Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـرِقِينَ (By Allah! Indeed you know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!) `Ever since you knew us, you, due to our good conduct, became certain that, مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـرِقِينَ (we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!) They said, `Theft is not in our character, as you came to know.' Yusuf's men said, فَمَا جَزَآؤُهُ `(What then shall be the penalty of him), in reference to the thief, if it came out that he is one of you,' إِن كُنتُمْ كَـذِبِينَ (if you are (proved to be) liars) They asked them, `What should be the thief's punishment if he is one of you' قَالُواْ جَزؤُهُ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِ فَهُوَ جَزَاؤُهُ كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِى الظَّـلِمِينَ (They said: "His penalty should be that he, in whose bag it is found, should be held for the punishment. Thus we punish the wrongdoers!") This was the law of Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, that the thief be given as a slave to the victim of theft. This is what Yusuf wanted, and this is why he started with their bags first before his brother's bag, to perfect the plot, ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ (Then he brought it out of his brother's bag.) Therefore, Yusuf took Binyamin as a slave according to their judgement and the law which they believed in. So Allah said; كَذَلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ (Thus did We plan for Yusuf.) and this is a good plot that Allah likes and prefers, because it seeks a certain benefit using wisdom and the benefit of all. Allah said next, مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِى دِينِ الْمَلِكِ (He could not take his brother by the law of the king,) as a captive, for this was not the law of king of Egypt, according to Ad-Dahhak and several other scholars. Allah only allowed Yusuf to take his brother as a captive after his brothers agreed to this judgement beforehand, and he knew that this was their law. This is why Allah praised him when He said, نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ (We raise to degrees whom We will,) just as He said in another Ayah, يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمْ (Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe.) 58:11 Allah said next, وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ (but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing.) Al-Hasan commented, "There is no knowledgeable person, but there is another person with more knowledge until it ends at Allah the Exalted and Most Honored. In addition, `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "We were with Ibn `Abbas when he narrated an amazing Hadith. A man in the audience said, `All praise is to Allah! There is an all-knowing above every person endowed with knowledge.' Ibn `Abbas responded, `Worse it is that which you said! Allah is the All-Knowing and His knowledge is above the knowledge of every knowledgeable person.' Simak narrated that `Ikrimah said that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ (but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allah).) "This person has more knowledge than that person, and Allah is above all knowledgeable persons." Similar was narrated from `Ikrimah. Qatadah said, "Over every person endowed with knowledge is a more knowledgeable person until all knowledge ends with Allah. Verily, knowledge started from Allah, and from Him the scholars learn, and to Him all knowledge returns." `Abdullah bin Mas`ud read the Ayah this way, (وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ عَالِمٍ عَلِيمٌ) "And above every scholar, is the All-Knower (Allah)."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

Yusuf's Brothers accuse Him of Theft! After Yusuf's brothers saw that the king's bowl was taken out of Binyamin's bag, they said, إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ (If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before.) They tried to show themselves as innocent from being like Binyamin, saying that he did just like a brother of his did beforehand, meaning Yusuf, peace be upon him! Allah said, فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِ (But these things did Yusuf keep in himself), meaning the statement that he said afterwards, أَنْتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَاناً وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمْ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ (You are in an evil situation, and Allah is the Best Knower of that which you describe!) Yusuf said this to himself and did not utter it aloud, thus intending to hide what he wanted to say to himself even before he said it. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِ (But these things did Yusuf keep in himself), "He kept in himself his statement next, أَنْتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَاناً وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمْ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ (You are in an evil situation, and Allah is the Best Knower of that which you describe!)."

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

Yusuf's Brothers offer taking One of Them instead of Binyamin as a Slave, Yusuf rejects the Offer When it was decided that Benyamin was to be taken and kept with Yusuf according to the law they adhered by, Yusuf's brothers started requesting clemency and raising compassion in his heart for them, قَالُواْ يأَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا (They said, "O `Aziz! Verily, he has an old father...") who loves him very much and is comfor- ted by his presence from the son that he lost, فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُ (so take one of us in his place.), instead of Binyamin to remain with you, إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (Indeed we think that you are one of the doers of good.), the good doers, just, and accepting fairness, قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلاَّ مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَـعَنَا عِندَهُ (He said: "Allah forbid, that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property..."), `according to the judgement that you gave for his punishment, إِنَّـآ إِذًا لَّظَـلِمُونَ (Indeed, we should be wrongdoers.), if we take an innocent man instead of the guilty man. '

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

Yusuf's Brothers offer taking One of Them instead of Binyamin as a Slave, Yusuf rejects the Offer When it was decided that Benyamin was to be taken and kept with Yusuf according to the law they adhered by, Yusuf's brothers started requesting clemency and raising compassion in his heart for them, قَالُواْ يأَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا (They said, "O `Aziz! Verily, he has an old father...") who loves him very much and is comfor- ted by his presence from the son that he lost, فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُ (so take one of us in his place.), instead of Binyamin to remain with you, إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (Indeed we think that you are one of the doers of good.), the good doers, just, and accepting fairness, قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلاَّ مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَـعَنَا عِندَهُ (He said: "Allah forbid, that we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property..."), `according to the judgement that you gave for his punishment, إِنَّـآ إِذًا لَّظَـلِمُونَ (Indeed, we should be wrongdoers.), if we take an innocent man instead of the guilty man. '

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

Allah's Prophet Ya`qub receives the Grievous News Allah's Prophet Ya`qub repeated to his children the same words he said to them when they brought false blood on Yusuf' shirt, بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ (Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Muhammad bin Ishaq said, "When they went back to Ya`qub and told him what happened, he did not believe them and thought that this was a repetition of what they did to Yusuf. So he said, بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ (Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Some said that since this new development came after what they did before to Yusuf, they were given the same judgement to this later incident that was given to them when they did what they did to Yusuf. Therefore, Ya`qub's statement here is befitting, بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ (Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) He then begged Allah to bring back his three sons: Yusuf, Binyamin and Rubil to him." Rubil had remained in Egypt awaiting Allah's decision about his case, either his father's permission ordering him to go back home, or to secure the release of his brother in confidence. This is why Ya`qub said, عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ (May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing,), in my distress, الْحَكِيمُ (the All-Wise), in His decisions and the decree and preordainment He appoints. Allah said next, وَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يأَسَفَا عَلَى يُوسُفَ (And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!") He turned away from his children and remembered his old grief for Yusuf, يأَسَفَا عَلَى يُوسُفَ (Alas, my grief for Yusuf!) The new grief, losing Binyamin and Rubil, renewed his old sadness that he kept to himself. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ath-Thawri said that Sufyan Al-`Usfuri said that Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "Only this nation the following of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were given Al-Istirja'. Have you not heard the statement of Ya`qub, peace be upon him, يأَسَفَا عَلَى يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ("Alas, my grief for Yusuf !" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing. )" Ya`qub suppressed his sorrow and did not complain to a created being, according to Qatadah and other scholars. Ad-Dahhak also commented, "Ya`qub was aggrieved, sorrowful and sad." Ya`qub's children felt pity for him and said, while feeling sorrow and compassion, تَالله تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ (By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf), `you will keep remembering Yusuf, حَتَّى تَكُونَ حَرَضاً (until you become weak with old age,), until your strength leaves you,' أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَـلِكِينَ (or until you be of the dead.) They said, `if you continue like this, we fear for you that you might die of grief,' قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُو بَثِّى وَحُزْنِى إِلَى اللَّهِ (He said: "I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.") When they said these words to him, Ya`qub said, إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُو بَثِّى وَحُزْنِى `(I only complain of my grief and sorrow) for the afflictions that struck me, إِلَى اللَّهِ (to Allah, ) alone, وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (and I know from Allah that which you know not.) I anticipate from Allah each and every type of goodness.' Ibn `Abbas commented on the meaning of, وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (and I know from Allah that which you know not.) "The vision that Yusuf saw is truthful and Allah will certainly make it come true."