فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَـٰعَةٍ مُّزْجَىٰةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا ٱلْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِى ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ 88
Translations
So when they entered upon him [i.e., Joseph], they said, "O ʿAzeez, adversity has touched us and our family, and we have come with goods poor in quality, but give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allāh rewards the charitable."
Transliteration
Falamma dakhalu alayhi qalu ya ayyuha al-azizu massana wa ahlana ad-durru wa ji'na bibida'atin muzjaah fa awfi lana al-kayla wa tasaddaq alayna inna Allaha yajzi al-mutasaddiqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
When Yusuf's brothers entered before him, they appealed to him as the mighty ruler, mentioning the hardship that had afflicted them and their family due to famine, while presenting their meager merchandise for trade. They requested that he give them full measure of grain and show them charity, appealing to Allah's promise of rewarding the charitable. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah illustrates the brothers' humility and desperation, unaware they were speaking to Yusuf himself, and demonstrates how they sought both commercial transaction and charitable relief.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs during the second journey of Yusuf's brothers to Egypt to buy grain during the famine. It is part of the broader narrative arc (Surah Yusuf) which chronicles Yusuf's rise to power and the eventual reunion with his family, revealing themes of divine providence, patience, and forgiveness. The context shows the brothers at their most vulnerable, not yet aware of Yusuf's identity.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Sahih Muslim: 'The best of charity is when one gives while in need themselves,' relates to the spirit of appealing for charity during hardship. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths on the virtue of kind treatment during commercial transactions and generosity toward the needy.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that acknowledging our need and appealing to others' sense of charity and divine reward is not shameful, but rather a recognition of human interdependence and Allah's design for community. It reminds us that generosity toward those in hardship is not merely an act of kindness but an investment rewarded by Allah, encouraging believers to cultivate compassion even when facing their own difficulties.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ
So when he [i.e., her husband] saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of your [i.e., women's] plan. Indeed, your plan is great [i.e., vehement].
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ
But if you do not bring him to me, no measure will there be [hereafter] for you from me, nor will you approach me."
قَالَ ٱجْعَلْنِى عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّى حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ
[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."