The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 242
PT. 13 CH. 12 YUSUF 56. He said, 'Appoint me over the treasures of the land, for I قَالَ اجْعَلْنِى عَلَى خَزَايِنِ الْاَرْضِ ) إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيْمٌ and am good keeper, a possessed of knowledge. '1559 وَكَذَلِكَ مَكَنَّا لِيُوْسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ And thus did We establish. 57 يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا. therein wherever he pleased الْمُحْسِنِينَ on مَنْ نَّشَاءُ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْر المينَ whomsoever We please and We Joseph in the land. He dwelt bWe bestow Our mercy suffer not the reward of the righteous to perish. 1560 a12:22. 2:106; 3:75. I be greater than thou". . . "and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had" (Gen. 41:40-43). 1559. Commentary: Most probably the King offered Joseph the post of Prime Minister, but Joseph preferred charge of the finance department. His choice seems to have been dictated by the desire to enjoy comparative freedom from the material cares and court intrigues which are incidental to premiership and also to give his single-minded attention to the successful running of the department with which the fulfilment of the King's dream was so deeply concerned. 1560. Commentary: The words, And thus did We establish Joseph in the land, also occur in 12:22, where they are followed by the expression, that We might also teach him the interpretation of things, while in the verse under comment they are succeeded by the sentence, We bestow Our mercy upon whomsoever We please. This is because in the former case Joseph's mettle was yet to be tried. But now that he had emerged triumphant from the ordeal, he was henceforward to enjoy uniform honour and prosperity. This verse contains the thirteenth point of resemblance between Joseph and the Holy Prophet. Just as the brethren of Joseph, being jealous of his father's regard for him, sought to remove him from their way and bring him to grief and dishonour, similarly, the Holy Prophet was compelled to leave his native city by his own kith and kin; but God conferred on him, as on Joseph, honour and distinction; with the difference that, whereas Joseph received his authority and honour from a king, the Holy Prophet was indebted to no earthly potentate for all the power and glory that came to him. Indeed, the difference in the way in which these two Prophets rose to power and eminence is symbolic of the difference in their spiritual status. 1450