12:84
And he turned away from them and said: “How great is my grief for Joseph!” And his eyes became white with sorrow, and he fell into silent melancholy.
Ibn ʿAbbās interprets the Qur’anic expression abyaddat ʿaynāhu as referring to eyes filled with tears due to intense grief (al-Rāzī). Some commentators caution against translating the phrase as indicating that Jacob became completely blind. Lexical sources such as Tāj al-ʿArūs explain that the expression can also be used metaphorically to describe a person whose eyes become whitened or filled with tears as a result of profound sorrow. From this perspective, the phrase reflects the emotional state of deep grief rather than necessarily implying literal blindness.
The Qur’anic narrative portrays Prophet Yaʿqūb (Jacob) as both a prophet who placed his trust in God and a human being who experienced natural emotions such as sorrow and longing. Having been separated from his son Yūsuf (Joseph) for many years, it is understandable that his grief intensified when his other sons returned without Benjamin. His tears therefore reflect a natural human response to prolonged separation and loss.
Jacob’s emotional attachment to Joseph was also strengthened by the knowledge that Joseph had been specially chosen by God for a significant role, as indicated in Qur’an 12:6. This awareness may have deepened both his affection and his concern for the well-being of his son.
References:
NOORUDDÎN ,ALLÂMAH. (2015). Exegesis of The
Holy Qur’ân Commentary and Reflections.