Joseph — Verse 93

Ya`qub finds the Scent of Yusuf in his Shirt! Yusuf said, `Take this shirt of mine, فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ أَبِى يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا (and cast it over the face of my father, his vision will return),' because Ya`qub had lost his sight from excessive crying, وَأْتُونِى بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (and bring to me all your family.) all the children of Ya`qub. وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ الْعِيرُ (And when the caravan departed) from Egypt, قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ (their father said...), Ya`qub, peace be upon him, said to the children who remained with him, إِنِّى لأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ لَوْلاَ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ `(I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf, if only you think me not senile.), except that you might think me senile because of old age.' `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "When the caravan departed from Egypt, a wind started blowing and brought the scent of Yusuf's shirt to Ya`qub. He said, إِنِّى لأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ لَوْلاَ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ (I do indeed feel the smell of Yusuf , if only you think me not senile.) He found his scent from a distance of eight days away!" Similar was also reported through Sufyan Ath-Thawri and Shu`bah and others reported it from Abu Sinan. Ya`qub said to them, لَوْلاَ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ (if only you think me not senile.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata, Qatadah and Sa'id bin Jubayr commented, "If only you think me not a fool!" Mujahid and Al-Hasan said that it means, "If only you think me not old." Their answer to him was, إِنَّكَ لَفِى ضَلَـلِكَ الْقَدِيمِ (Certainly, you are in your old Dalal.) meaning, `in your old error,' according to Ibn `Abbas. Qatadah commented, "They meant that, `because of your love for Yusuf you will never forget him.' So they uttered a harsh word to their father that they should never have uttered to him, nor to a Prophet of Allah." Similar was said by As-Suddi and others.

He Joseph asked them about his father; and they told him that his eyesight had gone. And so he said Go with this shirt of mine — and this was the shirt of Abraham the one he wore when he was thrown into the fire; he Joseph had it around his neck when he was at the bottom of the well. It the shirt had come from Paradise Gabriel commanded him Joseph to send it off to Jacob saying that the scent of Paradise lingers in it and whenever it is cast upon a sufferer it heals him — and lay it on my father’s face and he will recover his sight; and bring me all your folk’.

Go with this shirt of mine and cast it upon the face of my father so that he may come to seeing. Joseph said, " Take my shirt to Jacob, for his pain has not ceased from the time he saw the shirt stained with the wolf's blood. The balm will also be my shirt. " When they took the shirt from Egypt, the morning breeze was commanded to take the shirt's scent to Jacob's nostrils so that, before Joseph's messenger could give the good news, he would receive it from the Real's mes- senger and recognize the Real's perfect gentleness and favor toward him. According to the tasting of the recognizers, this is the divine breeze that wanders furtively around the world to the doors of the breasts of the faithful and the tawḤīd-voicers to see where there may be a limpid breast and an empty secret core in which to dwell. Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession. To this alluded the Prophet: " Surely your Lord has breezes in the days of your time, " and so on. As for Jacob, this generosity was shown to him by means of passion for Joseph. Beneath this lies a magnificent secret. Its explanation is that contemplating Joseph for Jacob was by means of con- templating the Real. Whenever Jacob saw Joseph with the eyes of his head, he was gazing on the Real in contemplation with the eye of his secret core. So, when he was veiled from contemplating Joseph, his heart was also veiled from contemplating the Real. All of Jacob's anxiety and grieving was because of the loss of the contemplation of the Real, not the loss of companionship with Jo- seph. His longing and lamenting at separation from Joseph was because he had lost his mirror. He did not weep for the mirror itself, but for his heart's intimate, which he no longer saw. He burned because of losing that. Hence, on the day when he saw him again, he fell down in prostration, for his heart was contemplating the Real. He was prostrating before the contemplation of the Real, for none other than God is worthy of prostration.

Go with this shirt of mine and cast it upon the face of my father so that he may come to seeing. Joseph said, " Take my shirt to Jacob, for his pain has not ceased from the time he saw the shirt stained with the wolf's blood. The balm will also be my shirt. " When they took the shirt from Egypt, the morning breeze was commanded to take the shirt's scent to Jacob's nostrils so that, before Joseph's messenger could give the good news, he would receive it from the Real's mes- senger and recognize the Real's perfect gentleness and favor toward him. According to the tasting of the recognizers, this is the divine breeze that wanders furtively around the world to the doors of the breasts of the faithful and the tawḤīd-voicers to see where there may be a limpid breast and an empty secret core in which to dwell. Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession. To this alluded the Prophet: " Surely your Lord has breezes in the days of your time, " and so on. As for Jacob, this generosity was shown to him by means of passion for Joseph. Beneath this lies a magnificent secret. Its explanation is that contemplating Joseph for Jacob was by means of con- templating the Real. Whenever Jacob saw Joseph with the eyes of his head, he was gazing on the Real in contemplation with the eye of his secret core. So, when he was veiled from contemplating Joseph, his heart was also veiled from contemplating the Real. All of Jacob's anxiety and grieving was because of the loss of the contemplation of the Real, not the loss of companionship with Jo- seph. His longing and lamenting at separation from Joseph was because he had lost his mirror. He did not weep for the mirror itself, but for his heart's intimate, which he no longer saw. He burned because of losing that. Hence, on the day when he saw him again, he fell down in prostration, for his heart was contemplating the Real. He was prostrating before the contemplation of the Real, for none other than God is worthy of prostration.

Go with this shirt of mine and cast it upon the face of my father so that he may come to seeing. Joseph said, " Take my shirt to Jacob, for his pain has not ceased from the time he saw the shirt stained with the wolf's blood. The balm will also be my shirt. " When they took the shirt from Egypt, the morning breeze was commanded to take the shirt's scent to Jacob's nostrils so that, before Joseph's messenger could give the good news, he would receive it from the Real's mes- senger and recognize the Real's perfect gentleness and favor toward him. According to the tasting of the recognizers, this is the divine breeze that wanders furtively around the world to the doors of the breasts of the faithful and the tawḤīd-voicers to see where there may be a limpid breast and an empty secret core in which to dwell. Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession. To this alluded the Prophet: " Surely your Lord has breezes in the days of your time, " and so on. As for Jacob, this generosity was shown to him by means of passion for Joseph. Beneath this lies a magnificent secret. Its explanation is that contemplating Joseph for Jacob was by means of con- templating the Real. Whenever Jacob saw Joseph with the eyes of his head, he was gazing on the Real in contemplation with the eye of his secret core. So, when he was veiled from contemplating Joseph, his heart was also veiled from contemplating the Real. All of Jacob's anxiety and grieving was because of the loss of the contemplation of the Real, not the loss of companionship with Jo- seph. His longing and lamenting at separation from Joseph was because he had lost his mirror. He did not weep for the mirror itself, but for his heart's intimate, which he no longer saw. He burned because of losing that. Hence, on the day when he saw him again, he fell down in prostration, for his heart was contemplating the Real. He was prostrating before the contemplation of the Real, for none other than God is worthy of prostration.

Go with this shirt of mine and cast it upon the face of my father so that he may come to seeing. Joseph said, " Take my shirt to Jacob, for his pain has not ceased from the time he saw the shirt stained with the wolf's blood. The balm will also be my shirt. " When they took the shirt from Egypt, the morning breeze was commanded to take the shirt's scent to Jacob's nostrils so that, before Joseph's messenger could give the good news, he would receive it from the Real's mes- senger and recognize the Real's perfect gentleness and favor toward him. According to the tasting of the recognizers, this is the divine breeze that wanders furtively around the world to the doors of the breasts of the faithful and the tawḤīd-voicers to see where there may be a limpid breast and an empty secret core in which to dwell. Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession. To this alluded the Prophet: " Surely your Lord has breezes in the days of your time, " and so on. As for Jacob, this generosity was shown to him by means of passion for Joseph. Beneath this lies a magnificent secret. Its explanation is that contemplating Joseph for Jacob was by means of con- templating the Real. Whenever Jacob saw Joseph with the eyes of his head, he was gazing on the Real in contemplation with the eye of his secret core. So, when he was veiled from contemplating Joseph, his heart was also veiled from contemplating the Real. All of Jacob's anxiety and grieving was because of the loss of the contemplation of the Real, not the loss of companionship with Jo- seph. His longing and lamenting at separation from Joseph was because he had lost his mirror. He did not weep for the mirror itself, but for his heart's intimate, which he no longer saw. He burned because of losing that. Hence, on the day when he saw him again, he fell down in prostration, for his heart was contemplating the Real. He was prostrating before the contemplation of the Real, for none other than God is worthy of prostration.

Go with this shirt of mine and cast it upon the face of my father so that he may come to seeing.Joseph said, " Take my shirt to Jacob, for his pain has not ceased from the time he saw the shirt stained with the wolf's blood. The balm will also be my shirt. " When they took the shirt from Egypt, the morning breeze was commanded to take the shirt's scent to Jacob's nostrils so that, before Joseph's messenger could give the good news, he would receive it from the Real's mes- senger and recognize the Real's perfect gentleness and favor toward him. According to the tasting of the recognizers, this is the divine breeze that wanders furtively around the world to the doors of the breasts of the faithful and the tawḤīd-voicers to see where there may be a limpid breast and an empty secret core in which to dwell.Her love came to me before I knew love-it came across a carefree heart and took possession.To this alluded the Prophet: " Surely your Lord has breezes in the days of your time, " and so on. As for Jacob, this generosity was shown to him by means of passion for Joseph. Beneath this lies a magnificent secret. Its explanation is that contemplating Joseph for Jacob was by means of con- templating the Real. Whenever Jacob saw Joseph with the eyes of his head, he was gazing on the Real in contemplation with the eye of his secret core. So, when he was veiled from contemplating Joseph, his heart was also veiled from contemplating the Real. All of Jacob's anxiety and grieving was because of the loss of the contemplation of the Real, not the loss of companionship with Jo- seph. His longing and lamenting at separation from Joseph was because he had lost his mirror. He did not weep for the mirror itself, but for his heart's intimate, which he no longer saw. He burned because of losing that. Hence, on the day when he saw him again, he fell down in prostration, for his heart was contemplating the Real. He was prostrating before the contemplation of the Real, for none other than God is worthy of prostration.

ولما سألهم عن أبيه أخبروه بذهاب بصره من البكاء عليه، فقال لهم: عودوا إلى أبيكم ومعكم قميصي هذا فاطرحوه على وجه أبي يَعُدْ إليه بصره، ثم أحضروا إليَّ جميع أهلكم.

يقول اذهبوا بهذا القميص " فألقوه على وجه أبي يأت بصيرا " وكان قد عمي من كثرة البكاء " وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين " أي بجميع بني يعقوب.

ثم انتقل يوسف - عليه السلام - من الحديث عن الصفح عنهم إلى الحديث عن الصفح عنهم إلى الحديث عن أبيه الذى ابيضت عيناه عليه من الحزن فقال :( اذهبوا بِقَمِيصِي هذا فَأَلْقُوهُ على وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيراً وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ) .أى : اذهبوا يا إخوتى بقميصى هذا ( فَأَلْقُوهُ على وَجْهِ أَبِي ) الذى طال حزنه بسبب فراقى له ( يَأْتِ بَصِيراً ) أى يرتد إيله كامل بصره ، بعد أن ضعف من شدة الحزن .( وأتونى ) معه إلى هنا ومعكم أهلكم جميعاً من رجال ونساء وأطفال .وقول يوسف هذا إنا هو بوحى من الله - تعالى - فهو - سبحانه الذى ألهمه أن إلقاء قميصه على وجه أبيه يؤدى إلى ارتداد بصره إليه كاملا ، وهذا من باب خرق العادة بالنسبة لهذين النبيين الكريمين .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (93)قال أبو جعفر:ذكر أن يوسف صلى الله عليه وسلم لما عرّف نفسه إخوته ، سألهم عن أبيهم ، فقالوا: ذهب بصره من الحزن! فعند ذلك أعطاهم قميصَه وقال لهم: ( اذهبوا بقميصي هذا ) .* * **ذكر من قال ذلك:19800- حدثنا ابن وكيع ، قال، حدثنا عمرو ، عن أسباط ، عن السدي قال: قال لهم يوسف:ما فعل أبي بعدي؟ قالوا:لما فاته بنيامين عمي من الحزن. قال: ( اذهبوا بقميصي هذا فألقوا على وجه أبي يأت بصيرًا وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين ).* * *وقوله: ( يأت بصيرًا ) يقول:يَعُدْ بصيرًا (27) ، ( وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين ) ، يقول: وجيئوني بجميع أهلكم .* * *----------------------الهوامش:(27) هذا معنى يقيد في معاجم اللغة ، في باب" أتى" ، بمعنى : عاد ، وهو معنى عزيز لم يشر إليه أحد من أصحاب المعاجم التي بين أيدينا .

( اذهبوا بقميصي هذا فألقوه على وجه أبي يأت بصيرا ) أي : يعد مبصرا . وقيل : يأتيني بصيرا لأنه كان قد دعاه .قال الحسن : لم يعلم أنه يعود بصيرا إلا بعد أن أعلمه الله عز وجل .وقال الضحاك : كان ذلك القميص من نسج الجنة .وعن مجاهد قال : أمره جبريل أن يرسل إليه قميصه ، وكان ذلك القميص قميص إبراهيم عليه السلام ، وذلك أنه جرد من ثيابه وألقي في النار عريانا ، فأتاه جبريل بقميص من حرير الجنة ، فألبسه إياه فكان ذلك القميص عند إبراهيم عليه السلام ، فلما مات ورثه إسحاق ، فلما مات ورثه يعقوب ، فلما شب يوسف جعل يعقوب ذلك القميص في قصبة ، وسد رأسها ، وعلقها في عنقه ، لما كان يخاف عليه من العين ، فكان لا يفارقه . فلما ألقي في البئر عريانا جاءه جبريل عليه السلام وعلى يوسف ذلك التعويذ ، فأخرج القميص منه وألبسه إياه ، ففي هذا الوقت جاء جبريل عليه السلام إلى يوسف عليه السلام وقال : أرسل ذلك القميص ، فإن فيه ريح الجنة لا يقع على سقيم ولا مبتلى إلا عوفي ، فدفع يوسف ذلك القميص إلى إخوته وقال : ألقوه على وجه أبي يأت بصيرا ( وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين ) .

وقوله : { اذهبوا بقميصي هذا } يدل على أنه أعطاهم قميصاً ، فلعلّه جعل قميصه علامة لأبيه على حياته ، ولعلّ ذلك كان مصطلحاً عليه بينهما . وكان للعائلات في النظام القديم علامات يصطلحون عليها ويحتفظون بها لتكون وسائل للتعارف بينهم عند الفتن والاغتراب ، إذ كانت تعتريهم حوادث الفقد والفراق بالغزو والغارات وقطع الطريق ، وتلك العلامات من لباس ومِن كلمات يتعارفون بها وهي الشعار ، ومن علامات في البَدن وشَامات .وفائدة إرساله إلى أبيه القميصَ أن يثق أبوه بحياته ووجوده في مصر ، فلا يظن الدعوة إلى قدومه مكيدة من ملك مصر ، ولقصد تعجيل المسرة له .والأظهر أنه جعل إرسال قميصه علامة على صدق إخوته فيما يبلغونه إلى أبيهم من أمر يوسف عليه السلام بجلبه فإنّ قمصان الملوك والكبراء تنسج إليهم خصيصاً ولا توجد أمثالها عند الناس وكان الملوك يخلعونها على خاصتهم ، فجعل يوسف عليه السلام إرسال قميصه علامة لأبيه على صدق إخوته أنهم جاءوا من عند يوسف عليه السلام بخبر صدق .ومن البعيد مَا قيل : إن القميص كان قميص إبراهيم عليه السلام مع أن قميص يوسف قد جاء به إخوته إلى أبيهم حين جاءوا عليه بدم كذب .وأما إلقاء القميص على وجه أبيه فلقصد المفاجأة بالبُشرى لأنه كان لا يبصر من بعيد فلا يتبين رفعة القميص إلا من قرب .وأما كونه يصير بصيراً فحصل ليوسف عليه السلام بالوحي فبشرهم به من ذلك الحين . ولعل يوسف عليه السلام نُبيءَ ساعتئذٍ .وأدمج الأمر بالإتيان بأبيه في ضمن تبشيره بوجوده إدماجاً بليغاً إذ قال : { يأت بصيراً } ثم قال : { وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين } لقصد صلة أرحام عشيرته . قال المفسرون : وكانت عشيرة يعقوب عليه السلام ستا وسبعين نفساً بين رجال ونساء .

أي: قال يوسف عليه السلام لإخوته: { اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرًا } لأن كل داء يداوى بضده، فهذا القميص - لما كان فيه أثر ريح يوسف، الذي أودع قلب أبيه من الحزن والشوق ما الله به عليم - أراد أن يشمه، فترجع إليه روحه، وتتراجع إليه نفسه، ويرجع إليه بصره، ولله في ذلك حكم وأسرار، لا يطلع عليها العباد، وقد اطلع يوسف من ذلك على هذا الأمر. { وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ } أي: أولادكم وعشيرتكم وتوابعكم كلهم، ليحصل تمام اللقاء، ويزول عنكم نكد المعيشة، وضنك الرزق.

قوله تعالى : اذهبوا بقميصي هذا نعت للقميص ، والقميص مذكر ، فأما قول الشاعر :تدعو هوازن والقميص مفاضة فوق النطاق تشد بالأزرارفتقديره : والقميص درع مفاضة . قاله النحاس . وقال ابن السدي عن أبيه عن مجاهد : قال لهم يوسف : اذهبوا بقميصي هذا فألقوه على وجه أبي يأت بصيرا قال : كان يوسف أعلم بالله من أن يعلم أن قميصه يرد على يعقوب بصره ، ولكن ذلك قميص إبراهيم الذي ألبسه الله في النار من حرير الجنة ، وكان كساه إسحاق ، وكان إسحاق كساه يعقوب ، وكان يعقوب أدرج ذلك القميص في قصبة من فضة وعلقه في عنق يوسف ، لما كان يخاف عليه من العين ، وأخبره جبريل بأن أرسل قميصك فإن فيه ريح الجنة ، وإن ريح الجنة لا يقع على سقيم ولا [ ص: 226 ] مبتلى إلا عوفي . وقال الحسن : لولا أن الله تعالى أعلم يوسف بذلك لم يعلم أنه يرجع إليه بصره ، وكان الذي حمل قميصه يهوذا ، قال ليوسف : أنا الذي حملت إليه قميصك بدم كذب فأحزنته ، وأنا الذي أحمله الآن لأسره ، وليعود إليه بصره ، فحمله ; حكاه السدي . وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين لتتخذوا مصر دارا . قال مسروق : فكانوا ثلاثة وتسعين ، ما بين رجل وامرأة . وقد قيل : إن القميص الذي بعثه هو القميص الذي قد من دبره ، ليعلم يعقوب أنه عصم من الزنا ; والقول الأول أصح ، وقد روي مرفوعا من حديث أنس عن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ذكره القشيري والله أعلم .

When the truth came out into the open, Joseph’s brothers acknowledged Joseph’s greatness and freely admitted their guilt. In the same way, Joseph also showed such broadmindedness as a true God-worshipper is expected to show on such occasions. He did not condemn his brothers. He completely forgot and forgave the bitter experiences of the past and once again entered into fraternal relations with his brothers. In this incident there is an example of a combination of divine and human help. And through this incident, circumstances were created which favoured the Children of Israel leaving Palestine and reaching Egypt where they attained a position of honour and prosperity. It was during the time of Joseph that the family of Jacob shifted to Egypt and for the next five hundred years they lived there with dignity and honour. According to the Bible, the number of members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt was sixty seven.

Commentary The previous verses about the story of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) have told us about the time when, by the will of Allah, it was appropriate for him to disclose his secret to his brothers. This he did. His brothers sought his forgiveness. He, not only that he forgave them, did not even choose to admonish them for what they had done to him in the past. In fact, he prayed to Allah Ta` la for them. Meeting his father was now his next concern. Given the conditions, he found it better that his father comes to him with the family. But, having come to know that his father had lost his eyesight as a result of his separation from him, that became his first concern. So, he said to his brothers: اذْهَبُوا بِقَمِيصِي هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقُوهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِ أَبِي يَأْتِ بَصِيرً‌ا (Go with this shirt of mine and put it over the face of my father, and he will turn into a sighted man - 93). It is obvious that putting someone's shirt on the face of a person cannot become the physical cause of an eyesight to return. In fact, this was a miracle of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) for he, by the will of Allah, knew that once his shirt was put over the face of his father, Allah Ta` ala will give him his eyesight back. Tafsir authorities, Dahhak and Mujahid have said that this was the inherent quality of that shirt because it was not like ordinary clothes. Instead, it was brought from Paradise for Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) at the time when he was thrown into the fire naked by Nimrud. Then, this apparel of Paradise remained preserved with Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . After his death, it passed on to Sayyidna Ishaq (علیہ السلام) . After his death, it came to Sayyidna Ya` qub (علیہ السلام) In view of its status as a sacred legacy, he put it inside a tube, sealed it and made Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) wear it round his neck as a Ta` widh (spiritual charm) so that he remains safe against the evil eye. When the brothers of Yusuf (علیہ السلام) removed the shirt of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) to deceive their father and he was thrown into the well without it, Sayyidna Jibra'il al-Amin came, and opening the tube hanging round his neck, took this shirt out from it, and made Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) wear it. Since that time, it remained preserved with him. When needed again, it was Jibra'il al-Amin again who advised Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) that this shirt was an apparel of Paradise. It had a unique property. If put over the face of a blind person, he becomes sighted. He asked him to send it to his father and he would become a sighted man. The view of Hadrat Mujaddid Alf Thani (رح) is that the beauty, rather the very existence of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) ، was itself a thing of the Paradise. Therefore, every shirt that touched his body could have this property. (Mazhari) Said in the last sentence of verse 93 was: وَأْتُونِي بِأَهْلِكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ that is, ` all of you, my brothers, bring your entire family to me.' Though, the real purpose was to have his respected father come to him but, here he did not specifically mention his father, instead, talked about bringing the family - perhaps, because he considered that asking his father to be brought to him was contrary to etiquette. However, he was already certain that the sight of his father would return and there would remain no reason which could stop him from coming to him, rather, he would himself want to honour him with his visit. According to a narration reported by Al-Qurtubi, Yahuda (Judah) from among the brothers of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) offered to carry this shirt personally - because, it was he who had carried young Yusuf’ s shirt smeared with fake blood and which brought many shocks for his father, and now, it should be him again who should carry the shirt in his own hands, so that amends could be made for past injustices.

(Go with this shirt of mine) and his shirt was from Paradise (and lay it on my father's face, he will become (again) a seer) he will regain his sight; (and come to me with all your folk) they were about seventy people.