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
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلِكَ ٱلْقَدِيمِ
They said, "By Allāh, indeed you are in your [same] old error."
۞ 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."
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."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا ٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا خَـٰطِـِٔينَ
They said, "O our father, ask for us forgiveness of our sins; indeed, we have been sinners."