12. Yusuf

Joseph · Meccan · 111 ayahs

سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ

Reading Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas

Ayahs 21–30 of 111

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًۭا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.

(And he of Egypt) the Chief Official, who was the treasurer of the king and the chief of his soldiers. His name was Potiphar (Qitfir) (who purchased him said unto his wife) Zelicha (Zulaykha): Receive him honourably. Perchance he may prove useful to us) in our farm (or we may adopt him as a son). This man bought Joseph for the price of 20 silver coins, a garment and a pair of sandals. (Thus We established Joseph) We gave him authority (in the land) of Egypt (that We might teach him the interpretation of events) the interpretation of dreams. (And Allah was predominant in his career) Allah is dominant in things destined; no one can repel His destined things, (but most of mankind) the people of Egypt (know not) nor believe; it is also said that this means: most do not know that Allah is dominant in the things that He destined.

Yusuf 12:21Listen in Qur'an →

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُ حُكْمًۭا وَعِلْمًۭا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

And when Joseph reached maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.

(And when he reached his prime) between 18 and 30 years old (We gave him wisdom and knowledge) understanding and prophethood. (Thus We reward the good) in speech and works, in knowledge and wisdom.

Yusuf 12:22Listen in Qur'an →

وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."

(And she, in whose house he was, asked of him an evil act. She bolted the doors) on her and Joseph (and said) to Joseph: (Come!) I am yours. (He said) Joseph said: (I seek refuge in Allah!) from such a thing. (Lo! he is my lord) The Chief Official, (who hath treated me honourably) in contrast to his own brothers. (Wrong-doers never prosper) adulterers will never be safe from or escape Allah's chastisement.

Yusuf 12:23Listen in Qur'an →

وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.

(She) the woman (verily desired him, and he) Joseph (would have desired her if it had not been that he saw the argument of his Lord) if he had not seen that the chastisement of his Lord would befall him; it is also said that this means: if he had not seen the figure of his father; and it is also said that this means: if he had not seen the proof of his Lord. (Thus it was, that We might ward off from him evil and lewdness) adultery. (Lo! he was of Our chosen slaves) who are protected from adultery.

Yusuf 12:24Listen in Qur'an →

وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍۢ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"

(And they raced with one another to the door) Joseph wanting to leave and her wanting to lock the door. The woman got there first (and she tore his shirt) in two (from behind) from the waist to his feet, (and they met her lord and master) the husband of the woman; and it is said: her cousin (at the door. She said) the woman said to her husband: (What shall be his reward, who wisheth evil) adultery (to your folk, save prison or a painful doom) be severely beaten?

Yusuf 12:25Listen in Qur'an →

قَالَ هِىَ رَٰوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى ۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌۭ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍۢ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ

[Joseph] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." And a witness from her family testified. "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars.

((Joseph) said: She it was who asked of me an evil act) it is her who called me and offered herself to me. (And in witness of her own folk testified) a man taken as judge from her own people, her brother and it is said her cousin, pronounced: (If his shirt) the shirt of Joseph (is torn from before) from the front, (then she speaketh truth) then the woman has spoken the Truth (and he is of the liars).

Yusuf 12:26Listen in Qur'an →

وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍۢ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."

(And if his shirt is torn from behind) from the back, (then she hath lied) then the woman has lied (and he is of the Truthful) that she invited him to her.

Yusuf 12:27Listen in Qur'an →

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍۢ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌۭ

So when her husband saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of the women's plan. Indeed, your plan is great.

(So when he saw his shirt torn from behind, he said) her brother said: (Lo! this is of the guile) the scheming and devising (of you women. Lo! the guile of you is very great) it touches the innocent and the sick.

Yusuf 12:28Listen in Qur'an →

يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنۢبِكِ ۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلْخَاطِـِٔينَ

Joseph, ignore this. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you were of the sinful."

Her brother then said to Joseph: (O Joseph! Turn away from this) and do not inform anyone. And then he turned to the woman and said: (and thou, (O woman), ask forgiveness for thy sin) seek your husband's forgiveness for your act. (Lo! thou art of the sinful) you cheated your husband.

Yusuf 12:29Listen in Qur'an →

۞ وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌۭ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

And women in the city said, "The wife of al-'Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."

However, the news of this incident spread in the city, (And women in the city) they were four women: the wife of the king's cupbearer, the wife of the king's head of prisons, the wife of the king's cook and the wife of the man in charge of the king's stable (said: The ruler's wife) Zelicha (is asking of her slave boy an ill deed) wants her slave boy to sleep with her. (Indeed he has smitten her to the heart with love. We behold her in plain aberration) she is plainly wrong in her love of her slave boy.

Yusuf 12:30Listen in Qur'an →

Commentary: Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas by Attributed to Ibn 'Abbas. Qur'an text and translation via AlQuran Cloud.