Then when they despaired of him they counselled together privately. The eldest of them said: know ye not that your father hath taken an assurance from you before Allah? and aforetime ye have been remiss in your duty in respect of Yusuf; I so will by no means go forth from the land until my father giveth me leave or Allah judgeth for me, and He is the Best of judges. 80 Return to your father and say, 'Father, your son has committed a theft. We testify only to what we know. How could we guard against the unforeseen? 81 Ask the township where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled hither. Lo! we speak the truth. 82 The father heard the narration and said: "(All that is untrue). But your souls have made it easy for you to engage in a heinous act. So, I will be graciously patient even at this. Allah may well bring them all back to me. He is All-Knowing, All-Wise." 83 Then he turned his back to them, and said: "O my grief for Joseph!" His eyes whitened with grief and he was choked up with sorrow trying to suppress his grief. 84 They said: "By Allah! (never) wilt thou cease to remember Joseph until thou reach the last extremity of illness, or until thou die!" 85 He said: "I only complain of my distraction and anguish to Allah, and I know from Allah that which ye know not... 86 [Hence,] O my sons, go forth and try to obtain some tidings of Joseph and his brother; and do not lose hope of God's life-giving mercy: verily, none but people who deny the truth can ever lose hope of God's life-giving mercy. 87 When his brothers presented themselves before Joseph, they pleaded, "Exalted one, distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought only a paltry sum; but give us full measure. Be charitable to us. Truly, God rewards the charitable." 88 When Joseph heard this (he could not hold himself and said): "Do you remember what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?" 89 They said: "Surely you are not Joseph!" "I am Joseph," he said, "and this is my brother. God has been gracious to us; for God does not verily deprive those who fear Him and are patient of the recompense of those who are good." 90 They said: by Allah! assuredly Allah hath chosen thee above us, and we have been sinners indeed. 91 He said, 'No reproach this day shall be on you; God will forgive you; He is the most merciful of the merciful. 92 Take this, my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father; he will become seeing. And bring me your family, all together." 93