وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَـٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ 24
Translations
And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof [i.e., sign] of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad hamma-t bihi wa-hamma biha law-la an ra'a burhan rabbihi. Kadhalika li-nasrifa 'anhu as-su'a wa-al-fahsha'. Innahu min 'ibadina al-mukhlisin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Zulaikha (Potiphar's wife) desired Yusuf and he was inclined towards her, but he was saved by witnessing a sign from his Lord that prevented him from committing the sin. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that Allah explicitly states Yusuf saw a 'burhan' (clear proof/sign), which scholars have interpreted as either a vision of his father Yaqub (Jacob), a reminder of Allah's presence, or divine inspiration. The ayah demonstrates that Allah turns away evil and indecency from His chosen servants, and Yusuf is described as one of the 'mukhlasin' (the sincere/dedicated ones), highlighting his elevated spiritual status.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the detailed narrative of Surah Yusuf, which recounts Yusuf's trials and tribulations. The surah was revealed during the Meccan period to comfort Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his persecution. This particular verse is part of the most famous incident in Yusuf's life—his test in the house of Al-Aziz—which serves as a powerful example of maintaining chastity and righteousness despite overwhelming temptation.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that 'Aishah reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that Yusuf was given half of all beauty. Additionally, various hadith collections mention the virtue of guarding one's gaze and chastity, which directly relates to this ayah's message of resisting temptation through remembrance of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even in moments of intense human desire and weakness, conscious remembrance of Allah and awareness of His presence can be a transformative force that guides us away from sin. Yusuf's example teaches that true honor and success come not from succumbing to temptation, but from steadfast faith and maintaining one's integrity, trusting that Allah protects those who sincerely turn to Him.
Related Ayahs
۞ رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."
يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ ۚ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ
O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَخَاهُ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَنَا۠ أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his brother to himself; he said, "Indeed, I am your brother, so do not despair over what they used to do [to me]."
۞ وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And women in the city said, "The wife of al-ʿAzeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error."