Taberî9-10. c.✓ Citation verified
According to Taberî, in this verse Allah addresses the Prophet Muhammad and informs him that most of the Meccan polytheists will not believe in him and will not follow what he has brought from his Lord, no matter how much the Prophet desires and strives for their belief. This situation is presented as a reality stemming from the polytheists' own choices, not dependent on the Prophet's desires and efforts.
وما أكثر مشركي قومك يا محمد، ولو حرصت على أن يؤمنوا بك فيصدقوك، ويتبعوا ما جئتهم به من عند ربك بمصدقيك ولا متبعيك
Zemahşerî12. c.✓ Citation verified
According to this exegete, the expression in the text does not carry a specific meaning but rather a general/universal meaning. Zemahşerî cites another verse with a similar usage as an example to support this general meaning.
يريد العموم ، كقوله :
Kurtubî13. c.✓ Citation verified
According to Kurtubî, this verse was revealed to comfort the Prophet when the Arabs asked him about this story and when informed by him, they did not believe despite expecting to believe. The meaning of the verse is to inform the Prophet that the power to guide whomever He wills does not rest with the Prophet.
فنزلت الآية تسلية للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أي ليس تقدر على هداية من أردت هدايته
İbn Kesîr14. c.✓ Citation verified
Ibn Kesîr states that Yusuf first delayed interpreting the dream for his two companions and first called them to monotheism, because he observed in their nature an inclination to accept good and listen. For this reason, after completing his call, he began to interpret their dreams without them needing to repeat their question. He then explains the phrase 'raising the heavens without pillars' from Surah Ra'd as evidence of Allah's perfect power and great dominion; he reports that the distances between the heavens and the thicknesses of the heavens are described in measures of five hundred years.
ولكن جعل سؤالهما له على وجه التعظيم والإحترام وصلة وسببا إلى دعائهما إلى التوحيد والإسلام لما رأى في سجيتهما من قبول الخير والإقبال عليه والإنصات إليه
Beydâvî13. c.✓ Citation verified
According to Beydâvî, the expression 'that is of the news of the unseen' refers to the story of Yusuf and shows that the Prophet could only know this news through revelation; because when Yusuf's brothers decided to throw him into the well and plotted against him, the Prophet was not present there. This situation is proof that he did not learn the story from someone who directly witnessed it, and therefore it is evidence that this is knowledge of the unseen. Furthermore, in verse 103, it is stated that most people will not believe due to their persisting in disbelief, no matter how much the Prophet strives.
والمعنى: أن هذا النبأ غيب لم تعرفه إلا بالوحي لأنك لم تحضر إخوة يوسف حين عزموا على ما هموا به من أن يجعلوه في غيابة الجب، وهم يمكرون به وبأبيه ليرسله معهم
Comparison
Common ground
Taberî, Beydâvî, and Kurtubî all read the phrase 'most will not believe' in the verse as something that occurs despite the Prophet's sincere effort and desire; these three exegetes emphasize that the matter is related to the choice of the addressees themselves, not the Prophet's power/will, and their analysis is based on linguistic and rhetorical examination.
Differences
Kurtubî places the verse in a specific historical context (the Arabs asking about the story and not believing) and emphasizes the comfort motive; Beydâvî, on the other hand, connects the same verse with emphasis on knowledge of the unseen and addresses it in the context of proving revelation. Zemahşerî proposes a different linguistic interpretation by arguing that the expression carries a general meaning rather than a specific one. Ibn Kesîr, focusing directly on another scene of the Yusuf story rather than this verse itself and on cosmological reports, expands the topic; these differences are related to the exegetes' methodological preferences (linguistic, tradition-based, contextual).
Historical context
While Taberî's early-period interpretation focuses on the basic linguistic meaning of the verse, later exegetes like Zemahşerî and Beydâvî have deepened the subtleties of rhetoric and logical reasoning, Kurtubî has emphasized historical context, and Ibn Kesîr has enriched the topic with reports and transmitted material; the fundamental understanding (the existence of those who do not believe despite the Prophet's efforts) has remained constant throughout the periods, while the manner of presentation and emphasis have varied.
Modern connection
This verse reminds us that presenting a message in the most beautiful way does not guarantee its acceptance by the other party; this points to the importance of maintaining a constructive attitude with patience and sincerity, without trying to control the outcome completely. In our time as well, one could consider that a patient, sincere, and respectful communication style in efforts to convince people is more valuable than forcing the outcome.
AI analysis — not a fatwa or ruling, not yet reviewed by a scholar