Tafsir of Yusuf 12:97

It is said: He delayed the seeking of forgiveness until the time of the Sahar (pre-dawn).

It is also said: He delayed it until Friday night, so as to intentionally coincide with the time of answered prayers.

It is also said: He did so to test their state regarding the sincerity and purity of their repentance.

It is also said: He intended to persist in seeking forgiveness for them. It has been narrated that he continued to seek forgiveness for them every Friday night for over twenty years.

It is also said: He stood for prayer at the time of Sahar, and when he finished, he raised his hands and said: "O Allah, forgive my anguish over Yusuf and my lack of patience regarding him, and forgive my sons for what they did to their brother." Then it was revealed to him: "Allah has forgiven you and all of them."

It is narrated that they said to him, while grief had overcome them: "What will your forgiveness avail us if our Lord does not forgive us? If no revelation comes to you regarding our pardon, our eyes will never find comfort." So the old man faced the Qiblah standing and supplicating, while Yusuf stood behind him saying "Amen," and they stood behind them, humbled and submissive, for twenty years. When they reached their limit and thought they were doomed, Gabriel (peace be upon him) descended and said: "Allah has answered your prayer regarding your children, and has established their covenants after you upon prophethood." There is a difference of opinion regarding their prophethood.