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He turned away from them, lamenting, “Alas, poor Joseph!” And his eyes turned white out of the grief he suppressed.12:84
When the brothers went back to Jacob, he did not believe them but advised patience, saying he trusts the plan of Allah. Jacob in all his immense grief for his son Joseph, cried and cried until he lost his sight.
He cried, “No! Your souls must have tempted you to do something ˹evil˺. So ˹I am left with nothing but˺ beautiful patience! I trust Allah will return them all to me. Surely He ˹alone˺ is the All-Knowing, All-Wise.”12:83
He replied, “I complain of my anguish and sorrow only to Allah, and I know from Allah what you do not know.12:86
Jacob knew that after hardship there is ease and trusted that Allah would end his suffering soon. He remembered Joseph's dream as a child and knew that it had to come true - they were all to bow down to him (not in worship as this is only for Allah) - so he must be alive. Jacob asked them to look for their brother.
They said, “By Allah! You will not cease to remember Joseph until you lose your health or ˹even˺ your life.”12:85
O my sons! Go and search ˹diligently˺ for Joseph and his brother. And do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for no one loses hope in Allah’s mercy except those with no faith.”12:87
So, the brothers went back to Egypt to get their rations and ask for their brother Benjamin to be able to come back with them. They came with limited little worth in exchange for their rations but asked for some rations of food. Ibn Abbas said they came with useless old ropes and seeds of balms and myrrh.
When they entered Joseph’s presence, they pleaded, “O Chief Minister! We and our family have been touched with hardship, and we have brought only a few worthless coins, but ˹please˺ give us our supplies in full and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable.”12:88
After hearing this from them, Joseph could not hold back his silence and admitted who he was. They were shocked and immediately asked if it was him. Joseph showed mercy in his response to them and asked for their forgiveness from Allah.
He asked, “Do you remember what you did to Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?”12:89
They replied ˹in shock˺, “Are you really Joseph?” He said, “I am Joseph, and here is my brother ˹Benjamin˺! Allah has truly been gracious to us. Surely whoever is mindful ˹of Allah˺ and patient, then certainly Allah never discounts the reward of the good-doers.”12:90
They admitted, “By Allah! Allah has truly preferred you over us, and we have surely been sinful.”12:91
Joseph said, “There is no blame on you today. May Allah forgive you! He is the Most Merciful of the merciful!12:92
Joseph then told them to go back to Jacob and put his shirt over his eyes to restore his sight - this was another of the miracles Joseph was granted by Allah, and a proof of prophethood.
Go with this shirt of mine and cast it over my father’s face, and he will regain his sight. Then come back to me with your whole family.”12:93
When the caravan departed ˹from Egypt˺, their father said ˹to those around him˺, “You may think I am senile, but I certainly sense the smell of Joseph.”12:94
They replied, “By Allah! You are definitely still in your old delusion.”12:95
But when the bearer of the good news arrived, he cast the shirt over Jacob’s face, so he regained his sight. Jacob then said ˹to his children˺, “Did I not tell you that I truly know from Allah what you do not know?”12:96
They begged, “O our father! Pray for the forgiveness of our sins. We have certainly been sinful.”12:97
He said, “I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He ˹alone˺ is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”12:98
This story ends beautifully with Joseph reuniting with his father and family, now in a position of power and honour. He invites his family into Egypt, raising his parents high on a throne.
When they entered Joseph’s presence, he received his parents ˹graciously˺ and said, “Enter Egypt, Allah willing, in security.”12:99
Then he raised his parents to the throne, and they all fell down in prostration to Joseph, who then said, “O my dear father! This is the interpretation of my old dream. My Lord has made it come true. He was truly kind to me when He freed me from prison, and brought you all from the desert after Satan had ignited rivalry between me and my siblings. Indeed my Lord is subtle in fulfilling what He wills. Surely He ˹alone˺ is the All-Knowing, All-Wise.”12:100
His dream then comes true, with his family bowing down to him out of respect, not as an act of worship. Whilst this was permissible in their tradition, it is not permissible in Islam as prostration is for Allah alone.
“My Lord! You have surely granted me authority and taught me the interpretation of dreams. ˹O˺ Originator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Guardian in this world and the Hereafter. Allow me to die as one who submits and join me with the righteous.”12:101
How many signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by with indifference!12:105
And most people will not believe—no matter how keen you are—12:103
even though you are not asking them for a reward for this ˹Quran˺. It is only a reminder to the whole world.12:104
The story ends with a beautiful dua made by Joseph preserved in verse 101. In surah Yusuf Allah advises at the end of the story:
That is from the stories of the unseen which We reveal to you ˹O Prophet˺. You were not present when they ˹all˺ made up their minds, and when they plotted ˹against Joseph˺.12:102
Joseph lived 110 years and when death approached, he asked to be buried with his father if they left Egypt. It remained embalmed in Egypt until the time of Moses, who took his body and buried it with his father, Jacob.(Allah knows best)
