Yusuf (Joseph)

90. “They said: ‘Are you indeed Yusuf?’ He said: ‘(Yes), I am Yusuf and this is my brother. Allah has been indeed gracious to us. Verily whoever keeps from evil and is patient (is always rewarded) for verily Allah does not waste the reward of the righteous’.”

The more the time passed the more the brothers were astonished at why the ‘Aziz wept upon their father’s letter and how he knew the story of Yusuf. They thought his feature was very alike to that of Yusuf; perhaps he was the same Yusuf.

They decided to ask this question from him. If he was not Yusuf they would not be considered as mad; but if he was Yusuf what they could do with shame. Excitement had encompassed them thoroughly. At last, they broke their silence by asking whether he was Yusuf.

The verse says:

“They said: ‘Are you indeed Yusuf?’...”

What happened here in this scene? Which painter can draw in a painting the feature of shame, happiness, weeping, and embracing? Only Allah knows it and none else.

The conditions should be in a state that people ask, and the stimuli increase in them for development and guidance. The stimulus for research and questions ceaselessly increase in Yusuf’s brothers. They said to themselves why he persisted on bringing Benjamin with them.

Why was the king’s cup found in the loads? Why did he return their money first time they bought wheat? Where from did he know the story of Yusuf? Would he not give them wheat again? When this excitement went to its climax, they asked him whether he was Yusuf and he answered: ‘Yes’.

Imam Sadiq (as) said:

“There is indeed a course of Yusuf in Hadrat Gha’im (as)… People will not recognize him (as) until when Allah will allow him to introduce himself.”1

Explanations

1. The length of time in history containing bitter and sweet events can change the relations and comprehensions and cognitions.

2. It is true that the people’s obligation is bitter, but the obligation of Allah is sweet.

3. The men of Allah believe that all bounties belong to Him.

4. Patience and virtue pave the ground for one's honor.

5. Allah’s grace is wisely distributed and is allocated according to the well established criteria.

6. That person is eligible for an administrative position and who must have passed the tests of crises, jealousies, titles, lusts, humiliations, imprisonments, and slander.

7. One must make use of sensitive periods to inform and propagate. Once the brothers’ sense of shame was aroused because of their wrong deeds, they were most ready to accept Yusuf’s remarks.

8. One of the Divine ways of treatment is the bestowal of power in government upon the righteous people.