Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا (What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife...), in reference to illegal sexual intercourse, إِلاَ أَن يُسْجَنَ (except that he be put in prison) أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (or a painful torment) tormented severely with painful beating. Yusuf did not stand idle, but he declared the truth and exonerated himself from the betrayal she accused him of, قَالَ (He Yusuf said), in truth and honesty, هِىَ رَاوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى (It was she that sought to seduce me), and mentioned that she pursued him and pulled him towards her until she tore his shirt. وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ (And a witness of her household bore witness (saying): "If it be that his shirt is torn from the front..."), not from the back, فَصَدَقَتْ (then her tale is true) that he tried to commit an illegal sexual act with her. Had he called her to have sex with him and she refused, she would have pushed him away from her and tore his shirt from the front, وَإِنْ كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِن الصَّـدِقِينَ (But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!) Had Yusuf run away from her, and this is what truly happened, and she set in his pursuit, she would have held to his shirt from the back to bring him back to her, thus tearing his shirt from the back. There is a difference of opinion over the age and gender of the witness mentioned here. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "was a bearded man," meaning an adult male. Ath-Thawri reported that Jabir said that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "He was from the king's entourage." Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ishaq and others also said that the witness was an adult male. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "He was a babe in the cradle. " Similar was reported from Abu Hurayrah, Hilal bin Yasaf, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim, that the witness was a young boy who lived in the `Aziz's house. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari preferred this view. Allah's statement, فَلَمَّا رَأَى قَمِيصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ (So when he saw his Yusuf's shirt torn at the back,) indicates that when her husband became certain that Yusuf was telling the truth and that his wife was lying when she heralded the accusation of betrayal at Yusuf, قَالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ (he said: "Surely, it is a plot of you women!...") He said, `This false accusation and staining the young man's reputation is but a plot of many that you, women, have,' إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ (Certainly mighty is your plot!) The `Aziz ordered Yusuf, peace be upon him, to be discrete about what happened, يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَا (O Yusuf ! Turn away from this!), do not mention to anyone what has happened, وَاسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنبِكِ (And ask forgiveness for your sin, ) addressing his wife. The `Aziz was an easy man, or gave excuse to his wife because she saw in Yusuf an appeal she could not resist. He said to her, `Ask forgiveness for your sin, the evil desire that you wanted to satisfy with this young man, and then inventing false accusations about him,' إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَـطِئِينَ (verily, you were of the sinful.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا (What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife...), in reference to illegal sexual intercourse, إِلاَ أَن يُسْجَنَ (except that he be put in prison) أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (or a painful torment) tormented severely with painful beating. Yusuf did not stand idle, but he declared the truth and exonerated himself from the betrayal she accused him of, قَالَ (He Yusuf said), in truth and honesty, هِىَ رَاوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى (It was she that sought to seduce me), and mentioned that she pursued him and pulled him towards her until she tore his shirt. وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ (And a witness of her household bore witness (saying): "If it be that his shirt is torn from the front..."), not from the back, فَصَدَقَتْ (then her tale is true) that he tried to commit an illegal sexual act with her. Had he called her to have sex with him and she refused, she would have pushed him away from her and tore his shirt from the front, وَإِنْ كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِن الصَّـدِقِينَ (But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!) Had Yusuf run away from her, and this is what truly happened, and she set in his pursuit, she would have held to his shirt from the back to bring him back to her, thus tearing his shirt from the back. There is a difference of opinion over the age and gender of the witness mentioned here. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "was a bearded man," meaning an adult male. Ath-Thawri reported that Jabir said that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "He was from the king's entourage." Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ishaq and others also said that the witness was an adult male. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "He was a babe in the cradle. " Similar was reported from Abu Hurayrah, Hilal bin Yasaf, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim, that the witness was a young boy who lived in the `Aziz's house. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari preferred this view. Allah's statement, فَلَمَّا رَأَى قَمِيصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ (So when he saw his Yusuf's shirt torn at the back,) indicates that when her husband became certain that Yusuf was telling the truth and that his wife was lying when she heralded the accusation of betrayal at Yusuf, قَالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ (he said: "Surely, it is a plot of you women!...") He said, `This false accusation and staining the young man's reputation is but a plot of many that you, women, have,' إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ (Certainly mighty is your plot!) The `Aziz ordered Yusuf, peace be upon him, to be discrete about what happened, يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَا (O Yusuf ! Turn away from this!), do not mention to anyone what has happened, وَاسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنبِكِ (And ask forgiveness for your sin, ) addressing his wife. The `Aziz was an easy man, or gave excuse to his wife because she saw in Yusuf an appeal she could not resist. He said to her, `Ask forgiveness for your sin, the evil desire that you wanted to satisfy with this young man, and then inventing false accusations about him,' إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَـطِئِينَ (verily, you were of the sinful.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا (What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife...), in reference to illegal sexual intercourse, إِلاَ أَن يُسْجَنَ (except that he be put in prison) أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (or a painful torment) tormented severely with painful beating. Yusuf did not stand idle, but he declared the truth and exonerated himself from the betrayal she accused him of, قَالَ (He Yusuf said), in truth and honesty, هِىَ رَاوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى (It was she that sought to seduce me), and mentioned that she pursued him and pulled him towards her until she tore his shirt. وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ (And a witness of her household bore witness (saying): "If it be that his shirt is torn from the front..."), not from the back, فَصَدَقَتْ (then her tale is true) that he tried to commit an illegal sexual act with her. Had he called her to have sex with him and she refused, she would have pushed him away from her and tore his shirt from the front, وَإِنْ كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِن الصَّـدِقِينَ (But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!) Had Yusuf run away from her, and this is what truly happened, and she set in his pursuit, she would have held to his shirt from the back to bring him back to her, thus tearing his shirt from the back. There is a difference of opinion over the age and gender of the witness mentioned here. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "was a bearded man," meaning an adult male. Ath-Thawri reported that Jabir said that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "He was from the king's entourage." Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ishaq and others also said that the witness was an adult male. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "He was a babe in the cradle. " Similar was reported from Abu Hurayrah, Hilal bin Yasaf, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim, that the witness was a young boy who lived in the `Aziz's house. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari preferred this view. Allah's statement, فَلَمَّا رَأَى قَمِيصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ (So when he saw his Yusuf's shirt torn at the back,) indicates that when her husband became certain that Yusuf was telling the truth and that his wife was lying when she heralded the accusation of betrayal at Yusuf, قَالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ (he said: "Surely, it is a plot of you women!...") He said, `This false accusation and staining the young man's reputation is but a plot of many that you, women, have,' إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ (Certainly mighty is your plot!) The `Aziz ordered Yusuf, peace be upon him, to be discrete about what happened, يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَا (O Yusuf ! Turn away from this!), do not mention to anyone what has happened, وَاسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنبِكِ (And ask forgiveness for your sin, ) addressing his wife. The `Aziz was an easy man, or gave excuse to his wife because she saw in Yusuf an appeal she could not resist. He said to her, `Ask forgiveness for your sin, the evil desire that you wanted to satisfy with this young man, and then inventing false accusations about him,' إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَـطِئِينَ (verily, you were of the sinful.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا (What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife...), in reference to illegal sexual intercourse, إِلاَ أَن يُسْجَنَ (except that he be put in prison) أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (or a painful torment) tormented severely with painful beating. Yusuf did not stand idle, but he declared the truth and exonerated himself from the betrayal she accused him of, قَالَ (He Yusuf said), in truth and honesty, هِىَ رَاوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى (It was she that sought to seduce me), and mentioned that she pursued him and pulled him towards her until she tore his shirt. وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ (And a witness of her household bore witness (saying): "If it be that his shirt is torn from the front..."), not from the back, فَصَدَقَتْ (then her tale is true) that he tried to commit an illegal sexual act with her. Had he called her to have sex with him and she refused, she would have pushed him away from her and tore his shirt from the front, وَإِنْ كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِن الصَّـدِقِينَ (But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!) Had Yusuf run away from her, and this is what truly happened, and she set in his pursuit, she would have held to his shirt from the back to bring him back to her, thus tearing his shirt from the back. There is a difference of opinion over the age and gender of the witness mentioned here. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn `Abbas said that, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "was a bearded man," meaning an adult male. Ath-Thawri reported that Jabir said that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Ibn `Abbas said, "He was from the king's entourage." Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ishaq and others also said that the witness was an adult male. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ (and a witness of her household bore witness) "He was a babe in the cradle. " Similar was reported from Abu Hurayrah, Hilal bin Yasaf, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim, that the witness was a young boy who lived in the `Aziz's house. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari preferred this view. Allah's statement, فَلَمَّا رَأَى قَمِيصَهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ (So when he saw his Yusuf's shirt torn at the back,) indicates that when her husband became certain that Yusuf was telling the truth and that his wife was lying when she heralded the accusation of betrayal at Yusuf, قَالَ إِنَّهُ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ (he said: "Surely, it is a plot of you women!...") He said, `This false accusation and staining the young man's reputation is but a plot of many that you, women, have,' إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ (Certainly mighty is your plot!) The `Aziz ordered Yusuf, peace be upon him, to be discrete about what happened, يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـذَا (O Yusuf ! Turn away from this!), do not mention to anyone what has happened, وَاسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنبِكِ (And ask forgiveness for your sin, ) addressing his wife. The `Aziz was an easy man, or gave excuse to his wife because she saw in Yusuf an appeal she could not resist. He said to her, `Ask forgiveness for your sin, the evil desire that you wanted to satisfy with this young man, and then inventing false accusations about him,' إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ الْخَـطِئِينَ (verily, you were of the sinful.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The News reaches Women in the City, Who also plot against Yusuf Allah states that the news of what happened between the wife of the `Aziz and Yusuf spread in the city, that is, Egypt, and people talked about it, وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ (And women in the city said...), such as women of chiefs and princes said, while admonishing and criticizing the wife of the `Aziz, امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ تُرَاوِدُ فَتَـهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ (The wife of the `Aziz is seeking to seduce her (slave) young man,), she is luring her servant to have sex with her, قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا (indeed she loves him violently;), her love for him filled her heart and engulfed it, إِنَّا لَنَرَاهَا فِى ضَلَـلٍ مُّبِينٍ (verily, we see her in plain error.), by loving him and trying to seduce him. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ (So when she heard of their accusation,) especially their statement, "indeed she loves him violently." Muhammad bin Ishaq commented, "They heard of Yusuf's beauty and wanted to see him, so they said these words in order to get a look at him. " This is when, أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ (she sent for them), invited them to her house, وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَئًا (and prepared a banquet for them.) Ibn `Abbas, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, As-Suddi and several others commented that she prepared a sitting room which had couches, pillows to recline on and food that requires knives to cut, such as citron. This is why Allah said next, وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ مَّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا (and she gave each one of them a knife), as a part of her plan of revenge for their plot to see Yusuf, وَقَالَتِ اخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ (and she said to Yusuf: "Come out before them."), for she had asked him to stay somewhere else in the house, فَلَمَّآ (Then, when) he went out and, رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ (they saw him, they exalted him) they thought highly of him and were astonished at what they saw. They started cutting their hands in amazement at his beauty, while thinking that they were cutting the citron with their knives. Therefore, they injured their hands with the knives they were holding, according to several reports of Tafsir. Others said that after they ate and felt comfortable, and after having placed citron in front of them, giving each one of them a knife, the wife of the `Aziz asked them, "Would you like to see Yusuf" They said, "Yes." So she sent for him to come in front of them and when they saw him, they started cutting their hands. She ordered him to keep coming and going, so that they saw him from all sides, and he went back in while they were still cutting their hands. When they felt the pain, they started screaming and she said to them, "You did all this from one look at him, so how can I be blamed وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ للَّهِ مَا هَـذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـذَآ إِلاَّ مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ (They said: "How perfect is Allah! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!") They said to her, "We do not blame you anymore after the sight that we saw." They never saw anyone like Yusuf before, for he, peace be upon him, was given half of all beauty. An authentic Hadith stated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by Prophet Yusuf, during the Night of Isra' in the third heaven and commented, «فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ شَطْرَ الْحُسْن» (He was given a half of all beauty.) Mujahid and others said they said: "We seek refuge from Allah," مَا هَـذَا بَشَرًا (No man is this!) They said next, إِنْ هَـذَآ إِلاَّ مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌقَالَتْ فَذلِكُنَّ الَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ("This is none other than a noble angel!" She said: "This is he (the young man) about whom you did blame me...") She said these words to them so that they excuse her behavior, for a man who looks this beautiful and perfect, is worthy of being loved, she thought. She said, وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدتُّهُ عَن نَّفْسِهِ فَاسَتَعْصَمَ (and I did seek to seduce him, but he refused) to obey me. Some scholars said that when the women saw Yusuf's beauty, she told them about his inner beauty that they did not know of, being chaste and beautiful from the inside and outside. She then threatened him, وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّن الصَّـغِرِينَ (And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and will be one of those who are disgraced.) This is when Prophet Yusuf sought refuge with Allah from their evil and wicked plots, قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِى إِلَيْهِ (He said: "O my Lord! Prison is dearer to me than that to which they invite me...") illegal sexual acts, وَإِلاَّ تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ (Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them) Yusuf invoked Allah: If You abandon me and I am reliant on myself, then I have no power over myself, nor can I bring harm or benefit to myself, except with Your power and will. Verily, You are sought for each and everything, and our total reliance is on You Alone for each and everything. Please, do not abandon me and leave me to rely on myself, for then, أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن منَ الْجَـهِلِينَفَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ ("I will feel inclined towards them and be one of the ignorant." So his Lord answered his invocation) Yusuf, peace be upon him, was immune from error by Allah's will, and He saved him from accepting the advances of the wife of the `Aziz'. He preferred prison, rather than accept her illicit call. This indicates the best and most perfect grade in this case, for Yusuf was youthful, beautiful and full of manhood. His master's wife was calling him to herself, and she was the wife of the `Aziz of Egypt. She was also very beautiful and wealthy, as well as having a great social rank. He refused all this and preferred prison, for he feared Allah and hoped to earn His reward. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللهُ فِي ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ: إِمَامٌ عَادِلٌ، وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ فِي عِبَادَةِ اللهِ، وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ بِالْمَسْجِدِ إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَعُودَ إِلَيْهِ، وَرَجُلَانِ تَحَابَّا فِي اللهِ، اجْتَمَعَا عَلَيْهِ وَتَفَرَّقَا عَلَيْهِ، وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفَاهَا حَتَّى لَا تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُهُ مَا أَنْفَقَتْ يَمِينُهُ، وَرَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأةٌ ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللهَ، وَرَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللهَ خَالِيًا فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاه» (Allah will give shade to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His: A just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the Masjid, from the time he goes out of the Masjid until he gets back to it, two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: "I am afraid of Allah, and a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears.")