Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 11: Prophet Yusuf (as) and The brothers return to Canaan

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."
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Yaqub became sad and told them: "I will not permit Binyamin to travel with you. I will not part with him, for I entrusted Yusuf to you and you failed me."
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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 Binyamin 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 Binyamin. 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.
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Yaqub (as) instructed his sons to ensure that they didn't enter the city through one gate. Instead, he told them to divide themselves and enter through various gates. It has been said that He didn't want any of them to be afflicted by the evil eye. This is because they were all handsome and good-looking. This opinion has been expressed by Ibn Abbas (R.A), Muhammed ibn Ka'b, Qatadah, As-Suddi, and Ad-Dahhak.
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In another opinion it has been said that He wanted his sons to spread out, hoping that they might get news of Yusuf (as). This has been said by Al-Nakha'ee. However, the first opinion seems to be stronger and more apparent, which is when He said: ".......I cannot avail you against Allah at all......." (12:67)
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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 Binyamin. Yusuf welcomed them heartily, although, with difficulty, he suppressed the desire to embrace Binyamin that arose within him. He prepared a feast for them and seated them in pairs. Yusuf arranged to sit next to his beloved brother Binyamin, 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."
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That night, when Yusuf and Binyamin were alone in a room, Yusuf asked whether he would have him for a brother. Binyamin 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."
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Binyamin 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 Binyamin'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."
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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 Binyamin'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 (Yusuf) of his has stolen before." (12:77)
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They were talking about Yusuf (as) because it has been said that he had stolen the idols of his maternal grandfather and broken them.
In another opinion, it has been suggested that he used to take food from his house and feed the poor. Yusuf, however didn't say anything to defend himself, as mentioned in the following verse: "......... But these things did Yusuf keep in himself, revealing not the secrets of them........" (12:77)
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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."
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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: "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."
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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."