Prophet Yūsuf: Part 2 — The Storehouses and the King’s Cup
Section 16 of 29 · Lives of the Prophets
He Knew Them, but They Did Not Know Him
وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ
“And came the brothers of Yūsuf and appeared before him. He recognized them, while they did not recognize him.” (12:58)
And Yūsuf's brothers came and entered upon him, and he recognised them, but they did not recognise him. He knew them — he knew these were his brothers — but they did not know him. Why had they come to Egypt? To receive their ration, some food.
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
“When he equipped them with their provisions, he said, “Bring to me your other brother from your father’s side. Do you not see that I give full measure, and I extend the best hospitality?” (12:59)
Yūsuf would give out the ration per head. He said: next time, bring him with you — because, as you see, I give a full load per head. If you bring him with you, then instead of going back home with ten loads, you will get eleven. This is targhīb: he was trying to encourage them to bring the brother.
فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ
“Still, if you do not bring him to me, then you deserve no (further) measure from me, nor shall you approach me any more.”” (12:60)
And then he used tarhīb, a threat: if you do not bring him with you, I am not going to give you anything. So he used targhīb and tarhīb — the carrot and the stick. The carrot: bring your brother, and I will give you eleven loads. The stick: if you do not bring him, you are going to get nothing at all. But if you do not bring him to me, there shall be no measure of corn for you with me, nor shall you even come near me.
قَالُوا۟ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنْهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَـٰعِلُونَ
“They said, “We shall persuade his father about him and we will certainly do it.”” (12:61)
They said: we shall try to get permission for him from his father, and truly we shall do it.