Tafsir of Yusuf 12:65

Surah Yusuf (12:65)

{وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا مَتَاعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ}

• Al-Matā‘ (المتاع): This refers to anything that can be enjoyed or utilized. It is general, but here it could specifically mean the food they carried, or the containers holding the food.
• {وَجَدُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ} (They found their merchandise returned to them):
  • There is a difference among the Reciters regarding the word {رُدَّتْ} (returned).
  • The majority recite it with a ḍammah on the rā’ (Ru-ddat).
  • ‘Alqamah recited it with a kasrah on the rā’ (Ri-ddat).
  • The author of Al-Kashshāf explains that the kasrah of the assimilated dāl was transferred to the rā’, similar to what happens in qīla (was said) and bū‘a (was sold). Quṭrub narrated that they say this transfer occurs even when the rā’ is quiescent, as in the case of ḍaraba Zayd (Zayd was struck).

Regarding the phrase {مَا نَبْغِي} (We seek not/What do we seek):

There are two main interpretations concerning the particle {مَا}:

1. Interpretation 1: {مَا} is for Negation (النفي):
   • First View: They had previously described Joseph (peace be upon him) as extremely generous and kind, saying they had never met such a generous man. Thus, their statement {مَا نَبْغِي} means: "We are not lying about the description we gave of him, nor are we mentioning something that did not happen."
   • Second View: Joseph’s generosity reached the utmost limit; after showing such immense kindness, he then ordered their merchandise to be returned to them.
   • Third View: Since he returned their merchandise, we do not seek any other merchandise from you upon our return to him. The goods we have now are sufficient for us.

2. Interpretation 2: {مَا} is for Interrogation (الاستفهام):
   • The meaning is: "Now that they saw their merchandise returned to them, they said: What do we seek beyond this?" He gave us the food and then returned the price of the food in the best manner. What more could we ask for?
   • If we take {مَا} as interrogative, the implication is: "What could we possibly seek above this honor? The man returned our money. When we go back to him, we will provision our families, keep our brother safe, and gain an extra camel-load because of our brother's presence."
   • Linguistics Note: Al-Aṣma‘ī said: Māra yamīruhū mayran means he brought him mayrah (provisions/food). Hence the saying: "He has neither good nor mayr."
   • {وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ} (and we gain an extra camel-load): This means Joseph (PBUH) was measuring out a camel-load for every man. If their brother joins them, that load will necessarily increase.
   • If we take {مَا} as negation, the meaning is: "We seek nothing else; this merchandise returned to us is sufficient for the price of the food for the second trip, and then we will do such and such."

Regarding the phrase {ذَلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ} (That is a small measure):

There are several interpretations:

1. First View (Muqātil): This measure is small/easy for this generous man because of his eagerness to give. This is the view preferred by Al-Zajjāj.
2. Second View: This measure is yasīr in terms of time (qaṣīr al-mudda); it is not appropriate for such a matter to be prolonged due to detention or delay.
3. Third View: What is meant is that what is being given to us without our brother is a small, meager amount. Therefore, send our brother with us so we can exchange that small amount for a larger one.

Surah Yusuf (12:65) Continued

{قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِي بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ فَلَمَّا آتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ}

• {قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ} (He said: I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge from Allah): Joseph refused to send Benjamin with them unless they provided a firm covenant sworn by God.
• {لَتَأْتُنَّنِي بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ} (that you will surely bring him back to me, unless you are completely surrounded/overtaken): This exception refers to an unavoidable circumstance, such as being completely overpowered or dying.
• {فَلَمَّا آتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ} (So when they gave him their pledge, he said: Allah is Witness over what we say): When they fulfilled their promise by giving the pledge, Joseph confirmed that Allah was the Guarantor and Witness over their agreement.