Surah Yusuf (Joseph) • Ayah 92

Yusuf reveals His True Identity to His Brothers and forgives ThemAllah says, when Yusuf's brothers told him about the afflictions and hardship, and shortages in food they suffered from in the aftermath of the drought that struck them, and he remembered his father's grief for losing his two children, he felt compassion, pity and mercy for his father and brothers. He felt this way, especially since he was enjoying kingship, authority and power, so he cried and revealed his true identity to them when he asked them, هَلْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَـهِلُونَ(Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant) meaning, `when you separated between Yusuf and his brother,' إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَـهِلُونَ(when you were ignorant) He said, `What made you do this is your ignorance of the tremendous sin you were about to commit.' It appears, and Allah knows best, that Yusuf revealed his identity to his brothers only then by Allah's command, just as he hid his identity from them in the first two meetings, by Allah's command. When the affliction became harder, Allah sent His relief from that affliction, just as He said He does, فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً - إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً (Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.)94:5-6 This is when they said to Yusuf, أَءِنَّكَ لاّنتَ يُوسُفُ(Are you indeed Yusuf), in amazement, because they had been meeting him for more than two years while unaware of who he really was. Yet, he knew who they were and hid this news from them. Therefore, they asked in astonishment, أَءِنَّكَ لاّنتَ يُوسُفُ قَالَ أَنَاْ يُوسُفُ وَهَـذَا أَخِى(Are you indeed Yusuf He said: "I am Yusuf, and this is my brother...") Yusuf said next, قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ`(Allah has indeed been gracious to us.) by gathering us together after being separated all this time,' إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيِصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَقَالُواْ تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا("Verily, he who has Taqwa, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the gooddoers to be lost." They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us.") They affirmed Yusuf's virtue above them, being blessed with beauty, conduct, richness, kingship, authority and, above all, prophethood. They admitted their error and acknowledged that they made a mistake against him, قَالَ لاَ تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ(He said: "No reproach on you this day.") He said to them, `There will be no blame for you today or admonishment, and I will not remind you after today of your error against me.' He then multiplied his generosity by invoking Allah for them for mercy, يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَحِمِينَ(may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!)

بابجب بھائی یوسف علیہ السلام کے پاس اس عاجزی اور بے بسی کی حالت میں پہنچے اپنے تمام دکھ رونے لگے اپنے والد کی اور اپنے گھر والوں کی مصیبتیں بیان کیں تو یوسف علیہ السلام کا دل بھر آیا نہ رہا گیا۔ اپنے سر سے تاج اتار دیا اور بھائیوں سے کہا کچھ اپنے کرتوت یاد بھی ہیں کہ تم نے یوسف علیہ السلام کے ساتھ کیا کیا؟ اور اس کے بھائی کے ساتھ کیا کیا؟ وہ نری جہالت کا کرشمہ تھا اسی لیے بعض سلف فرماتے ہیں کہ اللہ کا ہر گنہگار جاہل ہے۔ قرآن فرماتا ہے «ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ» [16-النحل:119] ‏ بظاہر یہ معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ پہلی دو دفعہ کی ملاقات میں یوسف علیہ السلام کو اپنے آپ کو ظاہر کرنے کا حکم اللہ نہ تھا۔ اب کی مرتبہ حکم ہو گیا۔ آپ علیہ السلام نے معاملہ صاف کر دیا۔ جب تکلیف بڑھ گئی سختی زیادہ ہو گئی تو اللہ تعالیٰ نے راحت دے دی اور کشادگی عطا فرما دی۔صفحہ نمبر4068جیسے ارشاد ہے: «فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً ـ إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً» [94-الشرح:5۔ 6] ‏سختی کے ساتھ آسانی ہے یقیناً سختی کے ساتھ آسانی ہے۔ اب بھائی چونک پڑے کچھ اس وجہ سے کہ تاج اتار نے کے بعد پیشانی کی نشانی دیکھ لی اور کچھ اس قسم کے سوالات کچھ حالات کچھ اگلے واقعات سب سامنے آ گئے۔ تاہم اپنا شک دور کرنے کے لیے پوچھا کہ کیا آپ ہی یوسف علیہ السلام ہیں؟ آپ علیہ السلام نے اس سوال کے جواب میں صاف کہہ دیا کہ ہاں میں خود یوسف علیہ السلام ہوں اور یہ میرا سگا بھائی ہے اللہ تعالیٰ نے ہم پر فضل و کرم کیا بچھڑنے کے بعد ملا دیا تفرقہ کے بعد اجتماع کر دیا۔ تقویٰ اور صبر رائیگاں نہیں جاتے۔ نیک کاری بےپھل لائے نہیں رہتی۔ اب تو بھائیوں نے یوسف علیہ السلام کی فضیلت اور بزرگی کا اقرار کر لیا کہ واقعی صورت سیرت دونوں اعتبار سے آپ علیہ السلام ہم پر فوقیت رکھتے ہیں۔ ملک و مال کے اعتبار سے بھی اللہ نے آپ کو ہم پر فضیلت دے رکھی ہے۔ اسی طرح بعض کے نزدیک نبوت کے اعتبار سے بھی کیونکہ یوسف علیہ السلام نبی تھے اور یہ بھائی نبی نہ تھے۔ اس اقرار کے بعد اپنی خطا کاری کا بھی اقرار کیا۔ اسی وقت یوسف علیہ السلام نے فرمایا میں آج کے دن کے بعد سے تمہیں تمہاری یہ خطا یاد بھی نہ دلاؤں گا میں تمہیں کوئی ڈانٹ ڈپٹ کرنا نہیں چاہتا نہ تم پر الزام رکھتا ہوں نہ تم پر اظہار خفگی کرتا ہوں بلکہ میری دعا ہے کہ اللہ بھی تمہیں معاف فرمائے وہ «أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ» ہے۔ بھائیوں نے عذر پیش کیا آپ علیہ السلام نے قبول فرما لیا اللہ تمہاری پردہ پوشی کرے اور تم نے جو کیا ہے اسے بخش دے۔صفحہ نمبر4069

آیت 92 قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيْبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ یہ اس قدر معمولی بات نہیں تھی جسے اس ایک فقرے میں ختم کردیا جاتا ‘ مگر حضرت یوسف کی شخصیت کے ترفع اور اخلاق کی عظمت کی دلیل ہے کہ آپ نے اپنے ان خطا کار بھائیوں کو فوراً غیر مشروط طور پر معاف کردیا۔ یہاں یہ بات بھی نوٹ کرلیں کہ نبی اکرم نے فتح مکہ کے موقع پر اپنے مخالفین جن کے جرائم کی فہرست بڑی طویل اور سنگین تھی کو معاف کرتے ہوئے حضرت یوسف کے اسی قول کا تذکرہ کیا تھا۔ آپ نے فرمایا : اَنَا اَقُوْلُ کَمَا قَالَ اَخِیْ یُوْسُفُ : لَا تَثْرِیْبَ عَلَیْکُمُ الْیَوْمَ ”میں آج تمہارے بارے میں وہی کہوں گا جو میرے بھائی حضرت یوسف نے اپنے بھائیوں سے کہا تھا : جاؤ تم پر آج کوئی گرفت نہیں ہے !“

لَا تَثْرِ‌يبَ عَلَيْكُمُ (No reproach upon you), that is, ` not to say much about taking a revenge of your injustices against me, on this day, I would not even blame you for it.' This much was the good news of forgiveness from his side which he let them hear. Then, he prayed for them before Allah Ta’ ala: يَغْفِرُ‌ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْ‌حَمُ الرَّ‌احِمِينَ (May Allah forgive you, and He is the most merciful of all the merciful).After that, he said: اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرً‌ا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ : ` Go with this shirt of mine and put it over the face of my father, and he will turn into a sighted man [ which will enable him to come here ]. And bring to me all your family [ so that all of us can get together, be happy, enjoy the blessings given by Allah and be grateful to Him ].'Points of GuidanceWe come to know of many injunctions, rulings, as well as guidelines, which are good to have in life:1. First of all, the use of the expression: تَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَا (` tasaddaq ` alaina': be charitable to us) in verse 88 raises a question as to how would Sadaqah and Khairat (charity) become Halal (lawful) for the brothers of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) who are the progeny of prophets? Secondly, even if Sadaqah could be taken as Halal, how would the act of asking for it become Halal? Even if the brothers of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) were no prophets, he himself certainly was. Why did he not warn them against this error?A clear enough answer to this is that the word Sadaqah used here does not mean the real Sadaqah. In fact, the request for a concession in the transaction has been given the name of Sadaqah and Khairat - because, they had just never asked for a free supply of grains. Instead, they had offered ` a capital of very little worth.' And the essence of their request was that this ` capital of very little worth' be accepted in the spirit of remission given in such hard circumstances. Moreover, it is also possible that the unlawfulness of Sadaqah and Khairat (charity) for the progeny of prophets may be exclusive to the Ummah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ - as held by Mujahid from among Tafsir authorities. (Bayan a1-Qur'an)2. The last sentence of verse 88: إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَجْزِي الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ (Surely, Allah rewards the charitable) tells us that Allah Ta` ala gives good return to those who spend in Sadaqah and Khairat (charity). But, there are details to it, that is, there is a general return for Sadaqah and Khairat which is received by everyone, believer or disbeliever, right here in the present world. That return comes in the form of the removal of disasters and hardships. Then, there is the return which is particularly attached to the 'Akhirah (Hereafter), that is, the Jannah (Paradise). That is for the believers only. Since the addressee here is the ` Aziz of Misr - and the brothers of Yusuf (علیہ السلام) did not know at that time whether or not he was a believer - therefore, they opted for a sentence which was general, and which included the return of the present world, as well as that of the Hereafter. (Bayan al-Qur'an)Besides, this being an address to the ` Aziz of Misr, the occasion obviously demanded that the address in this sentence should have been direct, as: ` Allah will give you the best of return.' But, as his being a believer was not known, therefore, the form of address used was general, and any special return for him was not mentioned. (Qurtubi)3. The sentence: قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْنَا (Allah has been very kind to us) in verse 90 proves that, should one be in some distress or hardship, then, Allah Ta’ ala delivers one from these and showers him or her with his blessings, now, after that, such a person should not talk about his past hardships anymore. Instead, one should remember nothing but this blessing and favour of Allah Ta` ala which one now has. After having been delivered from distress, and after having been blessed by Divine rewards, to continue crying over past hardships is ingratitude. Such an ungrateful person has been called: کَنُود (kanud) in the Holy Qur'an: إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لِرَ‌بِّهِ لَكَنُودٌ (Truly, man is to his Lord, ungrateful - 100:6). The word, kanud, refers to a person who does not remember favours received, but does remember hardships faced.Therefore, Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) made no mention at this time of the hardships he had to undergo for a long time due to the actions of his brothers. Instead of that, he mentioned the blessings of Allah only.4. The last sentence: إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ‌, (Surely, whoever fears Allah and observes patience, then Allah does not waste the reward of the good-doers) in verse 90 tells us that Taqwa, that is, abstention from sins, and Sabr, that is, patience and fortitude, are two qualities which deliver one from every disaster and distress. The Holy Qur'an has said at several places that a person's prosperity and success depend on these two qualities, for example: وَإِن تَصْبِرُ‌وا وَتَتَّقُوا لَا يَضُرُّ‌كُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا ، that is, ` if you keep patience and fear Allah, their cunning shall not harm you at all - 3:120.'A surface view of the verse here may suggest that Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) is claiming to be God-fearing and patient in the sense that it was because of his Taqwa and Sabr that he was blessed with deliverance from difficulties and rewarded with high ranks. But, no one can claim Taqwa for himself. It is prohibited by definite statements in the Holy Qur'an, for example: فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ (Therefore do not claim purity for yourself: He knows best who it is that guards against evil - 53:32). But, in reality, there is no claim here. Instead, this is a confession of the blessings and favours of Allah Ta’ ala, for He first gave him the Taufiq of Sabr and Taqwa and then, through it, came all blessings from Him.The declaration: لَا تَثْرِ‌يبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ (No reproach upon you today) in verse 92 has been made from the highest level of good morals whereby the oppressor was not only forgiven, but spared from reproach too.