فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ 63
Translations
So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."
Transliteration
Falamma raja'u ilā abīhim qālū yā abānā munī'a minnā al-kayl fa-arsil ma'anā akhānā naktāl wa-innā lahu lahāfizūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the brothers returned to their father Jacob without Benjamin, they explained that the Egyptian governor (Yusuf) had refused to measure out grain for them unless they brought their youngest brother as proof of their honesty. They promised their father that they would guard Benjamin carefully. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this reflects the brothers' desperation to obtain food during the famine and their attempt to reassure their father by pledging Benjamin's safety, even as their prior deception weighed on their consciences.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the broader narrative of Yusuf (Joseph) in Egypt during a time of famine. The context shows the brothers returning from Egypt after their first trading journey, having been required by Yusuf to bring Benjamin on their next visit as a condition for receiving grain. This tests both the brothers' integrity and Yaqub's (Jacob's) trust, central themes in demonstrating divine providence and moral character throughout Surah Yusuf.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific verse, the general theme of trust in Allah during hardship is reflected in teachings about patience (sabr) and reliance on Allah (tawakkul) found throughout hadith collections. The narrative illustrates the principle mentioned in various hadiths about Allah's protection of the righteous and the consequences of past misdeeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that honest dealings in business require transparency and keeping our word, while also reminding us that even when circumstances seem difficult, we must trust in Allah's wisdom and protection over our loved ones. It illustrates how integrity in worldly transactions reflects our inner character and conscience.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ لَئِنْ أَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ
They said, "If a wolf should eat him while we are a [strong] clan, indeed, we would then be losers."
أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَـٰشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming [aspect] of the punishment of Allāh or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."
ٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّ ٱبْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَآ إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَـٰفِظِينَ
Return to your father and say, 'O our father, indeed your son has stolen, and we did not testify except to what we knew. And we were not witnesses of the unseen.