وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ 27
Translations
But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."
Transliteration
Wa in kāna qamīṣuhū qudda min duburin fa kadhabat wa huwa mina aṣ-ṣādiqīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the evidence that proved Yusuf's innocence in the accusation made by Potiphar's wife. When Yusuf's shirt was torn from the back, it indicated that he had fled from her advances rather than attacking her, as she had claimed. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this physical evidence exposed her lie and vindicated Yusuf as truthful, demonstrating how Allah protects the innocent and reveals truth through signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's trial in Egypt, specifically addressing the false accusation by the wife of al-'Aziz (Potiphar). The surah presents this incident as a test of Yusuf's character and faith, illustrating how truth ultimately prevails over falsehood despite worldly power and influence attempting to suppress it.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly cites this ayah, Surah Yusuf itself is praised in a hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) called it 'the best of stories' (ahsan al-qasas). The themes of patience in trial and Allah's protection are reflected in various hadiths about sabr (patience) and tawakkul (reliance on Allah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that truth has inherent signs and markers that cannot be permanently concealed, and that maintaining integrity and innocence during trials is ultimately vindicated by Allah. For modern readers, it reinforces trust in divine justice and the importance of evidence-based truth in resolving disputes.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّآ أَن جَآءَ ٱلْبَشِيرُ أَلْقَىٰهُ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ فَٱرْتَدَّ بَصِيرًا ۖ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And when the bearer of good tidings arrived, he cast it over his face, and he returned [once again] seeing. He said, "Did I not tell you that I know from Allāh that which you do not know?"
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَآ إِنَّا ذَهَبْنَا نَسْتَبِقُ وَتَرَكْنَا يُوسُفَ عِندَ مَتَـٰعِنَا فَأَكَلَهُ ٱلذِّئْبُ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَّنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَـٰدِقِينَ
They said, "O our father, indeed we went racing each other and left Joseph with our possessions, and a wolf ate him. But you would not believe us, even if we were truthful."
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ
Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] should surely imprison him for a time.
فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ يُوسُفَ ءَاوَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مِصْرَ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ءَامِنِينَ
And when they entered upon Joseph, he took his parents to himself [i.e., embraced them] and said, "Enter Egypt, Allāh willing, safe [and secure]."