Yusuf's brothers, had shown lies that they had created themselves. Lied to even their own father, just to get a little recognition. But what did they get? They got nothing but their father's blindness.
وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ
"And the brothers of Yusuf came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown." - [QS.12:58]
They did not know him because they neither expected to meet him again nor did they ever expect that he would hold such a high position as the man who was standing in front of them held.
Yusuf worked out a trick to ensure that they would come back to Egypt again and again. He talked to them and obtained some news about them. He then confirmed to them that he would not give them their measure of corn again until they brought their brother Benjamin to confirm the authenticity of the information which they had told him.
Because he trusted their honesty and their father's honesty, he left their stock which they brought in exchange for the goods they receive in their saddle bags. This was done to make them think that it was placed there by mistake. Thus, encouraging them to return to Egypt to bring the stock back to him even if they did not intend to return for additional provisions.
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
"And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do not you see that I give full measure and that I am the best of accommodators?" - [QS.12:59]
فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ
"But if you do not bring him to me, no measure will there be [hereafter] for you from me, nor will you approach me." - [QS.12:60]
قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَٰعِلُونَ
"They said, "We will attempt to dissuade his father from [keeping] him, and indeed, we will do [it]." - [QS.12:61]
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
"And [Yusuf] said to his servants, 'Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return'." - [QS.12:62]
فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
"So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians." - [QS.12:63]
قَالَ هَلْ ءَامَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَٰفِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
"He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful." - [QS.12:64]
وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَٰذِهِۦ بِضَٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ
"And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement." - [QS.12:65]
This shows us that if a Muslim is provided with proof and evidence during an argument, he should believe and be convinced. He is not to deal with others with suspicion and ill feeling. With this view of dependence and trust in Allah, Ya'qub took an oath from his sons to bring back their brother unless a matter beyond their power or control befell them.
Hence, showing his belief in destiny, its good and its evil. With the kind and merciful heart of an ailing faithful father, Ya'qub advised his sons prior to their departure. He advised them with that which would benefit them and protect them from evil. And in the ligth of understanding the rule of adopting causes and taking precautions, Ya'qub advised them with the following,
قَالَ لَنْ أُرْسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تُؤْتُونِ مَوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأْتُنَّنِى بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَوْهُ مَوْثِقَهُمْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٌ
"[Ya'qub] said, "Never will I send him with you until you give me a promise by Allah that you will bring him [back] to me, unless you should be surrounded by enemies." And when they had given their promise, he said, "Allah, over what we say, is Witness." - [QS.12:66]
وَقَالَ يَٰبَنِىَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ مِنۢ بَابٍ وَٰحِدٍ وَٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِنْ أَبْوَٰبٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَآ أُغْنِى عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۖ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
"And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] Allah at all. The decision is only for Allah; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who would rely [indeed] rely." - [QS.12:67]
The sons implemented this advice and entered from where their father commanded. Yusuf introduced himself to his brother and asked him to hide this secret until the time came to divulge it. He then confined his brother from among them to let them face a tough ordeal as they had given their father a strong oath to keep and return their brother. The retribution meted out to them was the same kind meted to Yusuf. Once they gave their father an oath to take care of Yusuf, but they had deliberately and willingly betrayed their trust with their own hands.
They had lost Yusuf deliberately and here again they would lose their brother Benjamin whom they had been entrusted with and even had taken an oath to his care and safety. But this time it was not deliberate. However innocent they were this time, as they had no control over the events, with regard to loosing their brother, their first previous wrongful action with Yusuf is now causing them the punishment which they had thus far been able to escape. Thus, justice will eventually settle its debts with people. If a culprit escapes its grip for a certain crime without being punished. Later he may be accused of a crime for which he is innocent. Then he will receive the retribution for the crime which he had comitted earlier and did not get his due punishment.
The plan of Yusuf was to place the great beaker of the King from which he drank into his brothers' saddle bags. When they had traveled some distance, he chased them and called upon them,
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَٰهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
"And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allah at all except [it was] a need within the soul of Ya'qub, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know." - [QS.12:68]
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
"And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]." - [QS.12:69]
فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَايَةَ فِى رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَٰرِقُونَ
"So when he had furnished them with their supplies, he put the [gold measuring] bowl into the bag of his brother. Then an announcer called out, "O caravan, indeed you are thieves." - [QS.12:70]
قَالُوا۟ وَأَقْبَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم مَّاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ
"They said while approaching them, "What is it you are missing?" - [QS.12:71]
قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ
"They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it." - [QS.12:72]
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَٰرِقِينَ
"They said, "By Allah, you have certainly known that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, and we have not been thieves." - [QS.12:73]
قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُمْ كَٰذِبِينَ
"The accusers said, "Then what would be its recompense if you should be liars?" - [QS.12:74]
قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
"[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers." - [QS.12:75]
فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِى دِينِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَٰتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
"So he began [the search] with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he extracted it from the bag of his brother. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother within the religion of the king except that Allah willed. We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing." - [QS.12:76]
A Muslim should always be ready and prepared for any matter and he does not hold accountable anyone except the offender. He believes that no matter how far he has reached through knowledge, high status, or prestige in the sight of people, there are still above his knowledge many steps and above these steps, other steps until they all pour into the infinity of divine knowledge. Therefore a Muslim should not become self-conceited by his knowledge or boast about his understanding, but rather he should humble himself truly believing the saying of Allah, the Exalted,
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
"And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." - [QS.17:85]
The sons of Ya'qub were at a loss when the accusation struck them and they realizedd that their brother was trapped. They could not find anything with which to defend themselves except separating themselves from the strong relationship between them and their brother.
قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
"They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allah is most knowing of what you describe." - [QS.12:77]
The two brothers, Yusuf and Benjamin were only their brothers from their father's side. Their mothers were different. Yusuf heard this accusation leveled at him and his brother. But these things did Yusuf keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them.
He was not overpressing or a man of haste as he gathered the proofs and evidence that would eventually end the matter and find the culprit. The culprit would be presented with his full record, so clear and precise that he could not evade full confession, remorse, pardon, and repentance to achieve reformation.
Yusuf's brothers pleaded strongly to take one of them in the place of Benjamin and to have mercy on their father.
قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
"They said, "O 'Azeez, indeed he has a father [who is] an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you as a doer of good." - [QS.12:78]
But Yusuf responded,
قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّظَٰلِمُونَ
"He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust." - [QS.12:79]
It is not righteous to capture the innocent in the place of the guilty. This constitutes an injustice which is not in line at all with righteousness.
When the sons of Ya'qub could not find a way to get Yusuf to release their brother from bondage, they got together and discussed their plight. The eldest son became grieved, worried and embarrassed to meet his father due to his feelings of responsibility with regard to his negligence of his two brothers, Yusuf and Benjamin, and said,
فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِى يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِىٓ أَبِىٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِى ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَٰكِمِينَ
"So when they had despaired of him, they secluded themselves in private consultation. The eldest of them said, "Do you not know that your father has taken upon you an oath by Allah and [that] before you failed in [your duty to] Joseph? So I will never leave [this] land until my father permits me or Allah decides for me, and He is the best of judges." - [QS.12:80]
ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَٰفِظِينَ
"Return to your father and say, "O our father, indeed your son has stolen, and we did not testify except to what we knew. And we were not witnesses of the unseen." - [QS.12:81]
وَسْـَٔلِ ٱلْقَرْيَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنَّا فِيهَا وَٱلْعِيرَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَٰدِقُونَ
"And ask the city in which we were and the caravan in which we came - and indeed, we are truthful," - [QS.12:82]
Look at how the truth makes its holder speak. The speech was that of one confident in himself; one not requiring proofs or evidence, nor lots of swearing, blabbing, wrong doing, or arguments to cover up his position.
A believer is not stung on the same spot twice. Hence we find Ya'qub receiving this piece of news with doubt of their truthfulness.
And he spoke in the language of a true sincere believer who
fully trusted in his Rabb's justice.
قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
"[Ya'qub] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise." - [QS.12:83]
That is how he trusted in his Rabb and hoped for his bounties and blessings.
وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَٰٓأَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَٱبْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ ٱلْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
"And he turned away from them and said, "Oh, my sorrow over Joseph," and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor." - [QS.12:84]
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَٰلِكِينَ
"They said, "By Allah, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish." - [QS.12:85]
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُوا۟ بَثِّى وَحُزْنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
"He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know." - [QS.12:86]
يَٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ
"O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people." - [QS.12:87]
A true believer resorts only to Allah. He does not complain except to Him. He stands at his door seeking his grace. He is a true believer who trusts in his Lord without any despair. Despair is a form of suspicion of Allah and the unbeliever is the only one who suspects Allah as he doesn't fully know Him or believe in Him.
Yusuf's brothers returned to Egypt as it was must for them to return for provisions and supplies. There was also the matter of their eldest brother who took an oath upon himself not to return until his father gave him permission or whatever Allah decreed. Also, there was their brother who was taken forcefully from them.
They went to Yusuf asking for his provisions and charity.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا۟ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَٰعَةٍ مُّزْجَىٰةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا ٱلْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِى ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ
"So when they entered upon Joseph, they said, "O 'Azeez, adversity has touched us and our family, and we have come with goods poor in quality, but give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable." - [QS.12:88]
They explained their condition, the conditions of their family, and father after the absence of their brother who was captured there. The heart of Yusuf was full of tenderness, sympathy, compassion, and eagerness for his brothers and his family. The time for divulging his secret finally came. He asked them,
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَٰهِلُونَ
"He said, "Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?" - [QS.12:89]
This question stirred up surprise and astonishment in them for they were the only ones along with Yusuf who new the secret.
Hence they all called out,
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
"They said, "Are you indeed Yusuf?" He said "I am Yusuf, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good." - [QS.12:90]
