وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 25
Translations
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?"
Transliteration
Wastabaqa al-baba wa qaddat qamisahu min dubur wa alfaya sayyidaha lada al-bab. Qalat ma jaza'u man arada bi-ahlika su'an illa an yusjana aw adhab alim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the climactic moment when both Yusuf and Potiphar's wife rushed toward the door, and she tore his shirt from behind as he fled. Upon meeting her husband at the door, she falsely accused Yusuf of attempting to seduce her, threatening severe punishment (imprisonment or torture). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that her tearing of his shirt from behind proved her lie, as it demonstrated he was fleeing away from her, not toward her with lustful intent. This verse exemplifies how false accusations are constructed and the gravity of bearing false witness.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Yusuf, which tells the story of Prophet Yusuf's trials and patience. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period of severe persecution of the Prophet Muhammad and believers. The account of Yusuf's false accusation by Potiphar's wife serves as a consolation and parallel to the false accusations the Prophet faced, demonstrating how truth ultimately prevails despite slander and hardship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sins are to associate partners with Allah and to disobey parents.' Related to false accusations, he also stated: 'Whoever accuses a chaste woman of fornication, his testimony will not be accepted in this life or the Hereafter' (referenced in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, Hadith Qudsi emphasizes Allah's protection of the innocent.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that truth is ultimately self-evident and that false accusations cannot stand against evidence and divine protection; it encourages maintaining moral integrity and relying on Allah's justice, regardless of worldly persecution or slander. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that those who commit sins and falsehoods will be exposed, and that patience with dignity in the face of injustice is rewarded by Allah.
Related Ayahs
قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰغِرِينَ
She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased."
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَـٰعَةٍ مُّزْجَىٰةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا ٱلْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِى ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ
So when they entered upon him [i.e., Joseph], they said, "O ʿAzeez, adversity has touched us and our family, and we have come with goods poor in quality, but give us full measure and be charitable to us. Indeed, Allāh rewards the charitable."
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.
ٱقْتُلُوا۟ يُوسُفَ أَوِ ٱطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ قَوْمًا صَـٰلِحِينَ
Kill Joseph or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance [i.e., attention] of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people."