Tafsir of Yusuf 12:81

"Return to your father..."

It is read: (suriqa)—meaning: he was accused of theft.

{And we did not bear witness} against him regarding the theft {except to what we knew} of his stealing and were certain of; because the drinking cup was extracted from his saddlebag, and nothing is clearer than this.

{And we were not guardians of the unseen}—we did not know he would steal when we gave you the pledge. Or: we did not know that you would be afflicted by him just as you were afflicted by Yusuf.

As for the one who reads: (saraqa)—its meaning is: We did not bear witness except to the extent of what we knew of the theft. And "the unseen" means: the hidden matter—did he truly steal, or was the cup planted in his saddlebag without him realizing?

{And ask the town in which we were and the caravan in which we came, and indeed, we are truthful. [Ya'qub] said: "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is beautiful. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise."}