I take refuge with Allaah from the accursed devil. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Welcome to my blog and praise the Magnificent Lord as you enter: Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Greatest . May the Peace and Blessing of Allah Azza wa Jal, our Lord Glorified and Praised be He, be upon our beloved Prophet, his Family, and Companions. The Prophethood of Prophet Yunus (Jonah), peace be upon him, of Nineveh. وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـضِباً فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَى فِى الظُّلُمَـتِ أَن لاَّ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنتَ سُبْحَـنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّـلِمِينَ (87. And (remember) Dhun-Nun, when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him! But he cried through the darknesses (Zulumat) (saying): “There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the Zalimin wrongdoers.”) فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَـهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذلِكَ نُنجِـى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (88. So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers.) Surah 21 Al Anbiya Verse 87-88 Tafsir Ibn Kathir This story is mentioned here, and in Surat As-Saffat and Surah Nun. Yunus bin Matta, upon him be peace, was sent by Allah to the people of Nineveh, which was a town in the area of Mawsil [in northern Iraq]. He called them to Allah, but they rejected him and persisted in their disbelief. So he left them in anger, threatening them with punishment after three [days]. When they realized that he was telling the truth and that a Prophet never lies, they went out to the desert with their children and cattle and flocks. They separated the mothers from their children, then they beseeched Allah and pleaded to Him, with the camels and their young groaning, the cows and their calves mooing, and the sheep and their lambs bleating, so Allah spared them from the punishment. Allah says: (Was there any town that believed (after seeing the punishment), and its faith saved it Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while) [10:98]. Yunus, meanwhile, went and traveled with some people on a ship, which was tossed about on the sea. The people were afraid that they would drown, so they cast lots to choose a man whom they would throw overboard. The lot fell to Yunus, but they refused to throw him overboard. This happened a second and a third time. Allah says: (Then he (agreed to) cast lots, and he was among the losers.) [37:141] meaning, the draw went against him, so Yunus stood up, removed his garment and cast himself into the sea. Then Allah sent from the Green Sea — according to what Ibn Mas`ud said — a large fish which cleaved the oceans until it came and swallowed Yunus when he threw himself into the sea. Allah inspired that large fish not to devour his flesh or break his bones, (as if He said) Yunus is not food for you, rather your belly is a prison for him. (And (remember) Dhun-Nun,) Here Nun refers to the fish; it is correct for it to be attributed to him here. (when he went off in anger,) Ad-Dahhak said: “Anger towards his people.” (and imagined that We shall not punish him!) meaning, constrict him in the belly of the fish. Something similar to this was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and others. This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir, and he quoted as evidence for that the Ayah: (and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. Allah will grant after hardship, ease) [65:7]. (But he cried through the depths of darkness (saying): “There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.”) Ibn Mas`ud said regarding the `depths of darkness’: “The darkness of the belly of the fish, the darkness of the sea and the darkness of the night.” This was also narrated from Ibn `Abbas, `Amr bin Maymun, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka`b, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan and Qatadah. Salim bin Abu Al-Ja`d said: “The darkness of the fish in the belly of another fish in the darkness of the sea.” Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas and others said: “This was because the fish took him through the sea, cleaving it until it reached the bottom of the sea. Yunus heard the rocks at the bottom of the sea uttering glorification of Allah, at which point he said: (There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers)” `Awf Al-A`rabi said: “When Yunus found himself in the belly of the fish, he thought that he had died. Then he moved his legs. When he moved his legs, he prostrated where he was, then he called out: `O Lord, I have taken a place of worship to You in a place which no other person has reached.”’ (So `We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress.) means, `We brought him forth from the belly of the fish and from that darkness.’ (And thus We do deliver the believers.) means, when they are in difficulty and they call upon Us and repent to Us, especially if they call upon Us with these words at the time of distress. The leader of the Prophets encouraged us to call upon Allah with these words. Imam Ahmad recorded that Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I passed by `Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, in the Masjid, and greeted him. He stared at me but did not return my Salam. I went to `Umar bin Al-Khattab and said: `O Commander of the faithful, has something happened in Islam’ I said that twice. He said, `No, why do you ask’ I said, `I passed by `Uthman a short while ago in the Masjid and greeted him, and he stared at me but he did not return my Salam.’ `Umar sent for `Uthman and asked him, `Why did you not return your brother’s Salam’ He said, `That is not true.’ Sa`d said, `Yes it is.’ It reached the point where they both swore oaths. Then `Uthman remembered and said, `Yes, you are right, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I repent to Him. You passed by me a short while ago but I was preoccupied with thoughts of something I had heard from the Messenger of Allah , which I never think of but a veil comes down over my eyes and my heart.’ Sa`d said: `And I will tell you what it was. The Messenger of Allah told us the first part of the supplication then a bedouin came and kept him busy, then the Messenger of Allah got up and I followed him. When I felt worried that he would enter his house, I stamped my feet. I turned to the Messenger of Allah , who said, (Who is this Abu Ishaq) I said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, (What is the matter) I said, “Nothing, by Allah, except that you told us the first part of the supplication, then this bedouin came and kept you busy.” He said, Yes, the supplicaiton of Dhun-Nun when he was in the belly of the fish: (There is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.) (No Muslim ever prays to his Lord with these words for anything, but He will answer his prayer.)” It was also recorded by At-Tirmidhi, and by An-Nasa’i in Al-Yawm wal-Laylah. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Sa`d said that the Messenger of Allah said: (Whoever offers supplication in the words of the supplication of Yunus, will be answered.) Abu Sa`id said: “He was referring to: (And thus We do deliver the believers.)” فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلاَ تَكُن كَصَـحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَى وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ (48. So, wait with patience for the decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish when he cried out (to Us) while he was Makzum.) لَّوْلاَ أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ (49. Had not a grace from his Lord reached him, he would indeed have been (left in the stomach of the fish, but We forgave him), so he was cast off on the naked shore, while he was to be blamed.) فَاجْتَبَـهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ (50. Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.) وَإِن يَكَادُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَيُزْلِقُونَكَ بِأَبْصَـرِهِمْ لَمَّا سَمِعُواْ الذِّكْرَ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَمَجْنُونٌ (51. And verily, those who disbelieve would almost make you slip with their eyes (through hatred) when they hear the Reminder (the Qur’an), and they say: “Verily, he is a madman!”) وَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (52. But it is nothing else than a Reminder to all the creatures (`Alamin).) Surah 68 Al Qalam Verse 48-52 Tafsir Ibn Kathir Allah says, (So wait with patience) `O Muhammad, persevere against the harm your people cause you and their rejection. For verily, Allah will give you authority over them, and make the final victory for you and your followers in this life and the Hereafter.’ (and be not like the Companion of the Fish) meaning, Dhun-Nun, who was Yunus bin Matta, when he went off angry with his people. Various things happened to him, such as riding on a ship at sea, being swallowed by a (large) fish, the fish carrying him off into the ocean, being in the darkness and depth of the sea and hearing the sea’s and its dwellers glorification of the Most High, the Most Able (Allah). For He (Allah) is the One Whose execution of divine decree cannot be resisted. After all of this, he (Yunus) called out from the layers of darkness, (“That none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) are You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.”) (21:87) Then Allah said concerning him, (So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers.) (21:88) Allah also says, (Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, he would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day when they are resurrected.) (37:143,144) So here (in this Surah), Allah says, (when he cried out (to Us) while he was Makzum.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and As-Suddi, all said, “while he was distressed.” Then Allah goes on to say, (Then his Lord chose him and made him of the righteous.) Imam Ahmad recorded from `Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah said, (It is not befitting for anyone to say that I am better than Yunus bin Matta.) Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith and it is in the Two Sahihs reported from Abu Hurayrah. وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ (139. And verily, Yunus was one of the Messengers.) إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ (140. When he ran to the laden ship:) فَسَـهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ (141. Then he (agreed to) cast lots, and he was among the losers. ) فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ (142. Then a (big) fish swallowed him as he had done an act worthy of blame.) فَلَوْلاَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ (143. Had he not been of them who glorify Allah,) لَلَبِثَ فِى بَطْنِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ (144. He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.) فَنَبَذْنَـهُ بِالْعَرَآءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ (145. But We cast him forth on the naked shore while he was sick,) وَأَنبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ (146. And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him.) وَأَرْسَلْنَـهُ إِلَى مِاْئَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ (147. And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more.) فَـَامَنُواْ فَمَتَّعْنَـهُمْ إِلَى حِينٍ (148. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while.) Surah 37 As Saafaat Verse 139-148 Tafsir Ibn Kathir We have already discussed the story of Yunus, peace be upon him, in Surat Al-Anbiya’ (21:87-88). In the Two Sahihs it is reported that the Messenger of Allah said: (It is not right for any person to say I am better than Yunus bin Matta.) (When he ran to the laden ship.) Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “It was filled with cargo. (Then he (agreed to) cast lots,) means, to draw lots.” (and he was among the losers.) means among those who have been overcome. This was because the ship was being pounded by the waves on all sides, and they were at risk of drowning, so they drew lots, and whoever lost would be thrown overboard so as to lighten the load. The Prophet of Allah Yunus, peace be upon him, lost the draw three times, but they did not want to throw him overboard. He took off his garment so that he could throw himself into the sea, and they tried to stop him. Then Allah commanded a large fish from the Green Sea (i.e., Mediterranian Sea) to cleave the oceans and come and swallow Yunus, peace be upon him, without cutting his flesh or breaking his bones. The fish came and Yunus, peace be upon him, threw himself overboard, and the fish swallowed him and took him away, traveling through all the seas with him. When Yunus had stayed for some time in the fish’s belly, he thought that he had died; then he moved his head and legs and arms, and saw that he was alive. He prayed in the belly of the fish, and one of the things he said in his main prayer was: “O Lord, I have taken as a place of worship to You a place which no other person has reached.” They differed as to how long he spent in the belly of the fish. Some said three days; this was the view of Qatadah. Some said seven days; this was the view of Ja`far As-Sadiq, may Allah be pleased with him. Some said forty days; this was the view of Abu Malik. Mujahid said, narrating from Ash-Sha`bi, “It swallowed him in the morning and cast him forth in the evening.” And Allah knows best how long exactly was. Allah says, (Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.) It was said that, if he had not already done righteous deeds during his time of ease. This was the view of Ad-Dahhak bin Qays, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Wahb bin Munabbih, Qatadah and others, and it was the view favored by Ibn Jarir. This is what is indicated in the authentic Hadith which we quote below, if Allah wills. In a Hadith narrated from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, he said: (Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of difficulty.) And it was said that what was meant by the Ayah: (Had he not been of them who glorify Allah,) was the meaning of the following Ayat: (But he cried through the darkness (saying): “La ilaha illa Anta, You are glorified! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.” So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers.) (21:87-88). This was the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr and others. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him — and I do not know of anything narrated from Anas that he did not attribute to the Messenger of Allah : (When it occurred to the Prophet Yunus, upon him be peace, to call upon Allah in these words when he was in the belly of the great fish, he said, “La ilaha illa Anta, Yo are glorified! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.” This call went and hovered around the (mighty) Throne, and the angels said, “O Lord, this is the voice of one who is weak but known, in a faraway strange land. Allah, may He be exalted, said, “How do you know this” They said, “O Lord, who is he” Allah, may He be exalted, said, “My servant Yunus.” They said, “Your servant Yunus, from whom there kept coming acceptable deeds and supplications which were answered!” They said, “O Lord, will You not have mercy on him for what he did during his time of ease, and save him from this trial and tribulation” He said, “Of course.” So, He commanded the great fish, and it cast him forth on the naked shore.) Allah says: (But We cast him forth) meaning, `We threw him out,’ (on the naked shore) Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and others said that this refers to land in which there is no vegetation and no buildings. (while he was sick,) means, when he was weak of body. (And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him.) Ibn Mas`ud and Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Wahb bin Munabbih, Hilal bin Yasaf, `Abdullah bin Tawus, As-Suddi, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, `Ata’ Al-Khurasani and several others, all said that gourd means squash. Some of them mentioned that the squash has a number of benefits: it grows quickly, its leaves offer shade because of their large size and smooth texture, flies do not come near it, and its fruits provide good nourishment; they may be eaten raw or cooked, and both the pulp and the peel may be eaten. It was reported that the Messenger of Allah used to like squash and would look for it wherever it was on the serving dish. (And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more.) It is as if he was commanded, after he came forth from the fish, to go back to those to whom he had been sent in the first place, and they all believed in him. (or even more.) Makhul said, “They numbered one hundred and ten thousand. This was reported by Ibn Abi Hatim. Ibn Jarir said, “Some of the scholars of Arabic, the people of Basrah, said that this means up to one hundred thousand or more.” Ibn Jarir interpreted this Ayah as he interpreted the Ayat: (And they believed;) means, these people to whom Yunus, peace be upon him, had been sent all believed. (so We gave them enjoyment for a while. ) means, until the time of their appointed end. This is like the Ayah, (Was there any town (community) that believed, and its faith (at that moment) saved it — except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.) (10:98) (And similarly, We sent not a warner before you to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: “We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps.”)(43:23) As found in the authentic Hadith, (The Prophets were displayed before me. There was a Prophet who passed with a group of people, and a Prophet who passed with only one man, a Prophet with two men, and a Prophet with no one.) Then he mentioned the mulititude of followers that Musa had, peace be upon him, then that he saw his nation of people filling from the west to the east. The point is that between Musa and Yunus, there was no nation, in its entirety, that believed except the people of Yunus, the people of Naynawa (Nineveh). And they only believed because they feared that the torment from which their Messenger warned them, might strike them. They actually witnessed its signs. So they cried to Allah and asked for help. They engaged in humility in invoking Him. They brought their children and cattle and asked Allah to lift the torment from which their Prophet had warned them. As a result, Allah sent His mercy and removed the scourge from them and gave them respite. Allah said: (Except the people of Yunus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.) In interpreting this Ayah, Qatadah said: “No town has denied the truth and then believed when they saw the scourge, and then their belief benefited them, with the exception of the people of Yunus. When they lost their Prophet and they thought that the scourge was close upon them, Allah sent through their hearts the desire to repent. So they wore woolen fabrics and they separated each animal from its offspring. They then cried out to Allah for forty nights. When Allah saw the truth in their hearts and that they were sincere in their repentance and regrets, He removed the scourge from them.” Qatadah said: “It was mentioned that the people of Yunus were in Naynawa, the land of Mosul.” This was also reported from Ibn Mas`ud, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others from the Salaf.

 I take refuge with Allaah from the accursed devil. 
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
  Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 
 Welcome to my blog and praise the Magnificent Lord as you enter: Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Greatest .
  May the Peace and Blessing of Allah Azza wa Jal, our Lord Glorified and Praised be He, be upon our beloved Prophet, his Family, and Companions.
The Best of Narrations: Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), Peace be upon him: A Dream Fulfilled.
قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
(83. He [Ya`qub] said: “Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”)
 وَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يأَسَفَا عَلَى يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
(84. And he turned away from them and said: “Alas, my grief for Yusuf!” And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.)
قَالُواْ تَالله تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ حَرَضاً أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَـلِكِينَ
(85. They said: “By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead.”)
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشْكُو بَثِّى وَحُزْنِى إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
(86. He said: “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not.”)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 83-86
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Allah’s Prophet Ya`qub repeated to his children the same words he said to them when they brought false blood on Yusuf’ shirt,
(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Muhammad bin Ishaq said, “When they went back to Ya`qub and told him what happened, he did not believe them and thought that this was a repetition of what they did to Yusuf. So he said,
(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) Some said that since this new development came after what they did before [to Yusuf], they were given the same judgement to this later incident that was given to them when they did what they did [to Yusuf]. Therefore, Ya`qub’s statement here is befitting,
(Nay, but your own selves have beguiled you into something. So patience is most fitting (for me).) He then begged Allah to bring back his three sons: Yusuf, Binyamin and Rubil to him.” Rubil had remained in Egypt awaiting Allah’s decision about his case, either his father’s permission ordering him to go back home, or to secure the release of his brother in confidence. This is why Ya`qub said,
(May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly, He! Only He is All-Knowing,), in my distress,
(the All-Wise), in His decisions and the decree and preordainment He appoints. Allah said next,
(And he turned away from them and said: “Alas, my grief for Yusuf!”) He turned away from his children and remembered his old grief for Yusuf,
(Alas, my grief for Yusuf!) The new grief, losing Binyamin and Rubil, renewed his old sadness that he kept to himself. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ath-Thawri said that Sufyan Al-`Usfuri said that Sa`id bin Jubayr said, “Only this nation [the following of Prophet Muhammad ] were given Al-Istirja’. Have you not heard the statement of Ya`qub, peace be upon him,
(“Alas, my grief for Yusuf !” And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing. )” Ya`qub suppressed his sorrow and did not complain to a created being, according to Qatadah and other scholars. Ad-Dahhak also commented, “Ya`qub was aggrieved, sorrowful and sad.” Ya`qub’s children felt pity for him and said, while feeling sorrow and compassion,
(By Allah! You will never cease remembering Yusuf), `you will keep remembering Yusuf,
(until you become weak with old age,), until your strength leaves you,’
(or until you be of the dead.) They said, `if you continue like this, we fear for you that you might die of grief,’
(He said: “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.”) When they said these words to him, Ya`qub said,
`(I only complain of my grief and sorrow) for the afflictions that struck me,
(to Allah, ) alone,
(and I know from Allah that which you know not.) I anticipate from Allah each and every type of goodness.’ Ibn `Abbas commented on the meaning of,
(and I know from Allah that which you know not.) “The vision that Yusuf saw is truthful and Allah will certainly make it come true.”
يبَنِىَّ اذْهَبُواْ فَتَحَسَّسُواْ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلاَ تَايْـَسُواْ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَايْـَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْقَوْمُ الْكَـفِرُونَ
(87. “O my sons! Go you and inquire about Yusuf and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s mercy, except the people who disbelieve.”)
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَيْهِ قَالُواْ يأَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَاعَةٍ مُّزْجَاةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا الْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْزِى الْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ
(88. Then, when they entered unto him, they said: “O `Aziz! A hard time has hit us and our family, and we have brought but poor capital, so pay us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, Allah does reward the charitable.”)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 87-88
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
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.
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.
قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُمْ مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَـهِلُونَ
(89. He said: “Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant”)
قَالُواْ أَءِنَّكَ لاّنتَ يُوسُفُ قَالَ أَنَاْ يُوسُفُ وَهَـذَا أَخِى قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيِصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
(90. They said: “Are you indeed Yusuf” He said: “I am Yusuf , and this is my brother. Allah has indeed been gracious to us. He who has Taqwa, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the gooddoers to be lost.”)
 قَالُواْ تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَـطِئِينَ
(91. They said: “By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners.”)
 قَالَ لاَ تَثْرَيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَحِمِينَ
(92. He said: “No reproach on you this day; may Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 89-92
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
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!)
اذْهَبُواْ بِقَمِيصِى هَـذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ أَبِى يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِى بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
(93. “Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, his vision will return, and bring to me all your family.”)
 وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّى لأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ لَوْلاَ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ
(94. And when the caravan departed, their father said: “I do indeed sense the smell of Yusuf, if only you think me not senile).”)
قَالُواْ تَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِى ضَلَـلِكَ الْقَدِيمِ
(95. They said: “By Allah! Certainly, you are in your old Dalal (error).”)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 93-95
Tafsir ibn Kathir
Yusuf said, `Take this shirt of mine,
(and cast it over the face of my father, his vision will return),’ because Ya`qub had lost his sight from excessive crying,
(and bring to me all your family.) all the children of Ya`qub.
(And when the caravan departed) from Egypt,
(their father said…), Ya`qub, peace be upon him, said to the children who remained with him,
`(I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf, if only you think me not senile.), except that you might think me senile because of old age.’ `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, “When the caravan departed [from Egypt], a wind started blowing and brought the scent of Yusuf’s shirt to Ya`qub. He said,
(I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf , if only you think me not senile.) He found his scent from a distance of eight days away!” Similar was also reported through Sufyan Ath-Thawri and Shu`bah and others reported it from Abu Sinan. Ya`qub said to them,
(if only you think me not senile.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata, Qatadah and Sa’id bin Jubayr commented, “If only you think me not a fool!” Mujahid and Al-Hasan said that it means, “If only you think me not old.” Their answer to him was,
(Certainly, you are in your old Dalal.) meaning, `in your old error,’ according to Ibn `Abbas. Qatadah commented, “They meant that, `because of your love for Yusuf you will never forget him.’ So they uttered a harsh word to their father that they should never have uttered to him, nor to a Prophet of Allah.” Similar was said by As-Suddi and others.
فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ الْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَاهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَارْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَّكُمْ إِنِّى أَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
(96. Then, when the bearer of the good news arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and his vision returned. He said: “Did I not say to you, `I know from Allah that which you know not”’)
 قَالُواْ يأَبَانَا اسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـطِئِينَ
(97. They said: “O our father! Ask forgiveness (from Allah) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners.”)
 قَالَ سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبِّى إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
(98. He said: “I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily, He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 96-98
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak said;
(good news) means information. Mujahid and As-Suddi said that the bearer of good news was Yahudha, son of Ya`qub. As-Suddi added, “He brought it (Yusuf’s shirt) because it was he who brought Yusuf’s shirt stained with the false blood. So he liked to erase that error with this good act, by bringing Yusuf’s shirt and placing it on his father’s face. His father’s sight was restored to him.” Ya`qub said to his children,
(Did I not say to you, `I know from Allah that which you know not’), that I know that Allah will return Yusuf to me and that,
(I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf, if only you think me not senile.)
This is when Yusuf’s brothers said to their father, with humble- ness,
(“O our father! Ask forgiveness (from Allah) for our sins, indeed we have been sinners.” He said: “I will ask my Lord for forgiveness for you, verily, He! Only He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”) and He forgives those who repent to Him. `Abdullah bin Mas`ud, Ibrahim At-Taymi, `Amr bin Qays, Ibn Jurayj and several others said that Prophet Ya`qub delayed fulfilling their request until the latter part of the night.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَى يُوسُفَ ءَاوَى إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ادْخُلُواْ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ اللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ
(99. Then, when they came in before Yusuf, he took his parents to himself and said: “Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in security.”)
وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّواْ لَهُ سُجَّدَا وَقَالَ يأَبَتِ هَـذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَـى مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّى حَقًّا وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بَى إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِى مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُمْ مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزغَ الشَّيْطَـنُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِى إِنَّ رَبِّى لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
(100. And he raised his parents to the `Arsh and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: “O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin life, after Shaytan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills. Truly, He! Only He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 99-100
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Allah states that Ya`qub went to Yusuf in Egypt. Yusuf had asked his brothers to bring all of their family, and they all departed their area and left Kana`an to Egypt. When Yusuf received news of their approach to Egypt, he went out to receive them. The king ordered the princes and notable people to go out in the receiving party with Yusuf to meet Allah’s Prophet Ya`qub, peace be upon him. It is said that the king also went out with them to meet Ya`qub. Yusuf said to his family, after they entered unto him and he took them to himself,
(and said: “Enter Egypt, if Allah wills, in security.”) He said to them, `enter Egypt’, meaning, `reside in Egypt’, and added, `if Allah wills, in security’, in reference to the hardship and famine that they suffered. Allah said next,
(and he took his parents to himself) As-Suddi and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that his parents were his father and maternal aunt, as his mother had died long ago. Muhammad bin Ishaq and Ibn Jarir At-Tabari said, “His father and mother were both alive.” Ibn Jarir added, “There is no evidence that his mother had died before then. Rather, the apparent words of the Qur’an testify that she was alive.” This opinion has the apparent and suitable meaning that this story testifies to. Allah said next,
(And he raised his parents to Al-’Arsh) he raised them to his bedstead where he sat, according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and several others. Allah said,
(and they fell down before him prostrate.) Yusuf’s parents and brothers prostrated before him, and they were eleven men,
(And he said: “O my father! This is the Ta’wil (interpretation) of my dream aforetime…”), in reference to the dream that he narrated to his father before,
(I saw (in a dream) eleven stars…) In the laws of these and previous Prophets, it was allowed for the people to prostrate before the men of authority, when they met them. This practice was allowed in the law of Adam until the law of `Isa, peace be upon them, but was later prohibited in our law. Islam made prostration exclusively for Allah Alone, the Exalted and Most Honored. The implication of this statement was collected from Qatadah and other scholars. When Mu`adh bin Jabal visited the Sham area, he found them prostrating before their priests. When he returned (to Al-Madinah), he prostrated before the Messenger of Allah , who asked him,
(What is this, O, Mu`adh) Mu`adh said, “I saw that they prostrate before their priests. However, you, O Messenger of Allah, deserve more to be prostrated before.” The Messenger said,
(If I were to order anyone to prostrate before anyone else (among the creation), I would have ordered the wife to prostrate before her husband because of the enormity of his right on her.) Therefore, this practice was allowed in previous laws, as we stated. This is why they (Ya`qub and his wife and eleven sons) prostrated before Yusuf, who said at that time,
(O my father! This is the Ta’wil of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true!) using the word, `Ta’wil’, to describe what became of the matter, later on. Allah said in another Ayah,
(Await they just for its Ta’wil On the Day the event is finally fulfilled…), meaning, on the Day of Judgement what they were promised of good or evil will surely come to them. Yusuf said,
(My Lord has made it come true!) mentioning that Allah blessed him by making his dream come true,
(He was indeed good to me, when He took me out of the prison, and brought you (all here) out of the bedouin life,) out of the desert, for they lived a bedouin life and raised cattle, according to Ibn Jurayj and others. He also said that they used to live in the Arava, Ghur area of Palestine, in Greater Syria. Yusuf said next,
(after Shaytan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Certainly, my Lord is the Most Courteous and Kind unto whom He wills.) for when Allah wills something, He brings forth its reasons and elements of existence, then wills it into existence and makes it easy to attain,
(Truly, He! Only He is the All-Knowing.) what benefits His servants,
(the All-Wise.) in His statements, actions, decrees, preordain- ment and what He chooses and wills.
رَبِّ قَدْ آتَيْتَنِى مِنَ الْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ الاٌّحَادِيثِ فَاطِرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّ فِى الدُّنُيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِالصَّـلِحِينَ
(101. “My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams – the (Only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous.”)
Surah 12 Yusuf Verse 101
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
This is the invocation of Yusuf, the truthful one, to his Lord the Exalted and Most Honored. He invoked Allah after His favor was complete on him by being reunited with his parents and brothers, after He had bestowed on him prophethood and kingship. He begged his Lord the Exalted and Ever High, that as He has perfected His bounty on him in this life, to continue it until the Hereafter. He begged Him that, when he dies, he dies as a Muslim, as Ad-Dahhak said, and to join him with the ranks of the righteous, with his brethren the Prophets and Messengers, may Allah’s peace and blessings be on them all. It is possible that Yusuf, peace be upon him, said this supplication while dying. In the Two Sahihs it is recorded that `A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that while dying, the Messenger of Allah was raising his finger and said – thrice,
(O Allah to Ar-Rafiq Al-A`la [the uppermost, highest company in heaven].) It is also possible that long before he died, Yusuf begged Allah to die as a Muslim and be joined with the ranks of the righteous.