سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 58
وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ ﴿58﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And Yûsuf’s (Joseph) brethren came and they entered unto him, and he recognized them, but they recognized him not.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَآءَ
wajāa
And came
إِخْوَةُ
ikh'watu
(the) brothers
يُوسُفَ
yūsufa
(of) Yusuf
فَدَخَلُوا۟
fadakhalū
and they entered
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
upon him
فَعَرَفَهُمْ
faʿarafahum
and he recognized them
وَهُمْ
wahum
but they
لَهُۥ
lahu
knew him not
مُنكِرُونَ
munkirūna
knew him not
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah58) ➊ {وَ جَآءَ اِخْوَةُ يُوْسُفَ:} Here, Allah Almighty omitted the mention of the years of prosperity, the excellent administration of Yusuf (peace be upon him) during those years, and all related matters, because the main purpose was to show what the prophets have to endure at the hands of their own people and, in the end, how Allah Almighty arranges help and a good outcome for them. The passage of time in between is self-evident, so now, after the years of prosperity ended, the narrative begins with the arrival of the brothers during the famine, from which it is automatically understood that the famine had spread beyond Egypt to the surrounding countries such as Palestine and Syria, and grain was not available anywhere except Egypt. That is why these brothers came to Egypt to buy grain.
➋ { فَدَخَلُوْا عَلَيْهِ :} From this, it is understood how carefully Yusuf (peace be upon him) was distributing the grain, that he would personally meet those who came to get grain and, even after receiving the price, would not allow more than one camel-load per person. The reason for all the brothers coming except the youngest was also this: that they would get grain for ten camels, and perhaps also that they might remain safe from enemies on the way.
➌ { فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَ هُمْ لَهٗ مُنْكِرُوْنَ: ’’ فَعَرَفَهُمْ ‘‘} 'Fa'arafahum' is a verbal sentence, which indicates renewal and occurrence, meaning that Yusuf (peace be upon him), with his memory and intelligence, recognized them as soon as he saw them. The second is a nominal sentence, which indicates continuity, that the brothers remained unaware of him until their return, because a long time had passed and he had been separated from them at a young age. Secondly, it was not even in their imagination that the brother whom they had thrown into the well would today be the absolute authority of Egypt.
➋ { فَدَخَلُوْا عَلَيْهِ :} From this, it is understood how carefully Yusuf (peace be upon him) was distributing the grain, that he would personally meet those who came to get grain and, even after receiving the price, would not allow more than one camel-load per person. The reason for all the brothers coming except the youngest was also this: that they would get grain for ten camels, and perhaps also that they might remain safe from enemies on the way.
➌ { فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَ هُمْ لَهٗ مُنْكِرُوْنَ: ’’ فَعَرَفَهُمْ ‘‘} 'Fa'arafahum' is a verbal sentence, which indicates renewal and occurrence, meaning that Yusuf (peace be upon him), with his memory and intelligence, recognized them as soon as he saw them. The second is a nominal sentence, which indicates continuity, that the brothers remained unaware of him until their return, because a long time had passed and he had been separated from them at a young age. Secondly, it was not even in their imagination that the brother whom they had thrown into the well would today be the absolute authority of Egypt.
