Surah Yusuf 12:80-93 - Quran Translation Commentary

80. So when they despaired of him, they conferred together going aside. The eldest of them said. Do you not know that your father had taken an assurance from you in Allah’s name, and before this you had failed in the case of Yusuf. Therefore, I shall not move out from this land until your father gives leave or Allah gives command in my case, and He is the best of Judges.¹³⁰

81. Return to your father and tell him: ‘O our father! Your son has committed a theft.¹³¹ We testify to what we know; we were not the guardian of the unseen.

82. Ask (the people of) the township where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled.¹³² Verily we speak the truth.”

83. He (their father) said: Nay, your souls (minds) have embellished for you a thing¹³³, so patience is most fitting. It may be that Allah will bring them all to me.¹³⁴ Verily, He, only He is the All Knowing - the all wise.¹³⁵

84. And he turned away from them and said: Alas my grief for Yusuf! And his eyes went white with grief and he suffered silently.¹³⁶

85. They said: By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf untill you become weak (with old age) or you will be of the perish.

86. He said: Verily “I complain of my grief and sadness to Allah only,¹³⁷ and I know from Allah that which you do not know”.¹³⁸

87. O my sons! Go and seek information about Yusuf and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s mercy; verily none despairs of the mercy of Allah except the disbelieving people.”

88. When they presented themselves before him said: “O Aziz! ¹³⁹ Misfortune has touched us and our people, and we have come with meagre merchandise, so give us full measure of corn and be charitable to us. Verily, Allah rewards the charitable.

89. He said: “Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?”

90. They exclaimed: “indeed you are Yusuf?” He replied: “yes I am Yusuf¹⁴⁰ and this is my brother. Allah has shown us favour. Verily he who fears Allah and have patience, Allah does not let go waste the reward of (such) righteous people. “¹⁴¹

91. They said: “By Allah’ Allah has surely exalted you above us, and verily we were guilty. “¹⁴²

92. He said: “There is no accountability for you today.¹⁴³May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy”.

93. Go with this shirt of mine and lay it on my father’s face, he will recover his sight,¹⁴⁴ and come to me with all your family.”¹⁴⁵

Commentary

130. Among the brethren of Yusuf, the eldest was Ruben. From his statement it appears that all these brothers had faith in Allah, however, their character had developed a few evil traits.

131. They did not tell their father that their brother had committed a theft, they said that his son had done so. It was said in a taunting way.

132. That is: This incident has received quite a publicity, and he could ask the people of Egypt or those who travelled with the caravan up to Canaan.

133. That is: You can believe that Bin Yamin has committed a theft, but I (his father) cannot believe it, because I know his character well. It was also a fact that Bin Yamin had not stolen anything, nor did Yusuf charge him of stealing; the circumstances so developed that people surmised that Bin Yamin stole the cup.

134. Prophet Yaqub expected that on account of the dream which Yusuf had earlier seen he would be alive and one day that dream would come true.

135. The purpose for which Prophet Yaqub mentioned the two attributes of Allah was to show that the events involving Yusuf and Bin Yamin were not mere ordinary events, but behind these events there was the great planning by the Almighty Allah, and His plan is based on knowledge and wisdom.

136. It gives some idea about the immense suffering which Prophet Yaqub had endured on account of Yusuf’s separation. He was also a human; then how could he not feel the pangs of his dearest son’s sudden disappearance. But the silence and patience with which he bore the brunt of this great sorrow, is a model for those persons who are unfortunate to face similar adversities.

137. There is a lot of difference between complaining about Allah and complaining to Allah. Complaint about Allah is made by men before His creatures, which is a disrespect to Allah and also an expression of their impatience, but a complaint to Allah can be made before Him only, which is an appeal of a sorrow-stricken heart and also an expression of hope and trust in Him.

138. Yaqub was a Prophet. From this statement of his it appears that Allah had informed through His revelation that Yusuf was not dead, and that he was alive and would meet him one day. This revelation had created a desire in his heart of meeting his beloved son as early as possible. And it is also a fact that when a man’s beloved son dies, the man concerned becomes grief-stricken, but this sorrow is only temporary. On the other hand if a man one day finds his son missing, his grief knows no bounds, for all the time he is worrying as to where his son might be, in what conditions he might be living and what untold miseries he might be suffering. The nature of Prophet Yaqub’s sorrow was of this type.

139. Yusuf’s brethren came from Canaan to Egypt and went to Yusuf and addressed him as Aziz (Ruler).

140. When Yusuf saw his brothers in difficulty and so much disturbed that they were compelled to ask for grains, in charity, he could not help disclosing his identity, which was hidden from them. The reason for his identity remaining a secret was that Yusuf was given the title of Aziz being the administrator of the country, and as stated in the Bible (Genesis 4, 45) the king had given him another name and after his taking over the administration of the country he was then known by his new name.

When Yusuf was thrown in the well, Allah had given him advance information that a day would come when he would remind his brethren of what they were doing with him that day, and they would not at all be aware of the fact. (Ayat 15). What Allah had then indicated came to be true. When Yusuf informed him of the whole affair they were totally unaware of the fact that they were talking to Yusuf.

141. That is: Allah blesses and bestows His favour on those who adopt the policy of fearing Allah and acting righteously in this world also.

142. The circumstances had completely shaken them. and when they saw this astounding fact of Allah’s might that the person whom they had thrown in the well and had left quite helpless had become the ruler of Egypt, they realized their error, and they admitted their guilt. It shows that hardness of circumstances provides training for men and Allah’s astounding might shakes them out of slumber.

143. What a noble example was established by Yusuf! He was fully capable of taking revenge from his brethren, but he forgave them and treated them handsomely. This nobleness and greatness of character wins people’s hearts and attracts them towards such great benefactors, and turns enemies into friends.

At the time of revelation of this surah, there was some dispute between two groups of Quraish in Makkah; in view of that the events of Yusuf and his brethren were a timely guidance for them: and at the time of the conquest of Makkah the Prophet (Sallal Lahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) had uttered these very words:

“There is no accountability for you today,” and had granted them total forgiveness.

144. Its explanation is given in the coming Note No.148.

145. Yusuf called the entire family of his father to Egypt. A prophet’s migration from one place to another takes place on a direction from Allah only, therefore, Yusuf might have said this on being directed by a revelation from Allah.