Verses 53–63
12. Yusuf · Joseph
Makkan111 verses
۞ وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
12:53‘Yet I do not absolve my [own carnal] soul, for the [carnal] soul indeed prompts [men] to evil, except inasmuch as my Lord has mercy. Indeed my Lord is all-forgiving, all-merciful.’
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦٓ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِى ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌۭ
12:54The king said, ‘Bring him to me, I will make him my favourite.’ Then, when he had spoken with him, he said, ‘Indeed today [onwards] you will be honoured and trustworthy with us.’2
قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
12:55He said, ‘Put me in charge of the country’s granaries. I am indeed fastidious [and]well-informed.’3
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
12:56That is how We established Joseph in the land that he may settle in it wherever he wished. We confer Our mercy on whomever We wish, and We do not waste the reward of the virtuous.1
وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ
12:57And the reward of the Hereafter is surely better for those who have faith and are Godwary.
وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ
12:58[After some years] the brothers of Joseph came and entered his presence. He recognized them, but they did not recognize him.
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍۢ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
12:59When he had furnished them with their provision, he said, ‘Bring me a brother that you have through your father. Do you not see that I give the full measure and that I am the best of hosts?4
فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ
12:60But if you do not bring him to me, then there will be no rations for you with me, and don’t [ever] come near me.’
قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَٰعِلُونَ
12:61They said, ‘We will solicit him from his father. [That] we will surely do.’
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
12:62He said to his servants, ‘Put their money [back] into their saddlebags. Maybe they will recognize it when they return to their folks, and maybe they will come back [again].’
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
12:63So when they returned to their father, they said, ‘Father, the measure has been withheld from us, so let our brother go with us so that we may obtain the measure, and we will indeed take [good] care of him.’
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 54
1.It is said that the name of the king was Walid Bin Riyan and he belonged to Malkoos an Arab tribe and that is why Yusuf (a.s.) saluted him in Arabic. Yusuf (a.s.) was only of 30 years at that time but he became intimate with the king due to his manner of speech, knowledge and respect and the king gave him a high post in his court while Yusuf (a.s.) did not ask for it. This proves the king’s indigence and Yusuf’s (a.s.) indifference, exactly as the followers of Ali (a.s.) gave an oath of allegiance and Mamoon declared Imam Reza (a.s.) as his successor when Masoomeen (a.s.) did not declare their needs. Allamah Ismail Haqi has quoted Mujahid from Rubut Bayan that the king of Misr accepted Islam due to the character of Yusuf (a.s.) and adds that if the character of Yusuf (a.s.) can convert the king. then why should character of Abu Talib (a.s.) not be a proof of his faith?
Verse 56
2.According to another tradition during the famine. Zulaikha also came to Yusuf (a.s.) to take grains. Yusuf (a.s.) asked her: Zulaikha. what is your condition? She replied: What to say of Allah’s excellency! That due to the sins Allah made them as slaves and due to obedience of slaves, Allah made them king.
Verse 59
3.The famine reached Palestine and due to his generosity the king became renowned. Yaqoob (a.s.) sent his ten sons to bring grain and prevented Binyamin to go with them. When they reached there, they could not recognize Yusuf (a.s.). They stated their miserable condition and said: We have a younger brother at home. Yusuf (a.s.) told them to bring him along the next time otherwise no grain would be given to them.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
Benefit
Describing himself as knowing and trustworthy Yusuf (a.s.) has introduced himself, not praised himself. Because trustworthiness is not alone sufficient to qualify one to be in charge of the royal treasury. Foresight is necessary to make future plans.
- 1
No matter how lofty a character one may possess one should always keep it in mind that it is due to the mercy of Allah.
- 2
The administration post of Yusuf (a.s.) was neither due to favour of the king nor as a result of recommendation of the courtier. It was on the basis of his excellence.
- 3
This shows that if circumstances demand a person can praise himself. Yusuf (a.s.) also clarified that the post of ministership was the most important position especially in times of famine as during these times there was greatest possibility of violation of rights. The words of Yusuf (a.s.) named the ministry of wealth as the Ministry of Treasure and this has continued to the present age.
- 4
The word of ‘Jahaz’ changes depending upon the circumstances. It denotes provision or things needed in the house. It denotes foodgrains that the brothers of Yusuf (a.s.) had brought. Yusuf (a.s.) did not introduce himself because he didn’t want to frighten them of his retaliation, that perhaps they will come again with their father. He did not inform his father because the test of Yaqoob (a.s.) was destined to reach its perfection.