وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَـٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 62
Translations
And [Joseph] said to his servants, "Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return."
Transliteration
Wa qāla lifityānihī 'ij'alū bida'atahum fī rihālihim la'allahum ya'rifūnahā idhā 'nqalabū 'ilā 'ahlihim la'allahum yarji'ūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Yusuf (peace be upon him) commanded his servants to place the merchants' merchandise (their payment in goods) back into their saddlebags without their knowledge, intending for them to discover it when they returned home to their families. This act was designed to create a reason for them to return to Egypt, as Yusuf desired to see his brother Benjamin again. Ibn Kathir notes this was a wise stratagem rooted in mercy and family affection, demonstrating Yusuf's intelligence and his subtle method of ensuring his brothers would return.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's encounter with his brothers when they came to Egypt seeking provisions during the famine. It follows Yusuf's recognition of his brothers and his preparation to unite with Benjamin. The context illustrates Yusuf's mature wisdom and righteous handling of a delicate family situation years after his betrayal by his brothers.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific incident, the principle of righteous stratagem (hikma) in dealing with family matters is reflected in Sahih Bukhari's narrations about prophetic wisdom in handling complex interpersonal situations. The broader theme of family reunion and mercy is central to the Quranic narrative.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that wisdom sometimes involves subtle and indirect methods to achieve righteous goals, and that sincere love for family can motivate intelligent, compassionate action even when direct approaches may fail. It reminds us that Allah guides the affairs of the righteous toward reunion and healing of fractured relationships.
Related Ayahs
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."
وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ
And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَـٰجِدِينَ
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا۟ لَهُۥ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ هَـٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُءْيَـٰىَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا ۖ وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِىٓ إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ ٱلسِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُم مِّنَ ٱلْبَدْوِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, "O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.