Tafsir of Yusuf 12:58-61

Surah Yusuf (12:58-61)

When famine spread across the lands and reached the town where Jacob (peace be upon him) resided, life became difficult for them. He told his sons: "Indeed, there is a righteous man in Egypt who dispenses provisions to the people. Go to him with your money and obtain food."

Ten of them set out and entered upon Joseph (peace be upon him). This event served as the means for Joseph to reunite with his brothers and for the truth of what God Almighty had informed him to manifest, when he was cast into the well, saying: {You will surely inform them of this matter while they do not perceive it} (Yusuf: 15).

God Almighty informed that Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him at all.

Why Joseph Recognized Them:

1. God had informed him in the verse {You will surely inform them of this matter} that they would come to him and enter upon him.
2. The dream he had also indicated that they would reach him. Therefore, Joseph was anticipating this event. Whenever someone arrived at his door from distant lands, he would inquire about them and their circumstances to determine if these arrivals were his brothers. When Joseph's brothers arrived at his door, his investigation revealed that they were indeed his brothers.

Why They Did Not Recognize Joseph:

1. The Barrier of Protocol: Joseph commanded his guards to make them wait at a distance, and he would only speak to them through an intermediary. When matters are conducted this way, it is natural that they would not recognize him, especially given the majesty of the king and their extreme need, which causes intense fear—all of which prevents the thorough contemplation necessary for recognition.
2. Changes Over Time: When they cast him into the well, he was young. Afterward, they saw him with a full beard, and his appearance and attire had changed. They saw him seated on his throne, wearing silk garments, with a golden collar around his neck and a golden crown on his head. Furthermore, the people had forgotten the incident of Joseph due to the long passage of time. It is said that forty years passed between the time they cast him into the well and this moment. Each of these factors prevents recognition, especially when combined.
3. Divine Will: Recognition and remembrance are creations of God Almighty. Perhaps God did not create that recognition and remembrance in their hearts to fulfill what He had told him: {You will surely inform them of this matter while they do not perceive it}. This was part of Joseph's miracles.

Then God Almighty said: {And when he furnished them with their provisions}.

Al-Layth said: "I equipped the people with tajhīz (provisions) when I undertook the responsibility of preparing their travel necessities." This is also used for the provisions of a bride or a deceased person—what is needed for their journey. He said: "I heard the people of Basra say al-juhāz (with a kasra on the jīm)." Al-Azhari stated: "All reciters agree on the fatḥa (on the jīm), and the kasra is not a sound usage."

The commentators said: He loaded a camel's burden for each man and honored them by hosting them and giving them what they needed for their journey. This is the meaning of {And when he furnished them with their provisions}. Then God Almighty clarified that after furnishing them, he said: {Bring me a brother of yours from your father}.

We must consider that there must have been a preceding conversation that led Joseph to ask about his brother's condition. Scholars mentioned several interpretations for this:

First Interpretation (The Best): It was Joseph's custom to give everyone the load of one camel, no more, no less. Joseph's brothers who came to him were ten, so he gave them ten loads. They said: "We have an old, elderly father, and another brother remaining with him." They mentioned that their father did not come due to his age and intense grief, and their brother remained to serve his father, and they too needed provisions. So, he prepared two more camel loads of food for them. When they mentioned this, Joseph said: "This indicates that your father's love for that brother is greater than his love for you." This is strange because, despite your beauty, intellect, and refinement, if your father's love for that brother exceeds his love for you, this points to an astonishing matter regarding intellect, virtue, and manners. "Bring him to me so that I may see him." This reason is plausible and fitting.

Second Interpretation: When they entered upon him (peace be upon him) and he gave them food, he asked them: "Who are you?" They replied: "We are shepherds from the land of Sham afflicted by hardship, and we came to buy provisions." He said: "Perhaps you came as spies?" They replied: "God forbid! We are brothers, sons of one father, a righteous old man, a prophet named Jacob." He asked: "How many are you?" They replied: "We were twelve, but one of us perished, and one remained with the father for solace over the one who perished. We are ten, and we have come to you." He said: "Leave one of you here as a hostage with me, and bring me a brother of yours from your father so that he may convey your father's message to you." At this, they drew lots, and Simeon was chosen. Simeon was the one who had the best opinion regarding Joseph. So they left him with him.

Third Interpretation: Perhaps when they mentioned their father, Joseph asked: "Why did you leave him alone and solitary?" They replied: "We did not leave him alone; one remained with him." He asked them: "Why did he single him out and favor him with this status, due to a physical defect?" They replied: "No, but because he loves him more than he loves the rest of his children." At this, Joseph said: "Since you mentioned that your father is a learned, wise man, far from exaggeration, and yet he singled out that brother with excessive love, he must possess a virtue and perfection that surpasses you, even though I see you as virtuous, learned, and wise men. My soul yearns to see that brother, so bring him to me." The second reason is mentioned by the commentators, while the first and third are plausible. God knows best.

Then God Almighty recounted that he said: {Do you not see that I give full measure?} meaning, I complete it and do not shortchange it, {And I will add to you another camel load for your brother, and I am the best of hosts}, meaning the best of entertainers, because when he hosted them, he treated them excellently.

I say: This statement weakens the second interpretation, which we narrated from the commentators. That interpretation hinges on Joseph accusing them and claiming they were spies. If he had confronted them with such words, it would not be fitting for him to then say: {Do you not see that I give full measure, and I am the best of hosts?} Furthermore, it is unlikely for Joseph (peace be upon him), being a righteous man, to tell them, "You are spies and informants," when he knew they were innocent of this accusation, as falsehood does not suit the status of a righteous person.

Then he said: {But if you do not bring him to me, then you shall have no measure from me, nor shall you come near me}.

We should note that when he requested they bring that brother, he combined encouragement (targhīb) and deterrence (tarhīb).

The encouragement is in His saying: {Do you not see that I give full measure, and I am the best of hosts?}

The deterrence is in His saying: {But if you do not bring him to me, then you shall have no measure from me, nor shall you come near me}. This is because they were in dire need of obtaining food, and they could not obtain it except from him. Preventing them from coming to him was the ultimate deterrence and warning.

When they heard this from Joseph, they said: {We will persuade his father concerning him, and indeed, we will do it}. Meaning, we will strive and devise a plan to take him from his custody, and indeed, we will carry out this persuasion. The repetition of {and indeed, we will do it} is for emphasis. It could mean: "We will bring him to you," or it could mean: "We will do everything within our power in this regard."

{And he said to his young men, "Place their merchandise in their saddlebags so that they may recognize it when they return to their families, perhaps they will return."}

{So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, measure has been withheld from us. So send with us our brother, that we may receive measure, and indeed, we will be his guardians."}

{He said, "Shall I entrust you with him except as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allah is the best of guardians, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."}