Synopsis

• The brothers returned to Egypt with Binyamin.
• Upon their arrival, Yusuf welcomed Binyamin and secretly revealed his identity to him.
• Yusuf informed Binyamin about his plan to keep him in Egypt—Yusuf would make it seem like Binyamin had stolen by placing the Royal Cup in his belongings.
• When the Royal Cup was found among Binyamin’s belongings, Yusuf’s brothers stated that according to their own law, a thief would become enslaved to the person from whom he had stolen. Thus, Yusuf succeeded in keeping his brother with him.
• The brothers pleaded for Binyamin’s release and offered one of themselves in his place, but Yusuf refused.

Verses 69–75: The Royal Cup

69: When they entered Yusuf’s presence, he called his brother ˹Binyamin aside, and confided ˹to him˺, “I am indeed your brother ˹Yusuf! So do not feel distressed about what they have been doing.”

70: When Yusuf had provided them with supplies, he slipped the royal cup into his brother’s bag. Then a herald cried, “O people of the caravan! You must be thieves!”

71: They asked, turning back, “What have you lost?”

72: The herald ˹along with the guards˺ replied, “We have lost the King’s measuring cup. And whoever brings it will be awarded a camel-load ˹of grain˺. I guarantee it.”

73: Yusuf’s brothers replied, “By Allah! You know well that we did not come to cause trouble in the land, nor are we thieves.”

74: Yusuf’s men asked, “What should be the price for theft, if you are lying?”

75: Yusuf’s brothers responded, “The price will be ˹the enslavement of˺ the one in whose bag the cup is found. That is how we punish the wrongdoers.”

Verses 76–79: Yusuf Takes Binyamin

76: Yusuf began searching their bags before that of his brother ˹Binyamin, then brought it out of Binyamin’s bag. This is how We inspired Yusuf to plan. He could not have taken his brother under the King’s law, but Allah had so willed. We elevate in rank whoever We will. But above those ranking in knowledge is the One All-Knowing.

77: ˹To distance themselves,˺ Yusuf’s brothers argued, “If he has stolen, so did his ˹full˺ brother before.” But Yusuf suppressed his outrage—revealing nothing to them—and said ˹to himself˺, “You are in such an evil position, and Allah knows best ˹the truth of˺ what you claim.”

78: They appealed, “O Chief Minister! He has a very old father, so take one of us instead. We surely see you as one of the good-doers.”

79: Yusuf responded, “Allah forbid that we should take other than the one with whom we found our property. Otherwise, we would surely be unjust.”

Reflections

Anger

In verse 77, Yusuf’s brothers responded to the allegation that Binyamin stole by claiming that Yusuf had also committed theft in the past. According to scholars, this accusation against Yusuf was either an outright lie or an extreme exaggeration. Allah continued the verse by telling us that Yusuf suppressed his outrage.

When you think about it, our Lord could have skipped this detail. He could have plucked the perfect palate, the flawless, the wholly admirable when portraying His prophet’s life, but He doesn’t. Rather, He shines a subtle light on Yusuf’s emotions: his resentment, his anger, bundled in a bitter riposte. And we can hear Yusuf’s pain spill on the page when he battles to hold it all in.

In the famous hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says thrice: do not become angry (Bukhari 6116).

Action Item: Patience is difficult to uphold in the heat of the moment. Practice restraining your anger, anxiety, and grief when things become intense, even if it is just for a few moments.

Action Item: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said “Verily, anger comes from the devil, and the devil was created from fire. Fire is extinguished with water, so if you become angry, perform ablution with water” (Sunan Abi Dawud 4784).

When you feel intense emotions, take a moment to cool off! If you cannot make wudu, you can drink cold water, splash your face with cold water, or place something cold against your cheeks.

Excellence in character

In verse 78, Yusuf’s brothers said to him, “We surely see you as one of the good-doers.” This verse highlights the essence of excellent character. Despite enduring deep trauma and his brothers’ wrongdoing, Yusuf treated them with generosity and respect. We are reminded here that even when others trigger our negative emotions, we should seek to break the cycle of pain and extend grace.

This is also the second time that Yusuf has been given this compliment. In verse 36, while in prison, the other inmates made the same observation about Yusuf’s character. In pain, Yusuf gave to his fellow prisoners, and in power, he gave to his brothers. This teaches us that true excellence is not dependent on life circumstances but on one's unwavering devotion to Allah.