( قال هل آمنكم عليه إلا كما أمنتكم على أخيه ) يوسف ( من قبل ) أي : كيف آمنكم عليه وقد فعلتم بيوسف ما فعلتم ؟ ( فالله خير حافظا ) قرأ حمزة ، والكسائي ، وحفص : ( حافظا ) بالألف على التفسير ، كما يقال : هو خير رجلا وقرأ الآخرون : ( حفظا ) بغير ألف على المصدر ، يعني : خيركم حفظا ، يقول : حفظه خير من حفظكم . ( وهو أرحم الراحمين )
Their father asked them if he should trust them with him as he had trusted them with his full brother, Joseph. He had trusted them with Joseph and made them promise to take care of him, and they had not done what they promised, so he did not trust their promise to take care of his brother; but he trusted in Allah, for He is the best of guardians to whom He wills, and the most Merciful of the merciful to whom He wills.