First: when the brothers despaired of al-Aziz (Yusuf (peace be upon him) accepting to release the one who had the stolen Gold cup with him, and keeping one of them in his place instead, they met with each other alone and discussed.
Secondly, the oldest of them (Ruben the elder brother to Yacoub- pbuh), reminded them about the pact they had given their father, and he reminded them of what they had done to their brother Yusuf, and therefore he said that their father Yaqoub would not believe them when they tell him what happened. Consequently, Rubin, would remain in the land of Egypt until the father allowed him to return, or that Allah’s Almighty Command would appear, and perhaps it was modesty that led him not to return to the land of Canaan (Palestine)
Thirdly: the eldest brother advised them to tell their father what had actually happened and what they saw with their own eyes; that his son had stolen, which is what prevented their brother from returning with them. And the convoy that came to carry them can attest to the validity of what they say.
(When they lost all hope in him, they spoke privately. The eldest of them said, “Do you not know that your father had taken a solemn oath by Allah from you, nor how you failed him regarding Yusuf before? So I am not leaving this land until my father allows me to, or Allah decides for me. For He is the Best of Judges..) Yusuf 12: 80
أولاً: لما يئس القوم من قبول العزيز (وهو يوسف-عليه السلام-) بعرضهم في إطلاق من وجد عنده المتاع وإبقاء أحدهم مكانه، اجتمعوا فيما بينهم دون أن يكون معهم أحد، وجعلوا بتباحثون أمرهم.
ثانيًا: قال أكبرهم سنا (وهو روبين بكر يعقوب- عليه السلام-) يقررهم بالميثاق، ويذكرهم بما فعلوه بأخيهم يوسف، وبناء على ذلك فإنه يقول لهم إن أباهم يعقوب لن يصدقهم فيما قالوا، وإذا كان الأمر كذلك فإن روبين “بكر” سيبقى في أرض مصر حتى يأذن الأب برجوعه، أو يظهر أمر الله-عز وجل-، ولعل الحياء هو
الذي حمله على عدم العودة إلى أرض كنعان(فلسطين).
ثالثاً: وصَّاهم الأخ الأكبر بما يقولون لأبيهم ما جرى حقيقة وما شاهدوه بأعينهم بأن الابن سرق، وأن ذلك الذي رأوه وأخبروه عنه، وهو السبب الذي منع من رجوع أخاهم معهم، ويشهد لصحة ما قالوه القافلة التي جاءت تحملهم.
“فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْأَسُوا مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا نَجِيًّا قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَوْثِقًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمِنْ قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطْتُمْ فِي يُوسُفَ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الأرْضَ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ لِي أَبِي أَوْ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ لِي وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ * ارْجِعُوا إِلَى أَبِيكُمْ فَقُولُوا يَا أَبَانَا إِنَّ ابْنَكَ سَرَقَ وَمَا شَهِدْنَا إِلا بِمَا عَلِمْنَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِلْغَيْبِ حَافِظِينَ * وَاسْأَلِ الْقَرْيَةَ الَّتِي كُنَّا فِيهَا وَالْعِيرَ الَّتِي أَقْبَلْنَا فِيهَا وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ”