Synopsis

• Years later, Egypt and the surrounding region were afflicted with drought.
• With Allah’s help and Yusuf’s planning, Egypt was saved from starvation. As a result, people from neighboring lands came to Egypt seeking food.
• Yusuf’s half brothers travelled from Palestine to Egypt to trade goods in return for grain and eventually stood before him in his court. He recognized them, but they remained unaware of his true identity.
• Yusuf treated his brothers generously and informed them that to receive more grain in the future, they were required to bring their youngest brother, Binyamin.
• To encourage them to return, Yusuf secretly returned his brothers’ traded goods to their bags.
• When they returned home, Yusuf’s brothers convinced Yaqub to allow them to travel with Binyamin, but Yaqub was concerned, recalling what happened with Yusuf.
• Yaqub eventually agreed to their request, but he informed them to be cautious of attracting unwanted attention while in Egypt.

Verses 58–62: Yusuf’s Brothers Visit Egypt

58: And Yusuf’s brothers came and entered his presence. He recognized them but they were unaware of who he really was.

59: When he had provided them with their supplies, he demanded, “Bring me your brother on your father’s side. Do you not see that I give full measure and I am the best of hosts?

60: But if you do not bring him to me ˹next time˺, I will have no grain for you, nor will you ever come close to me again.”

61: They promised, “We will try to convince his father to let him come. We will certainly do ˹our best˺.”

62: Yusuf ordered his servants to put his brothers’ money back into their saddlebags so that they would find it when they returned to their family and perhaps they would come back.

Verses 63–65: The Brothers Return Home

63: When Yusuf’s brothers returned to their father, they pleaded, “O our father! We have been denied ˹further˺ supplies. So send our brother with us so that we may receive our measure, and we will definitely watch over him.”

64: He responded, “Should I trust you with him as I once trusted you with his brother ˹Yusuf? But ˹only˺ Allah is the best Protector, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”

65: When they opened their bags, they discovered that their money had been returned to them. They argued, “O our father! What more can we ask for? Here is our money, fully returned to us. Now we can buy more food for our family. We will watch over our brother, and obtain an extra camel-load of grain. That load can be easily secured.”

Verses 66–68: Yusuf’s Wisdom

66: Yaqub insisted, “I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn oath by Allah that you will certainly bring him back to me, unless you are totally overpowered.” Then after they had given him their oaths, he concluded, “Allah is a Witness to what we have said.”

67: He then instructed ˹them˺, “O my sons! Do not enter ˹the city˺ all through one gate, but through separate gates. I cannot help you against ˹what is destined by˺ Allah in the least. It is only Allah Who decides. In Him I put my trust. And in Him let the faithful put their trust.”

68: Then when they entered as their father had instructed them, this did not help them against ˹the Will of˺ Allah whatsoever. It was just a desire in Yaqub’s heart which he satisfied. He was truly blessed with ˹great˺ knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most people have no knowledge.

Reflections

Trust Allah’s timing

In verse 58, Allah says, "And Yusuf’s brothers came, and entered into his presence.” Had they arrived earlier, they would have found Yusuf as a slave boy or a prisoner. However, Allah brought them to Yusuf at the peak of his power. These verses serve as a reminder to trust in Allah’s perfect timing.

Sometimes, when Allah wishes to avenge someone, He does so by placing his oppressors at his mercy, desperate for his aid, groveling at his doorstep, totally unaware that what they are bent on attaining will cost them what they would have done anything to avoid paying.

What is the evil eye?

Evil eye refers to harm or misfortune caused by the envy of another person. The concept of evil eye is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, for example in Surah Falaq:

“And from the evil of an envier when they envy” (113:5).

Evil eye, like any other phenomenon in this world, cannot occur without Allah’s permission. However, we're advised to take a number of precautions to protect ourselves. In these verses, Yaqub advised his sons to enter Egypt in small groups, rather than as one handsome string of siblings.

Lay low, he implores them, and do not cause others to strain their eyes over your beauty and strength in envy. Here lies one antidote to the evil eye: underplay your blessings. Be yourself with those nearest to you, but live in the shadows as best you can with everyone else.

Additional precautions to prevent or treat evil eye include:

1. Seek refuge with Allah by asking for His protection.
2. Recite Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas.
3. Recite Prophetic prayers. For example, we are taught to say “Whatever Allah wills has occurred” (mashAllah) when something pleases us.

Action Item: There are a number of prayers that we can say to protect ourselves from the evil eye. One example is the prayer in (Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:97-98)

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَٰتِ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ

وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

Transliteration: Rabbi ‘aouthubika min hamazaatish-shayaateeni, wa ‘aouthu bika rabbi ‘ay-yahdhuroon.

Translation: “My Lord! I seek refuge in You from the temptations of the devils. And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, that they ˹even˺ come near me.”

Obedience to parents

Yusuf’s brothers followed their father’s instructions while entering Egypt. This act of theirs illuminates the complexity of human nature, reminding us that individuals are not entirely “good” or “evil.” Rather, they can fall into sin while still demonstrating virtue in other areas of life. In this case, Yusuf’s brothers, despite their shortcomings, displayed virtue by following their father’s instructions to safeguard against the evil eye—emphasizing the importance of obedience to parents even in adulthood.