Prison was Yusuf's (Joseph) third test. During this
period Allah blessed him with an extraordinary gift; the ability to interpret
dreams. At about the same time two other men landed in the prison. One was the
cupbearer of the king; the other was the king's cook. The two men sensed that
Yusuf was not a common criminal, for an aura of piety glowed on his face. Both
men had vivid dreams, and they were anxious to have them explained. The king's
cook dreamed that he stood in a place with bread on his head, and two birds were
eating the bread. The cupbearer dreamed that he was serving the king wine. The
two went to Yusuf and told him their dreams, asking him to give them their
meaning.
First, Yusuf called them to Allah. Then he said
that the cook would be crucified until he died and that the cupbearer would
return to the service of the king. Yusuf told the cupbearer to remember him to
the king and to say that there was a wronged soul called Yusuf in prison. What
Yusuf predicted did happen; the cook was crucified and the cupbearer returned to
the palace.
After the cupbearer returned to service, Satan made
him forget to mention Yusuf's name to the king. Therefore, Yusuf remained in
prison for a few years, but he made patience his own, praying to Allah.
Almighty Allah narrated: And
there entered with him two young men in the prison. One of them said: "Verily, I
saw myself (in a dream) pressing wine." The other said: "Verily, I saw myself
(in a dream) carrying bread on my head and birds were eating thereof." They
said: Inform us of the interpretation of this. Verily, we think you are one of
those Muhsineen (doers of good)."
He said: "No food will come
to you (in wakefulness or in dream) as your provision but I will inform (in
wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that
which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people
that believe not in Allah and are disbeliveers in the Hereafter. And I have
followed the religion of my fathers, - Abraham, Isaac, and Yaqub and never could
we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah
to us and to mankind, but most men think not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah
nor worship Him).
"O two companions of the
prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the
Irresistible? You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named
(forged), you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The
command (or the judgment) is for none but Allah. He has commanded (His
Monotheism), that is the true, straight religion, but most men know not.
"O two companions of the
prison! As for one of you, he (as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord
(King or master) to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds
will eat from his head. Thus is the case judged concerning which you both did
inquire."
And he said to the one whom
he knew to be saved: "Mention me to your lord (your King, so to get me out of
the prison)." But Satan made him forget to mention it to his lord (or Satan made
Yusuf to forget the remembrance of his Lord (Allah) as to ask for His Help,
instead of others). So Yusuf stayed in prison a few more years. (12:36-42).
The scene in the prison closes; a new scene opens
in the bedchamber of the king. The king is asleep. He sees himself on the banks
of the Nile river. The water is receding before him, becoming mere mud. The fish
begin to skip and jump in the mud. Seven fat cows come out of the river followed
by seven lean cows. The seven lean ones devour the seven fat ones. The king is
terrified. The seven ears of green grain grow on the riverbanks and disappear in
the mud. One the same spot grow seven dray ears of grain.
The king awoke frightened, shocked, and depressed,
not knowing what all this meant. He sent for the sorcerers, priests and
ministers, and told them his dream.
The sorcerers said: "This is a mixed up dream. How
can any of that be? It is a nightmare."
The priests said: "Perhaps his majesty had a heavy
supper."
The chief minister said: "Could it be that his
majesty was exposed and did not draw the blanket up at night?"
The king's jester said, jokingly: "His majesty is
beginning to grow old, and so his dreams are confused."
They reached an unanimous conclusion that it was
only a nightmare.
The news reached the cupbearer. He recollected the
dream he had in prison and compared it to the king's dream, and, therefore Yusuf
came to mind. He ran to the king to tell him about Yusuf, who was the only one
capable to interpreting the dream. The cupbearer said : "He had asked me to
remember him to you, but I forgot." The king sent the cupbearer to ask Yusuf
about the dream.
Yusuf interpreted it to him: "There will be seven
years of abundance. If the land is properly cultivated, there will be an excess
of good harvest, more than the people will need. This should be stored.
Thereafter, seven years of famine will follow, during which time the excess
grain could be used."
He also advised that during the famine they should
save some grain to be used for seed for the next harvest. Yusuf then added;
"After seven years of drought, there will be a year during which water will be
plentiful. If the water is properly used, grapevines and olive trees will grow
in abundance, providing plenty of grapes and olive oil."
The cupbearer hurried back with the good news. The
king was fascinated by Yusuf's interpretation. Almighty Allah narrated this
incident thus:
And the king of Egypt said: "Verily, I saw in a
dream seven fat cows, whom seven lean cows were devouring, and seven green ears
of corn and seven others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream if it be that
you can interpret dreams."
They said: "Mixed up false
dreams and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams."
Then the man who was released
(one of the two who were in prison), now at length remembered and said: "I will
tell you its interpretation, so send me forth."
(He said): "O Yusuf, the man
of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were
devouring, and of seven green ears of corn and seven others dry, that I may
return to the people, and that they may know." Yusuf said: "For seven
consecutive years, you shall sow as usual and that the harvest which you reap
you shall leave in ears, all --except a little of it which you may eat. Then
will come after that seven hard years, which will devour what you have laid by
in advance for them, all except a little of that which you have guarded
(stored). Then thereafter will come a year in which people will have abundant
rain and in which they will press wine and oil." (12:43-49)
The king was greatly astonished. Who could this
person be? He commanded that Yusuf be set free from prison and presented to him
at once. The king's envoy went to fetch him immediately, but Yusuf refused to
leave the prison unless his innocence was proven. Perhaps they accused him of
cutting the ladies hands, or trying to rape them. Perhaps any other false
accusation was made.
We do not know exactly what was said to the people
to justify Yusuf's sentence to prison. The envoy returned to the king. The king
asked him: "Where is Yusuf? Did I not command you to fetch him?"
The envoy replied: "He refused to leave until his
innocence is established regarding the ladies who cut their hands."
The king ordered: "Bring the wives of the ministers
and the wife of the chief minister at once." The king felt that Yusuf had been
harmed unfairly but he did not know exactly how. The wife of the chief minister
came with the other ministers' wives. The king asked: "What is the story of
Yusuf? What do you know about him? Is it true that…?"
One of the ladies interrupted the king exclaiming:
"Allah forbid!"
A second said: "We know of no evil he has done."
A third said: "He enjoys the innocence of angels."
The eyes of everyone turned to the wife of the
chief minister. She now wore a wrinkled face and had lost weight. She had been
overwhelmed by sorrow over Yusuf while he was in prison. She boldly confessed
that she had lied and he had told the t. "I tempted him; but he refused." She
confirmed what she said, not out of fear of the king or the other ladies, but
for Yusuf to know that she had never betrayed him during his absence, for he was
still in her mind and soul. Of all creation he was the only one she cared for,
so she confirmed his innocence before all.
Almighty Allah said:
And the king said:
"Bring him to me." But, when the messenger came to him (Yusuf) said: "Return to
your lord, and ask him, 'what happened to the women who cut their hands? Surely,
my Lord (Allah) is Well Aware of their plot.""
(The king) said (to the
women): "What was your affair when you did seek to seduce Yusuf?" The women
said: "Allah 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 one of the truthful."
(Then Yusuf said: "I asked
for this inquiry) in order that he (Al-Aziz) may know that I betrayed him not in
secret. And, verily! Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers. And I free not
myself (from the blame). Verily, the human self is inclined to evil, except when
my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is
Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful." (12:50-53).
Reflecting on these verses suggests that she had
turned to Yusuf's religion, monotheism. His imprisonment was a great turning
point in her life. After this, the Quranic style neglects the story of the chief
minister's wife completely. We do not know what happened to her after she gave
her clear evidence. Yet still, there are legends about her. It has been said
that after her husband died she married Yusuf, and, behold she was a virgin. She
confessed that her husband had been old and had never touched women. Other
legends said that she lost her sight, weeping for Yusuf. She abandoned her
palace and wandered in the streets of the city.
However, the lady disappeared from the Quranic
narrative at the suitable stage, at the climax of her trouble. Perhaps she
lingers in memory longer than if we had known the ending. The king informed
Yusuf that his innocence was established and ordered him to come to the palace
for an interview. The king recognized his noble qualities. When Yusuf came, the
king spoke to him in his tongue. Yusuf's replies astonished the king with his
cultural refinement and wide knowledge.
Then the conversation turned to the dream. Yusuf
advised the king to start planning for years of famine ahead. He informed him
that the famine would affect not only Egypt but the neighboring countries as
well. The king offered him a high position. Yusuf asked to be made controller of
the granaries, so that he could guard the nation's harvest and thereby safeguard
it during the anticipated drought. By this Yusuf did not mean to seize an
opportunity or personal gain; he merely wanted to rescue hungry nations for a
personal gain; he merely wanted to rescue hungry nations for a period of seven
years. It was a sheer self-sacrifice on his part.
Almighty Allah said:
And the king said:
"Bring him to me that I may attach him to my person." Then, when he spoke to
him, he said: "Verily, this day, you are with us high in rank and full trusted."
Yusuf said: "Set me over the
store houses of the land; I will indeed guard them with full knowledge." (as a
minister of finance in Egypt, in place of Al-Aziz who was dead at that time).
Thus did We give full
authority to Yusuf in the land, to take possession therein, as when or where he
likes. We bestow of Our Mercy on whom We please, and We make not to be lost the
reward of Al Muhsineen (the good-doers). (12:54-57).
The wheels of time turned. During the seven good
years, Yusuf had full control over the cultivation, harvesting, and storage of
crops. During the following seven years, drought followed and famine spread
throughout the region, including Canaan, the homeland of Yusuf. Yusuf advised
the king that as his kingdom was blessed with reserved grain, he should sell his
grain to the needy nations at a fair price. The king agreed, and the good news
spread all over the region.
Yaqub sent ten of his sons, all except Benjamin, to
Egypt to purchase provisions. Yusuf heard of the ten brothers who had come from
afar and who could not speak the language of the Egyptians. When they called on
him to purchase their needs, Yusuf immediately recognized his brothers, but they
did not know him. How could they? To them Yusuf no longer existed; he had been
thrown into the deep, dark well many years ago!
Yusuf received them warmly. After supplying them
with provisions, he asked where they had come from. They explained: "We are
eleven brothers, the children of a noble prophet. The youngest is at home
tending to the needs of our aging father."
On hearing this, Yusuf's eyes filled with tears;
his longing for home swelled up in his heart, as well as his longing for his
beloved parents and his loving brother Benjamin. "Are you truthful people?"
Yusuf asked them.
Perturbed they replied, "What reason should we have
to sate an untruth?"
"If what you say is true then bring your brother as
proof and I will reward you with double rations. But if you do not bring him to
me, it would be better if you do not return," Yusuf warned them.
They assured him that they would gladly fulfill his
command but that they would have to get their father's permission. As an
inducement to return with their brother, Yusuf ordered his servant to secretly
place the purse, with the money they had paid, into one of their grain sacks.
Allah the Almighty said:
And Yusuf's
brethren came and they entered unto him, and he recognized them, but they
recognized him not. And when he had furnished them forth with provisions
(according to their need), he said: "Bring me a brother of yours from your
father; (he meant Benjamin). See you not that I give full measure, and that I am
the best of the hosts? But if you bring him onto me, there shall be no measure
of corn for you with me, nor shall you come near me."
They said: "We shall try to
get permission for him from his father, and verily, we shall do it."
And (Yusuf) told his servants
to put their money (with which they had bought the corn) into their bags, so
that they might know it when they go back to their people, in order that they
might come back. (12:58-62)
The scene dims in Egypt and lights in Canaan. The
brothers returned to their father. Before they could unload the camels, they
greeted him, then reproved him: "We were denied some supplies because you did
not let your son go with us. They would not give us food for absentees. Why
would you not entrust him with us? Please, send him with us, and we shall take
care of him."
Yaqub became sad and told them: "I will not permit
Benjamin to travel with you. I will not part with him, for I entrusted Yusuf to
you and you failed me."
Later, when they opened their grain sacks, they
were surprised to find the money purse returned intact. They rushed to their
father; "Look, father! The noble official has returned our money; this is surely
proof that he would not harm our brother and it can only benefit us." But Yaqub
refused to send Benjamin with them.
After some time, when they had no more grain, Yaqub
asked them to travel to Egypt for more. They reminded him of the warning the
Egyptian official had given them. They could not return without Benjamin. Yaqub
agreed, but not before he extracted a pledge from them. "I will not send him
with you unless you give me a pledge in Allah's name that you shall bring him
back to me as safely as you take him." They gave their solemn pledge. He
reminded them: "Allah is witness to your pledge." He then advised them to enter
the city through several different gates.
Almighty Allah narrated: So
when they returned to their father, they said: "O our father! No more measure of
grain shall we get (unless we take our brother). So send our brother with us,
and we shall get our measure and truly we will guard him."
He said: "Can I entrust him
to you except as I entrust his brother (Yusuf) to you aforetime? But Allah is
the best to guard, and He is the Most Merciful of those Who show mercy."
And when thopened their bags,
they found their money had been returned to them. They said: "O our father! What
more can we desire? This, our money has been returned to us, so we shall get
more food for our family, and we shall guard our brother and add one more
measure of a camel's load. This quantity is easy (for the king to give)."
He (Yaqub) said: "I will not
send him with you until you swear a solemn oath to me in Allah's Name, that you
will bring him back to me unless you are yourselves surrounded (by enemies,
etc). And when they had sworn their solemn oath, he said: "Allah is the Witness
over what we have said."
And he said: "O my sons! Do
not enter by one gate, but by different gates, and I cannot avail you against
Allah at all. Verily! The decision rests only with Allah. In Him, I put my trust
and let all those that trust, put their trust in Him." (12:63-67 Quran).
Yaqub blessed them on their departure and prayed to
Allah for their protection. The brothers undertook the long journey to Egypt,
taking good care of Benjamin.
Yusuf welcomed them heartily, although, with
difficulty, he suppressed the desire to embrace Benjamin that arose within him.
He prepared a feast for them and seated them in pairs. Yusuf arranged to sit
next to his beloved brother Benjamin, who began to weep. Yusuf asked him why he
was crying. He replied: "If my brother Yusuf had been here, I would have sat
next to him."
That night, when Yusuf and Benjamin were alone in a
room, Yusuf asked whether he would have him for a brother. Benjamin respectfully
answered that he regarded his host as a wonderful person, but he could never
take the place of his brother. Yusuf broke down, and amidst flowing tears said;
"My loving brother, I am the brother who was lost and whose name you are
constantly repeating. Fate has brought us together after many years of
separation. This is Allah's favor. But let it be a secret between us for the
time being." Benjamin flung his arms around Yusuf and both brothers shed tears
of joy.
The next day, while their bags were being filled
with grains to load onto the camels, Yusuf ordered one of his attendants to
place the king's gold cup which was used for measuring the grain into Benjamin's
saddlebag. When the brothers were ready to set out, the gates were locked, and
the court crier shouted: "O you travelers, you are thieves!" The accusation was
most unusual, and the people gathered around Yusuf's brothers.
"What have you lost?" his brothers inquired.
A soldier said: "The king's golden cup. Whoever can
trace it we will give a beast load of grain."
Yusuf's brothers said with all innocence: "We have
not come here to corrupt the land and steal."
Yusuf's officers said (as he had instructed them):
What punishment should you choose for the thief?" The brothers answered:
"According to our law, whoever steals becomes a slave to the owner of the
property."
The officers agreed: "We shall apply your law
instead of the Egyptian law, which provides for imprisonment."
The chief officer ordered his soldiers to start
searching the caravan. Yusuf was watching the incident from high upon his
throne. He had given instructions for Benjamin's bag to be the last to be
searched. When they did not find the cup in the bags of the ten older brothers,
the brothers sighed in relief. There remained only the bag of their youngest
brother. Yusuf said, intervening for the first time, that there was no need to
search his saddle as he did not look like a thief.
His brothers affirmed: "We will not move an inch
unless his saddle is searched as well. We are the sons of a noble man, not
thieves."
The soldiers reached in their hands and pulled out
the king's cup. The brothers exclaimed: "If he steals now, a brother of his has
stolen before." They strayed from the present issue in order to blame a
particular group of the children of Yaqub.
Yusuf heard their resentment with his own ears and
was filled with regret. Yet, he swallowed his own resentment, keeping it within.
He said to himself, "you went further and fared worse; it shall go bad with you
and worse hereafter, and Allah knows your intention."
Silence fell upon them after these remarks by the
brothers. Then they forgot their secret satisfaction and thought of Yaqub; they
had taken an oath with him that they would not betray his son. They began to beg
Yusuf for mercy. "Yusuf, O minister! Take one of us instead. He is the son of a
good man, and we can see you are a good man."
Yusuf answered calmly: "How can you want to set
free the man who has stolen the king's cup? It would be sinful."
The brothers went on pleading for mercy. However,
the guards said that the king had spoke and his word was law. Judah, the eldest,
was much worried and told the others: "We promised our father in the name of
Allah not to fail him. I will, therefore, stay behind and will only return if my
father permits me to do so."
Regarding this scene, Almighty Allah said:
And when they entered according to their father's advice, it did not avail them
in the least against (the Will of ) Allah, it was but a need of Yaqub's inner
self which he discharged. And verily, he was endowed with knowledge because We
had taught him, but most men know not. And when they went in before Yusuf, he
betook his brother (Benjamin) to himself and said: "Verily! I am your brother,
so grieve not for what they used to do."
So when he had furnished them
forth with their provisions, he put the golden bowl in his brother's bag. Then a
crier cried: "O you in the caravan! Surely, you are thieves!"
They, turning towards them
said: "What is that you have missed?"
They said: "We have missed
the golden bowl of the king and for him who produces it is the reward of a camel
load; I will be bound by it."
They said: "By Allah! Indeed
you know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!"
They (Yusuf's brothers) said:
"The penalty should be that he, in whose bag it is found, should be held for the
punishment of the crime. Thus we punish the Zalimeen (wrongdoers, etc)!"
So he (Yusuf) began the
search in their bags before the bag of his brother. Then he brought it out of
his brother's bag. Thus did We plan for Yusuf. He could not take his brother by
the law of the king (as a slave), except that Allah willed it. So Allah made the
brothers to bind themselves with their way of 'punishment, i.e. enslaving of a
thief.' We raise to degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with
knowledge is the All-Knowing (Allah).
They (Yusuf's brothers) said:
"If he steals, there was a brother of his (Yusuf) who did steal before him." But
these things did Yusuf keep in himself, revealing not the secrets to them. He
said (within himself): "You are in the worst case, and Allah knows best the
truth of what you assert!"
They said : "O ruler of the
land! Verily, he has an old father who will grieve for him, so take one of us in
his place. Indeed we think that you are one of the good doers."
He said: "Allah forbid! That
we should take anyone but him with whom we found our property. Indeed if we did
so, we shall be Zalimun (wrongdoers)."
So, when they despaired of
him, they held a conference in private. The eldest among them said: "Know you
not that your father did take an oath from you in Allah's name, and before this
did fail in your duty with Yusuf? Therefore, I will not leave this land until my
father permits me, or Allah decides my case (by releasing Benjamin) and He is
the Best of the judges." (12:68-80 Quran).
The brothers left enough provisions behind for
Judah, who stayed at a tavern awaiting the fate of Benjamin. In the meantime,
Yusuf kept Benjamin in his house as his personal guest and told him how he had
devised the plot to put the king's cup in his bag, in order to keep him behind,
so as to protect him. He was also glad that Judah had stayed behind, as he was a
good hearted brother. Yusuf secretly arranged to watch over Judah's well being.
Yusuf's plan in sending the others back was to test
their sincerity, to see if they would come back for the two brothers they had
left behind. When they arrived home, theyentered upon their father calling: "O
our father! Your son has stolen!"
He was puzzled, scarcely believing the news. He was
overwhelmed with sorrow and his eyes wept tears. "Patience be with me; perhaps
Allah will return all of them to me. He is Most Knowing, Most Wise." A pal of
lonesomeness closed over him, yet he found consolation in patience and trusted
in Allah.
Allah revealed to us what happened at their meeting
with their father: (Judah said)
"Return to your father and say: 'O our father!
Verily, your son (Benjamin) has stolen, and we testify not except according to
what we know, and we could not known the unseen! And ask the people of the town
where we have been, and the caravan in which we returned and indeed we are
telling the truth.""
He (Yaqub) said: "Nay, but
your ownselves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting for
me. Maybe Allah will bring them back all to me. Truly He! Only He is
All-Knowing, All-Wise."
And he turned away from them
and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf!" And he lost his sight because of the
sorrow that he was suppressing. (12:81-84)
The father was deeply hurt. Only prayer could
comfort him and strengthen his faith and patience. Weeping all those years for
his beloved son Yusuf - and now one more of his best sons had been snatched from
him - Yaqub almost lost his sight.
The other sons pleaded with him: "O father, you are
a noble prophet and a great messenger of Allah. Unto you descended revelation
and people received guidance and faith from you. Why are you destroying yourself
in this way?"
Yaqub replied: "Rebuking me will not lessen my
grief. Only the return of my sons will comfort me. My sons, go in search of
Yusuf and his brother; do not despair of Allah's mercy."
Allah, the Almighty told us:
They said: "By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf until you become
weak with old age, or until you be of the dead."
He said: "I only complain of
my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not. O
my sons! Go you and inquire about Yusuf and his brother and never give up hope
of Allah's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people
who disbelieve." (12:85-87 Quran).
The caravan set out for Egypt. The brothers - on
their way to see the chief minister (Yusuf) - were poor and depressed.
On reaching Egypt they collected Judah and called
on Yusuf, to whom they pleaded:
"O ruler of the land! A hard time has hit us and
our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be
charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable." (12:88).
At the end, they begged Yusuf. They asked alms of
him, appealing to his heart, reminding him that Allah rewards alms givers. At
this moment, in the midst of their plight, Yusuf spoke to them in their native
tongue saying:
"Do you know what you
did with Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?"
They said: "Are you indeed
Yusuf?"
He said: "I am Yusuf, and his
is my brother (Benjamin). Allah has indeed been Gracious to us. Verily, he who
fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and
by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes
not the reward of the good doers to be lost."
They said: "By Allah! Indeed
Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners."
(12:89-91)
The brothers began to tremble with fear, but Yusuf
comforted them: "No reproach on you this day, may Allah
forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" (12:92)
Yusuf embraced them, and together they wept with
joy. It was not possible for Yusuf to leave his responsible office without
proper replacement, so he advised his brothers: "Go with
this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become
clear-sighted, and bring to me all your family." (12:93)
And so the caravan headed back for Palestine. We
lave the scene in Egypt and return to Palestine and the house of Yaqub. The old
man is sitting in his room; tears have been flowing down his cheeks. He stands
up all of a sudden, dresses and goes out to his son's wives. Then he lifts up
his face to Heaven and sniffs the air.
The wife of the eldest son remarked: " Yaqub has
come out of his room today." The women inquired about what was amiss. There was
a hint of a smile on his face. The others asked him: "How do you feel today?"
He answered: "I can smell Yusuf in the air."
The wives left him alone, saying to one another
that there was no hope for the old man. 'he will die of weeping over Yusuf.'
"Did he talk about Yusuf's shirt?"
"I do not know. He said he could smell him; perhaps
he has gone mad."
That day the old man wanted a cup of milk to break
his fast, for he had been fasting. At night he changed his clothes. The caravan
was traveling in the desert with Yusuf's shirt hidden among the grain. It neared
the old man's estate. He gesticulated in his room, and then he prayed a long
time, lifting his hands to heaven and sniffing the air. He was weeping as the
shirt was nearing him.
And when the caravan
departed, their father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf, if only you
think me not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."
They said: "By Allah!
Certainly, you are in your old error."
Then, when the bearer of the
glad tidings arrived, he cast the shirt over his face, and he became clear
sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, I know from Allah that which you know
not.""
They said: "O our father! Ask
Forgiveness from Allah for our sins, indeed we have been sinners." (12:94-97)
The story began with a dream and it ends with the
interpretation of the dream. Almighty Allah narrated:
He said: "I will ask my Lord
for forgiveness for you, verily, He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most
Merciful."
Then, when they entered unto
Yusuf, he betook his parents to himself and said: "Enter Egypt, if Allah will,
in security."
And he raised his parents to
the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father!
This is the interpretation of my dream of old! My Lord has made it come true! He
was indeed good to me, when He took me out of prison, and brought you all here
out of the Bedouin life, after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers.
Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He will. Truly He!
Only He is the All Knowing, the All-Wise." (12:98-100)
Consider his feelings now that his dream has come
true. He prays to Allah:
"My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the
sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of my dreams; The only Creator of
the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter,
Guardian etc). in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim
(the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous." (12:101)
Yusuf arranged an audience with the king for
himself and his family, to ask the king's permission for them to settle in
Egypt. Yusuf was an assert to the kingdom, and the king was happy to have him
remain with his household. Yusuf prostrated to Allah in gratitude.
Before he died, Yaqub (pbuh) advised his children
to adhere to the teachings of Islam, the religion of all of Allah's prophets.
Allah the Almighty revealed;
Or were you witnesses when death approached Yaqub?
When he said unto his sons: "What will you worship after me?" they said: "We
shall worship your Ilah (God-Allah) the Ilah (God) of your father. Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, One Ilah (God), and to Him we submit in Islam." (12:133 Quran).
Yusuf (pbuh), at the moment of his death, asked his
brothers to bury him beside his forefathers if they were to leave Egypt. So when
Yusuf (pbuh) passed away, he was mummified and placed in a coffin until such a
time as he could be taken out of Egypt and buried beside his forefathers, as he
had requested. It was said that he died at the age of one hundred ten.