إذا جاء أجلي توفني مسلما وهذا قول الجمهور

According to Ibn Kathir, Yusuf, even while God had united him with his family and placed him in worldly blessing and dominion, made a request for death/passing away with the same yearning he felt for the righteous people of the past; based on Ibn Abbas, it is stated that Yusuf was the first prophet to make such a request. This request can mean desiring to die in Islam, as well as wishing to be with the righteous in this world and the Hereafter; this condition is supported by the Prophet's prayer at the time of his death, 'O God, let me be with the Highest Companion,' and 'O God, let us live as Muslims, let us die as Muslims, unite us with the righteous.'

وكان ابن عباس يقول ما تمنى نبي قط الموت قبل يوسف عليه السلام وكذا ذكر ابن جرير والسدي عن ابن عباس أنه أول نبي دعا بذلك

Baydawi states that the word 'malik' in the verse refers to the king of Egypt; he explains that 'ta'wil' means the interpretation of books or dreams, and 'min' expresses partiality (tab'iz) because Yusuf was not given complete knowledge of interpretation. He explains that the expression 'Fatir al-samawat wa-l-ard' means the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and conveys that Yusuf requested from God to make him die as a Muslim and to join him with the righteous. He then narrates that Yakub remained in Egypt for 24 years, was buried in the Levant, that Yusuf died at the age of 120, that there was disagreement among the Egyptians regarding his burial, that his body was resolved to be buried in the Nile in a marble coffin, and finally that Moses transported him to the cemetery of his ancestors.

وعلمتني من تأويل الأحاديث الكتب أو الرؤيا، ومن أيضا للتبعيض لأنه لم يؤت كل التأويل. فاطر السماوات والأرض مبدعهما وانتصابه على أنه صفة المنادى أو منادى برأسه.

According to Tabari, Yusuf requested from God that He appoint him as a prophet and count him among His messengers; he also wished that God be his friend and helper in this world and the Hereafter. Regarding the desire for death mentioned in the verse, it is stated that Yusuf desired to meet his Lord and because he wished to meet his fathers Ibrahim and Ishaq, he requested that God take his soul and place him among his righteous forefathers. According to narrations, Yusuf was the first among the prophets to request death from God.

أول نبي سأل الله الموت يوسف