Overview (Verses 80 - 86)

The Crisis Reaches Its Climax 
 
When Joseph’s brothers realized that all their attempts to rescue their young brother were in vain, they left Joseph and went away. They sat in council, deeply involved in earnest consultations. We see them exchanging views in a very serious manner. The sūrah does not mention all that they said. It only records the last statement which formed the basis of their next steps: “When they despaired of [moving] him, they withdrew to begin earnest consultations among themselves. The eldest of them said: Do you not recall that your father took from you a pledge in God’s name, and that previously you were at fault with respect to Joseph? I shall not depart from this land until my father gives me leave or God judges for me. He is certainly the best of judges.’ Go back to your father and say: ‘Father, your son has stolen. We testify only to that which we know. We cannot guard against the unforeseen. You may ask the [people of the] town where we were, and the caravan with which we travelled. We are certainly telling the truth.’“ (Verses 80-82)
 
The eldest reminds them of the pledge they had given and of their carelessness about Joseph and his welfare. He combines the two events as the basis for his own decision which is not to leave Egypt or meet his father until the latter has given him permission to do so, or God has made a judgement to which he would certainly submit.
 
He asks that the rest go back to their father and tell him in all frankness that his son had stolen something, and was subsequently detained on account of this. That was all that they knew. If their brother was innocent, and if there was something different about the whole situation, it was certainly hidden from them, and they could not be answerable for what God, in His wisdom, chose to conceal from them. They had not expected anything like this to happen. It could never have been foreseen. If their father doubted what they said, and did not believe them, he could ask the people of the capital city of Egypt where they had been, and the people in their caravan. They were not alone on this business. Indeed there were many caravans travelling to and from  Egypt,  buying its grain in those years of poor harvest.
 
The sūrah leaves out everything about their actual trip. It places them face to face with their grieved father as they tell him their distressing news. We are in fact told only his short reply which expresses his great pain and distress. Yet he does not give in to despair. He still has hope that God will return his two sons, or indeed his three sons, including his eldest who vowed not to leave Egypt until God had judged for him. It is indeed remarkable that hope should continue to fill his distressed heart: “He said: ‘No, but your minds have tempted you to evil. Sweet patience! God may well bring them all back to me. He is All-Knowing, Wise.’ He then turned away from them and said: ‘Oh, woe is me for Joseph!’ His eyes became white with grief and he was burdened with silent sorrow.” (Verses 83-84) “No, but your minds have tempted you to evil. Sweet patience!” (Verse 83) These were his very words when he lost Joseph. However, this time he adds an expression of high hope that God will return Joseph and his brother to him, as well as his other son: “God may well bring them all back to me. He is All-Knowing, Wise.” (Verse 83) He certainly knows the state Jacob was in, and knows what lies beyond events and tests. He lets everything take place at the appropriate time, when His purpose is fulfilled according to His wisdom.
 
Where did this ray of hope come from filling the old man’s heart? It is nothing more than placing all hope in God and trusting completely to His wisdom, feeling His existence and His endless compassion. It is a feeling that fills the hearts of the elite of believers and becomes more true and profound than the reality they see, hear and touch. “He then turned away from them and said: ‘Oh, woe is me for Joseph!’ His eyes became white with grief and he was burdened with silent sorrow.” (Verse 84) This is an inspirational portrayal of a bereaved father. He feels that his tragedy is all his own. No one around him shares in his distress or feels his pain. Hence, he moves away to nurture the loss of his beloved son, Joseph, whom he has not forgotten despite the passage of so many years. Indeed time has not reduced his sorrow; it has all been brought back to life by the new calamity involving his youngest son, Joseph’s younger brother. This is a moment when his sorrow is shown to be stronger than his patient resignation: “Oh, woe is me for Joseph!” (Verse 84)
 
But he soon suppresses his sorrow and hides his feelings. As his intense grief and sadness are suppressed, his eyes lose their sight: “His eyes became white with grief and he was burdened with silent sorrow.” (Verse 84)
 
But his sons continue to harbour their grudge, hurt that he still misses Joseph and suffers distress on his account. They do not show him any compassion. Indeed they do not even try to encourage his hopes. Instead they want to extinguish his last ray of hope. They say to him: “By God, you will continue to remember Joseph until you wither away or until you are dead.” (Verse 85)
 
This is indeed a cruel thing to say. They are reproaching him for remembering Joseph and feeling sadness at his loss. They tell him that if he continues in such a state, his sorrow will soon deprive him of all his strength or he will die in despair. Joseph is certain not to return.
 
Their father tells them to leave him alone, because he is only pinning his hopes in his  Lord.  He makes no complaint to anyone.  His relationship with his Lord is different from theirs, and he knows of Him what they do not know: “It is only to God that I complain and express my grief. For I know of God what you do not know.” (Verse 86) These words describe in a most vivid way the true feelings of a firm believer concerning the truth of the Godhead. That truth itself is also brought up here in sharp relief.