THE STORY OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH - The Famine Arrives and Joseph's Meeting with Bunyamin

After experiencing various incidents during his stay in Egypt, Joseph finally got a high position as treasurer of the state. Joseph was a person who was diligent and knowledgeable so that Allah SWT gave His gift to Joseph. In carrying out his obligations, Joseph always works well and correctly, not forgetting he always prays to Allah SWT. With his position, Jospeh could overcome the greed of officials and oppression of the small people. The contents of the state logistics warehouse can be used properly.

During the seven years of fertility, Egypt received abundant crops. Egyptians can prosper. All their needs are fulfilled. Some of the harvest is set aside to be stored in the royal warehouse. These deposits will be used to deal with the impending famine.

What Joseph said had happened. After the fertile period, the seven years of famine arrived. Long drought is really a disaster. Life becomes more difficult. Fortunately, food supplies have met the needs of the Egyptian people. Famine also occurs in the Palestinian area, where the Prophet Jacob and his family live. Many people are having trouble getting food. Palestinians have heard that a lot of food is available in Egypt. And the food can be exchanged for items owned by both Egyptians and outsiders. The sons of the Prophet Jacob went to Egypt. However, Bunyamin did not go to Egypt with his brothers.

Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt and headed for the exchange place. Joseph was also at the exchange place at that time. Joseph's brothers did not know that the country's treasurer was Joseph, because Joseph had grown up since they were last together. Joseph actually knew that they were his brothers, but pretended not to know him.

Surah Yusuf verse 58:

وَجَآءَ إِخۡوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُواْ عَلَيۡهِ فَعَرَفَهُمۡ وَهُمۡ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ  ٥٨

58.  And the brothers of Joseph came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown.

Joseph's brothers were treated well. Joseph prepared food for them as well as possible. Joseph said to his brothers that they would bring their brother who was equal (Bunyamin). If they do not bring their relatives, they cannot enter Egypt to get food. Joseph's brothers said they could carry it out. Unbeknownst to his brothers, Joseph ordered the employees to re-enter their exchange items into their sacks. This is Joseph's plan for them to return to Egypt again. Joseph's brothers received the food and returned to Palestine.

Surah Yusuf verses 59-62:

وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمۡ قَالَ ٱئۡتُونِي بِأَخٖ لَّكُم مِّنۡ أَبِيكُمۡۚ أَلَا تَرَوۡنَ أَنِّيٓ أُوفِي ٱلۡكَيۡلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡمُنزِلِينَ  ٥٩ فَإِن لَّمۡ تَأۡتُونِي بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيۡلَ لَكُمۡ عِندِي وَلَا تَقۡرَبُونِ  ٦٠ قَالُواْ سَنُرَٰوِدُ عَنۡهُ أَبَاهُ وَإِنَّا لَفَٰعِلُونَ  ٦١ وَقَالَ لِفِتۡيَٰنِهِ ٱجۡعَلُواْ بِضَٰعَتَهُمۡ فِي رِحَالِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَعۡرِفُونَهَآ إِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ  ٦٢

59.  And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do not you see that I give full measure and that I am the best of accommodators?

60.  But if you do not bring him to me, no measure will there be [hereafter] for you from me, nor will you approach me."

61.  They said, "We will attempt to dissuade his father from [keeping] him, and indeed, we will do [it]."

62.  And [Joseph] said to his servants, "Put their merchandise into their saddlebags so they might recognize it when they have gone back to their people that perhaps they will [again] return."

After a long journey, Joseph's brothers arrived at their home. Their lives at home are easier with food supplies. They met their father, the Prophet Jacob, and conveyed the message of the treasurer of the country. They said that they had to bring Bunyamin to Egypt if they wanted to get more food. The Prophet Jacob did not agree and doubted them. The Prophet Jacob was worried that Bunyamin would have a bad luck, just as Joseph experienced. Then Joseph's brothers opened the sacks they were carrying. They were shocked. Their exchange items were returned. They immediately reported the matter to the Prophet Jacob. Joseph's brothers also reassured their father that they could get Bunyamin to go to Egypt and be able to look after him. Food ingredients from Egypt are really needed in times of famine. Finally the Prophet Jacob allowed them to bring Bunyamin. Joseph's brothers had to swear by Allah's name that they should be able to protect Bunyamin until he returned home, unless there were things that were inevitable. The sons of the Prophet Jacob were advised by their father and they will obey him.

Surah Yusuf verses 63-68:

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمۡ قَالُواْ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلۡكَيۡلُ فَأَرۡسِلۡ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكۡتَلۡ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ  ٦٣ قَالَ هَلۡ ءَامَنُكُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ إِلَّا كَمَآ أَمِنتُكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبۡلُ فَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٌ حَٰفِظٗاۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ  ٦٤ وَلَمَّا فَتَحُواْ مَتَٰعَهُمۡ وَجَدُواْ بِضَٰعَتَهُمۡ رُدَّتۡ إِلَيۡهِمۡۖ قَالُواْ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبۡغِيۖ هَٰذِهِۦ بِضَٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتۡ إِلَيۡنَاۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهۡلَنَا وَنَحۡفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزۡدَادُ كَيۡلَ بَعِيرٖۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيۡلٞ يَسِيرٞ  ٦٥ قَالَ لَنۡ أُرۡسِلَهُۥ مَعَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ تُؤۡتُونِ مَوۡثِقٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَتَأۡتُنَّنِي بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُحَاطَ بِكُمۡۖ فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَوۡهُ مَوۡثِقَهُمۡ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ مَا نَقُولُ وَكِيلٞ  ٦٦ وَقَالَ يَٰبَنِيَّ لَا تَدۡخُلُواْ مِنۢ بَابٖ وَٰحِدٖ وَٱدۡخُلُواْ مِنۡ أَبۡوَٰبٖ مُّتَفَرِّقَةٖۖ وَمَآ أُغۡنِي عَنكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيۡءٍۖ إِنِ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِۖ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡتُۖ وَعَلَيۡهِ فَلۡيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلُونَ  ٦٧ وَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَمَرَهُمۡ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَيۡءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةٗ فِي نَفۡسِ يَعۡقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَاۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلۡمٖ لِّمَا عَلَّمۡنَٰهُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ  ٦٨

63.  So when they returned to their father, they said, "O our father, [further] measure has been denied to us, so send with us our brother [that] we will be given measure. And indeed, we will be his guardians."

64.  He said, "Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful."

65.  And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, "O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain supplies for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."

66.  [Jacob] said, "Never will I send him with you until you give me a promise by Allah that you will bring him [back] to me, unless you should be surrounded by enemies." And when they had given their promise, he said, "Allah, over what we say, is Witness."

67.  And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] Allah at all. The decision is only for Allah; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who would rely [indeed] rely."

68.  And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allah at all except [it was] a need within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.

Joseph's brothers including Bunyamin went to Egypt and arrived there after a long journey. Once they arrived at the exchange place, they were treated well by Joseph. Joseph invited Bunyamin who had come to talk somewhere. Joseph told Bunyamin that he was the treasurer of the country was Joseph, a brother who had long since left. Eventually the two brothers experienced a moving meeting. The two brothers told each other about their respective circumstances. And this meeting has not been known by their brothers.

Surah Yusuf verse 69:

وَلَمَّا دَخَلُواْ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَخَاهُۖ قَالَ إِنِّيٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبۡتَئِسۡ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ  ٦٩

69.  And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]."