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
ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
That is so he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allāh does not guide the plan of betrayers.
يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allāh. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allāh except the disbelieving people."
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh; then will you not reason?
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّـٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ
And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."