11.Yusuf (Joseph)(a.s)(Part-5)

Regarding this scene, Almighty Allah said: And when they entered according to their father's advice, it did not avail them in the least against (the Will of) Allah, it was but a need of Jacob's inner-self which he discharged. And verily, he was endowed with knowledge because We had taught him, but most men know not. And when they went in before Joseph, he betook his brother (Benjamin) to himself and said: "Verily! I am your brother, so grieve not for what they used to do."

So when he had furnished them forth with their provisions, he put the (golden) bowl into his brother's bag. Then a crier cried: "0 you (in) the caravan! Surely, you are thieves!" They, turning towards them, said: "What is it that you have missed?"

They said: "We have missed the (golden) bowl of the king and for him who produces it is (the reward of) a camel load; I will be bound by it."

They said: "By Allah! Indeed you know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!"

They (Joseph's brothers) said: "The penalty should be that he, in whose bag it is found, should be held for the punishment (of the crime). Thus we punish the Zalimeen (wrong-doers, etc.)!"

So he (Joseph) began (the search) in their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of his brother's bag. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the king (as a slave), except that Allah willed it. (So Allah made the brothers to bind themselves with their way of "punishment, i.e. enslaving of a thief") We raise to degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allah).

They (Joseph's brothers) said: "If he steals, there was a brother of his (Joseph) who did steal before (him)." But these things did Joseph keep in himself, revealing not the secrets to them. He said (within himself): "You are in worst case, and Allah knows best the truth of what you assert!"

They said: "0 ruler of the land! Verily, he has an old father (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place. Indeed we think that you are one of the good-doers."

He said: "Allah forbid, that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property. Indeed (if we did so), we shall be Zalimun (wrong-doers)."

So, when they despaired of him, they held a conference in private. The eldest among them said: "Know you not that you father did take an oath from you in Allah's name, and before this you did fail in your duty with Joseph? Therefore I will not leave this land until my father permits me, or Allah decides my case (by releasing Benjamin) and He is the Best of the judges." Surah 12: 68-80

 

The brothers left enough provisions behind for Judah, who stayed at a tavern awaiting the fate of Benjamin. In the meantime, Joseph kept Benjamin in his house as his personal guest and told him how he had devised the plot to put the king's cup in his bag, in order to keep him behind, so as to protect him. He was also glad that Judah had stayed behind, as he was a good-hearted brother. Joseph secretly arranged to watch over Judah's well-being.

Joseph's plan in sending the others back was to test their sincerity, to see if they would come back for the two brothers they had left behind. 

 

When they arrived home, they entered upon their father, calling: "0 our father! Your son has stolen!"

He was puzzled, scarcely believing the news. He was overwhelmed with sorrow and his eyes wept tears. "Patience be with me; perhaps Allah will return all of them to me. He is Most Knowing, Most Wise." A pall of lonesomeness closed over him, yet he found consolation in patience and trusted in Allah. 

 

When they arrived home, they entered upon their father, calling: "0 our father! Your son has stolen!"

He was puzzled, scarcely believing the news. He was overwhelmed with sorrow and his eyes wept tears. "Patience be with me; perhaps Allah will return all of them to me. He is Most Knowing, Most Wise." A pall of lonesomeness closed over him, yet he found consolation in patience and trusted in Allah. 

 

Allah revealed to us what happened at their meeting with their father: Judah said: "Return to your father and say: '0 our father! Verily, your son (Benjamin) has stolen, and we testify not except according to what we know, and we could not know the unseen! 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.

He (Jacob) said: "Nay, but your ownselves 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."

And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Joseph!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing. Surah 12: 81-84

 

The father was deeply hurt. Only prayer could comfort him and strengthen his faith and patience. Weeping all those years for his beloved son Joseph - and now one more of his best sons had been snatched from him - Jacob almost lost his sight.

The other sons pleaded with him: "0 father, you are a noble prophet and a great messenger of Allah. Unto you descended revelation and people received guidance and faith from you. Why are you destroying yourself in this way?"

Jacob replied: "Rebuking me will not lessen my grief. Only the return of my sons will comfort me. My sons, go in search of Joseph and his brother; do not despair of Allah's mercy." 

 

Allah, the Almighty told us: They said: "By Allah! You will never cease remembering Joseph until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead."

He said. "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not. 0 my sons! Go you and enquire about Joseph 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." Surah 12: 85-87 

 

The caravan set out for Egypt. The brothers - on their way to see the chief minister (Joseph) - were poor and depressed.

On reaching Egypt they collected Judah and called on Joseph, to whom they pleaded: "0 ruler of the land! 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." Surah 12: 88

At the end, they begged Joseph. They asked alms of him, appealing to his heart, reminding him that Allah rewards alms givers. At this moment, in the midst of their plight, Joseph spoke to them in their native tongue saying: "Do you know what you did with Joseph and his brother, when you were ignorant?"

They said: "Are you indeed Joseph?"

He said: "I am Joseph, and this is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been Gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the good doers to be lost."

They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners. " Surah 12: 89-91

The brothers began to tremble with fear, but Joseph comforted them: "No reproach on you this day, may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" Surah 12: 92

 

Joseph embraced them, and together they wept with joy. It was not possible for Joseph to leave his responsible office without proper replacement, so he advised his brothers: "Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all your family. " Surah 12: 93

And so the caravan headed back for Palestine. We leave the scene in Egypt and return to Palestine and the house of Jacob. The old man is sitting in his room; tears have been flowing down his cheeks. He stands up all of a sudden, dresses and goes out to his sons' wives. Then he lifts up his face to Heaven and sniffs the air.

The wife of the eldest son remarked: "Jacob has come out of his room today." The women inquired about what was amiss. There was a hint of a smile on his face. The others asked him: "How do you feel today?"

He answered: "I can smell Joseph in the air."

The wives left him alone, saying to one another that there was no hope for the old man. "He will die of weeping over Joseph."

"Did he talk about Joseph's shirt?"

"I do not know. He said he could smell him; perhaps he has gone mad."

That day the old man wanted a cup of milk to break his fast, for he had been fasting. At night he changed his clothes. The caravan was traveling in the desert with Joseph's shirt hidden among the grain. It neared the old man's estate. He gesticulated in his room, and then he prayed a long time, lifting his hands to heaven and sniffing the air. He was weeping as the shirt was nearing him.

And when the caravan departed, their father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Joseph, if only you think me not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."

They said: "By Allah! Certainly, you are in your old error."

Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'I know from Allah that which you know not.

They said. "0 our father! Ask Forgiveness (from Allah) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners." Surah 12: 94-97

 

The story began with a dream and it ends with the interpretation of the dream. Almighty Allah narrated: He said: "I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily He! Only He is the Oft-forgiving, the Most Merciful."

Then, when they entered unto Joseph, he betook his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allah will, in security."

And he raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "0 my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin-life, after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. " Surah 12: 98-100

 

Consider his feelings now that his dream has come true. He prays to Allah: 'My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous." Surah 12: 101

Joseph arranged an audience with the king for himself and his family, to ask the king's permission for them to settle in Egypt. Joseph was an asset to the kingdom, and the king was happy to have him remain with his household. Joseph prostrated to Allah in gratitude.

Before he died, Jacob advised his children to adhere to the teachings of Islam, the religion of all of Allah's prophets. Allah the Almighty revealed: Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob? When he said unto his sons: "What will you worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship your Ilah (God - Allah) the Ilah (God) of your fathers. Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit (in Islam)." Surah 2: 133

Joseph , at the moment of his death, asked his brothers to bury him beside his forefathers if they were to leave Egypt. So when Joseph passed away, he was mummified and placed in a coffin until such a time as he could be taken out of Egypt and buried beside his forefathers, as he had requested. It was said that he died at the age of one hundred ten.