Joseph — Verse 34

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.")

So his Lord answered him his supplication and He fended off their wiles from him. Truly He is the Hearer of words the Knower of deeds.

So his Lord answered him, and He fended off their wiles from him, that is, He reinforced him with holy support and fortified him with castings from the august glories, turning his face away from the side of abomination to the side of the Holy, fending off thereby their machinations. Truly He is the Hearer, of the heart's communion at the station of mystery, the Knower, of what ought to be done with it when it is in need of Him.

So his Lord answered him, and He fended off their wiles from him, that is, He reinforced him with holy support and fortified him with castings from the august glories, turning his face away from the side of abomination to the side of the Holy, fending off thereby their machinations. Truly He is the Hearer, of the heart's communion at the station of mystery, the Knower, of what ought to be done with it when it is in need of Him.

فاستجاب الله ليوسف دعاءه فصرف عنه ما أرادت منه امرأة العزيز وصواحباتها من معصية الله. إن الله هو السميع لدعاء يوسف، ودعاء كل داع مِن خلقه، العليم بمطلبه وحاجته وما يصلحه، وبحاجة جميع خلقه وما يصلحهم.

" وقال رب السجن أحب إلي مما يدعونني إليه " أي من الفاحشة وإلا تصرف عني كيدهن أصب إليهن " أي إن وكلتي إلى نفسي فليس لي منها قدرة ولا أملك لها ضرا ولا نفعا إلا بحولك وقوتك أنت المستعان وعليك التكلان فلا تكلني إلى نفسي " أصب إليهن وأكن من الجاهلين فاستجاب له ربه " الآية وذلك أن يوسف عليه السلام عصمه الله عصمة عظيمة وحماه فامتنع منها أشد الامتناع واختار السجن على ذلك وهذا في غاية مقامات الكمال أنه مع شبابه وجماله وكماله تدعوه سيدته وهى امرأة عزيز مصر وهي مع هذا في غاية الجمال والمال والرياسة ويمتنع من ذلك ويختار السجن على ذلك خوفا من الله ورجاء ثوابه ولهذا ثبت في الصحيحين أن رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم قال سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله: إمام عادل وشاب نشأ في عبادة الله ورجل قلبه معلق بالمسجد إذا خرج منه حتى يعود إليه ورجلان تحابا في الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليه ورجل تصدق بصدقة فأخفاها حتى لا تعلم شماله ما أنفقت يمينه ورجل دعته امرأة ذات منصب وجمال فقال إنى أخاف الله ورجل ذكر الله خاليا ففاضت عيناه.

وقوله - سبحانه - ( فاستجاب لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السميع العليم ) بيان لتقبل الله - تعالى - لدعائه بفضله ورحمته .أى : فاستجاب الله - تعالى - ليوسف دعاءه وضراعته ، فدفع عنه بلطفه وقدرته كيد هؤلاء النسوة ومكرهن ، بأن أدخل اليأس فى نفوسهن من الطمع فى استجابته لهن ، وبأن زاده ثباتا على ثباته ، وقوة على قوته ، فلم ينخدع بمكرهن ، ولم تلن له قناة أمام ترغيبهن أو ترهيبهن .وقال - سبحانه - ( فاستجاب ) بفاء التعقيب للإِشارة إلى أنه - سبحانه - بفضله وكرمه ، قد أجاب دعاء عبده يوسف - عليه السلام - بدون تأخير أو إبطاء .قال الإِمام ابن كثير : وقوله - سبحانه - ( فاستجاب لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ . . . ) .وذلك لأن يوسف - عليه السلام - عصمه الله عصمة عظيمة ، وحماه فامتنع منها أشد الامتناع ، واختار السجن على ذلك ، وهذا فى غاية مقامات الكمال ، أنه مع شبابه وجماله وكماله ، تدعوه سيدته ، وهى امرأة عزيز مصر ، وهى مع هذا فى غاية الجمال والمال والرياسة ، فيمتنع من ذلك ويختار السجن خوفا من الله ، ورجاء فى ثوابه .ولهذا ثبت فى الصحيحين أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : " سبعة يظلهم الله فى ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله : إمام عادل ، وشاب نشأ فى عبادة الله ، ورجل قلبه معلق بالمساجد ، ورجلان تحابا فى الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليه ، ورجل تصدق بصدقة فأخفاها حتى لا تعلم شماله ما أنفقت يمينه ، ورجل ذكر الله خاليا ففاضت عيناه ، ورجل دعته امرأة ذات منصب وجمال فقال إنى أخاف الله " .ثم ساقت لنا السورة الكريمة بعد ذلك قصة دخول يوسف - عليه السلام - السجن ، مع ثبوت براءته ، مما نسب إليه ، وكيف أنه وهو فى السجن لم ينس الدعوة إلى عبادة الله - تعالى - وحده ، وترك عبادة ما سواه ، وكيف أنه أقام الأدلة على صحة ما يدعو إليه ، وفسر لصاحبيه فى السجن رؤياهما تفسيرا صادقا صحيحا . .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (34)قال أبو جعفر: إن قال قائل: وما وجه قوله: (فاستجاب له ربه) ، ولا مسألةَ تقدَّمت من يوسف لربّه، ولا دعا بصَرْف كيدهنَّ عنه , وإنما أخبر ربه أن السجن أحب إليه من معصيته؟قيل: إن في إخباره بذلك شكايةً منه إلى ربه مما لقي منهنَّ، وفي قوله: وَإِلا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ ، معنى دعاءٍ ومسألةٍ منه ربَّه صرفَ كيدهِنَّ , ولذلك قال الله تعالى ذكره: (فاستجاب له ربه) ، وذلك كقول القائل لآخر: " إن لا تزرني أهنك " , فيجيبه الآخر: " إذن أزورَك "، لأن في قوله: " إن لا تزرني أهنك " , معنى الأمر بالزيارة.* * *قال أبو جعفر: وتأويل الكلام: فاستجاب الله ليوسف دعاءه , فصرف عنه ما أرادت منه امرأة العزيز وصواحباتها من معصية الله، كما: -19252 - حدثنا ابن حميد , قال: حدثنا سلمة , عن ابن إسحاق: (فاستجاب له ربه فصرف عنه كيدهن إنه هو السميع العليم) ، أي: نجاه من أن يركب المعصية فيهن , وقد نـزل به بعض ما حَذر منهنَّ.* * *وقوله: (إنه هو السميع) ، دعاءَ يوسف حين دعاه بصرف كيد النسوة عنه، ودعاءَ كل داع من خلقه ، (العليم) ، بمطلبه وحاجته , وما يصلحه , وبحاجة جميع خلقه وما يُصْلحهم. (33)----------------------الهوامش:(33) انظر تفسير" السميع" و" العليم" فيما سلف من فهارس اللغة ( سمع ) ، ( علم ) .

( فاستجاب له ) أجاب له . ( ربه فصرف عنه كيدهن إنه هو السميع العليم ) [ لدعائه ] العليم بمكرهن .

وعطْف جملة { فاستجاب } بفاء التعقيب إشارة إلى أنّ الله عجّل إجابة دعائه الذي تضمنه قوله : { وإلاّ تصرف عني كيدهن }. واستجاب : مبالغة في أجاب ، كما تقدم في قوله : { فاستعصم } [ سورة يوسف : 32 ].وصَرْف كيدهن عنه صَرْف أثره ، وذلك بأن ثبّته على العصمة فلم ينخدع لكيدها ولا لكيد خلائلها في أضيق الأوقات .وجملة { إنّه هو السميع العليم } في موضع العلة ل { استجاب } المعطوف بفاء التعقيب ، أي أجاب دعاءه بدون مهلة لأنه سريع الإجابة وعليم بالضمائر الخالصة . فالسمع مستعمل في إجابة المطلوب ، يقال : سمع الله لمن حمده . وتأكيده بضمير الفصل لتحقيق ذلك المعنى .

{ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ } حين دعاه { فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ } فلم تزل تراوده وتستعين عليه بما تقدر عليه من الوسائل، حتى أيسها، وصرف الله عنه كيدها، { إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ } لدعاء الداعي { الْعَلِيمُ } بنيته الصالحة، وبنيته الضعيفة المقتضية لإمداده بمعونته ولطفه. فهذا ما نجى الله به يوسف من هذه الفتنة الملمة والمحنة الشديدة،.وأما أسياده فإنه لما اشتهر الخبر وبان، وصار الناس فيها بين عاذر ولائم وقادح.

قوله تعالى : فاستجاب له ربه لما قال . وإلا تصرف عني كيدهن تعرض للدعاء ، وكأنه قال : اللهم اصرف عني كيدهن ; فاستجاب له دعاءه ، ولطف به وعصمه عن الوقوع في الزنا ." كيدهن " قيل : لأنهن جمع قد راودنه عن نفسه . وقيل : يعني كيد النساء . وقيل : يعني كيد امرأة العزيز ، على ما ذكر في الآية قبل ; والعموم أولى .

Certain ladies of noble families were invited by Zulaykha to meet Joseph and they saw in him a handsome young man. Joseph also could have seen these ladies as a means of satisfying the desires of his lower self. But even in the most exciting of circumstances, he did not see them as such. The ladies were all so thrilled by his extremely charming personality, that, in their extreme state of absorption, they injured their hands with knives while cutting fruit. But Joseph’s whole attention was directed towards God. God’s greatness and Majesty so dominated his senses that nothing could divert his attention. What a difference there is between one human being and another.

After that, said in verse 34 was: فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَ‌بُّهُ فَصَرَ‌فَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ So, his Lord accepted his prayer and turned their guile away from him. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. To protect him from the guile of these women, Allah Ta ala made his own wise arrangements. Though the ` Aziz of Misr and his inner circle was already convinced of the great spiritual qualities of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) his piety, fear of Allah and chastity, but rumours of the incident had started circulating in the city. To put a check on this, they found it expedient to confine Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) into the prison for a certain period of time so that there remains no source of any doubt in the concerned family, and that the talk of the town too dies out in due course.

(So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He is Hearer) of prayers, (Knower) of His answer; it is also said Hearer of the ladies' talk and Knower of their scheming.