Wakati ndugu wa Yusufu walipogundua kwamba majaribio yao yote ya kumwokoa ndugu yao mdogo yalikuwa bure, walimwacha Yusufu wakaondoka. Waliketi kwenye baraza, wakijishughulisha sana katika mashauriano ya dhati. Tunawaona wakibadilishana mawazo kwa namna nzito sana. Sura haitaji yote waliyosema. Inarekodi tu kauli ya mwisho iliyounda msingi wa hatua zao zilizofuata: {Walipokata tamaa ya kumtoa, walijitenga ili kufanya mashauriano ya dhati miongoni mwao. Mkubwa wao wao alisema}.
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:
Je, hukumkumbuki kwamba baba yenu alichukua kutoka kwenu ahadi kwa jina la Mungu, na kwamba hapo awali mlikosea kuhusu Yusufu? Sitaondoka katika nchi hii mpaka baba yangu aniruhusu, au Mungu atoe hukumu kwa ajili yangu. Yeye ndiye Mwenye hukumu bora kabisa.’ Rudini kwa baba yenu, mkamwambie: ‘Baba, mwanao ameiba. Hatushuhudii ila yale tunayoyajua. Hatuwezi kulinda dhidi ya yasiyotarajiwa. Waulize watu wa mji tuliokuwepo, na msafara tuliosafiria. Hakika sisi ni wakweli.’“ (Aya 80-82)
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)
Mkubwa wao anawakumbusha ahadi waliyoitoa na uzembe wao kuhusu Yusuf na ustawi wake. Anaziunganisha matukio hayo mawili kama msingi wa uamuzi wake mwenyewe, ambao ni kutoondoka Misri wala kumwona baba yake hadi baba yake amruhusu kufanya hivyo, au hadi Mungu atoe hukumu ambayo yeye bila shaka atakubali.
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.
Anamwomba wale wengine warudi kwa baba yao na kumwambia waziwazi kwamba mwanawe ameiba kitu, na kwa sababu hiyo amezuiliwa. Hayo ndiyo tu waliyojua. Kama ndugu yao hana hatia, na kama kuna jambo jingine tofauti katika hali yote hii, bila shaka lilifichwa kwao, na hawawezi kuwajibishwa kwa yale ambayo Mungu, kwa hekima yake, alichagua kuwaficha.
He asks that the rest go back to their father and tell him in all frankness that his son had stolen something, and was subsequently detained on account of this. That was all that they knew. If their brother was innocent, and if there was something different about the whole situation, it was certainly hidden from them, and they could not be answerable for what God, in His wisdom, chose to conceal from them.
Hawakuwa wametarajia jambo kama hili lingetokea. Haingewezekana kulitabiri kamwe. Ikiwa baba yao angetilia shaka maneno yao na asiwaamini, angeweza kuwauliza watu wa mji mkuu wa Misri walikokuwa, pamoja na watu wa msafara wao. Hawakuwa peke yao katika jambo hili. Kwa hakika kulikuwa na misafara mingi iliyokuwa ikisafiri kwenda na kutoka Misri, ikinunua nafaka yake katika miaka hiyo ya mavuno duni.
They had not expected anything like this to happen. It could never have been foreseen. If their father doubted what they said, and did not believe them, he could ask the people of the capital city of Egypt where they had been, and the people in their caravan. They were not alone on this business. Indeed there were many caravans travelling to and from Egypt, buying its grain in those years of poor harvest.
Sura hii haielezi chochote kuhusu safari yao halisi. Inawaweka mbele ya baba yao aliyejawa huzuni wanapomwambia habari zao za kusikitisha. Kwa kweli tunaambiwa tu jibu lake fupi linaloonyesha maumivu yake makubwa na huzuni yake. Hata hivyo, hakukata tamaa. Bado ana matumaini kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu atawarudisha wanawe wawili, au kwa hakika wanawe watatu, akiwemo mkubwa wao aliyeapa kutoondoka Misri hadi Mwenyezi Mungu atakapohukumu kwa ajili yake. Ni jambo la ajabu kweli kwamba matumaini yaendelee kujaza moyo wake uliojaa huzuni:
The sūrah leaves out everything about their actual trip. It places them face to face with their grieved father as they tell him their distressing news. We are in fact told only his short reply which expresses his great pain and distress. Yet he does not give in to despair. He still has hope that God will return his two sons, or indeed his three sons, including his eldest who vowed not to leave Egypt until God had judged for him. It is indeed remarkable that hope should continue to fill his distressed heart:
Akasema: "Hapana, bali nafsi zenu zimewapambia jambo ovu. Basi subira ni nzuri. Huenda Mwenyezi Mungu akanirudishia wote. Hakika Yeye ndiye Mjuzi, Mwenye hekima." Kisha akawageuka na kusema:
“He said: ‘No, but your minds have tempted you to evil. Sweet patience! God may well bring them all back to me. He is All-Knowing, Wise.’ He then turned away from them and said:
“Ole, ni huzuni kwa ajili ya Yusufu!” Macho yake yakawa meupe kwa huzuni, naye akabebeshwa majonzi ya kimya.” (Aya 83-84)
‘Oh, woe is me for Joseph!’ His eyes became white with grief and he was burdened with silent sorrow.” (Verses 83-84)
"Hapana, bali nafsi zenu zimewapambia jambo ovu. Basi subira ni nzuri!" (Aya 83) Hayo ndiyo maneno yake hasa alipompoteza Yusufu. Lakini wakati huu anaongeza usemi wa matumaini makubwa kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu atamrudishia Yusufu na ndugu yake, pamoja na mwanawe mwingine: "Huenda Mwenyezi Mungu akanirudishia wote. Hakika Yeye ndiye Mjuzi, Mwenye hekima." (Aya 83) Hakika Yeye anajua hali aliyokuwa nayo Yaʿqub, na anajua yaliyo nyuma ya matukio na mitihani.
“No, but your minds have tempted you to evil. Sweet patience!” (Verse 83) These were his very words when he lost Joseph. However, this time he adds an expression of high hope that God will return Joseph and his brother to him, as well as his other son: “God may well bring them all back to me. He is All-Knowing, Wise.” (Verse 83) He certainly knows the state Jacob was in, and knows what lies beyond events and tests.
Yeye huruhusu kila jambo litokee kwa wakati unaofaa, pale kusudi Lake linapotimia kulingana na hekima Yake.
He lets everything take place at the appropriate time, when His purpose is fulfilled according to His wisdom.
Kutoka wapi mwanga huu wa matumaini uliojaza moyo wa mzee huyo? Si kitu kingine zaidi ya kuweka matumaini yote kwa Mungu na kumtegemea kikamilifu katika hekima Yake, huku akihisi kuwepo Kwake na huruma Yake isiyo na kikomo. Ni hisia inayojaza nyoyo za wateule wa waumini na kuwa ya kweli na ya kina zaidi kuliko uhalisia wanaouona, kuusikia na kuugusa. {Akageuka kutoka kwao, akasema: "Ole wangu kwa Yusufu!" Macho yake yakawa meupe kwa huzuni, naye akajawa na huzuni ya kimya.} (Aya ya 84)
Where did this ray of hope come from filling the old man’s heart? It is nothing more than placing all hope in God and trusting completely to His wisdom, feeling His existence and His endless compassion. It is a feeling that fills the hearts of the elite of believers and becomes more true and profound than the reality they see, hear and touch. “He then turned away from them and said: ‘Oh, woe is me for Joseph!’ His eyes became white with grief and he was burdened with silent sorrow.” (Verse 84)
Ini taswira yenye msukumo ya baba aliyefiwa na mwanawe. Anahisi kwamba msiba wake ni wake peke yake. Hakuna aliye karibu naye anayeshiriki huzuni yake au kuhisi maumivu yake. Kwa sababu hiyo, anajitenga ili kuendelea kuomboleza kupotea kwa mwanawe mpendwa, Yusufu, ambaye hajamsahau licha ya miaka mingi kupita. Kwa kweli, wakati haujapunguza huzuni yake; bali yote yamefufuliwa upya na msiba mpya unaomhusu mwanawe mdogo, ndugu yake Yusufu. Huu ni wakati ambapo huzuni yake inaonekana kuwa na nguvu zaidi kuliko subira yake ya kujitoa: “Ole wangu kwa ajili ya Yusufu!” (Aya ya 84)
This is an inspirational portrayal of a bereaved father. He feels that his tragedy is all his own. No one around him shares in his distress or feels his pain. Hence, he moves away to nurture the loss of his beloved son, Joseph, whom he has not forgotten despite the passage of so many years. Indeed time has not reduced his sorrow; it has all been brought back to life by the new calamity involving his youngest son, Joseph’s younger brother. This is a moment when his sorrow is shown to be stronger than his patient resignation: “Oh, woe is me for Joseph!” (Verse 84)
Lakini hivi karibuni anazuia huzuni yake na kuficha hisia zake. Huzuni yake kubwa na majonzi yake yanapozuiliwa, macho yake hupoteza uwezo wa kuona: "Macho yake yakawa meupe kwa huzuni, naye alikuwa amebeba huzuni iliyonyamazishwa." (Aya ya 84)
But he soon suppresses his sorrow and hides his feelings. As his intense grief and sadness are suppressed, his eyes lose their sight: “His eyes became white with grief and he was burdened with silent sorrow.” (Verse 84)
Lakini wanawe waliendelea kuhifadhi chuki yao, wakiumizwa kwa kuwa bado anamkumbuka Yusuf na anapata huzuni kwa sababu yake. Hawamwonyeshi huruma yoyote. Hata hawajaribu kuimarisha matumaini yake. Badala yake, wanataka kuzima mwanga wake wa mwisho wa matumaini. Wanamwambia: "Kwa Mungu, utaendelea kumkumbuka Yusuf hadi udhoofike au hadi ufe." (Aya ya 85)
But his sons continue to harbour their grudge, hurt that he still misses Joseph and suffers distress on his account. They do not show him any compassion. Indeed they do not even try to encourage his hopes. Instead they want to extinguish his last ray of hope. They say to him: “By God, you will continue to remember Joseph until you wither away or until you are dead.” (Verse 85)
Hakika hili ni jambo la kikatili kusema. Wao wanamlaumu kwa kumkumbuka Yusufu na kuhuzunika kwa kupotea kwake. Wanamwambia kwamba akiendelea katika hali kama hiyo, huzuni yake itamnyima hivi karibuni nguvu zake zote, au atakufa kwa kukata tamaa.
This is indeed a cruel thing to say. They are reproaching him for remembering Joseph and feeling sadness at his loss. They tell him that if he continues in such a state, his sorrow will soon deprive him of all his strength or he will die in despair.
Yusufu hakika hatarudi.
Joseph is certain not to return.
Baba yao huwaambia wamwache peke yake, kwa sababu anamtegemea Mola wake tu. Hamlalamikii mtu yeyote. Uhusiano wake na Mola wake ni tofauti na wao, nae anamjua Yeye kwa mambo ambayo wao hawayajui: "Ninamlalamikia Mwenyezi Mungu tu na kumdhihirishia huzuni yangu. Kwani ninamjua Mwenyezi Mungu mambo ambayo nyinyi hamyajui." (Aya ya 86)
Their father tells them to leave him alone, because he is only pinning his hopes in his Lord. He makes no complaint to anyone. His relationship with his Lord is different from theirs, and he knows of Him what they do not know: “It is only to God that I complain and express my grief. For I know of God what you do not know.” (Verse 86)
Maneno haya yanaelezea kwa namna ya wazi kabisa hisia za kweli za muumini thabiti kuhusu ukweli wa Uungu. Ukweli wenyewe pia unadhihirishwa hapa kwa uwazi mkubwa.
These words describe in a most vivid way the true feelings of a firm believer concerning the truth of the Godhead. That truth itself is also brought up here in sharp relief.