When they had lost all hope of [persuading] him, they withdrew, conferring among themselves. The eldest said, "Do you not know that your father took from you a pledge in God's name. You have already failed with regard to Joseph, so I shall never leave the land until my father permits me to, or God decides [things] for me. He is the best judge! 80 Go back to your father and say: O our father! surely your son committed theft, and we do not bear witness except to what we have known, and we could not keep watch over the unseen: 81 Ask the township where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled hither. Lo! we speak the truth. 82 Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good enough) for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe Allah will bring them (back) all to me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom." 83 And he turned away from them, and said: "How great is my grief for Joseph!" And his eyes became white with sorrow, and he fell into silent melancholy. 84 The sons said: "By Allah! You will continue to remember Joseph until you will either consume yourself with grief, or will die." 85 He answered: "It is only to God that I complain of my deep grief and my sorrow: for I know, from God, something that you do not know. 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 So when they entered upon Joseph, they said, "O 'Azeez, adversity has touched us and our family, and we have come with goods poor in quality, but give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards the charitable." 88 Joseph asked them, "Do you know what you did to Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?" 89 They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good." 90 They said: "By Allah! Indeed Allah has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been sinners." 91 He said, "No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merciful." 92 "Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all your family." 93