وَتَوَلّىٰ عَنهُم وَقالَ يا أَسَفىٰ عَلىٰ يوسُفَ وَابيَضَّت عَيناهُ مِنَ الحُزنِ فَهُوَ كَظيمٌ
Then he turned away from them, lamenting, “Oh, my grief for Joseph!” His eyes turned white from grief, and he became depressed.
قالوا تَاللَّهِ تَفتَأُ تَذكُرُ يوسُفَ حَتّىٰ تَكونَ حَرَضًا أَو تَكونَ مِنَ الهالِكينَ
They exclaimed, “By God, you won’t stop remembering Joseph until you ruin your health, or until you pass away.”
قالَ إِنَّما أَشكو بَثّي وَحُزني إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ ما لا تَعلَمونَ
He replied, “I only express my distress and anguish to God, and I know from God what you don’t know.”
يا بَنِيَّ اذهَبوا فَتَحَسَّسوا مِن يوسُفَ وَأَخيهِ وَلا تَيأَسوا مِن رَوحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لا يَيأَسُ مِن رَوحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا القَومُ الكافِرونَ
“O my sons, go and search for Joseph and his brother, and never despair of God’s mercy. None despairs of God’s mercy except the disbelieving people.”
فَلَمّا دَخَلوا عَلَيهِ قالوا يا أَيُّهَا العَزيزُ مَسَّنا وَأَهلَنَا الضُّرُّ وَجِئنا بِبِضاعَةٍ مُزجاةٍ فَأَوفِ لَنَا الكَيلَ وَتَصَدَّق عَلَينا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجزِي المُتَصَدِّقينَ
Upon entering his presence, they pleaded, “Your Excellency, adversity has touched us and our family, and we brought only a paltry sum. Please, give us full measure and be charitable to us. Truly, God rewards the charitable.”
قالَ هَل عَلِمتُم ما فَعَلتُم بِيوسُفَ وَأَخيهِ إِذ أَنتُم جاهِلونَ
He asked, “Do you remember what you did with Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?”
قالوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يوسُفُ ۖ قالَ أَنا يوسُفُ وَهـٰذا أَخي ۖ قَد مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَينا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصبِر فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُضيعُ أَجرَ المُحسِنينَ
They exclaimed, “Could you possibly be Joseph?” He confirmed, “I am Joseph, and this is my brother. God has indeed been gracious to us. Whoever is righteous and patient—God never wastes the reward of the good-doers.”
قالوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَد آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَينا وَإِن كُنّا لَخاطِئينَ
They admitted, “By God, truly God has preferred you over us, and we were indeed at fault.”
قالَ لا تَثريبَ عَلَيكُمُ اليَومَ ۖ يَغفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُم ۖ وَهُوَ أَرحَمُ الرّاحِمينَ
He responded, “There will be no blame on you today. May God forgive you, for He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.”
اذهَبوا بِقَميصي هـٰذا فَأَلقوهُ عَلىٰ وَجهِ أَبي يَأتِ بَصيرًا وَأتوني بِأَهلِكُم أَجمَعينَ
“Take my shirt, and lay it over my father’s face, and he will regain his sight. And bring your entire family to me.”
وَلَمّا فَصَلَتِ العيرُ قالَ أَبوهُم إِنّي لَأَجِدُ ريحَ يوسُفَ ۖ لَولا أَن تُفَنِّدونِ
As the caravan departed, their father said, “I can sense the scent of Joseph, even though you think I’m senile.”