MISHKAT

MISHKAT

"A review of the views of commentators and translators regarding the antecedents of the pronouns in verse 110 of Surah Yusuf"

Document Type : technical paper

Authors
1 Department of Quran and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Shiraz University, Shiraz
2 Quranic Sciences Department, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Shiraz University, Shiraz
Abstract
The disagreement among commentators and translators of the Qur’an regarding the antecedents of the pronouns in verse 110 of Surah Yusuf has made this verse one of the most debated topics in the fields of Qur’anic exegesis and Islamic theology. Various interpretations have been offered concerning its meaning, and the sequence of pronouns in the verse has, from a semantic perspective, sometimes led to the misconception of attributing “falsehood” to the prophets—a matter that commentators have sought to clarify through exegetical and theological analysis.This study, adopting a descriptive–analytical approach and utilizing library-based research methods, examines and compares different perspectives on determining the antecedents of the pronouns in verse 110 of Surah Yusuf. Its main objective is to identify the sources of disagreement and to assess the extent to which commentators and translators are influenced by their exegetical and theological presuppositions.The findings indicate that the disagreement over the pronouns’ antecedents stems less from purely syntactic or lexical factors and more from the commentators’ theological and interpretive assumptions. Commentators who emphasized the infallibility of the prophets assigned the pronouns to the people or disbelievers, whereas others, adopting a rationalist or historical perspective, attributed them to the prophets, reflecting their human and psychological experiences. Thus, the assignment of pronouns in verse 110 of Surah Yusuf reflects differences in syntactic interpretation, perspectives on the nature of prophethood, and the relationship between humans and divine revelation
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 May 2026