Some of the early scholars said, “Do not let the tears of one who complains of injustice deceive you, for many a wrongdoer weeps.” They cited as proof the tears of Joseph’s brothers when they came to their father at night, crying—under cover of darkness so that their treachery might pass more smoothly, not because they had any genuine excuse.
“They said, ‘Our father, we went off racing one another and left Joseph by our belongings,’—that is, by our clothes—‘and a wolf devoured him,’ meaning that it happened while we were away from him, busy with our contest.
“As for their statement, ‘Yet you will not believe us even though we speak the truth,’ it means: you will not credit what we have told you—that the wolf ate him—even if we were not already suspect in your sight; how much less when you already distrust us in this matter? You feared that a wolf might eat him, and we guaranteed that it would not because of our number around him. Now you refuse to believe us, and you are excused for doing so in these circumstances.
“ ‘And they brought his shirt stained with false blood,’ that is, blood they had fabricated. They slaughtered a young goat, took its blood, and smeared it on his shirt to suggest that the wolf had devoured him. They forgot, however, to tear it—and the scourge of lying is forgetfulness.
“When the signs of suspicion became obvious, their scheme did not persuade their father, for he understood their hostility toward Joseph and their jealousy of him on account of his special love for him. He discerned in the boy an innate majesty and dignity even in childhood, a sign of the prophethood Allah intended for him. Once they had coaxed him into letting Joseph go, they removed him from his sight at the first opportunity and hid him. They then returned weeping, united in the crime they had conspired to commit. Hence he said, ‘Rather, your own souls have enticed you to do something. So beautiful patience! And it is Allah whose help is sought against what you describe.’
According to the People of the Scripture, Reuben suggested placing Joseph in the pit so that he could later rescue him and return him to his father, but they outwitted him and sold him to that passing caravan. When Reuben came at the end of the day to pull Joseph out, he did not find him; he cried aloud and tore his clothes. The brothers had meanwhile slaughtered a kid and smeared Joseph’s robe with its blood. When Jacob learned of it, he tore his clothes, donned a black waist-cloth, and grieved for his son for many days. Such clumsiness results from their errors in relating and depicting the story.
“Then a caravan came; they sent their water-drawer and he let down his bucket. He said, ‘Good news! Here is a boy.’ They hid him as merchandise, but Allah knew well what they were doing. They sold him for a paltry price—just a few silver coins—so little did they value him. The man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, ‘Give him honorable lodging; perhaps he will benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ Thus did We establish Joseph in the land and teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah’s will always prevails, though most people do not know. When he reached full maturity, We gave him wisdom and knowledge; thus do We reward those who excel.” (Yūsuf 19–22)
The Most High relates that after Joseph was placed in the pit he sat awaiting Allah’s deliverance and His subtle kindness. A caravan of travelers arrived. The People of the Scripture say their merchandise consisted of pistachios, pine nuts, and terebinth nuts, and that they were on their way from the Levant to the land of Egypt.