Overall meaning : Allah, Exalted be He, says: The eldest brother said to his siblings, 'Go back to your father and tell him exactly what happened. Say to him, “Father, your son has stolen. We bear witness only to what we know to be the truth: we saw the grain measure in his bag; and although we gave you our pledge to return him to you, we did not know that he would steal. If you do not believe us, father, ask the people of Egypt and whoever was with us in the caravan in which we were together. We are certainly telling the truth.'’
When they returned to their father and informed him of what had happened, he said, 'No! You yourselves devised a scheme, as you did regarding Joseph before, and your inner selves made your evil act seem fair to you. Sweet patience! I will patiently bear this without complaining to anyone whatsoever. Allah may well bring all my sons back to me (that is, Joseph, his full brother and their eldest brother who stayed behind for the sake of his young brother). He is fully aware of my situation, All-Wise in His actions and decisions. He turned away from them, lamenting, 'So great is my grief for Joseph!’ His eyes became white with deep grief, and his heart was filled with sorrow which he suppressed in silence. His sons said, 'By Allah, you will not stop remembering Joseph until your health is ruined or even lose your very life, so take it easy on yourself.’
Jacob replied, 'I complain of my deep anguish and sorrow only to Allah, for He alone can remove harm and hardship, and I know something of Allah’s mercy and relief that you do not know. My sons, go back to Egypt and search for Joseph and his brother and enquire about them tirelessly and relentlessly. Do not despair of Allah’s mercy and relief, for none despairs of Allah’s mercy except those who deny His absolute power and disbelieve in Him.