_So they departed towards Egypt, unto Joseph_; and when they went in unto him, they said, O Prince, distress (_that is, hunger_) hath affected us and our family, and we have come with paltry money (_it was base money, or some other sort_): yet give us full measure, and be charitable to us, _by excusing the badness of our money_; for God recompenseth those who act charitably. _And he had pity upon them, and compassion affected him, and he lifted up the curtain that was between him and them: then_ he said _unto them in reproach_, Do ye know what ye did unto Joseph, _in beating and selling and other actions_, and his brother, _by your injurious conduct to him after the separation of his brother_, when ye were ignorant _of what would be the result of the case of Joseph?_[243] They replied, _after they had recognised him (desiring confirmation)_, Art thou indeed Joseph? He answered, I am Joseph, and this is my brother. God hath been gracious unto us, _by bringing us together_; for whosoever feareth _God_ and is patient [will be rewarded]: God will not suffer the reward of the well-doers to perish. They replied, By God, verily God hath preferred thee above us, and we have been indeed sinners. He said, [There shall be] no reproach [cast] on you this day: God forgive you; for He is the most merciful of those that show mercy. _And he asked them respecting his father: so they answered, His eyes are gone. And he said_, Go ye with this my shirt (_it was the shirt of Abraham, which he wore when he was cast into the fire: it was on his_ [that is, Joseph’s] _neck_ [appended as an amulet] _in the well; and it was from paradise: Gabriel commanded him to send it, and said, In it is its odour_ [that is, the odour of paradise], _and it shall not be cast upon any one afflicted_ [with a disease] _but he shall be restored to health_), and cast it [said Joseph] upon the face of my father: he shall recover his sight; and bring unto me all your family.—And when the company of travellers had gone forth _from El-´Areesh[244] of Egypt_, their father said, _unto those who were present of his offspring_, Verily I perceive the smell of Joseph (_for the zephyr had conveyed it to him, by permission of Him whose name be exalted, from the distance of three days’ journey, or eight, or more_): were it not that ye think I dote, _ye would believe me._ They replied, By God, thou art surely in thine old error. And when the messenger of good tidings (_namely, Judah_) came _with the shirt_ (_and he had borne the bloody shirt; wherefore he desired to rejoice him, as he had grieved him_), he cast it upon his face, and he recovered his sight. [Thereupon Jacob] said, Did I not say unto you, I know, from God, what ye know not? They said, O our father, ask pardon of our crimes for us; for we have been sinners. He replied, I will ask pardon for you of my Lord; for He is the Very forgiving, the Merciful.—_He delayed doing so until the first appearance of the dawn_, _that the prayer might be more likely to be answered; or, as some say, until the night of_ [that is, preceding] _Friday_.