12:87-89
12:87
“O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of Allah’s Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah’s Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith.”
12:88
Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph’s) presence they said: “O exalted one! distress has seized us and our family: we have (now) brought but scanty capital: so pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to us: for Allah doth reward the charitable.”
12:89
He said: “Know ye how ye dealt with Joseph and his brother, not knowing (what ye were doing)?”
According to Ibn Kathīr’s commentary, the moment when Prophet Yūsuf (Joseph) revealed his true identity to his brothers occurred after they described the severe hardship they had experienced due to the ongoing drought and the resulting shortage of food. Hearing about their difficulties and remembering the deep sorrow of his father, Prophet Yaʿqūb (Jacob), over the loss of his sons, Joseph was moved with compassion and mercy toward both his father and his brothers. Despite his elevated status in Egypt—having attained authority, power, and royal favor—he responded with humility and emotional sensitivity.
At this point, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers by reminding them of the actions they had committed against him and his brother during their earlier years. In doing so, he referred to their behavior as the result of ignorance, implying that their actions had been committed without full awareness of the gravity of their wrongdoing. According to Ibn Kathīr, Joseph disclosed his identity only at the appropriate moment by divine command. Likewise, his earlier decision to conceal his identity during their first two meetings is understood as having occurred under divine guidance.
Ibn Kathīr further notes that when hardship intensifies, divine relief often follows, echoing the Qur’anic principle that ease accompanies difficulty (Qur’an 94:5–6). When Joseph finally disclosed his identity, his brothers reacted with astonishment, since they had interacted with him for more than two years without recognizing who he truly was. Joseph confirmed his identity and informed them that God had shown favor to him and his brother by ultimately reuniting them after years of separation.
Joseph then emphasized the moral lesson underlying these events, stating that those who demonstrate God-consciousness (taqwā) and patience will not lose the reward of their righteous conduct. In response, his brothers acknowledged his superior virtue and admitted their wrongdoing. They recognized that Joseph had been granted numerous blessings, including exceptional character, prosperity, authority, and prophetic status.
Despite their past actions, Joseph responded with forgiveness and generosity. He reassured them that they would not be blamed for their previous behavior and that he would not reproach them for what had occurred. Instead, he prayed for God’s forgiveness on their behalf, invoking divine mercy and expressing hope that God—the Most Merciful—would pardon them (Ibn Kathīr, n.d.).
References:
Kathir, Ibn. Tafsir Ibn Kathir. (Surah 12 verse 89).