The Story of Joseph (part 6 of 7)
Prophet Mohammad said: «Every
Prophet was sent to his nation exclusively, but I was sent to all
mankind.» [1] God sent
Joseph, son of Jacob, to the people of Egypt and supported him with
abilities that were observable and made sense to the people the
Joseph had been sent to guide. At the time of Joseph, dreams and
dream interpretation were very important, and this is clear
throughout the story of Joseph. Prophet Jacob (Joseph's father),
the companions of the prison and the King of Egypt all have
dreams.
When the King heard Joseph's interpretation of his dream, he was
astonished, and set Joseph free. However, Joseph refused to leave
the prison with out clearing his name of any wrongdoing. He wanted
his master Al Aziz to be completely sure that he (Joseph) had not
betrayed his trust. Joseph respectfully demanded that the King
investigate the affair of the women who cut their hands. The King
became curious and called for the wife of Al Aziz and her
associates.
{(The King) said (to the women), 'What
was your affair when you did seek to seduce Joseph?' The women
said, 'God forbid! No evil know we against him!' The wife of
Al-'Aziz said, 'Now the truth is manifest (to all), it was I who
sought to seduce him, and he is surely of the truthful.'}
[Quran 12:51]
{قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ
رَاوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِ ۚ قُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا
عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوءٍ ۚ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ الْآنَ
حَصْحَصَ الْحَقُّ أَنَا رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَمِنَ
الصَّادِقِينَ} [يوسف:٥١]
Transliteration: Qāla Mā Khaţbukunna 'Idh
Rāwadttunna Yūsufa `An Nafsihi Qulna Ĥāsha Lillāhi Mā `Alimnā
`Alayhi Min Sū'in Qālati Amra'atu Al-`Azīzi Al-'Āna Ĥaşĥaşa
Al-Ĥaqqu 'Anā Rāwadttuhu `An Nafsihi Wa 'Innahu Lamina
Aş-Şādiqīna
Once his innocence was established, Joseph appeared before the
King. After hearing, Joseph's words the King became even more
impressed and entrusted him to a position of high rank. Joseph
said, {Set me over the storehouses of
the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge.}
[Quran 12:55]
{قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَىٰ خَزَائِنِ
الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ} [يوسف:٥٥]
Transliteration: Qāla Aj`alnī `Alá
Khazā'ini Al-'Arđi 'Innī Ĥafīžun `Alīmun
In the religion of Islam, it is not permissible for one to ask for
a position of authority or two talk about oneself in a boastful
manner. However when Joseph asked the King to put him in charge of
the storehouses he did both of those things.
The scholars of Islam explain that when you are the only person fit
for that position then it is permissible to ask for it, and if you
are new to a community, it is permissible to introduce yourself.
Joseph knew the trials about to face Egypt and he knew he was
capable of averting the danger inherent in a time of famine. For
Joseph, not asking for this position would have been irresponsible.
The young boy betrayed and thrown into the well was now established
as the finance Minister of Egypt. His patience and perseverance,
and above all his total submission to the will of God had already
resulted in great reward. Joseph knew however that the greatest
reward for patience and righteousness would be in the
hereafter.
Joseph Meets His
Brothers
The time passed. During the seven good years, Joseph prepared for
the time of famine to come. The drought and famine correctly
prophesized by Joseph did not only affect Egypt, but also the
surrounding lands including the place where Jacob and his sons were
living. Joseph managed the affairs of Egypt so well there was
enough grain to feed the people of Egypt and those in the
surrounding areas. As life became difficult and food scarce, people
began to flock to Egypt to buy the grain Joseph was selling at a
fair price.
Among those seeking provisions were Joseph's ten older brothers.
When the brothers were ushered into Joseph's presence, they did not
recognise him. Joseph looked at his brothers and his heart filled
with longing for his father and his young brother Benjamin. He
greeted them respectfully, asked questions about their family and
homeland, and explained that the rations of grain would be
distributed per head; therefore, if they had bought their younger
brother they would have received more rations. Joseph was hoping to
encourage them to bring Benjamin, in fact Joseph went far as to say
that without their young brother they would receive no provision at
all.
{But if you bring him not to me, there
shall be no measure (of grain) for you with me, nor shall you come
near me.} [Quran 12:60]
{فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِي بِهِ فَلَا
كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِي وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ} [يوسف:٦٠]
Transliteration: Fa'in Lam Ta'tūnī Bihi Falā Kayla
Lakum `Indī Wa Lā Taqrabūni
When they returned to their father, Prophet Jacob, they explained
to him that no more grain would be provided to them unless they
travelled with their young brother. Benjamin had become very close
to his father, especially after Joseph's disappearance. Remembering
his previous loss, Jacob did not want to part with his young son.
Once again, the brothers promised to safeguard their youngest
brother, and once again Jacob felt his heart constrict with fear.
The brothers then found that the money they paid for the grain had
been secretly returned to them.
Jacob had complete trust in God and gave them permission to take
Benjamin only after they had sworn an oath in God's name to protect
him. Although Prophet Jacob was particularly close to his sons
Joseph and Benjamin, he loved all his sons dearly. They were
strong, handsome, capable men, and Jacob was afraid that some harm
might befall them on yet another trip to Egypt. To minimise the
risks, he made his sons promise to enter the city by different
gates. Jacob said to them,
{O my sons! Do not enter by one gate,
but enter by different gates, and I cannot avail you against God at
all. Verily! The decision rests only with God. In Him, I put my
trust and let all those that trust, put their trust in Him.}
[Quran 12:67]
{وَقَالَ يَا بَنِيَّ لَا تَدْخُلُوا
مِن بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ وَادْخُلُوا مِنْ أَبْوَابٍ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٍ ۖ وَمَا
أُغْنِي عَنكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا
لِلَّهِ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَعَلَيْهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ
الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ} [يوسف:٦٧]
Transliteration: Wa Qāla Yā Banīya Lā Tadkhulū Min
Bābin Wāĥidin Wa Adkhulū Min 'Abwābin Mutafarriqatin Wa Mā 'Ughnī
`Ankum Mina Allāhi Min Shay'in 'Ini Al-Ĥukmu 'Illā Lillāhi `Alayhi
Tawakkaltu Wa `Alayhi Falyatawakkali
Al-Mutawakkilūna
The brothers returned to Egypt, entered by different gates and went
to Joseph for the promised provisions. During this meeting, Joseph
took Benjamin aside and revealed that he was his long lost brother.
The two embraced and their hearts were filled with joy. Joseph,
however, asked Benjamin to keep their meeting a secret for the time
being. After providing the brothers with their rations of grain,
Joseph arranged for golden bowl to be covertly placed in Benjamin's
bag, then according to Joseph's arrangements someone cried out,
{O you in the caravan, surely you are
thieves.} [Quran 12:70]
{ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا
الْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَارِقُونَ} [يوسف:٧٠]
Transliteration: Thumma 'Adhdhana Mu'uadhdhinun
'Ayyatuhā Al-`Īru 'Innakum Lasāriqūna
The brothers were astonished because they were not thieves. They
inquired about the stolen item, and were astounded to hear it was a
golden bowl belonging to the King. Whoever returned it, they were
told, would be rewarded with camel's load of grain. The brothers of
Joseph claimed to have no knowledge of this theft. They asserted
that they were not thieves and did not come to Egypt to create
mischief. One of Joseph's men asked, "What is your punishment for
one who steals?" The brothers replied that under the law of Prophet
Jacob, the one who steals is taken as a slave. Joseph did not want
his brother punished under the laws of Egypt but wanted the
opportunity to keep his brother with him while the others retuned
to their father Jacob. The bags were searched, and the golden bowl
was found amongst Benjamin's possessions.
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Footnotes:
[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhari.
By Aisha Stacey
IslamReligion.com
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