Surah 12. Yusuf

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Verses [Section]: 1-6[1], 7-20 [2], 21-29 [3], 30-35 [4], 36-42 [5], 43-49 [6], 50-57 [7], 58-68 [8], 69-79 [9], 80-93 [10], 94-104 [11], 105-111 [12]

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Quran Text of Verse 58-68وَ جَآءَAnd cameاِخْوَةُ(the) brothersیُوْسُفَ(of) Yusufفَدَخَلُوْاand they enteredعَلَیْهِupon himفَعَرَفَهُمْand he recognized themوَ هُمْbut theyلَهٗknew him notمُنْكِرُوْنَ knew him not وَ لَمَّاAnd whenجَهَّزَهُمْhe had furnished themبِجَهَازِهِمْwith their suppliesقَالَhe saidائْتُوْنِیْBring to meبِاَخٍa brotherلَّكُمْof yoursمِّنْfromاَبِیْكُمْ ۚyour fatherاَلَاDo notتَرَوْنَyou seeاَنِّیْۤthat Iاُوْفِی[I] give fullالْكَیْلَ[the] measureوَ اَنَاand that I amخَیْرُ(the) bestالْمُنْزِلِیْنَ (of) the hosts فَاِنْBut ifلَّمْnotتَاْتُوْنِیْyou bring him to meبِهٖyou bring him to meفَلَاthen (there will be) noكَیْلَmeasureلَكُمْfor youعِنْدِیْfrom meوَ لَاand notتَقْرَبُوْنِ you will come near me قَالُوْاThey saidسَنُرَاوِدُWe will try to get permissionعَنْهُfor himاَبَاهُ(from) his fatherوَ اِنَّاand indeed weلَفٰعِلُوْنَ surely will do وَ قَالَAnd he saidلِفِتْیٰنِهِto his servantsاجْعَلُوْاPutبِضَاعَتَهُمْtheir merchandiseفِیْinرِحَالِهِمْtheir saddlebagsلَعَلَّهُمْso that theyیَعْرِفُوْنَهَاۤmay recognize itاِذَاwhenانْقَلَبُوْۤاthey go backاِلٰۤیtoاَهْلِهِمْtheir peopleلَعَلَّهُمْso that they mayیَرْجِعُوْنَ return فَلَمَّاSo whenرَجَعُوْۤاthey returnedاِلٰۤیtoاَبِیْهِمْtheir fatherقَالُوْاthey saidیٰۤاَبَانَاO our father!مُنِعَHas been deniedمِنَّاto usالْكَیْلُthe measureفَاَرْسِلْso sendمَعَنَاۤwith usاَخَانَاour brotherنَكْتَلْ(that) we will get measureوَ اِنَّاAnd indeed weلَهٗfor himلَحٰفِظُوْنَ (will) surely (be) guardians 12. Yusuf Page 243قَالَHe saidهَلْShouldاٰمَنُكُمْI entrust youعَلَیْهِwith himاِلَّاexceptكَمَاۤasاَمِنْتُكُمْI entrusted youعَلٰۤیwithاَخِیْهِhis brotherمِنْbeforeقَبْلُ ؕbeforeفَاللّٰهُBut Allahخَیْرٌ(is) the bestحٰفِظًا ۪Guardianوَّ هُوَand Heاَرْحَمُ(is the) Most Mercifulالرّٰحِمِیْنَ (of) the merciful وَ لَمَّاAnd whenفَتَحُوْاthey openedمَتَاعَهُمْtheir baggageوَجَدُوْاthey foundبِضَاعَتَهُمْtheir merchandiseرُدَّتْreturnedاِلَیْهِمْ ؕto themقَالُوْاThey saidیٰۤاَبَانَاO our father!مَاWhatنَبْغِیْ ؕ(could) we desireهٰذِهٖThisبِضَاعَتُنَا(is) our merchandiseرُدَّتْreturnedاِلَیْنَا ۚto usوَ نَمِیْرُAnd we will get provisionاَهْلَنَا(for) our familyوَ نَحْفَظُand we will protectاَخَانَاour brotherوَ نَزْدَادُand get an increaseكَیْلَmeasureبَعِیْرٍ ؕ(of) a camel's (load)ذٰلِكَThatكَیْلٌ(is) a measurementیَّسِیْرٌ easy قَالَHe saidلَنْNeverاُرْسِلَهٗwill I send himمَعَكُمْwith youحَتّٰیuntilتُؤْتُوْنِyou give to meمَوْثِقًاa promiseمِّنَbyاللّٰهِAllahلَتَاْتُنَّنِیْthat surely you will bring him to meبِهٖۤthat surely you will bring him to meاِلَّاۤunlessاَنْthatیُّحَاطَyou are surroundedبِكُمْ ۚyou are surroundedفَلَمَّاۤAnd whenاٰتَوْهُthey had given himمَوْثِقَهُمْtheir promiseقَالَhe saidاللّٰهُAllahعَلٰیoverمَاwhatنَقُوْلُwe sayوَكِیْلٌ (is) a Guardian وَ قَالَAnd he saidیٰبَنِیَّO my sonsلَا(Do) notتَدْخُلُوْاenterمِنْۢfromبَابٍone gateوَّاحِدٍone gateوَّ ادْخُلُوْاbut enterمِنْfromاَبْوَابٍgatesمُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ؕdifferentوَ مَاۤAnd notاُغْنِیْI can availعَنْكُمْyouمِّنَagainstاللّٰهِAllahمِنْanyشَیْءٍ ؕthingاِنِNotالْحُكْمُ(is) the decisionاِلَّاexceptلِلّٰهِ ؕwith Allahعَلَیْهِupon Himتَوَكَّلْتُ ۚI put my trustوَ عَلَیْهِand upon Himفَلْیَتَوَكَّلِlet put (their) trustالْمُتَوَكِّلُوْنَ the ones who put trust وَ لَمَّاAnd whenدَخَلُوْاthey enteredمِنْfromحَیْثُwhereاَمَرَهُمْordered themاَبُوْهُمْ ؕtheir fatherمَاnotكَانَitیُغْنِیْavail(ed)عَنْهُمْthemمِّنَagainstاللّٰهِAllahمِنْanyشَیْءٍthingاِلَّاbutحَاجَةً(it was) a needفِیْofنَفْسِ(Yaqub's) soulیَعْقُوْبَYaqub's (soul)قَضٰىهَا ؕwhich he carried outوَ اِنَّهٗAnd indeed, heلَذُوْ(was) a possessorعِلْمٍ(of) knowledgeلِّمَاbecauseعَلَّمْنٰهُWe had taught himوَ لٰكِنَّbutاَكْثَرَmostالنَّاسِ(of) the peopleلَا(do) notیَعْلَمُوْنَ۠know

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Translation of Verse 58-68

(12:58) And Joseph's brothers came to Egypt and presented themselves before him.⁵⁰ He recognized them, but they did not know him.⁵¹

(12:59) And when he had prepared for them their provisions, Joseph said: "Bring to me your other brother from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and am most hospitable?

(12:60) If you do not bring him to me, you shall have no corn from me; and do not even attempt to come close to me."⁵²

(12:61) They said: "We will surely try to prevail over our father to send him. Be sure we shall do so."

(12:62) And Joseph said to his servants: "Put surreptitiously in their packs the goods they had given in exchange for corn." Joseph did so expecting that they would find it when they returned home. Feeling grateful for this generosity, they might be inclined to return to him.

(12:63) When they returned to their father they said: "Father! We have been denied further supply of corn. So send with us our brother that we may bring the supplies. We shall be responsible for his protection."

(12:64) The father said: "Shall I trust you with regard to him as I had trusted you earlier with regard to his brother? Allah is the Best Protector and is the Most Merciful."

(12:65) And when they opened their things they found that their goods had been given back to them. Thereupon they cried: "Father! What else would we desire? Look, even our goods have been given back to us, so we shall go now and bring supplies for our family, we shall protect our brother, and bring another camel-load of corn. That additional supply will be easily secured."

(12:66) Their father said: "I shall never send him with you until you give me a solemn promise in the name of Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you yourselves are surrounded." Then after they had given him their solemn promise, he said. "Allah watches over what we have said."

(12:67) And he enjoined them: "My sons! Do not enter the city by one gate; rather enter it by different gates. I can be of no help to you against Allah. Allah's command alone prevails. In Him have I put my trust and in Him should all those who have faith put their trust."⁵³

(12:68) And it so happened that when they entered the city (by many gates) as their father had directed them, this precautionary measure proved ineffective against Allah's will. There was an uneasiness in Jacob's soul which he so tried to remove. Surely he was possessed of knowledge owing to the knowledge that We bestowed upon him. But most people do not know the truth of the matter.⁵⁴

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Commentary

50. Once again the events of some seven or eight years have been skipped over and the narration has been resumed at the point which describes the migration of the Israelites to Egypt and the first clues that Jacob (peace be on him) received concerning his missing son. The events of the intervening period which have been omitted refer to the period in which, according to Joseph’s interpretation of the dream, there would first be seven years of prosperity in Egypt. During this period Joseph took all the precautionary measures which he had suggested to the king at the time he interpreted the dream.

This was followed by a famine and the famine was not confined to Egypt. It also spread to neighboring countries, namely Syria, Palestine, Transjordan and northern Arabia. Thanks to the wise measures adopted by Joseph, only one country — Egypt — had plenty of grain despite the severe famine conditions which prevailed in the region. This compelled people in neighboring countries to turn to Egypt, soliciting it to provide them with grain. It was this need to purchase grain which occasioned Joseph’s brothers to travel from Palestine to Egypt. Presumably, Joseph had banned foreigners from carrying grain without special permission from the government, and beyond a certain measure. Hence when Joseph’s brothers tried to purchase grain they would have been faced with the need to obtain permission from the government. It is for this reason that they had to appear before Joseph.

51. That Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him came as no surprise to him. For at the time they had cast him into the pit, Joseph was only seventeen years old. Now, he was around thirty-eight. During such a long period everyone changes a great deal. Moreover, it could never have occurred to Joseph’s brothers that their brother, whom they had thrown into a pit, would have become the all-powerful ruler of such a great country as Egypt.

52. In view of the brevity of the narration one may find it difficult to grasp why, despite Joseph’s desire not to reveal his identity to his brothers, he insisted his step-brothers bring Benjamin along on their next visit.

A little reflection, however, should clarify the point. It will be recalled that food rationing was in force in Egypt at that time and each individual was entitled to a specified quantity of grain and no more. As we know, the ten brothers had come with the purpose of obtaining grain, and would naturally have asked for a share on behalf of their father and their eleventh brother. This presumably provided Joseph with reasonable enough grounds to make his point. He could possibly have accepted there was a valid reason for their father not to come to Egypt, for he was old and blind but there was no such reason in respect of their brother. Joseph might even have expressed the suspicion that they were perhaps trying to obtain additional supplies of grain under fictitious names, and that they may illegally try to sell the grain they had obtained for their family at some extortionate price. In response, Joseph’s brothers might have explained their family circumstances. They might even have said that their brother was a step-brother, and that for certain reasons their father was unwilling to send him along with them. In reply, Joseph might have said that trusting their word he would permit them to receive the full supply of grain on this occasion, but if they failed to bring their step-brother the next time, they would receive no grain at all.

On the one hand, Joseph warned them. On the other hand, he tried to win over their hearts by doing them a favor and entertaining them. All this is understandable since Joseph (peace be on him) would have been very keen to meet his brother Benjamin again and to become acquainted with the welfare of his family.

All this is simple enough, a matter easily understood. On reflection, the whole affair is-so plain and natural that one need give no credence whatsoever to the exaggerated version of the story we find in the Bible (see Genesis 42-3).

53. This shows how Jacob, who had already gone through the bitter experience of sending Joseph with his step-brothers, might have felt about sending Benjamin with them. Although Jacob had full trust in God and also displayed the utmost patience, he was, after all, a human being. It is natural that a host of suspicions would have crossed his mind. It is also natural that occasionally he would have shivered at the possibility that he might never see Benjamin again. He, therefore, spared no effort in taking precautionary measures.

The precautionary measure suggested by Jacob — that the eleven brothers should not enter the Egyptian capital by the same gate — can be appreciated when one considers the political conditions of the day. For Joseph’s brothers hailed from the independent tribal areas adjacent to Egypt. It is likely, therefore, that the Egyptians might have looked upon them suspiciously. (Witness the suspicions entertained by the British about the residents of the free tribal areas neighboring the North Western Frontier Province during the Raj.) Jacob might have feared that if his sons entered in a group during a period of famine, they would be mistaken for wild tribesmen looking for loot and plunder. In the previous verse, too, Jacob’s remark that ‘unless you yourselves are surrounded’ (verse 66) seems to indicate his apprehension was of a political nature.

54. Jacob’s statements show how one should combine and maintain an even balance between one’s worldly means and the full trust that one ought to have in God. Such a perfect balance was possible only because of the knowledge which God had bestowed on Jacob out of His grace and mercy. Jacob took all possible measures required by common sense and dictated by experience. It is also for this reason that he reminded his sons of their unbecoming behavior towards Joseph and warned them not to repeat it; he made them solemnly swear in the name of God that they would protect their step-brother Benjamin.

Moreover, in view of the political conditions then prevailing, he ordered them to adopt all measures that would prevent them from being ‘surrounded’ by others.

On the other hand, Joseph was fully conscious of the fact as suggested by his remark (see verse 68) that no matter what precautionary measures human beings might take, nothing prevails against God’s will. Hence, man should be clear in his mind that there is no security except God’s. Man should, therefore, place his true reliance on Him rather than on worldly measures.

Such a balance in thought and deed can be maintained only by a person who has full knowledge of the truth. Such a person knows the requirement of God’s laws: that man should work and strive for something for which he has a natural predisposition. At the same time, he is quite aware that the power that really counts is God’s. While a believer strives as others do, he nevertheless knows that without the support of God man’s effort is absolutely useless.

Sadly, this fact is known only to a very few. For most people are totally dependent on their own efforts and become oblivious to the fact that man must have trust in God and remember that God’s will alone prevails. On the other hand, there are those who indolently leave things to God; they disregard the fact that alongside their trust in God, they are also required to work.