"So when the messenger came to him," Joseph said to him: "Return to your lord"—meaning, your master; this was their customary speech at that time—"and ask him: what is the case of the women who cut their hands?" to the end of the verse. Qatada said: He wanted not to leave until his innocence was established. So the King sent for them.
﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ الرَّسُول﴾ قَالَ لَهُ يُوسُفُ: ﴿ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبك﴾ أَيْ: سَيِّدِكَ؛ هَذَا كَانَ كَلامُهُمْ يومئذٍ ﴿فَاسْأَلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ اللَّاتِي قطعن أَيْدِيهنَّ﴾ الآيَةَ، قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: أَرَادَ أَلا يَخْرُجَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لَهُ عذرٌ. فَأرْسل إلَيْهِنَّ الْملك
