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thieves!"
012.074 (The Egyptians) said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?"
012.075 They said: "The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found, should be held (as bondman) to atone
for the (crime). Thus it is we punish the wrong- doers!"
012.076 So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother: at length he
brought it out of his brother's baggage. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the
king except that God willed it (so). We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with
knowledge is one, the All-Knowing.
012.077 They said: "If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him)." But these things did Joseph
keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them. He (simply) said (to himself): "Ye are the worse situated;
and God knoweth best the truth of what ye assert!"
012.078 They said: "O exalted one! Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable, (who will grieve for him); so take one
of us in his place; for we see that thou art (gracious) in doing good."
012.079 He said: "God forbid that we take other than him with whom we found our property: indeed (if we did so), we
should be acting wrongfully.
012.080 Now when they saw no hope of his (yielding), they held a conference in private. The leader among them said:
"Know ye not that your father did take an oath from you in God's name, and how, before this, ye did fail in your duty
with Joseph? Therefore will I not leave this land until my father permits me, or God commands me; and He is the best
to command.
012.081 "Turn ye back to your father, and say, 'O our father! behold! thy son committed theft! we bear witness only
to what we know, and we could not well guard against the unseen!
012.082 "'Ask at the town where we have been and the caravan in which we returned, and (you will find) we are indeed
telling the truth.'"
012.083 Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves contrived a story (good enough) for you. So patience is most fitting
(for me). Maybe God will bring them (back) all to me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom."
012.084 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.
012.085 They said: "By God! (never) wilt thou cease to remember Joseph until thou reach the last extremity of illness,
or until thou die!"
012.086 He said: "I only complain of my distraction and anguish to God, and I know from God that which ye know not...
012.087 "O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of God's Soothing Mercy:
truly no one despairs of God's Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith."
012.088 Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph's) presence they said: "O exalted one! distress has seized us and
our family: we have (now) brought but scanty capital: so pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to
us: for God doth reward the charitable."
012.089 He said: "Know ye how ye dealt with Joseph and his brother, not knowing (what ye were doing)?"
012.090 They said: "Art thou indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother: God has indeed been
gracious to us (all): behold, he that is righteous and patient,- never will God suffer the reward to be lost, of those who
do right."
012.091 They said: "By God! indeed has God preferred thee above us, and we certainly have been guilty of sin!"
012.092 He said: "This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: God will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of
those who show mercy!
012.093 "Go with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will come to see (clearly). Then come ye
(here) to me together with all your family."
012.094 When the caravan left (Egypt), their father said: "I do indeed scent the presence of Joseph: Nay, think me not
a dotard."
012.095 They said: "By God! truly thou art in thine old wandering mind."
012.096 Then when the bearer of the good news came, He cast (the shirt) over his face, and he forthwith regained clear
sight. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'I know from God that which ye know not?'"