Surah Yusuf 12:88

Ya`qub orders His Children to inquire about Yusuf and His Brother

Allah states that Ya`qub, peace be upon him, ordered his children to go back and inquire about the news of Yusuf and his brother Binyamin, in a good manner, not as spies. He encouraged them, delivered to them the good news and ordered them not to despair of Allah's mercy. He ordered them to never give up hope in Allah, nor to ever discontinue trusting in Him for what they seek to accomplish. He said to them that only the disbelieving people despair of Allah's mercy.

Yusuf's Brothers stand before Him

Allah said next,

(Then, when they entered unto him), when they went back to Egypt and entered upon Yusuf,

(they said: "O Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family..."), because of severe droughts and the scarcity of food,

(and we have brought but poor capital,) means, `we brought money for the food we want to buy, but it is not substantial,' according to Mujahid, Al-Hasan and several others. Allah said that they said next,

(so pay us full measure) meaning, `in return for the little money we brought, give us the full measure that you gave us before.' Ibn Mas`ud read this Ayah in a way that means, "So give the full load on our animals and be charitable with us." Ibn Jurayj commented, "So be charitable to us by returning our brother to us." And when Sufyan bin `Uyaynah was asked if the Sadaqah (charity) was prohibited for any Prophet before our Prophet , he said, "Have you not heard the Ayah,

(so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable.)" Ibn Jarir At-Tabari collected this statement.

Dalam ayat ini diterangkan bahwa setelah saudara-saudara Yusuf menerima anjuran dari ayahnya untuk kembali ke Mesir, mereka lalu berangkat. Sesampainya di Mesir, mereka masuk ke istana Yusuf dengan segala kerendahan diri. Mereka ingin mengetahui kebenaran keyakinan ayahnya yang pernah mengatakan bahwa al-Aziz itu adalah Yusuf. Mereka berkata kepada al-Aziz bahwa mereka ditimpa musibah kelaparan sehingga mereka menjadi kurus dan lemah karena kekurangan makanan, sedangkan keluarga mereka tidak sedikit. Mereka mengadukan halnya itu kepada al-Aziz, dengan maksud untuk mengetahui keadaan Yusuf dan Bunyamin. Mereka juga mengemukakan bahwa mereka datang membawa dagangan yang jelek dan rendah mutunya, sehingga mungkin tidak ada pedagang yang mau menawarnya. Mereka berharap agar al-Aziz mau menolong mereka dengan menyempurnakan takaran dagangannya tanpa mempertimbangkan kejelekannya. Kekurangan yang harus mereka bayar kepadanya agar disedekahkan saja kepada mereka.

Allah membalas budi baik seseorang yang suka bersedekah dan Dia pulalah yang akan mengganti segala apa yang telah disedekahkan dan diinfakkan itu, sebagaimana firman-Nya:

Dan apa saja yang kamu infakkan, Allah akan menggantinya, dan Dialah pemberi rezeki yang terbaik. (Saba/34: 39)