Dr. Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, former Egyptian Minister of Awqaf, explained that the story of Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him, reveals intricate aspects of divine wisdom and planning, particularly in the incident involving Joseph’s brother and the king’s cup.

He explained that Joseph’s brothers denied accusations of corruption and theft, relying on what they believed their conduct and reputation among the people demonstrated.

What Did Joseph’s Brothers Say About the Theft?

Joseph’s brothers said:

“By Allah, you certainly know that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, nor are we thieves.”

Mokhtar Gomaa explained that their statement reflected their reliance on their previous conduct and reputation.

They sought to make clear that they had not come to the land intending to cause corruption and strongly denied having committed theft.

What Was the Punishment for Theft in Joseph’s Story?

Mokhtar Gomaa pointed to the question posed to Joseph’s brothers:

“Then what would be its punishment if you are lying?”

He explained that the question was intended to determine the punishment according to the law under which the group was operating.

The story also illustrates differences between legal systems and religious laws and shows that the punishment accepted by Joseph’s brothers was connected to the law they themselves recognized.

How Was Joseph Able to Keep His Brother?

Joseph’s brothers answered:

“Its punishment is that whoever is found with it in his saddlebag will be its punishment. Thus do we punish the wrongdoers.”

According to Mokhtar Gomaa’s explanation, this answer established the basis on which Joseph could keep his brother with him.

The brothers themselves had agreed to the principle that the person in whose possession the stolen item was found would be subject to the stated punishment.

Why Did Joseph Search His Brothers’ Bags First?

Mokhtar Gomaa highlighted the deliberate sequence of the search.

The Quran states:

“So he began with their bags before the bag of his brother; then he extracted it from the bag of his brother.”

This sequence prevented the impression that Joseph had singled out his brother from the beginning.

Instead, the search proceeded through the brothers’ belongings before the cup was ultimately found in his brother’s bag.

What Does “Thus We Planned for Joseph” Mean?

Allah says:

“Thus We planned for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother under the king’s law unless Allah willed.” [Quran 12:76]

Mokhtar Gomaa explained that this verse highlights the divine planning behind the events.

Joseph could not simply have kept his brother under the prevailing law of the king. Instead, the circumstances unfolded according to the ruling that his brothers themselves had acknowledged.

This allowed Joseph to keep his brother with him without violating the legal framework presented in the story.

Different Laws in the Story of Joseph

The story demonstrates that laws and legal rulings can differ among communities and across different periods.

It also illustrates how events that may initially appear unrelated can ultimately come together in a way that fulfills a greater divine purpose.

From the human perspective, events may appear uncertain or disconnected, while divine wisdom encompasses their causes and outcomes.

“Above Every Possessor of Knowledge Is One More Knowing”

Mokhtar Gomaa also highlighted Allah’s statement:

“We raise in degrees whom We will, and above every possessor of knowledge is One more knowing.” [Quran 12:76]

The verse emphasizes that knowledge has different levels and that human knowledge remains limited, regardless of how much a person learns.

The story of Joseph demonstrates that events may contain wisdom and purposes that are not immediately apparent to human beings.

Why did Joseph keep his brother with him?

Joseph was able to keep his brother according to the ruling that his brothers themselves had accepted concerning the person found possessing the stolen item.

What did Joseph’s brothers say about theft?

They said: “By Allah, you certainly know that we did not come to cause corruption in the land, nor are we thieves.”

Why did Joseph search his brothers’ bags first?

He searched their bags before his brother’s bag so that the discovery would not appear to have been deliberately directed at his brother.

What does “Thus We planned for Joseph” mean?

It refers to the divine planning through which Joseph was able to keep his brother with him within the circumstances described in the story.