12. Surah Yusuf (Joseph)
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قَالَ
هَلْ آمَنُكُمْ
عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ
كَمَا أَمِنتُكُمْ
عَلَى أَخِيهِ
مِن قَبْلُ...
12: 64. He said:
"Shall I trust you with him with any result other than when I trusted you with his brother aforetime?
...فَاللّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا...
But Allah is the best to take care (of him),
...وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ ﴿٦٤﴾
and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!"
قَالَ
لاَ تَثْرَيبَ
عَلَيْكُمُ
الْيَوْمَ ...
12: 92. He said:
"This day let no reproach be (cast) on you:
... يَغْفِرُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ...
Allah will forgive you,
...وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ ﴿٩٢﴾
and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy?
Transliteration Qa_la la_ tasriba 'alaikumul yaum(a), yagfirulla_hu lakum, wa huwa arhamur ra_himin(a).
12: 92
Asad Said he [Yusuf] : “No reproach shall be uttered today against you. May God forgive you your sins: for He is the most merciful of the merciful!
Pickthall He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
Yuksel He said, "There is no blame on you this day, may God forgive you, and He is the most Compassionate of those who show compassion."*
Ali’s comments:
C1725. I construe Jacob's answer to be a flat refusal to let Benjamin go with them. It would be like the former occasion when he trusted Joseph with them and they lost him.
Did they talk of taking care of him?
The only protection that he trusted was that of Allah. He at least showed mercy to old and young alike. Did man show such mercy?
Witness his sad old age and his lost little Joseph! Would they bring down "his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave?"
C1768. Joseph is most generous. He is glad that they have at last seen the significance of what happened. But he will not allow them at this great moment of reconciliation to dwell on their conduct with reproaches against themselves.
There is more urgent work to do. An aged and beloved father is eating out his heart in far Canaan in love and longing for his Joseph, and he must be told all immediately, and "comforted in body, mind, and estate," and so he tells the brothers to hurry back immediately with his shirt as a sign of recognition, as a proof of these wonderful happenings.