ߞߘߐ ߟߎ߬ ߘߟߊߡߌ߬ߘߊ߬ߟߌ ߟߝߊߙߌ ߘߏ߫ 78 ߝߐߘߊ ߘߏ߫ ߦߛߎߝߎ߫ ߝߐߘߊ - ߊ߲߬ߞߌ߬ߟߋ߬ߞߊ߲ ߘߟߊߡߌߘߊ - ߞߓ. ߥߊ߬ߟߌ߯ߘ ߓߊߟߌߤߊߛ߭ ߊ.ߟߑߊ߳ߺߊߡߑߙߌ߮ ߓߟߏ߫ - ߞߎ߬ߙߣߊ߬ ߞߟߊߒߞߋ ߔߘߋߞߎ

ߟߝߊߙߌ ߘߏ߫: 78

قَالُواْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُۥٓ أَبٗا شَيۡخٗا كَبِيرٗا فَخُذۡ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُۥٓۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ

(78) They said: “O Chief Minister, his is a father who is a very old man, so take one of us in his place^[2797]; verily we see you among the well-doers!^[2798]”

[2797] They described their father as ‘a very old man’ to soften the Chief Minister’s heart; knowing that an old father is usually deeply attached to the younger ones among his children (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī). They called him by his honorific title, al-ʿazīz (Chief Minister), for the same purpose (cf. al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar).
[2798] They further wanted to appeal to his honourable nature (cf. al-Zajjāj).