Prophet Yūsuf: Part 2 — The Storehouses and the King’s Cup
Section 17 of 29 · Lives of the Prophets
Their Goods Back in Their Bags
The brothers of Yūsuf had brought some merchandise with them to trade. They handed over what they had brought and took food in exchange. The merchandise they brought was really worthless; it was not very valuable. Yūsuf (peace be upon him) said: go and put it back in their luggage — put the merchandise they brought back in their bags, without their knowing.
Why did Yūsuf do that? So that when they went back home, they would have something to bring with them next year to trade. Yūsuf was afraid that they might go home and have nothing left to bring with them next year, and so could not come: they would think, if we have nothing to give, how can we take corn? So Yūsuf said: give them back what they brought, so that they will use it to come back next year.
وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَـٰنِهِ ٱجْعَلُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ فِى رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
“And he (Yūsuf) said to his boys, “Put their goods in their camel-packs. Perhaps they will recognize it when they go back to their family; perhaps they will come again.”” (12:62)
Yūsuf told his servants to put the money they had brought with them back into their bags, so that they might recognise it when they went back to their people, in order that they might come back.