وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ 65
Translations
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 [i.e., food] for our family and protect our brother and obtain an increase of a camel's load; that is an easy measurement."
Transliteration
Wa-lamma fatahu mataa'ahum wajadu bida'atahum ruddat ilayhim. Qalu ya abana ma nabghi. Hadhihi bida'atuna ruddat ilayna. Wa-namiru ahlana wa-nahfazu akhana wa-nazad kail baeir. Dhalika kail yasir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the sons of Ya'qub opened their merchandise upon returning home, they discovered that the price they had paid (their money) had been returned to them in their sacks. They joyfully informed their father that they had recovered their investment, could now purchase more provisions for their family, could protect their brother Benjamin from harm, and could gain an additional camel-load of grain—describing this as a small recompense. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this miraculous return of their payment demonstrates Allah's provision and favor, encouraging them to return to Egypt and bring Benjamin, which is essential to the unfolding of Allah's plan for the family's reconciliation.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Yusuf where Yusuf (Joseph), now the treasurer of Egypt, secretly returns the payment of his brothers when they came to buy grain during a famine. This is part of Yusuf's measured plan to reunite with his brother Benjamin and eventually reveal his identity. The context shows how Allah orchestrates events to fulfill His divine wisdom and restore family bonds.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific incident, the broader themes relate to Surah Yusuf being praised in Hadith as 'Ahsan al-Qisas' (the best of stories). Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad said Surah Yusuf is the most beautiful story. [Sahih Bukhari]
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah provides for us in unexpected ways and through trials; what appears as a loss or obstacle may be part of His greater wisdom for our good and the good of those we love. Believers should remain patient and hopeful, trusting that Allah orchestrates circumstances for ultimate benefit and reunion with loved ones.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا فَصَلَتِ ٱلْعِيرُ قَالَ أَبُوهُمْ إِنِّى لَأَجِدُ رِيحَ يُوسُفَ ۖ لَوْلَآ أَن تُفَنِّدُونِ
And when the caravan departed [from Egypt], their father said, "Indeed, I find the smell of Joseph [and would say that he was alive] if you did not think me weakened in mind."
إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَـٰجِدِينَ
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
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
So he began [the search] with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he extracted it from the bag of his brother. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother within the religion [i.e., law] of the king except that Allāh willed. We raise in degrees whom We will, but over every possessor of knowledge is one [more] knowing.
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ
Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] should surely imprison him for a time.