The Holy Quran 12:76 — Surah Yusuf

Arabic text

فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِيَتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَآءِ أَخِيهِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ كِدْنَا لِيُوسُفَ ۖ مَا كَانَ لِيَأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِى دِينِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِى عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ

Translation

He (Yusuf عليه الصلاة والسلام) began with their satchels (began searching the satchels of the step-brothers) before (searching) the satchel of his (real) brother and then (finding the cup in Bin Yaameen's satchel) removed the cup from his (real) brother's satchel. Thus did We inspire a plan for Yusuf (to keep his brother in Egypt). He could not have kept back his brother (with him) according to the law of the king (of Egypt because the Egyptian law ruled differently), except if Allaah willed (Nothing can be done unless Allaah wills it. Therefore, Yusuf عليه الصلاة والسلام was able to detain his brother only by Allaah's will). We elevate the ranks (in knowledge) of whoever We will (despite his vast knowledge, Yusuf عليه الصلاة والسلام still needed Allaah to inspire him with this plan). Above every knowledgeable person is one who is more knowledgeable. (No human can claim to be the most knowledgeable. Even the knowledge of the most knowledgeable person is negligible compared to Allaah's knowledge.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The search of the brothers: that is, after this conversation the guards took them to the “Aziz of Egypt” (Yusuf ﵇) and recounted the whole affair. He ordered a search. First the saddlebags of the other brothers (baskets, bags and the like) were examined, and the cup was not found. Finally Binyamin's baggage was searched, and the cup came out of it.

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