RECORD OF YAHUDA’S GOING FROM EGYPT TO KANA’AN, AND THE LIBERATION OF THE DWELLER IN THE HOUSE OF GRIEF FROM THE MISFORTUNE OF SEPARATION.

The next morning, when the gold-clad Yusuf of the sun elevated his head from the recess of the horizon, Yahuda took the garment of Yusuf, left the city, surrendered the bridle of his journey to Kana’an into the hands of the guide of fate, and when he had arrived outside the gates, he took the garment according to the intimation received from Yusuf to that effect, when the Almighty—w. n. b. pr.—ordered the wind, who is the courier of lovers and the herald of friends, to bear the odour of

Hemistich: Yusuf’s robe, that illuminates the eye,

from Egypt to Kana’an in less than the twinkling of an eye, and the circumstances of the case summoned the messenger of longing persons to convey the following words [to Ya’qûb]:

Distich: The smell of Yusuf’s robe was lost;
At last it is found, to abide with thee.

That very moment the lord Ya’qûb snuffed this breeze, and was by the life-imparting perfume thereof informed of the lustre of the rose-grove of meeting Yusuf. He then turned his face towards his descendants, and said: ‘I hope you will not accuse me of levity and superstition, when I apprise you that this matutinal breeze has conveyed the odour of Yusuf to the olfactory organ of my mind, and that I have felt the perfume of meeting the rose-grove of his face:

Verses: Who passes, that amber odour comes;
Who goes, that such pleasure comes?
Ya’qûb gives the news of Yusuf lost,
Perhaps a herald from Egypt to Kana’an comes.’

His children and family unanimously exclaimed:

Verses: They said: O father, thou art far mistaken,
Still with thy son’s love thou art taken;
No breeze of Yusuf has reached thy mind,
Thy heart is still in its former aberration.
God knows, since Yusuf’s fate is evident,
Thou always prophesiest about Yusuf!

They said: ‘By Allah! thou art in thine old mistake.’* After some days had elapsed, Yahuda suddenly made his appearance, brought the news of Yusuf’s safety, with many greetings and salutations from the veracious one. He drew forth the garment, placed it on his father’s face, who then suddenly recovered his lost sight; the light of his vision became associated with the pupil of his eye, and Ya’qûb was restored to his former sound condition. Then he asked Yahuda: ‘How hast thou left Yusuf?’ He replied: ‘I left him reigning over kingdoms, and exalted above other men.’ Ya’qûb continued: ‘I do not ask about matters of dominion and government, but I want to know in what faith and religion thou hast found him?’ Yahuda replied: ‘He is steadfast in the religion of Ebrahim, and in following thine example.’ Ya’qûb continued: ‘My son, thou hast so rejoiced my mind, and freed my heart from grief, that I pray to God—whose benefits are universal—that He may spare thee the hardship of separation, and may alleviate to thee the terrors of the agony of death.’ Yahuda said: ‘Be prepared to travel to Egypt, for I expect the courier of the veracious one to arrive very soon, with vehicles for conveying all thy descendants and family, thy cattle, slaves, and everything movable, to Egypt as soon as possible.’ The next day the envoys of Yusuf made their appearance with one hundred and fifty camels of mountain-like stature and awful aspect, swift as the wind, and accustomed to travel. Each carried on its back a howdah of Kumâri [Comorin?] wood, each of the said litters being also provided with the necessary carpets and curtains. Twenty saddle-mules that equalled the morning breeze in swiftness also arrived, as well as thirty Arab horses, in comparison to whose celerity the motion of the lunar orb was considered to be but a play.

With reference to his preparation and departure, Esrâil was waiting for a divine inspiration, whereon Jebrâil hastily descended from the mansion of glory, which is the abode of the blessed and the fortunate, and brought leave for the journey to Ya’qûb, who spent three days more in prepara­tions, and started on the fourth with his spouse Lia, the aunt of Yusuf, and with all his followers. The inhabitants of Kana’an had been for many years accustomed to listen to the gracious instructions of Esrâil, and to repose at the table of his benefits and of his mission. They despaired at not being able any longer to enjoy the happiness and blessings of his beneficent propinquity, and took affectionate leave of him, prostrating themselves near his vehicle, and touch­ing with their foreheads the howdah in which he sat. Ya’qûb dismissed every one of them with his blessing, and implored the Boundless Giver to keep them in health, safety, and affluence, and in the ordinances of the Law. His eyes overflowed with tears when he parted with those beloved ones, till at last they disappeared from his sight. The servant of Yusuf had at every stage provided an abundant table for the supply of Ya’qûb and his family, and when, after traversing a considerable distance, he arrived in the vicinity of Egypt, Yahuda despatched his beloved son Fâradh in advance, with the news of Ya’qûb’s approach; and as soon as Yusuf was informed thereof, he asked leave from Riân Bin Valeed, to proceed in the company of his brethren from Egypt to meet his father. The king replied: ‘I myself shall in this matter agree with thee and proceed in thy company, that I may in the next world participate with thee in the beneficial consequences ensuing from this good act.’ Accordingly Riân ordered that on the next day the generals of the army, the grandees of the court, and the nobles of the kingdom, should in one cavalcade leave the city with him. When Yusuf proceeded in full pomp to meet his noble father:

Verses:Magnificent cavaliers come forth,
Crowned heads on foot near him.
Having the hem of the sun for a mantle,
The moon the slave of his stirrup,*
The shouts of the victors advancing
Removed the evil eye from the universe.

When Ya’qûb beheld that multitude, he asked Yahuda whether it was not Riân Bin Valeed, the reigning monarch, who is approaching? His son replied: ‘No, it is thy pros­perous son, the A’ziz of Egypt, who comes to meet thee.’ Hereon Ya’qûb alighted from his horse, and leaning on his son Yahuda, began to advance. Yusuf, who recognised Yahuda, perceived an aged, decrepit and stooping man walking by his side, and was convinced that it must be Ya’qûb. Therefore he, and also Riân Bin Valeed, dis­mounted. Yusuf overtook the king and advanced towards his father; but when he intended to begin his salutations and greetings, he was suddenly prohibited, neither is it known what moved Divine Wisdom to cause this hindrance. Then Ya’qûb addressed his beloved son, saying: ‘Salutation to thee, O remover of grief! Salutation to thee, O dimin­isher of travail and of vileness!’ Then both embraced each other till they fainted.* When they recovered, Yusuf took his father’s hand to lead him to the king, and Riân, being a believer in the prophetship of Ebrahim and of his house, laid his royal dignity upon the balcony of oblivion, and prostrated himself at the feet of Ya’qûb. When the children of the latter were made happy by meeting him, they confessed their sin, and requested him to beseech the Lord and pardoner of transgressions, at a moment most propitious for response to prayers, to forgive them. Then Ya’qûb made his entrance into the city in full pomp, the A’ziz conducted him with his sons to a private palace, seated him with his spouse Lia, Yusuf’s aunt, on a throne, where he himself also respectfully took his place with them. On that occasion Ya’qûb, Lia, and the eleven brothers worshipped Yusuf, which was, however, a worship of salutation, and not of adoration and service. His lord­ship the veracious one said: ‘O my father, this is the interpretation of my vision [which I saw] before.’* After this the A’ziz mentioned the divine blessings which ensued after his troubles, and related all his adventures to his father. Then he presented every one of his brothers with a delightful mansion in a pleasant locality, and appointed also certain revenues for them. After he had thus installed them, and had relieved his noble mind by liberally providing for them, the children of Esrâil lived in comfort and affluence, until God decreed to them what He did decree, and called them to honour.