٧ - حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق (رحمه الله)، قال: أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد الكوفي الهمداني البزاز (٢)، قال: أخبرنا المنذر بن محمد، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن سليمان، عن عبد الله بن الفضل، عن أبان بن عثمان الاحمر، عن أبان بن تغلب، عن سعيد بن جبير، عن ابن عباس، قال: لما أصاب آل يعقوب ما أصاب الناس من ضيق الطعام، جمع يعقوب (عليه السلام) بنيه، فقال لهم: يا بني، إنه بلغني أنه يباع بمصر طعام طيب وأن صاحبه رجل صالح لا يحبس الناس، فاذهبوا إليه واشتروا منه طعاما، فإنه سيحسن إليكم إن شاء الله. فتجهزوا وساروا حتى وردوا مصر فادخلوا على يوسف (عليه السلام) فعرفهم وهم له منكرون، فقال لهم: من أنتم؟ قالوا: نحن أولاد يعقوب بن إسحاق بن إبراهيم خليل الرحمن، ونحن من جبل كنعان، قال يوسف: ولدكم إذن ثلاثة أنبياء، وما أنتم بحكماء (٣)، ولا فيكم وقار ولا خشوع، فلعلكم جواسيس لبعض الملوك جئتم إلى بلادي. فقالوا: أيها الملك، لسنا بجواسيس، ولا أصحاب حرب، ولو تعلم بأبينا إذن لكرمنا عليك، فإنه نبي الله وابن أنبيائه، وإنه لمحزون. قال لهم يوسف (عليه السلام): فمما حزنه وهو نبي الله وابن أنبيائه، والجنة مأواه، وهو ينظر إليكم في مثل عددكم وقوتكم! فلعل حزنه إنما هو من قبل سفهكم وجهلكم وكذبكم وكيدكم ومكركم.  فقالوا: أيها الملك لسنا بجهال ولا سفهاء، ولا أتاه الحزن من قبلنا، ولكن كان له ابن كان أصغرنا سنا يقال له: يوسف، فخرج معنا إلى الصيد فأكله الذئب، فلم يزل بعده كئيبا حزينا باكيا. فقال لهم يوسف (عليه السلام): كلكم من أب واحد؟ فقالوا أبونا واحد، وأمهاتنا شتى. قال: فما حمل أباكم على أن سرحكم كلكم، ألا حبس منكم واحدا يأنس به ويستريح إليه. قالوا: قد فعل، قد حبس منا واحدا، وهو أصغرنا سنا. قال: ولم أختاره لنفسه من بينكم؟ قالوا: لانه أحب أولاده إليه بعد يوسف. فقال لهم يوسف (عليه السلام): إني أحبس منكم واحدا يكون عندي، وارجعوا إلى أبيكم وأقرئوه مني السلام، وقولوا له: يرسل إلي بابنه الذي زعمتم أنه حبسه عنده، ليخبرني عن حزنه، وعن سرعة الشيب إليه قبل أوان مشيبه، وعن بكائه وذهاب بصره. فلما قال هذا اقترعوا بينهم، فخرجت القرعة على شمعون فأمر به فحبس. فلما ودعوا شمعون، قال لهم: يا اخوتاه، انظروا ماذا وقعت فيه، وأقرئوا والدي مني السلام، فودعوه وساروا حتى وردوا الشام، ودخلا على يعقوب (عليه السلام)، وسلموا عليه سلاما ضعيفا، فقال لهم: يا بني، ما لكم تسلمون سلاما ضعيفا، ومالي لا أسمع فيكم صوت خليلي شمعون؟ قالوا: يا أبانا، إنا جئناك من عند أعظم الناس ملكا، لم ير الناس مثله حكما وعلما وخشوعا وسكينة ووقارا، ولئن كان لك شبيه، فإنه لشبيهك، ولكنا أهل بيت خلقنا للبلاء، أتهمنا الملك، وزعم أنه لا يصدقنا حتى ترسل معنا ابن يامين برسالة منك، يخبره عن حزنك وعن سرعة الشيب إليك قبل أوان المشيب، وعن بكائك وذهاب بصرك. فظن يعقوب (عليه السلام) أن ذلك مكر منهم. فقال لهم: يا بني، بئس العادة عادتكم، كلما خرجتم في وجه نقص منكم واحد، لا أرسله معكم. فلما فتحوا متاعهم وجدوا بضاعتهم ردت إليهم بغير علم منهم، فأقبلوا إلى أبيهم فرحين، قالوا: يا أبانا، ما رأى الناس مثل هذا الملك أشد اتقاءا للاثم منه، رد علينا بضاعتنا مخافة الاثم، وهي بضاعتنا ردت إلينا، ونمير أهلنا، ونحفظ أخانا،  ونزداد كيل بعير ذلك كيل يسير. قال يعقوب: قد علمتم أن ابن يامين أحبكم إلي بعد أخيكم يوسف، وبه أنسي، وإليه سكوني من بين جماعتكم، فلن أرسله معكم حتى تؤتون موثقا من الله لتأتنني به إلا أن يحاط بكم. فضمنه يهودا، فخرجوا حتى وردوا مصر، فدخلوا على يوسف (عليه السلام)، فقال لهم: هل بلغتم رسالتي؟ قالوا: نعم، وقد جئناك بجوابها مع هذا الغلام فسله عما بدا لك. قال له يوسف: بما أرسلك أبوك إلي يا غلام؟ قال: أرسلني إليك يقرئك السلام، ويقول: إنك أرسلت إلي تسألني عن حزني، وعن سرعة الشيب إلي قبل أوان المشيب، وعن بكائي وذهاب بصري، فإن أشد الناس حزنا وخوفا أذكرهم للمعاد، وإنما أسرع الشيب إلي قبل أوان المشيب لذكر يوم القيامة، وأبكاني وبيض عيني الحزن على حبيبي يوسف، وقد بلغني حزنك بحزني واهتمامك بأمري، فكان الله لك جازيا ومثيبا، وإنك لن تصلني بشئ أنا أشد فرحا به من أن تعجل علي ولدي ابن يامين، فإنه أحب أولادي إلي بعد يوسف، فأونس به وحشتي، وأصل به وحدتي، وتعجل علي بما أستعين به على عيالي. فلما قال هذا خنقت يوسف (عليه السلام) العبرة حتى قام فدخل البيت وبكى ساعة، ثم خرج إليهم وأمر لهم بطعام، وقال: ليجلس كل بني ام على مائدة. فجلسوا وبقي ابن يامين قائما، فقال له يوسف: ما لك لم تجلس؟ فقال له: ليس لي فيهم ابن ام. فقال له يوسف (عليه السلام): أفما كان لك ابن ام؟ فقال له ابن يامين: بلى. فقال له يوسف (عليه السلام) فما فعل؟ قال: زعم هؤلاء أن الذئب أكله. قال: فما بلغ من حزنك عليه؟ قال: ولد لي اثني عشر ابنا كلهم اشتق لهم اسما من اسمه. فقال له يوسف (عليه السلام): أراك قد عانقت النساء، وشممت الولد من بعده! فقال له ابن يامين: إن لي أبا صالحا، وإنه قال لي: تزوج، ولعل الله عز وجل يخرج منك ذرية تثقل الارض بالتسبيح. فقال له يوسف (عليه السلام): تعال فاجلس على مائدتي. فقال إخوة يوسف: لقد فضل الله يوسف وأخاه حتى إن الملك قد أجلسه معه على مائدته.  فأمر يوسف (عليه السلام) أن يجعل صواع (١) الملك في رحل ابن يامين، فلما تجهزوا (أذن مؤذن أيتها العير إنكم لسارقون * قالوا وأقبلوا عليهم ماذا تفقدون * قالوا: نفقد صواع الملك ولمن جاء به حمل بعير وأنا به زعيم * قالوا: تالله لقد علمتم ما جئنا لنفسد في الارض وما كنا سارقين). وكان الرسم فيهم والحكم أن السارق يسترق ولا يقطع (قالوا فما جزاؤه إن كنتم كاذبين * قالوا جزاؤه من وجد في رحله فهو جزاؤه كذلك نجزى الظالمين * فبدأ بأوعيتهم قبل وعاء أخيه ثم استخرجها من وعاء أخيه) فحبسه، فقال إخوته لما أصابوا الصواع في وعاء ابن يامين (إن يسرق فقد سرق أخ له من قبل فأسرها يوسف في نفسه ولم يبدها لهم قال أنتم شر مكانا والله أعلم بما تصفون * قالوا يا أيها العزيز إن له أبا شيخا كبيرا فخذ أحدنا مكانه إنا نراك من المحسنين * قال معاذ الله أن تأخذ إلا من وجدنا متاعنا عنده إنا إذا لظالمون * فلما استيئسوا منه خلصوا نجيا قال كبيرهم ألم تعلموا أن أباكم قد أخذ عليكم موثقا من الله ومن قبل ما فرطتم في يوسف فلن أبرح الارض حتى يأذن لى أبى أو يحكم الله لى وهو خير الحاكمين أرجعوا إلى أبيكم فقولوا يا أبانا إن ابنك سرق وما شهدنا إلا بما علمنا وما كنا للغيب حافظين وسئل القرية التى كنا فيها والعير التي أقبلنا فيها وإنا لصادقون). فلما رجعوا إلى أبيهم، قالوا ذلك له، قال: إن ابني لا يسرق (بل سولت لكم أنفسكم أمرا فصبر جميل عسى الله أن يأتيني بهم جميعا إنه هو العليم الحكيم) (٢). ثم أمر بنيه بالتجهيز إلى مصر، فساروا حتى أتوا مصر، فدخلوا على يوسف (عليه السلام) ودفعوا إليه كتاب من يعقوب يستعطفه فيه ويسأله رد ولده عليه، فلما نظر فيه خنقته العبرة، ولم يصبر حتى قام فدخل البيت فبكى ساعة، ثم خرج إليهم فقالوا له: (يا أيها العزيز مسنا وأهلنا الضر وجئنا ببضاعة مزجاة فأوف لنا الكيل وتصدق علينا إن الله يجزى المتصدقين) فقال لهم يوسف: (هل علمتم ما فعلتم  بيوسف وأخيه إذ أنتم جاهلون قالوا أءنك لانت يوسف قال أنا يوسف وهذا أخى قد من الله علينا إنه من يتق ويصبر فإن الله لا يضيع أجر المحسنين * قالوا تالله لقد ءاثرك الله علينا وإن كنا لخاطئين * قال لا تثريب عليكم اليوم يغفر الله لكم وهو أرحم الراحمين). ثم أمرهم بالانصراف إلى يعقوب (عليه السلام) وقال لهم (اذهبوا بقميصي هذا فألقوه على وجه أبى يأت بصيرا وأتوني بأهلكم أجمعين) (١). فهبط جبرئيل (عليه السلام) على يعقوب (عليه السلام) فقال: يا يعقوب، ألا أعلمك دعاء يرد الله عليك به بصرك، ويرد عليك ابنيك؟ قال: بلى. قال: قل ما قاله أبوك آدم فتاب الله عليه، وما قاله نوح فاستوت به سفينته على الجودي ونجا من الغرق، وما قاله أبوك إبراهيم خليل الرحمن حين ألقي في النار فجعلها الله عليه بردا وسلاما. فقال يعقوب (عليه السلام): وما ذاك يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: قل: يا رب، أسألك بحق محمد وعلي وفاطمة والحسن والحسين، أن تأتيني بيوسف وابن يامين جميعا، وترد علي عيني. فما استتم يعقوب (عليه السلام) هذا الدعاء حتى جاء البشير، فألقى قميص يوسف عليه فارتد بصيرا. فقال لهم: ألم أقل لكم إني أعلم من الله ما لا تعلمون (قالوا يا أبانا استغفر لنا ذنوبنا إنا كنا خاطئين * قال سوف أستغفر لكم ربى إنه هو الغفور الرحيم) (٢) فروي في خبر عن الصادق (عليه السلام)، أنه قال: أخرهم إلى السحر، فأقبل يعقوب إلى مصر، وخرج يوسف ليستقبله، فهم بأن يترجل ليعقوب، ثم ذكر ما هو فيه من الملك فلم يفعل، فنزل عليه جبرئيل (عليه السلام)، فقال له: يا يوسف، إن الله عز وجل يقول لك: ما منعك أن تنزل إلى عبدي الصالح؟ ما كنت فيه؟ أبسط يدك، فبسطها فخرج من بين أصابعه نور، فقال له: ما هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذا إنه لا يخرج من صلبك نبي أبدا عقوبة بما صنعت بيعقوب إذ لم تنزل إليه.  فقال يوسف: (ادخلوا مصر إن شاء الله ءامنين * ورفع أبويه على العرش وخروا له سجدا)، فقال يوسف ليعقوب: (يا أبت هذا تأويل رؤياي من قبل قد جعلها ربى حقا - إلى قوله - توفنى مسلما وألحقني بالصالحين) (١).
Muhammad b. Ibrahim b. Ishaq (rh) narrated to us. He said: Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Kufi al-Hamadani al-Bazzaz informed us. He said: Al-Mundhir b. Muhammad informed us. He said: Ja`far b. Sulayman narrated to us from `Abdullah b. al-Fadl from Aban b. `Uthman al-Ahmar from Aban b. Taghlub from Sa`id b. Jubayr from Ibn `Abbas. He said: When the Family of Ya`qub was afflicted with what the people were afflicted with – a shortage of food – Ya`qub  gathered his sons and said to them: O my sons! I have been informed that a righteous man who does not imprison the people is selling goodly food in Egypt. So, go to him and buy food from him, for he will be good to you, God-willingly. So, they prepared and journeyed until they reached Egypt. They visited Yusuf , and he recognized them, but they did not know who he was. So, he said to them: Who are you? They said: We are the children of Ya`qub b. Ishaq b. Ibrahim the Friend of the Merciful, and we are from Mount Canaan. Yusuf said: You are the son of three prophets, but you are not wise. You neither have piety nor humility. Perhaps you are spies of one of the kings, and you have come to my country. So, they said: O king! We are not spies, nor are we people of war. Had you known our father, you would have honoured us, for he is a prophet of Allah and the son of His prophets, and he is grieving. Yusuf  said to them: Why is he in grief when he is a prophet of Allah and a son of His prophets, and Paradise is his safehouse, and he looks to your number and your strength?! Perhaps his grief is due to your foolishness, your ignorance, your lies, your deceit, and your manipulation. So, they said: O king! We are not ignorant fools, and his grief did not come from us. Rather, we had a brother named “Yusuf” who was younger than us in age. He came hunting with us and a wolf ate him. Since then, he has been sorrowing, grieving, and weeping. So, Yusuf  said to them: Are you all from one father? So, they said: Our father is one, but our mothers are different. He said: What compelled your father to send all of you when he could have confined one of you by whom he can find solace and rest? They said: He did – he confined one of us, and he is younger than us in age. He said: Why did he choose him out of all of you? They said: Because he is the most beloved of his children to him after Yusuf. So, Yusuf  said to him: I will confine one of you here with me. [The rest of you,] go to your father, send him my salaam, and tell him to send me the son of his which you allege he has confined to himself, so that he may inform me of his grief, the hastening of his greying, his weeping, and his loss of sight. When he said this, they drew lots, and the lot went out against Sham`un, so he was commanded to confinement. When they big Sham`un farewell, he said to them: O brothers! See what I have fallen into. Send my salaam to my father. So, they bid him farewell and they journeyed to the Levant. They visited Ya`qub  and greeted him in a soft voice. So, he said to them: O my sons! Why are you greeting me with a soft voice, and why do I not hear the voice of my friend Sham`un among you? They said: O our father! We have come to you from the greatest king of the people. No person has been seen like him in his wisdom, knowledge, humility, tranquility, and piety. If you had a lookalike, then he would be your lookalike; but we are a people of a house that has been created for calamity. The king accused us, and he said that he would not believe us until you send Binyamin with us to him, with a letter informing him of your grief, the hastening of your greying, your weeping, and your loss of sight. So, Ya`qub assumed that this was a plot of theirs; and he said to them: O my sons! Your tradition is harmful. Every time you go out somewhere, you lose a person. I will not send him with you. When they opened their luggage, they found their goods returned to them without them knowing. So, they went to their father and said: O our father! We have never seen anyone as fearful of sin as this king. He has returned our goods to us in fear of sinning. We will go, and we will protect our brother. Ya`qub said: You know that Binyamin is the beloved to me from you after your brother Yusuf. My harmony is in him, and in him I find consolation from among you, so I will not send him with you until you take a vow by Allah that he is returned to me and that you surround him. So, Yahuda secured him. So, they went out until they reached Egypt. They visited Yusuf , so he said to them: Did you deliver my message? They said: Yes, and we have brought its response with this young man, so ask him whatever you wish. So, Yusuf said to him: What has your father sent you to me with, young man? He said: He sent me to give you his salaam, and he says: “You have sent for me to ask me about my grief, the hastening of my greying, my weeping, and my loss of sight. Surely, the person with the most intense grief and fear is he who reflects on the Resurrection the most. He who greying hastens the most is he who remembers the Day of Resurrection. I weep and my eye has gone white in grief over my beloved Yusuf. Your grief regarding my grief has reached me, as well as your concern for my matter, so may Allah reward you. Surely, you cannot give me anything that would make me happier than returning my son Binyamin, for he is the most beloved of my children to me after Yusuf. Through him, I found harmony in my loneliness and relation in my solitude. When he said this, Yusuf  choked [with tears], until he stood and entered the house to weep for a moment. Then, he went out to them, and he called for food to be given to them. He said: Let the children of each mother sit at a tablespread. So, they sat down, and Binyamin remained standing. So, Yusuf said to him: Why have you not sat down? So, he said to him: I do not have a brother from the same mother among them. So, Yusuf  said to him: Do you not have a brother from your mother? So, Binyamin said to him: Of course. So, Yusuf  said to him: What happened? He said: They say that a wolf ate him. He said: What has your grief over him caused you to do? He said: I have [since] had twelve sons, and I have derived their names from his name. So, Yusuf  said to him: I see that you have taken on women and children after him! So, Binyamin said: I have a righteous father, and he told me to marry, so that Allah may bring about a progeny that will fill the Earth with glorification [of Him]. So, Yusuf  said to him: Come and sit at my tablespread. So, the brothers of Yusuf said: Allah has blessed Yusuf and his brother to the point where the king has sat him down with him at his tablespread. So, Yusuf  called for the king’s measuring bowl to be given to Binyamin. “So when he had furnished them with their supplies, he put the [gold measuring] bowl into the bag of his brother. Then an announcer called out, ‘O caravan, indeed you are thieves.’ Turning back they asked: ‘What have you lost?’ The officials said: ‘We have lost the king's cup.’ (And their chief added): ‘He who brings it shall have a camel-load of provisions, I guarantee that.’ They said: ‘By Allah, you certainly know that we did not come to act corruptly in this land, nor are we those who steal.’” (12:70-73) And the law was such that the thief would be taken from, and not cut. “The officials said: ‘If you are lying, what will be the penalty for him who has stolen?’ They replied: ‘He in whose saddlebag the cup is found, he himself shall be its recompense.’ Thusly do We punish the wrongdoers. Then Yusuf began searching their bags before searching his own brother’s bag.’” (12:74-76) Then, his brothers said when they saw the bowl in the bag of Binyamin: “’No wonder that he steals for a brother of his stole before.’ But Yusuf kept his reaction to himself without disclosing the truth to them. He merely said to himself: ‘You are an evil lot. Allah knows well the truth of the accusation that you are making against me [to my face].’ They said: ‘O powerful chief (al-aziz)! His father is an age-stricken man, [and in order that he may not suffer] seize one of us in his stead. We indeed consider you an excellent person.’ Yusuf said: ‘Allah forbid that we should seize any except him with whom we found our good. Were we to do so, we would surely be one of the wrongdoers.’ Then, when they had despaired of Yusuf they went to a corner and counselled together. The eldest of them said: ‘Do you not know that your father has taken a solemn promise from you in the name of Allah, and you failed in your duty towards Yusuf? So, I will not depart from this land until my father permits me, or Allah pronounces His judgement in my favour. He is the best of those who judge.’ So, go back to your father and tell him: ‘Father! Your son has certainly been guilty of stealing. We did not see him stealing but testify according to what we know, and obviously we had no power to keep watch over that what is altogether hidden from us. You may inquire of the dwellers of the city where we were, and of the people of the caravan with whom we travelled. We are altogether truthful in what we say.’” (12:77-82) When they returned to their father, they said that to him. He said: Surely, my son does not steal. “But your souls have made it easy for you to engage in a heinous act. So, I will be graciously patient even at this. Allah may well bring them all back to me. He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (12:83) Then, he ordered his sons to get ready to go to Egypt. So, they journeyed until they arrived in Egypt. They visited Yusuf  and gave him the letter from Ya`qub, which was sympathetic and requesting for his son to be returned to him. When he looked at it, he was choked [with tears]. He could not be patient, so he stood up, went to his house, and wept for a moment. Then, he went out to them, and they said to him: “O chief! We and our family are struck with distress and have brought only a paltry sum. So, give us corn in full measure, and give it to us in charity. Allah rewards those who are charitable.” (12:88) So, Yusuf said to them: “’Do you remember what you did to Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?’ They exclaimed: ‘Are you indeed Yusuf?’ He said: ‘Yes, I am Yusuf and this is my brother. Allah has surely been gracious to us. Surely, whoever fears Allah and remains patient, Allah does not allow the reward of such people to go to waste.’ They said: ‘We swear by Allah! Surely, Allah has chosen you in preference to us and we were truly guilty.’ He replied: ‘No blame lies with you today. May Allah forgive you. He is the Most Merciful of all those that are merciful.’” (12:88-93) So, Gabriel  came down to Ya`qub  and said: O Ya`qub! Shall I not teach you a supplication by which Allah will return your sight and return your son? He said: Of course. He said:  Say what your father Adam said which caused Allah to forgive him, and what Nuh said which caused the Ark to settle on Judi and delivered him from drowning, and what your father Ibrahim the Friend of the Merciful said when he was thrown in the Fire and Allah made it cool and peaceful. So, Ya`qub said : What is that Gabriel? So, he said: Say: “O Lord, I ask You by the right of Muhammad, `Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn that You grant me Yusuf and Binyamin together, and that You return my sight.” So, Ya`qub  did not finish this supplication until the glad tidings came [suddenly]. He cast the shirt of Yusuf  upon him, and his sight returned to him. So, he said to them: Did I not tell you that I know from Allah that which you do not know? “They said: ‘Father! Pray for the forgiveness of our sins; we were truly guilty.’ He said: ‘I shall pray to my Lord for your forgiveness, for He, and indeed He alone, is Ever Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (12:97-98) It is reported in a report from al-Sadiq  that he said: When Ya`qub went to Egypt, and Yusuf went out to greet him, he was about to disembark [from his horse] for Ya`qub. Then, he remembered his status with the king, so he did not do it. So, Gabriel  came down to him and said to him: “O Yusuf! Surely, Allah says to you: what prevents you from coming down for My righteous servant? What were you thinking? Stretch out your hand.” So, he stretched it out, and light came out of his fingers. So, he said to him: “What is this, Gabriel?” So, he said: “This means that no prophet will ever come from your loins as a punishment for not coming down for Ya`qub.” So, Yusuf said: “Enter Egypt, God-willingly, in safety. So, he raised his parents to the throne, and they all fell down in prostration to him.” (12:99-100) So, Yusuf said to Ya`qub: “O my dear father! This is the interpretation of my old dream. My Lord has made it come true.” – until His saying – “Allow me to die as one who submits and join me with the righteous.” (12:100-101)