The famine had begun, and it was now becoming difficult for people. Joseph's brothers set off for Egypt to collect their rations of grain. They reached Joseph but did not recognise him - he was now in a very powerful position in the region and a mature man.

And Joseph’s brothers came and entered his presence. He recognized them but they were unaware of who he really was.12:58

Joseph asked them about their family. They explained there were 12 brothers, one of which had disappeared and one was kept at home - Benjamin - he was, as explained earlier, the only full brother of Joseph, the rest were half brothers who shared different mothers. Joseph asked for that brother to be brought next year when they returned to get their next portion of grain, persuading them that he had been a good host and insinuating that if they did not bring him then perhaps this would affect the grain they got.

When he had provided them with their supplies, he demanded, “Bring me your brother on your father’s side. Do you not see that I give full measure and I am the best of hosts?12:59

But if you do not bring him to me ˹next time˺, I will have no grain for you, nor will you ever come close to me again.”12:60

Joseph then told one of his workers to secretly return the money they had bought their food with. Some say this was because he was worried they would not have enough to come back the next year, or as an incentive to make sure they would return.

They promised, “We will try to convince his father to let him come. We will certainly do ˹our best˺.”12:61

The brothers then returned back to their father, Jacob.

When Joseph’s brothers returned to their father, they pleaded, “O our father! We have been denied ˹further˺ supplies. So send our brother with us so that we may receive our measure, and we will definitely watch over him.”12:63

He responded, “Should I trust you with him as I once trusted you with his brother ˹Joseph˺? But ˹only˺ Allah is the best Protector, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”12:64

When they opened their bags, they discovered that their money had been returned to them. They argued, “O our father! What more can we ask for? Here is our money, fully returned to us. Now we can buy more food for our family. We will watch over our brother, and obtain an extra camel-load of grain. That load can be easily secured.”12:65

Jacob insisted, “I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn oath by Allah that you will certainly bring him back to me, unless you are totally overpowered.” Then after they had given him their oaths, he concluded, “Allah is a Witness to what we have said.”12:66

Since Joseph's 'disappearance' Jacob was worried to leave his youngest son Benjamin with the other brothers. He smelt Joseph in him and wanted to keep him close. He took a promise from them and told them to enter the city through different gates - to avoid any evil eye (as they were all good-looking), yet he mentioned that whatever Allah has decreed can not be prevented.

He then instructed ˹them˺, “O my sons! Do not enter ˹the city˺ all through one gate, but through separate gates. I cannot help you against ˹what is destined by˺ Allah in the least. It is only Allah Who decides. In Him I put my trust. And in Him let the faithful put their trust.”12:67

Then when they entered as their father had instructed them, this did not help them against ˹the Will of˺ Allah whatsoever. It was just a desire in Jacob’s heart which he satisfied. He was truly blessed with ˹great˺ knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most people have no knowledge.12:68

When Joseph met his brothers again, he called Benjamin to the side, revealing he was his brother and that he should not worry about the bad his brother treated him with.

When they entered Joseph’s presence, he called his brother ˹Benjamin˺ aside, and confided ˹to him˺, “I am indeed your brother ˹Joseph˺! So do not feel distressed about what they have been doing.”12:69

Joseph made a plan to keep his brother with him. One of his servants was to hide the king's cup in Benjamin's bag. The brothers left and the people announced that the cup was missing and that whoever had stolen it must be brought to him. Joseph's brothers denied that it was them and said that if it was, then the punishment would be that the one whose bag it was found in would be enslaved.

When Joseph had provided them with supplies, he slipped the royal cup into his brother’s bag. Then a herald cried, “O people of the caravan! You must be thieves!”12:70

They asked, turning back, “What have you lost?”12:71

The herald ˹along with the guards˺ replied, “We have lost the King’s measuring cup. And whoever brings it will be awarded a camel-load ˹of grain˺. I guarantee it.”12:72

Joseph’s brothers replied, “By Allah! You know well that we did not come to cause trouble in the land, nor are we thieves.”12:73

Joseph’s men asked, “What should be the price for theft, if you are lying?”12:74

Joseph’s brothers responded, “The price will be ˹the enslavement of˺ the one in whose bag the cup is found. That is how we punish the wrongdoers.”12:75

Joseph began searching their bags before that of his brother ˹Benjamin˺, then brought it out of Benjamin’s bag. This is how We inspired Joseph to plan. He could not have taken his brother under the King’s law, but Allah had so willed. We elevate in rank whoever We will. But above those ranking in knowledge is the One All-Knowing.12:76

Nevertheless, Joseph's plan was unravelling. The king's cup was found in Benjamin's bag.

˹To distance themselves,˺ Joseph’s brothers argued, “If he has stolen, so did his ˹full˺ brother before.” But Joseph suppressed his outrage—revealing nothing to them—and said ˹to himself˺, “You are in such an evil position, and Allah knows best ˹the truth of˺ what you claim.”12:77

Despite their accusation, Joseph did not say anything to refute their comments, he kept his thoughts in his head but Allah preserved it in the above verse.

They appealed, “O Chief Minister! He has a very old father, so take one of us instead. We surely see you as one of the good-doers.”12:78

Joseph responded, “Allah forbid that we should take other than the one with whom we found our property. Otherwise, we would surely be unjust.”12:79

Understanding the situation and hoping to figure out how they would deal with this problem, the brothers came together to speak privately. Reuben, the eldest, reminded them of their pledge to their father that they would bring Benjamin back. They will have broken that pledge as they broke that of Joseph before. He said that he cannot leave with them and will stay in this land, so told them to explain the situation to their father.

When they lost all hope in him, they spoke privately. The eldest of them said, “Do you not know that your father had taken a solemn oath by Allah from you, nor how you failed him regarding Joseph before? So I am not leaving this land until my father allows me to, or Allah decides for me. For He is the Best of Judges.12:80

Return to your father and say, ‘O our father! Your son committed theft. We testify only to what we know. We could not guard against the unforeseen.12:81

Ask ˹the people of˺ the land where we were and the caravan we travelled with. We are certainly telling the truth.’”12:82