“When the bearer of good news arrived, he laid it over his face, and he regained his sight. He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you do not know?’ They said, ‘Our father, ask forgiveness for our sins; we were indeed sinners.’ He said, ‘I shall ask my Lord to forgive you. He alone is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”

“When the bearer of good news arrived,” heralding the imminent reunion of Joseph, his brothers, and their father, “he laid it”—that is, the shirt—“over his face, and he regained his sight.” In other words, his sight returned to its former state after his eyes had turned white with grief. He then addressed those of his children and family who were present, who had disparaged his judgment and expressed astonishment at him. Vindicated against them and exulting in Allah’s blessing upon him, he said, “Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you do not know?” For he had continued to hope that he would meet Joseph and had awaited the removal of his anxiety, distress, and sorrow.

They acknowledged their sin and took the lesson to heart, saying, “Our father, ask forgiveness for our sins; we were indeed sinners,” because of what we did to you.

Responding to their request and hastening to answer them, he said, “I shall ask my Lord to forgive you. He alone is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” That is, my hope in Him is that He will forgive you, have mercy upon you, and envelop you in His mercy. It has been said that he deferred seeking forgiveness for them until the blessed predawn hour, so that his plea for forgiveness might be more complete and more likely to be answered.