Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 55

(Ayah 55) ➊ In {قَالَ اجْعَلْنِيْ عَلٰى خَزَآىِٕنِ الْاَرْضِ … : ’’ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘}, the "al" is for specification, meaning "this land," that is, appoint me over the treasures of the land of Egypt, because I can fully protect them and I know this work well. {’’خَزَآىِٕنِ‘‘ } is the plural of {’’خِزَانَةٌ ‘‘}, by which is meant either the system of those storehouses that will be built for the years of prosperity and will store grain, and in the years of famine, grain will be distributed from them, because this requires great planning, effort, trustworthiness, and expertise in accounting, or it refers to all the sources of income and production of the kingdom. In the Qur'an, the word "treasures" is generally used in this sense, as it is said: «{ وَ لِلّٰهِ خَزَآىِٕنُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ }» [ المنافقون : ۷ ] "Even though the treasures of the heavens and the earth belong only to Allah." And see Surah Al-An'am (50), Bani Isra'il (100), Sad (9), Tur (37), and Hijr (21), and this is the correct meaning here, because the construction of storehouses in the years of prosperity, then buying surplus wheat from all the people of the country for seven years, would not have been possible without complete authority over all sources of government income, so that the country could continue to function, funds could be provided for the purchase of goods, and storehouses could be built. The point is that when Yusuf (peace be upon him) saw that his value and status had increased in the eyes of the king and that he was ready to entrust him with all kinds of authority, he considered it appropriate, trusting in his own ability, to propose that all the sources of income and production of the kingdom be handed over to him. In fact, from the following verses (100, 101), it appears that eventually Yusuf (peace be upon him) himself ascended the throne in Egypt, or at least the government was practically in his hands, and this proposal was also because Yusuf (peace be upon him) was a prophet of Allah Almighty, and it was necessary for him to have control over all the powers of this country so that he could propagate monotheism and eradicate polytheism.

➋ Here a question is raised that Yusuf (peace be upon him) himself asked for a position, whereas the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding the one who seeks or desires a position: [ لاَ نَسْتَعْمِلُ عَلٰی عَمَلِنَا مَنْ أَرَادَهٗ ] [ بخاری، الإجارۃ، باب استئجار الرجل الصالح… : ۲۲۶۱ ] "We will never give a position to the one who intends it." There are several answers to this, of which the most correct and strongest is that the king had already appointed Yusuf (peace be upon him) to a position: «{ اِنَّكَ الْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِيْنٌ اَمِيْنٌ }» [یوسف : ۵۴ ] "Indeed, today you are with us, established in authority, trustworthy." Just as nowadays ministers are first chosen and then they themselves select their department, similarly, when the king declared him fully established in authority and trustworthy, Yusuf (peace be upon him) knew that the requirements of this office could not be fulfilled without complete authority over the treasury, so he had no choice but to request this authority. In summary, he did not ask for the position at all, but when he was granted the position, he presented its practical form.

The second answer is that if someone insists that he did ask for the position, then fine—whoever is at the rank of Yusuf (peace be upon him) may indeed ask for a position, whoever possesses qualities like his, who, like him, has control over all bestial forces, including the most unruly force of man (sexual desire), such as anger, betrayal, and oppression, and is also honored with prophethood, because in such a case there is neither the danger of neglecting the responsibility of the office nor of betrayal. Another person should act on the command of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and remain at ease, not put himself into that trial whose outcome the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has clearly explained to us. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَا مِنْ أَمِيْرِ عَشَرَةٍ إِلاَّ يُؤْتٰی بِهٖ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَغْلُوْلاً لَا يَفُكُّهٗ إِلاَّ الْعَدْلُ أَوْ يُوْبِقُهُ الْجَوْرُ ] [ مسند أحمد : 431/2، ح : ۹۵۸۶۔ سلسلۃ الأحادیث الصحیحۃ : 237/6، ح : ۲۶۲۱ ] "Whoever is made a leader over ten people will be brought with a collar around his neck; nothing will release him except justice, or oppression will destroy him."