“O my sons, go and seek news of Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s relief. Indeed, none despairs of Allah’s relief except the disbelieving people.” (87)

“So when they entered before him, they said, ‘O mighty minister, hardship has afflicted us and our family, and we have brought merchandise of little value. So give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allah rewards those who give in charity.’” (88)

His saying, exalted is He: “O my sons, go and seek news”—that is, inquire and seek information—“of Joseph and his brother.” The terms taḥassus (seeking information) with a ḥāʾ and tajassus (spying) with a jīm are not far apart in meaning, except that taḥassus with a ḥāʾ concerns what is good, whereas that with a jīm concerns what is evil. Taḥassus means seeking something through the senses. Ibn Abbas said: Its meaning is, “Search.” “And do not despair”—do not lose hope—“of Allah’s relief,” meaning, of Allah’s mercy. It is also said: of Allah’s deliverance. “Indeed, none despairs of Allah’s relief except the disbelieving people.”

“So when they entered before him”—this contains an implied omission, whose sense is: They set out, returning to Egypt, until they reached it; then they entered before Joseph, peace be upon him. “They said, ‘O mighty minister, hardship has afflicted us and our family,’” meaning severity and hunger, “and we have brought merchandise of little value,” that is, scant, inferior, and unsaleable goods, which would not be accepted as payment for food except through the seller’s leniency in accepting them. The original meaning of izjāʾ is to drive or push along. It is also said that the merchandise is described as being of little value because it is not marketable and can only be accepted when the one taking it is urged to do so.