لَمَّا رَأَى إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ أَنَّ جَمِيعَ مَسَاعِيهِمْ لِإِنْقَاذِ أَخِيهِمُ الصَّغِيرِ قَدْ ذَهَبَتْ سُدًى، تَرَكُوا يُوسُفَ وَانْصَرَفُوا. جَلَسُوا يَتَشَاوَرُونَ، مُنْغَمِسِينَ فِي مُشَاوَرَاتٍ جَادَّةٍ. نَرَاهُمْ يَتَبَادَلُونَ الرَّأْيَ بِصُورَةٍ جِدِّيَّةٍ لِلْغَايَةِ. وَلَمْ تَذْكُرِ السُّورَةُ كُلَّ مَا قَالُوهُ، بَلْ سَجَّلَتْ آخِرَ مَقُولَةٍ كَانَتْ أَسَاسَ خُطُوَاتِهِمُ التَّالِيَةِ: {فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْأَسُوا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ}.

When Joseph’s brothers realized that all their attempts to rescue their young brother were in vain, they left Joseph and went away. They sat in council, deeply involved in earnest consultations. We see them exchanging views in a very serious manner. The sūrah does not mention all that they said. It only records the last statement which formed the basis of their next steps: “When they despaired of [moving] him, they withdrew to begin earnest consultations among themselves. The eldest of them said:

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطْتُم فِي يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ * ارْجِعُوا إِلَىٰ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا يَا أَبَانَا إِنَّ ابْنَكَ سَرَقَ ۖ وَمَا شَهِدْنَا إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَافِظِينَ * وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ الَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا وَالْعِيرَ الَّتِي أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا ۖ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ

Do you not recall that your father took from you a pledge in God’s name, and that previously you were at fault with respect to Joseph? I shall not depart from this land until my father gives me leave or God judges for me. He is certainly the best of judges.’ Go back to your father and say: ‘Father, your son has stolen. We testify only to that which we know. We cannot guard against the unforeseen. You may ask the [people of the] town where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled. We are certainly telling the truth.’“ (Verses 80-82)

ذَكَّرَهُمْ كَبِيرُهُمْ بِالعَهْدِ الَّذِي أَخَذُوهُ، وَبِتَفْرِيطِهِمْ فِي شَأْنِ يُوسُفَ وَسَلَامَتِهِ. وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَ الأَمْرَيْنِ أَسَاسًا لِقَرَارِهِ الخَاصِّ، وَهُوَ أَلَّا يُغَادِرَ مِصْرَ وَلَا يَلْقَى أَبَاهُ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ لَهُ أَبُوهُ، أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللهُ حُكْمًا فَيَرْضَى بِهِ لَا مَحَالَةَ.

The eldest reminds them of the pledge they had given and of their carelessness about Joseph and his welfare. He combines the two events as the basis for his own decision which is not to leave Egypt or meet his father until the latter has given him permission to do so, or God has made a judgement to which he would certainly submit.

ويطلب من الباقين أن يرجعوا إلى أبيهم ويخبروه بصراحة تامة أن ابنه قد سرق شيئاً، ولذلك احتُجز. هذا كل ما نعلمه. فإن كان أخوهم بريئاً، وإن كان هناك شيءٌ مختلفٌ في الأمر كله، فإنه بالتأكيد خفيٌّ عنا، ولا يمكننا أن نُسأل عما شاء الله، بحكمته، أن يخفيه عنا.

بينما يقنط الجميع من عودة يوسف، لا يؤثر ذلك في هذا الشيخ الصالح الذي يعرف الحقَّ عن ربّه، وهي معرفةٌ لا تكون ظاهرةً للآخرين بسهولة. وهذه المعرفة قائمةٌ على الشعور الحقيقي والتجربة الواقعية لقدرة الله، ولطفه، ونعمته، ورحمته التي يمنّ بها على عباده الصالحين. وقوله: «إنّي أعلمُ من الله ما لا تعلمون»، يعبّر عن هذه الحقيقة، ونحن لا نستطيع أن نعبّر عنها أكثر من ذلك. إنها حقيقةٌ لا يدركها حقَّ الإدراك إلا من مرّ بتجربة مماثلة. وأولئك لا يستسلمون للشدة أو اليأس عند مواجهة المحن، بل إنّ المحنة تزيدهم إيمانًا وثقةً بقدرة الله ورحمته. ولن نقول أكثر من ذلك. نحمد الله على النعمة التي أنعم بها علينا، وهو يعلم ويرى ما بينه وبيننا.

Whilst everyone else despairs at Joseph’s return, this has no effect on this pious old man who knows the truth about his Lord, which is a knowledge that is not readily apparent to others. Such knowledge is based on real feeling and an experience of God’s ability, kindness, grace and the mercy He bestows on pious servants. His statement, ‘I know of God what you do not know,’ expresses this fact as we cannot. It embodies a truth which is only appreciated by those who have had a similar experience. Such people do not succumb to hardship or despair in the face of adversity. In fact adversity only enhances their faith and trust in God’s power and mercy. We will not say more than that. We praise God for the grace He has bestowed on us. He knows and sees what is between Him and us.

ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ يَعْقُوبُ أَبْنَاءَهُ بِالْعَوْدَةِ وَالْبَحْثِ عَنْ أَخَوَيْهِمَا الصَّغِيرَيْنِ: ﴿يَا بَنِيَّ اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾ (الآية 87). وهذا هو موقف إنسانٍ يُدرك قلبُه إدراكًا عميقًا حقيقةَ الألوهية. ﴿يَا بَنِيَّ اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ﴾. إنّ التعبير العربي «تَحَسَّسُوا»، أي اطلبوا الخبر، يحمل دلالات الرفق والتتبّع الصبور، بحيث يُظهرون شيئًا من نفوسهم في سعيهم لمعرفة ما جرى لأخويهم. ولا ينبغي لهم أن يقنطوا من الله أبدًا، فقد يتوب عليهم برحمته ولطفه. وحتى كلمة «رَوْح» المستعملة هنا للدلالة على الرحمة تحمل معنى انفراج الروح من الكرب.

Jacob then instructs his sons to go back and seek information about their two younger brothers: “My sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother; and do not despair of God’s mercy; for none but unbelievers can ever despair of God’s mercy.” (Verse 87) That is the attitude of a person whose heart is keenly aware of the truth of Godhead. “My sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother.” The Arabic expression for ‘seek news’, taĥassasū, adds connotations of gentleness and patient pursuit, so that they can demonstrate something of their own souls in their efforts to find out what happened to their brothers. They must never despair of God for He may yet turn to them in mercy and kindness. Even the Arabic word rawĥ, used here to denote ‘mercy’, adds connotations of a spirit experiencing release from hardship.

وأقرّوا أيضاً بما أدركوه من مظاهر فضل الله على يوسف، إذ منحه المكانة الرفيعة، وصفات الحلم والتقوى والإحسان. وردّ يوسف على اعترافهم بذنبهم بعفوٍ كريم أزال عنهم الحاجة إلى الشعور بالخجل من أنفسهم. ويدلّ هذا على أن يوسف اجتاز ابتلاءه بالثراء والسلطان بنجاح، كما اجتاز من قبلُ ابتلاءاته بالشدّة والسجن.

They also acknowledged what they realized to be aspects of God’s grace bestowed on Joseph, giving him high position, and qualities of forbearance, piety and benevolence. Joseph replied to their acknowledgement of guilt with charitable forgiveness that ended the need for them to feel ashamed of themselves. This shows that Joseph came through his trial with affluence and power as successfully as he came through the earlier trials with hardship and imprisonment.

يُظهِر يوسف عليه السلام كرمًا عظيمًا تجاه إخوته، فيردّ على قولهم بالعفو عنهم، وترك كل لوم وعتاب، فيقول: {لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ} (الآية 92). وبذلك يبيّن أن أحداث الماضي لم تترك في نفسه أي مرارة باقية. ثم يدعو الله أن يغفر لإخوته، وينتقل بالحديث إلى الأمور التي تستدعي الاهتمام، كحال أبيه الذي لم يزل حزنه قائمًا، وقد ابيضّت عيناه من شدة الحزن. ويحرص يوسف على التعجيل بإيصال البشرى إليه، ولقائه في أقرب وقت ممكن.

Joseph is very charitable to his brothers. He replies to their statement by waiving all reproach: “None shall reproach you today. May God forgive you. He is indeed the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.” (Verse 52) He thus shows that the events of the past have left no lingering bitterness in him. He prays to God to forgive his brothers and turns tie conversation to matters that need attention, such as his father whose sorrow was unabated, and whose eyes had become white with grief. Joseph wants to speed up the process of giving him the good news and to meet him as soon as possible.

أَهَمُّ ما في الأمر كله أنه أراد أن يُزيل همَّه، وأن يُعيد إليه قوته وبصره، ولهذا قال لإخوته: ﴿اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ﴾ (الآية ٩٣).

Most urgent of all, he wanted to remove his distress and to help him regain his strength and his eyesight. Hence he tells his brothers: “Now go and take this shirt of mine and lay it over my father’s face, and he will recover his sight. Then come back to me with all your family.” (Verse 93)

كيف عرف يوسف أن أباه سيستعيد بصره بمجرد أن يشم رائحة ابنه المفقود؟ إن ذلك من جملة ما علّمه الله إياه. وقد تُحدِث المفاجأة الشديدة آثاراً خارقة. ثم لماذا لا يكون هناك معجزة، وكلٌّ من يوسف ويعقوب نبيّان اختارهما الله ليكونا رسولين له؟

How did Joseph know that his father would regain his eyesight once he received his lost son’s scent? That is part of what God had taught him. Sudden surprise may produce miraculous effects. Besides, why should there not be a miracle when both Joseph and Jacob are prophets whom God had chosen to be His messengers?

تُفاجئنا السورة مرة أخرى، فتترك جميع تفاصيل هذه الرحلة الأخيرة، وتنتقل مباشرةً إلى مشهد ختامي مشحون بالعاطفة. ونبدأ تعليقنا والأسرة تقترب من موعدها المقدّر مع يوسف، ابنها الذي طال غيابه.

The sūrah gives us yet another surprise. Leaving out all details about this last trip, it moves directly to a highly charged final scene. We pick up our commentary with the family approaching its appointed meeting with Joseph its long departed son.

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ آوَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ

“When they all presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his parents to himself saying:

"ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ" وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ، وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا، وَقَالَ:

‘Enter Egypt in peace, if it so pleases God.’ And he raised his parents to the highest place of honour, and they fell down on their knees, prostrating themselves before him. He said:

قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

‘Father, this is the real meaning of my dream of long ago. My Lord has made it come true. He has been gracious to me, releasing me from prison, and bringing you all from the desert after Satan had sown discord between me and my brothers. My Lord is gracious in whatever way He wishes. He is All-Knowing, truly Wise.” (Verses 99-100)

إنه لمشهد عظيم القوة حقًّا. لقد مرّت سنوات طويلة بكل ما حملته من يأس وأمل ضائع، ومن ألم وكرب، ومن شوق وحزن، ومن رجاءٍ صامتٍ ملحٍّ في اللقاء. سنواتٌ طويلةٌ شاقّة من الابتلاء الذي ليس من السهل اجتيازه. وبعد كل ذلك يأتينا هذا المشهد القوي، بما فيه من شدة الشعور والمسرّة والسعادة والانفعال. إنه المشهد الختامي المرتبط ارتباطًا وثيقًا بالمشهد الافتتاحي في القصة. لقد انقضى المشهد الافتتاحي منذ زمن بعيد، أما المشهد الختامي فها هو يقع الآن. وبين المشهدين، كان يوسف يذكر الله، ولم يدع نفسه تنساه أبدًا: ﴿فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ آوَىٰ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ﴾ (الآية ٩٩).

It is certainly a most powerful scene. Long years have passed with all that they carried of despair and lost hope, pain and distress, longing and grief, and also an urgent, silent plea for reunion. Long hard years of a test that is not easy to pass. After all that we have this powerful scene, with its intensity of feeling, pleasure, happiness and emotion. It is a final scene that is closely connected to the opening one in the story. The opening scene is long gone, but the final one is now taking place. Between the two, Joseph remembers God, never allowing himself to forget Him: “When they all presented themselves before Joseph, he drew his parents to himself saying: ‘Enter Egypt in peace, if it so pleases God.’“ (Verse 99)