And the brothers of Joseph came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown. 58 And when he provided them with their provisions he said, “Bring your step-brother to me; do you not see that I measure in full and that I am the best host?” 59 "Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no measure (of corn) from me, nor shall ye (even) come near me." 60 They said: "We shall try to get permission (for him) from his father, and verily, we shall do it." 61 He said to his pages, 'Put their merchandise in their saddlebags; haply they will recognize it when they have turned to their people; haply they will return. 62 So when they returned to their father, they said: O our father, the measure is withheld from us, therefore send with us our brother, (so that) we may get the measure, and we will most surely guard him. 63 He said: Can I entrust him to you save as I entrusted his brother to you aforetime? Allah is better at guarding, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. 64 Then when they opened their baggage, they found their stock-in-trade had been returned to them. They said: "O our father! What (more) can we desire? this our stock-in-trade has been returned to us: so we shall get (more) food for our family; We shall take care of our brother; and add (at the same time) a full camel's load (of grain to our provisions). This is but a small quantity. 65 He said, 'Never will I send him with you until you bring me a solemn pledge by God that you will surely bring him back to me unless it be that you are encompassed.' When they had brought him their solemn pledge he said, 'God shall be Guardian over what we say.' 66 (As they were leaving) their father said to them: "O my sons, do not seek one approach but employ different ways (of attaining your object). If anything should befall you from God I shall not be able to avert it, for all authority belongs to God. I have placed my trust in Him, and the trusting should rely on Him alone." 67 But although they entered [Joseph's city] in the way their father had bidden them, this proved of no avail whatever to them against [the plan of] God but [His request] had served only to satisfy Jacob's heartfelt desire [to protect them]: for, behold, thanks to what We had imparted unto him, he was indeed endowed with the knowledge [that God's will must always prevail]; but most people know it not. 68