Surah Yusuf 12:92

Yusuf reveals His True Identity to His Brothers and forgives Them

Allah 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,

(Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant) meaning, `when you separated between Yusuf and his brother,'

(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,

(Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.)94:5-6 This is when they said to Yusuf,

(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,

(Are you indeed Yusuf He said: "I am Yusuf, and this is my brother...") Yusuf said next,

`(Allah has indeed been gracious to us.) by gathering us together after being separated all this time,'

("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,

(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,

(may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!)

Setelah mendengar pengakuan bersalah dari saudara-saudaranya secara terus terang, Yusuf sebagai seorang nabi, manusia pilihan yang mempunyai budi pekerti yang mulia, kesopanan yang tinggi, dengan tandas dan gamblang memaafkan segala kesalahan yang telah diperbuat kepadanya dan Bunyamin. Dia mendoakan semoga Allah swt mengampuni dosa saudara-saudaranya dengan syarat mereka mau bertobat dengan segala keikhlasan dan kerendahan hati, menyesali perbuatan buruk itu, bertekad tidak akan mengulanginya lagi, dan senantiasa berbuat baik, karena Allah adalah Maha Penyayang.

Budi pekerti yang mulia dan akhlak yang tinggi sebagaimana yang dimiliki Nabi Yusuf a.s. itu juga pernah dicontohkan oleh Nabi Muhammad saw, yaitu ketika beliau dan bala tentaranya menaklukkan kota Mekah. Setelah Nabi Muhammad saw bertawaf dan kemudian salat sunat dua rakaat, beliau berdiri di samping Kabah menghadap para tawanan perang lalu berkata:

Apakah perkiraanmu terhadap apa yang akan saya perbuat terhadap kalian? Para tawanan menjawab, "Kami hanya menyangka yang baik saja. Anda adalah saudara yang mulia dan anak saudara yang mulia." Nabi saw berkata, "Saya akan mengatakan sebagaimana yang telah dikatakan oleh saudaraku Yusuf, "Tidak ada celaan, cercaan, dan kekerasan sekarang ini." Maka keluarlah para tawanan itu (meninggalkan tempat) seakan-akan mereka dibangkitkan dari kubur. (Riwayat al-Bukhari dari Abu Hurairah)