Prophet Yūsuf: Part 2 — The Storehouses and the King’s Cup
Section 22 of 29 · Lives of the Prophets
The Ayat of the King's Cup
These are the ayat that relate what has just been described.
فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَايَةَ فِى رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَـٰرِقُونَ
“Later, when he equipped them with their provisions, he placed the bowl in the camel-pack of his brother. Then, an announcer shouted out, “O people of the caravan, you are thieves.”” (12:70)
So when he had furnished them forth with their provisions, he put the golden bowl into his brother's bag. Then a crier cried: O you of the caravan, surely you are thieves!
قَالُوا۟ وَأَقْبَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم مَّاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌ
“Turning towards them, they said, “What are you missing?” They said, “We are missing the measuring-bowl of the king, and whoever brings it back shall deserve a camel-load, and I stand surety for it.”” (12:71–72)
Then they turned towards them and said: what is it that you have missed? They said: we have missed the golden bowl of the king, and for him who produces it is the reward of a camel's load; I will be bound by it.
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَـٰرِقِينَ
“They said, “We swear by Allah, you know, we did not come to make mischief in the land, nor have we ever been thieves.”” (12:73)
They said: by Allah, indeed you know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves.
قَالُوا۟ فَمَا جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥٓ إِن كُنتُمْ كَـٰذِبِينَ قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
“They said, “What is the punishment, if you are liars?” They said, “Its punishment? The one in whose saddlebag it is found shall himself be the punishment. This is how we punish the wrongdoers.”” (12:74–75)
Yūsuf's men said: what then shall be the penalty for him, if you are proved to be liars? The brothers of Yūsuf said: the penalty should be that he in whose bag it is found should be held for the punishment of the crime. Thus do we punish the wrongdoers.
فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِى دِينِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
“So, he started with their bags before (searching) the bag of his brother, then, recovered it from the bag of his brother.This is how We planned for Yūsuf. He had no right to take his brother according to the law of the king, unless Allah so willed. We elevate in ranks whomsoever We will. Above every man of knowledge, there is someone more knowledgeable.” (12:76)
So he began the search in their bags before the bag of his brother; then he brought it out of his brother's bag. Thus did We plan for Yūsuf. He could not take his brother by the law of the king, except that Allah willed it. We raise in degrees whom We please, but over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing.