AND HE REVEALED HIS IDENTITY

 FAJR REMINDER: AND HE REVEALED HIS IDENTITY

By: Umm ‘Affān

Rajab 29, 1447 (20-January-2026)

Prophet Ya’qūb (‘Alayhi Salām) was deeply saddened by the loss of his two sons, Yūsuf and Binyamin. Nevertheless, he exhibited patience and maintained a firm belief in Allāh. He addressed his remaining sons as Allāh informs us:

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ | وَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَا أَسَفَىٰ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ وَابْيَضَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ فَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

He [Ya'qūb (Jacob)] said: “Nay, but yourselves have made up a tale. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe Allāh will bring them (back) all to me. Truly He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” And he turned away from them and said: “Alas, my grief for Yūsuf (Joseph)!” And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verses 83-84]

Recall that this was precisely what he had expressed to them when they claimed a wolf had devoured Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) and presented the false blood-stained shirt as evidence.

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ

He (i.e., their father) said: “Nay, but yourselves have made up a tale. So (for me) patience is most fitting...”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 18]

Prophet Ya’qūb (‘Alayhi Salām) continued to hope and pray for Allāh to return his three sons to him: the eldest (Rubil), Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām), and Binyamin. As he turned away from the remaining sons who had returned home, he once again reflected on his deep sorrow for Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām).

Hearing their father’s heart-wrenching murmurs, they felt a pang of sympathy for him. Allāh tells us:

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ تَفْتَأُ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ | قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

They said: “By Allāh! You will never cease remembering Yūsuf (Joseph) until you become weak with old age, or until you be of the dead.” He (i.e., their father) replied: “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allāh, and I know from Allāh that which you know not (i.e., the vision of Yūsuf).”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verses 85-86]

Prophet Ya’qūb (‘Alayhi Salām) instructed his children to return and respectfully inquire about the news of Yūsuf and Binyamin. He urged them to maintain their trust in Him and not to despair of Allāh’s Mercy, for only the disbelievers abandon hope.

And Allāh says:

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

And upon Allāh let the believers rely.

[Sūrah Ibrāhīm (14) Verse 11]

Allāh also says:

وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

And whosoever puts his trust in Allāh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allāh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allāh has set a measure for all things.

[Sūrah At-Ṭalāq (65) Verse 3]

The brothers returned once again to Egypt and stood before Al-‘Aziz, who was none other than Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām), believed to be lost to them. This time, they set aside their arrogance and shared with Al-‘Aziz the tribulations they had endured.

Considering his father’s grief from losing two sons, Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) reflected upon his own heartache and decided to reveal his true identity. Allāh informs us:

قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ | قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَٰذَا أَخِي قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

He said: “Do you know what you did with Yūsuf (Joseph) and his brother when you were ignorant?” They said: “Are you indeed Yūsuf (Joseph)?” He said: “I am Yūsuf (Joseph), and this is my brother (Binyamin). Allāh has indeed been gracious to us. Verily, he who fears Allāh with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allāh makes not reward of the Muḥsinūn (good-doers) to be lost.”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verses 89-90]

The brothers were left in a state of shock upon hearing Al-‘Aziz mention Yūsuf’s name.

Allāh has tested us in numerous ways, in which we have stumbled; yet, His Mercy endures. Yūsuf’s brothers, too, faced their own trials but succumbed to the whispers of Shayṭān, allowing envy and enmity to overwhelm their hearts. Can you imagine the feelings of shame the brothers experienced when Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) unveiled his identity? Despite this, they acknowledged that Allāh had honored him above them and bestowed upon him beauty, wealth, authority, and, most importantly, Prophethood. They admitted their wrongdoing and recognized the sin they committed against him.

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 91]

Remarkably, Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) harbored no desire for revenge against his brothers. Allāh informs us that he (‘Alayhi Salām) reassured them:

لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

“No reproach on you this day. May Allāh forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 92]

I beseech Allāh to count us among His obedient servants. Aameen.