12. Yusuf

So, when they despaired of him, they consulted in private. The eldest among them said: "Know you not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's Name, and before this you did fail in your duty with Yusuf? Therefore I will not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah decides my case and He is the Best of the judges (80)"Return to your father and say, 'O our father! Verily, your son has stolen, and we testify not except according to what we know, and we could not know the Unseen (81)"And ask (the people of) the town where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned; and indeed we are telling the truth. (82)

Yusuf's Brothers consult Each Other in Confidence; the Advice Their Eldest Brother gave Them

Allah narrates to us that Yusuf's brothers were desperate because they could not secure the release of their brother Binyamin, even though they had given a promise and sworn to their father to bring him back. They were unable to fulfill their promise to their father, so,

خَلَصُوا

(in private), away from people's eyes,

نَجِيًّا

(they consulted), among themselves,

قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ

(The eldest among them said), and his name, as we mentioned, was Rubil, or Yahudha. He was the one among them who recommended throwing Yusuf into a well, rather than killing him. So Rubil said to them,

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(Know you not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's Name,) that you will return Binyamin to him? However, you were not able to fulfill this promise and, before you caused Yusuf to be lost from his father,

فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ

(Therefore I will not leave this land), I will not leave Egypt,

حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي

(until my father permits me,) allows me to go back to him while he is pleased with me,

أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي

(or Allah decides my case) by using the sword, or, they says; by allowing me to secure the release of my brother,

وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ

(and He is the Best of the judges.), He next ordered them to narrate to their father what happened so that they could present their excuse about that happened to Binyamin and as claim their innocence before him. Rubil said to them (to say to their father),

وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَافِظِينَ

(and we could not know the Unseen!) or, 'we did not know that your son had committed theft,' according to Qatadah and 'Ikrimah. 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that it means, 'we did not know that Binyamin stole something that belonged to the king, we only stated the punishment of the thief,'

وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ الَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا

(And ask (the people of) the town where we have been,), in reference to Egypt, according to Qatadah, or another town.

وَالْعِيرَ الَّتِي أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا

(and the caravan in which we returned), 'about our truthfulness, honesty, protection and sincere guardianship,

وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ

(and indeed we are telling the truth.) in what we have told you, that Binyamin stole and was taken as a captive as compensation for his theft.'

So, when they despaired of him, they consulted in private. The eldest among them said: "Know you not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's Name, and before this you did fail in your duty with Yusuf? Therefore I will not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah decides my case and He is the Best of the judges (80)"Return to your father and say, 'O our father! Verily, your son has stolen, and we testify not except according to what we know, and we could not know the Unseen (81)"And ask (the people of) the town where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned; and indeed we are telling the truth. (82)

Yusuf's Brothers consult Each Other in Confidence; the Advice Their Eldest Brother gave Them

Allah narrates to us that Yusuf's brothers were desperate because they could not secure the release of their brother Binyamin, even though they had given a promise and sworn to their father to bring him back. They were unable to fulfill their promise to their father, so,

خَلَصُوا

(in private), away from people's eyes,

نَجِيًّا

(they consulted), among themselves,

قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ

(The eldest among them said), and his name, as we mentioned, was Rubil, or Yahudha. He was the one among them who recommended throwing Yusuf into a well, rather than killing him. So Rubil said to them,

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(Know you not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's Name,) that you will return Binyamin to him? However, you were not able to fulfill this promise and, before you caused Yusuf to be lost from his father,

فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ

(Therefore I will not leave this land), I will not leave Egypt,

حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي

(until my father permits me,) allows me to go back to him while he is pleased with me,

أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي

(or Allah decides my case) by using the sword, or, they says; by allowing me to secure the release of my brother,

وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ

(and He is the Best of the judges.), He next ordered them to narrate to their father what happened so that they could present their excuse about that happened to Binyamin and as claim their innocence before him. Rubil said to them (to say to their father),

وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَافِظِينَ

(and we could not know the Unseen!) or, 'we did not know that your son had committed theft,' according to Qatadah and 'Ikrimah. 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that it means, 'we did not know that Binyamin stole something that belonged to the king, we only stated the punishment of the thief,'

وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ الَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا

(And ask (the people of) the town where we have been,), in reference to Egypt, according to Qatadah, or another town.

وَالْعِيرَ الَّتِي أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا

(and the caravan in which we returned), 'about our truthfulness, honesty, protection and sincere guardianship,

وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ

(and indeed we are telling the truth.) in what we have told you, that Binyamin stole and was taken as a captive as compensation for his theft.'

He [Ya'qub] said: "Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (83)And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing (84)They said: "By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead. (85)He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not. (86)

Allah's Prophet Ya'qub receives the Grievous News

Allah's Prophet Ya'qub repeated to his children the same words he said to them when they brought false blood on Yusuf's shirt,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "When they went back to Ya'qub and told him what happened, he did not believe them and thought that this was a repetition of what they did to Yusuf. So he said,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Some said that since this new development came after what they did before [to Yusuf], they were given the same judgement to this later incident that was given to them when they did what they did [to Yusuf]. Therefore, Ya'qub's statement here is befitting,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) He then begged Allah to bring back his three sons: Yusuf, Binyamin and Rubil to him." Rubil had remained in Egypt awaiting Allah's decision about his case, either his father's permission ordering him to go back home, or to secure the release of his brother in confidence. This is why Ya'qub said,

عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ

(May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing,), in my distress,

الْحَكِيمُ

(the All-Wise), in His decisions and the decree and preordainment He appoints. Allah said next,

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ

(And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!") He turned away from his children and remembered his old grief for Yusuf,

يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ

(Alas, my grief for Yusuf!) The new grief, losing Binyamin and Rubil, renewed his old sadness that he kept to himself. 'Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ath-Thawri said that Sufyan Al-'Usfuri said that Sa'id bin Jubayr said, "Only this nation [the following of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ] were given Al-Istirja' [saying: 'To Allah we belong and to Him shall be our return']. Have you not heard the statement of Ya'qub, peace be upon him,

يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

("Alas, my grief for Yusuf !" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.)?" Ya'qub suppressed his sorrow and did not complain to a created being, according …

He [Ya'qub] said: "Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (83)And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing (84)They said: "By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead. (85)He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not. (86)

Allah's Prophet Ya'qub receives the Grievous News

Allah's Prophet Ya'qub repeated to his children the same words he said to them when they brought false blood on Yusuf's shirt,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "When they went back to Ya'qub and told him what happened, he did not believe them and thought that this was a repetition of what they did to Yusuf. So he said,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Some said that since this new development came after what they did before [to Yusuf], they were given the same judgement to this later incident that was given to them when they did what they did [to Yusuf]. Therefore, Ya'qub's statement here is befitting,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) He then begged Allah to bring back his three sons: Yusuf, Binyamin and Rubil to him." Rubil had remained in Egypt awaiting Allah's decision about his case, either his father's permission ordering him to go back home, or to secure the release of his brother in confidence. This is why Ya'qub said,

عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ

(May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing,), in my distress,

الْحَكِيمُ

(the All-Wise), in His decisions and the decree and preordainment He appoints. Allah said next,

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ

(And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!") He turned away from his children and remembered his old grief for Yusuf,

يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ

(Alas, my grief for Yusuf!) The new grief, losing Binyamin and Rubil, renewed his old sadness that he kept to himself. 'Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ath-Thawri said that Sufyan Al-'Usfuri said that Sa'id bin Jubayr said, "Only this nation [the following of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ] were given Al-Istirja' [saying: 'To Allah we belong and to Him shall be our return']. Have you not heard the statement of Ya'qub, peace be upon him,

يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

("Alas, my grief for Yusuf !" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.)?" Ya'qub suppressed his sorrow and did not complain to a created being, according …

He [Ya'qub] said: "Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (83)And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing (84)They said: "By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead. (85)He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not. (86)

Allah's Prophet Ya'qub receives the Grievous News

Allah's Prophet Ya'qub repeated to his children the same words he said to them when they brought false blood on Yusuf's shirt,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "When they went back to Ya'qub and told him what happened, he did not believe them and thought that this was a repetition of what they did to Yusuf. So he said,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Some said that since this new development came after what they did before [to Yusuf], they were given the same judgement to this later incident that was given to them when they did what they did [to Yusuf]. Therefore, Ya'qub's statement here is befitting,

بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) He then begged Allah to bring back his three sons: Yusuf, Binyamin and Rubil to him." Rubil had remained in Egypt awaiting Allah's decision about his case, either his father's permission ordering him to go back home, or to secure the release of his brother in confidence. This is why Ya'qub said,

عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ

(May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing,), in my distress,

الْحَكِيمُ

(the All-Wise), in His decisions and the decree and preordainment He appoints. Allah said next,

وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ

(And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!") He turned away from his children and remembered his old grief for Yusuf,

يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ

(Alas, my grief for Yusuf!) The new grief, losing Binyamin and Rubil, renewed his old sadness that he kept to himself. 'Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ath-Thawri said that Sufyan Al-'Usfuri said that Sa'id bin Jubayr said, "Only this nation [the following of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ] were given Al-Istirja' [saying: 'To Allah we belong and to Him shall be our return']. Have you not heard the statement of Ya'qub, peace be upon him,

يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

("Alas, my grief for Yusuf !" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.)?" Ya'qub suppressed his sorrow and did not complain to a created being, according …

"O my sons! Go you and inquire about Yusuf and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah's mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's mercy, except the people who disbelieve. (87)Then, when they entered unto him, they said: "O 'Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable. (88)

Ya'qub orders His Children to inquire about Yusuf and His Brother

Allah states that Ya'qub, peace be upon him, ordered his children to go back and inquire about the news of Yusuf and his brother Binyamin, in a good manner, not as spies. He encouraged them, delivered to them the good news and ordered them not to despair of Allah's mercy. He ordered them to never give up hope in Allah, nor to ever discontinue trusting in Him for what they seek to accomplish. He said to them that only the disbelieving people despair of Allah's mercy.

Yusuf's Brothers stand before Him

Allah said next,

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ

(Then, when they entered unto him), when they went back to Egypt and entered upon Yusuf,

قَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ

(they said: "O Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family..."), because of severe droughts and the scarcity of food,

وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ

(and we have brought but poor capital,) means, 'we brought money for the food we want to buy, but it is not substantial,' according to Mujahid, Al-Hasan and several others.

Allah said that they said next,

فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ

(so pay us full measure) meaning, 'in return for the little money we brought, give us the full measure that you gave us before.' Ibn Mas'ud read this Ayah in a way that means, "So give the full load on our animals and be charitable with us." Ibn Jurayj commented, "So be charitable to us by returning our brother to us." And when Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah was asked if the Sadaqah (charity) was prohibited for any Prophet before our Prophet ﷺ, he said, "Have you not heard the Ayah,

فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ

(so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable.)?" Ibn Jarir At-Tabari collected this statement.

"O my sons! Go you and inquire about Yusuf and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah's mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's mercy, except the people who disbelieve. (87)Then, when they entered unto him, they said: "O 'Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable. (88)

Ya'qub orders His Children to inquire about Yusuf and His Brother

Allah states that Ya'qub, peace be upon him, ordered his children to go back and inquire about the news of Yusuf and his brother Binyamin, in a good manner, not as spies. He encouraged them, delivered to them the good news and ordered them not to despair of Allah's mercy. He ordered them to never give up hope in Allah, nor to ever discontinue trusting in Him for what they seek to accomplish. He said to them that only the disbelieving people despair of Allah's mercy.

Yusuf's Brothers stand before Him

Allah said next,

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ

(Then, when they entered unto him), when they went back to Egypt and entered upon Yusuf,

قَالُوا يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ

(they said: "O Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family..."), because of severe droughts and the scarcity of food,

وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ

(and we have brought but poor capital,) means, 'we brought money for the food we want to buy, but it is not substantial,' according to Mujahid, Al-Hasan and several others.

Allah said that they said next,

فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ

(so pay us full measure) meaning, 'in return for the little money we brought, give us the full measure that you gave us before.' Ibn Mas'ud read this Ayah in a way that means, "So give the full load on our animals and be charitable with us." Ibn Jurayj commented, "So be charitable to us by returning our brother to us." And when Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah was asked if the Sadaqah (charity) was prohibited for any Prophet before our Prophet ﷺ, he said, "Have you not heard the Ayah,

فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ

(so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable.)?" Ibn Jarir At-Tabari collected this statement.

He said: "Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant? (89)They said: "Are you indeed Yusuf?" He said: "I am Yusuf , and this is my brother. Allah has indeed been gracious to us. He who has Taqwa, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the gooddoers to be lost. (90)They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners. (91)He said: "No reproach on you this day; may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy (92)

Yusuf reveals His True Identity to His Brothers and forgives Them

Allah says, when Yusuf's brothers told him about the afflictions and hardship, and shortages in food they suffered from in the aftermath of the drought that struck them, and he remembered his father's grief for losing his two children, he felt compassion, pity and mercy for his father and brothers. He felt this way, especially since he was enjoying kingship, authority and power, so he cried and revealed his true identity to them when he asked them,

هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ

(Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant?) meaning, 'when you separated between Yusuf and his brother,'

إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ

(when you were ignorant?) He said, 'What made you do this is your ignorance of the tremendous sin you were about to commit.' It appears, and Allah knows best, that Yusuf revealed his identity to his brothers only then by Allah's command, just as he hid his identity from them in the first two meetings, by Allah's command. When the affliction became harder, Allah sent His relief from that affliction, just as He said He does,

فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا - إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

(Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.)[94:5-6] This is when they said to Yusuf,

أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ

(Are you indeed Yusuf?), in amazement, because they had been meeting him for more than two years while unaware of who he really was. Yet, he knew who they were and hid this news from them. Therefore, they asked in astonishment,

أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي

(Are you indeed Yusuf? He said: "I am Yusuf, and this is my brother...") Yusuf said next,

قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا

(Allah has indeed been gracious to us.) by gathering us together after being separated all this time,'

إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ - قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا

("Verily, he who has Taqwa, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the gooddoers to be lost." They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us.") They affirmed Yusuf's virtue above them, being blessed with beauty, conduct, richness, kingship, authority and, above all, prophethood. They admitted their error and acknowledged that they made a mistake against him,

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ

(He said: "No reproach on you this day.") He said to them, 'There will be no blame for you today or admonishment, and I will not remind you after today …

He said: "Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant? (89)They said: "Are you indeed Yusuf?" He said: "I am Yusuf , and this is my brother. Allah has indeed been gracious to us. He who has Taqwa, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the gooddoers to be lost. (90)They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners. (91)He said: "No reproach on you this day; may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy (92)

Yusuf reveals His True Identity to His Brothers and forgives Them

Allah says, when Yusuf's brothers told him about the afflictions and hardship, and shortages in food they suffered from in the aftermath of the drought that struck them, and he remembered his father's grief for losing his two children, he felt compassion, pity and mercy for his father and brothers. He felt this way, especially since he was enjoying kingship, authority and power, so he cried and revealed his true identity to them when he asked them,

هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ

(Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant?) meaning, 'when you separated between Yusuf and his brother,'

إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ

(when you were ignorant?) He said, 'What made you do this is your ignorance of the tremendous sin you were about to commit.' It appears, and Allah knows best, that Yusuf revealed his identity to his brothers only then by Allah's command, just as he hid his identity from them in the first two meetings, by Allah's command. When the affliction became harder, Allah sent His relief from that affliction, just as He said He does,

فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا - إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

(Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.)[94:5-6] This is when they said to Yusuf,

أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ

(Are you indeed Yusuf?), in amazement, because they had been meeting him for more than two years while unaware of who he really was. Yet, he knew who they were and hid this news from them. Therefore, they asked in astonishment,

أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي

(Are you indeed Yusuf? He said: "I am Yusuf, and this is my brother...") Yusuf said next,

قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا

(Allah has indeed been gracious to us.) by gathering us together after being separated all this time,'

إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ - قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا

("Verily, he who has Taqwa, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the gooddoers to be lost." They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us.") They affirmed Yusuf's virtue above them, being blessed with beauty, conduct, richness, kingship, authority and, above all, prophethood. They admitted their error and acknowledged that they made a mistake against him,

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ

(He said: "No reproach on you this day.") He said to them, 'There will be no blame for you today or admonishment, and I will not remind you after today …