(Kill Joseph or cast him into a land)

The apparent meaning is that this is among what was narrated after the words of the Exalted: "When they said." It was spoken by some of them, addressing the others, and they were satisfied with it, except for the one who said, "Do not kill Joseph." It is also possible that each of them said it, addressing the rest. The exception mentioned is just that—an exception. Some have claimed that the speaker was a man other than them whom they consulted, but this is contrary to the apparent meaning and lacks proof. The apparent meaning is that the speaker gave them a choice between two matters: killing or casting him out.

It is also permitted that the meaning is: some said, "Kill Joseph," and others said, "Cast him." To tarh (casting) means throwing or discarding a thing; it is said, "I tarhtu the thing," meaning I removed it. From this is the saying of Urwah ibn al-Ward: "Whoever is like me, having a family and being limited in wealth, casts himself into every place." The word ardan (a land) is in the accusative case due to the elision of the preposition, as maintained by al-Hufi and Ibn Atiyyah; that is, cast him into a land far from the land in which he currently is. It is also said that it is in the accusative as a second object to "cast him" because the verb is imbued with the meaning of "make him descend" (anziluhu), similar to His saying: "Grant me a blessed landing." It is also said to be in the accusative denoting a spatial adverb, though Ibn Atiyyah and others rejected this, arguing that what is in the accusative as a spatial adverb must be indefinite, and since the intended meaning was a land far from his own, there was no indefiniteness there—a refutation that is not without scrutiny. The gist of the meaning is: kill him or banish him, for banishment is like killing in achieving the objective while being safe from the sin of it. By my life, they mentioned two bitter matters, for estrangement is an affliction, what an affliction it is! How excellent is he who said: "They spoke well and said 'estrangement'; indeed, estrangement for the free is slaughter."

(That the face of your father may be free for you) The jussive mood here acts as a response to the command. "The face" is the well-known organ; the expression is an allusion to pure affection. From this, it is said: that is, he will turn to you with a singular turning, not looking away from you to anyone else. The intended meaning is the exclusivity of his love for them, away from anyone who might share it with them or contest it. The "face" has been interpreted as the "self," with the allusion remaining the same, except that the transition to the intended meaning requires two stages in the first interpretation and one stage in this one. It is also said that the "face" means the "self," and the expression is an allusion to his attention and dedication to organizing their affairs and managing their matters, because his being free for them indicates that he is unoccupied by the concern of Joseph—peace be upon him—so he occupies himself with them and organizes their affairs. Perhaps the most "face-like" (appropriate) interpretation is the first one.

(And you will be, after him, a righteous people) The jussive mood indicates it is a conjunction to the response of the command; in the accusative mood after the waw (and), it would be by the implication of an (that), meaning: your father’s face will be free for you, and you will be... "After him"—meaning after Joseph—implies either after finishing with his affair, or after killing him or casting him out. The pronoun refers either to Joseph or to one of the two verbal nouns understood from the two verbs.

(Through repentance and distancing yourselves before Allah the Exalted from the sin you committed, as narrated from al-Kalbi, and the majority have gone towards this.) The intended meaning by "righteousness" is religious righteousness between them and Allah. It is possible that it means righteousness between them and their father through excuses; although this contradicts religion because it is a lie, it aligns with it in that they hope for their father’s pardon and forgiveness to be saved from the sin of filial disobedience, as has been said. It is also possible that it refers to worldly righteousness; that is, righteous in your worldly matters, for your affairs will be organized after him by the clearing of your father’s face for you. The preference for addressing them in "for you" and what follows is for the sake of emphasis in urging them toward acceptance, for a person’s concern for his own affairs and his interest in achieving his benefits is most complete and perfect.