So it is as if it was said: This is what he saw fit to do for himself. What did he see for his brothers? It was said: He commanded them to return so that they may inform their father, as it is possible that he intends to come to Egypt to see his son or that he may have an opinion about him that brings relief. He said: ﴿Return to your father﴾ meaning without me, 'So say to him' meaning to him, being gentle in your address, ﴿O our father﴾ and affirm your statement, for he will deny it to you. So say: ﴿Indeed, your son﴾ meaning the brother of Yusuf, blessings and peace be upon him, who is the most complete among us in sonship to you, ﴿has stolen﴾.

And when they were completely confident that none of them would be guilty of such a thing, they indicated to him by saying: ﴿And we did not witness﴾ meaning in that ﴿except what we knew﴾ evidently from our seeing the cup coming out of its container. And testimony is the report about the sensation of a saying or action. Testimony is permissible for what the decisive evidence leads to. ﴿And we were not to the unseen﴾ meaning the matter that was hidden from us ﴿guardians﴾. Perhaps a scheme was devised in that which was hidden from us, just as was done in the return of our merchandise.