وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ

“And when he provided them with their provision he said: Bring unto me a brother of yours from your father. See ye not that I fill up the measure and I am the best of hosts?” — M. M. Pickthall

Tafsirs

AI-generated
Taberî9-10. c.✓ Citation verified

According to Taberî, Yusuf is telling his brothers that he will give them an additional load animal (a camel's load), will not deprive anyone of their rights, and that he is the one who provides the best hospitality to guests in that land. With these words, Yusuf is expressing that if his brothers (especially Benjamin) bring themselves to him, he will increase his hospitality toward them and give them an additional camel's load.

أجعل لكم بعيرا آخر، أو كما قال أي لا أبخس الناس شيئا، : أي خير لكم من غيري، فإنكم إن أتيتم به أكرمت منزلتكم وأحسنت إليكم، وازددتم به بعيرا مع عدتكم
Zemahşerî12. c.✓ Citation verified

According to Zemahşerî, Yusuf had prepared the provisions and food that his brothers needed for their journey, and loaded their mounts with the grain they had brought for themselves. In the story preceding this statement, it is recounted that Yusuf recognized his brothers and spoke to them in Hebrew, questioned them about their identities with suspicion that they might be spies, learned the number of their brothers and the condition of their father, and finally left one of them as a hostage and stipulated that the other brothers bring him. In this process, Simeon was selected by lot and left as a hostage, and Yusuf received them in a kind manner.

روي أنه لما رآهم وكلموه بالعبرانية قال لهم : أخبروني من أنتم وما شأنكم ؟ فإني أنكركم . قالوا : نحن قوم من أهل الشام رعاة ، أصابنا الجهد فجئنا نمتار
Fahreddin er-Râzî12-13. c.✓ Citation verified

Râzî investigates in this verse the reason why Yusuf asks his brothers to bring his brother Benjamin after giving them provisions (equipment), and among three different interpretations mentioned by the exegetes, he considers the first one to be the most reasonable - the one based on 'the number of loads' (that Yusuf gave each person an equal camel's load and the brothers mentioned their father and youngest brother). For this reason, it is related that Yusuf told them that he desired to see the affection of their father and his brother.

الوجه الأول : وهو أحسنها إن عادة يوسف عليه السلام مع الكل أن يعطيه حمل بعير لا أزيد عليه ولا أنقص ، وإخوة يوسف الذين ذهبوا إليه كانوا عشرة ، فأعطاهم عشرة أحمال
Kurtubî13. c.✓ Citation verified

According to Kurtubî's report, Yusuf said to his brothers that he would give them full measure, would not make any reduction, and if they brought his brother Benjamin, he would give him an additional camel's load, but if they did not bring him, he would not sell them grain. Furthermore, two views were reported for the phrase 'ahsanu'l-munzilîn': one is the view of Mujahid, which means 'the one who provides the best hospitality to guests,' and the other means 'the most beneficial of those who are trusted with/approached.'

أحدهما أنه خير المضيفين لأنه أحسن ضيافتهم قاله مجاهد الثاني وهو محتمل أي خير من نزلتم عليه من المأمونين
İbn Kesîr14. c.✓ Citation verified

According to Ibn Kathir, Prophet Yusuf, after filling the measures of his brothers and loading their loads, asked them to bring the brother they had mentioned (Benjamin). He said this in order to understand the truthfulness of their words. This request is presented both as a factor that encourages them to return again and as an approach combined with a subsequent threat or warning.

قال ائتوني بأخيكم هذا الذي ذكرتم لأعلم صدقكم فيما ذكرتم يرغبهم في الرجوع إليه ثم رهبهم فقال
Beydâvî13. c.✓ Citation verified

According to Beydâwî, after providing his brothers with provisions, Yusuf asked them to bring their brother from their father (Benjamin), otherwise he informed them that he would not give them measure and would not allow them to approach him. The brothers also promised that they would urge their father insistently to send him. In the text, there is also a narration recounting that Yusuf asked them who they were, and they told him that they were twelve brothers, one of whom perished in the desert, and the youngest remained with their father.

قال ائتوني بأخ لكم من أبيكم روي: أنهم لما دخلوا عليه قال: من أنتم وما أمركم لعلكم عيون؟ قالوا: معاذ الله إنما نحن بنو أب واحد وهو شيخ كبير صديق نبي من الأنبياء اسمه يعقوب

Comparison

Common ground

All exegetes agree that Yusuf had his brothers' load (grain) prepared in full and without deficiency, promised them an additional camel's load on the condition that they bring Benjamin, and would not give them grain if they did not bring him. The basic flow of the story (Yusuf concealing his identity, questioning his brothers, the matter of leaving a hostage) is based on a common transmission foundation.

Differences

Taberî and Kurtubî take a narration-focused approach, relying on transmissions from tabi'in sources such as Mujahid and Ibn Ishaq; Kurtubî additionally provides linguistic analysis of the phrase 'ahsanu'l-munzilîn' and presents two possible meanings (hospitality/trustworthiness). Zemahşerî and Beydâwî foreground linguistic-recitation analysis (the different readings of the word 'jihaz'). Râzî, on the other hand, compares the different interpretations among the exegetes and makes a rational/contextual preference in the interpretation, grounding the reason for the interpretation at a psychological-contextual level (love for the father, desire to see the brother). Ibn Kathir reads Yusuf's request as a 'testing/verification' strategy.

Historical context

Early-period exegetes (Taberî) largely adhered to transmitted narrations, while in later periods (Zemahşerî, Râzî, Kurtubî, Beydâwî), linguistic analysis, rhetoric, and rational-contextual evaluation were added to the narration, enriching the interpretation; although Ibn Kathir continued the classical transmission method, he drew attention to the psychological-strategic dimension of the event. The basic framework of the story remained fixed, while the methods of interpretation diversified according to the scientific trends of the age.

Modern connection

This story draws attention to the importance of just conduct in relations between people, standing by one's word, and mutual trust. Yusuf's patient, just, and hospitable attitude toward his brothers can be considered in contemporary times as an example that encourages tolerance and solidarity in family and social relations. Furthermore, the method of testing and investigating truthfulness can be interpreted as an example of exercising sound judgment and prudence in relationships.

AI analysis — not a fatwa or ruling, not yet reviewed by a scholar