They said, "Father, why do you not trust us with Joseph, although we care for him?"
"Send him with us tomorrow, that he may roam and play; we will take care of him."
He said, "It worries me that you would take him away. And I fear the wolf may eat him while you are careless of him."
They said, "If the wolf ate him, and we are many, we would be good for nothing."
So they went away with him, and agreed to put him at the bottom of the well. And We inspired him, "You will inform them of this deed of theirs when they are unaware."
And they came to their father in the evening weeping.
They said, "O father, we went off racing one another, and left Joseph by our belongings; and the wolf ate him. But you will not believe us, even though we are being truthful."
And they brought his shirt, with fake blood on it. He said, "Your souls enticed you to do something. But patience is beautiful, and Allah is my Help against what you describe."
A caravan passed by, and they sent their water-carrier. He lowered his bucket, and said, "Good news. Here is a boy." And they hid him as merchandise. But Allah was aware of what they did.
And they sold him for a cheap price—a few coins—they considered him to be of little value.
