وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 23
Translations
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 Allāh. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed."
Transliteration
Wa raawadathu allatee huwa fee baytihaa an nafsih wa ghallaqati al-abwab wa qalat hayita lak. Qala muadha Allahi innahu rabbi ahsan mathwaya innahu la yuflihu al-zalimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The wife of al-Aziz attempted to seduce Yusuf (Joseph) in private by locking the doors and proposing herself to him, but he refused her advances by seeking refuge in Allah and acknowledging his master's kindness and trust. His response demonstrates unwavering moral integrity and fear of Allah, affirming that those who commit such injustices (zulm) cannot prosper. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a pivotal test of Yusuf's character, showing that true success comes from resisting temptation and maintaining righteousness despite circumstantial vulnerability.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the detailed narrative of Surah Yusuf, which is entirely Meccan and was revealed to comfort Prophet Muhammad during his trials in Mecca. The story of Yusuf's moral steadfastness serves as a parallel to the challenges faced by the Prophet, illustrating how divine protection and inner virtue overcome worldly pressures and false accusations.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (2/579) records that the Prophet Muhammad mentioned Yusuf's restraint as exemplary, stating that Yusuf was sent with half of all beauty (nisi al-jamaal). Additionally, hadiths about guarding one's gaze and chastity (Jami' at-Tirmidhi on hifz al-basar) relate thematically to Yusuf's moral resistance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies not in physical power but in moral conviction and remembrance of Allah—maintaining integrity even when isolated and tempted, and recognizing that compromising one's principles for worldly desires ultimately leads to failure. For modern believers, it demonstrates that seeking Allah's refuge (muadha Billah) and maintaining awareness of divine accountability are the most effective shields against moral corruption.