Yūsuf

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ ءَاتَيْنَاهُ حُكْماً وَعِلْماً وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُـحْسِنِينَ

22. “And when he reached his prime (maturity), We gave him wisdom and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.”

The Arabic term /ašudda/ is derived from /šadd/ meaning a firm knot which, in this verse, denotes bodily and spiritual development. This word is also sometimes used in the Qur’an to mean maturity, as in verse 34 of the Surah Al ’Isra’, No. 17 which says:

“Do not approach the orphan’s property until he attains his maturity...”.

Sometimes, the term is used to mean attaining the age of forty as in verse 15 of the Surah Al Ahqaf No. 46 where it says:

“…until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years…”

Sometimes it refers to the peak of one’s development and strength before old age as in verse 67 in Surah Ghafir No. 40 The Qur’an says:

“…then He brings you forth as a child, then that you may attain your maturity, then that you may be old...”

Gradually Yusuf became acquainted with the problems besetting this new environment which was in fact an important political center of Egypt. On the one hand, he would notice the fabulous palaces of the Egyptian aristocracy with their unlimited wealth, and on the other, the misery of the slave market and the suffering imposed upon the common people. At the same time he was engaged in self–actualization and purification of his soul. The Qur’an implies that Allah gave Yusuf wisdom and knowledge.

The verse says:

“And when he reached his prime (maturity), We gave him wisdom and knowledge...”

The purpose of employing the words /hukman wa ‘ilma/ (wisdom and knowledge), in the above verse, is that Allah had bestowed the rank of prophecy upon Yusuf as soon as he had developed physically and spiritually. His physical maturity was crowned by the gift of /hukm/wisdom, understanding, and the power of correct discrimination which is free of egoistic influences and mistakes. The term ‘knowledge’ is employed here to mean the awareness which is associated with wisdom.

The gifts of “hukm” and “‘ilm” were two valuable Divine favors which were bestowed upon Yusuf for his virtue, patience, righteousness, and trust, since those sincere believers who can control their restive desires in the field of struggle of soul are divinely given some merits out of knowledge and sciences which are far beyond any material criteria. The verse continues saying:

“…And thus do We reward the doers of good.”