His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "And the brothers of Yusuf came, and they entered upon him, and he recognized them while they were to him disavowing." "And when he had furnished them with their supplies, he said, 'Bring me a brother of yours from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and I am the best of hosts?" "But if you do not bring him to me, then there shall be no measure for you with me, nor shall you approach me.'"

As-Suddi and others said: The reason for their coming was that the famine which Yusuf had warned about struck the land where Yaqub was. It has been narrated that he was in the 'Arabat of the land of Palestine in the Ghor of Ash-Sham. It was said that he was in the Adlaj from the direction of Ash-Sha'ib, and he was a man of the desert, having camels and sheep. They were afflicted by hunger, and the people of Egypt had prepared and stored from the years of abundance. So the people were buying grain from Yusuf while he was in the position of the Aziz. He would not give the incoming person more than the load of a camel, treating the people equally. When his brothers arrived, Yusuf recognized them, but they did not recognize him due to the long absence and the change in his age. They had no suspicion against him because of his kingship and his Egyptian tongue. It has been narrated in some of the stories that when he recognized them, he wanted them to inform him of all their affairs. So he questioned them by saying to them (through an interpreter): 'I suspect you are spies.' At that time, they needed to introduce themselves, so they said: 'We are the sons of a righteous man, and we were twelve. One of us went missing in the wilderness, and our youngest remained with our father. We have come to seek provisions, and we have brought the remaining camel from us.' They were ten and had eleven camels. Yusuf said to them: 'Why did your brother stay behind?' They said: 'Because of our father's love for him.' He said: 'Then bring me this brother so that I may know the truth of your words and see why your father loves him more than you if you are truthful.' It has been narrated in the stories that they entered Egypt, sought permission to see the Aziz, and introduced themselves in their request. He recognized them and ordered them to be brought down, and he entered them on the second day in a magnificent manner befitting his kingship and impressive grandeur. It has been narrated that he was always veiled to conceal his beauty, and that he would take the cup and tap it, understanding from its sound the truth of what was being said or its falsehood. They were asked about their news, and whenever they spoke the truth, Yusuf would say to them: 'You have spoken the truth.' But when they said: 'And we had a brother whom the wolf devoured,' Yusuf tapped the cup and said: 'You have lied.' Then he changed towards them and said: 'I see you are spies,' and he tasked them with bringing the remaining brother to prove their truthfulness. In that, there are lengthy stories which have been alluded to in the Quran briefly.

And the 'jihaz' is what the traveler needs of provisions and belongings, and everything he carries, as well as the equipment of the bride and the equipment of the deceased.

And the saying of Yusuf, peace be upon him: "Do you not see that I fulfill the measure?" The verse encourages them towards himself in the end, and comforts them and inclines them. And "the hosts": he means the hosts in his region and at his time. And the provision referred to: the food that he had brought for them. Then he threatened them that if they did not bring the brother, there would be no measure for them with him in the future. He commanded them not to approach him, neither a town nor obedience. And "do not approach me" is a prohibition in wording and meaning. It is permissible that its wording is a statement and its meaning is a prohibition, and one of the two 'nuns' is omitted, as it was recited: "So with what will you give glad tidings?" [Al-Hijr: 54] with a broken 'nun'. This is merely a statement, and Al-Nahhas mixed up in this matter. Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This verse - and what follows it - necessitates that the measure of food is upon the seller. And likewise, the narration in the appointment and partnership is that it is like a sale. And the narration in the loan is that the measure is upon the borrower. It has been narrated that he detained Shimon from them as a hostage until they brought him Benjamin, as said by Al-Suddi. And it has been narrated that he did not detain anyone from them. It has been narrated from the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, that he said: "Yusuf used to throw a pebble into a silver container adorned with gold, and it would make a sound. He would say to them: This container informs me that you have an old father."

Qadi Abu Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

It is as if it is a trick and an illusion for them. It has been narrated that he would measure the food with that container, showing his honor according to its value during that period. It has been narrated that Yusuf, peace be upon him, collected the wealth of the people in those years and then their properties. From there, no one in the land of Egypt and its farms has ownership. The apparent reason for all that Yusuf did with them is that it was by revelation and command. Otherwise, the righteousness of Yaqub would necessitate that he hasten to him and summon him. But Allah, blessed and exalted is He, informed him of what he was doing to complete the reward of Yaqub and his trial, and to clarify the first vision.