فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ 31
Translations
So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allāh! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."
Transliteration
Falamma samiʿat bimakrihinna arsalat ilayhinna wa-aʿtadat lahunna muttakaan wa-ātat kulla wāḥidatin minhunna sikkīnā wa-qālati ʾkhruǧ ʿalayhinna, falamma raʾaynahu akbarnahu wa-qaṭṭaʿna aydīhunna wa-qulna ḥāsha lillāhi mā hādhā basharā in hādhā illā malakun karīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the famous incident where the wives of the Egyptian nobles conspired against Yusuf due to his refusal to commit sin with the wife of al-ʿAzīz. Upon learning of their mockery, the wife of al-ʿAzīz invited them to a banquet, provided each with a knife, and asked Yusuf to appear before them, whereupon they were so overwhelmed by his beauty that they cut their own hands, declaring him to be not human but a noble angel. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates both the extraordinary beauty of Yusuf and the supernatural effect of divine protection upon him, while also illustrating the serious consequences of moral corruption and the triumph of virtue.
Revelation Context
This occurs within the broader narrative of Yusuf's test in Egypt, specifically after his steadfast refusal of the advances of al-ʿAzīz's wife. The incident reveals how the women of the city became aware of the scandal and became complicit in attempting to shame and humiliate Yusuf, only to have their intentions backfire when confronted with his extraordinary character and appearance. This scene marks a turning point where public opinion begins to shift regarding Yusuf's innocence.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly narrates this event (as it is from the Quranic account of Yusuf), Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths praising Yusuf's beauty and his steadfastness against temptation. The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) reportedly said Yusuf was given half of all beauty, emphasizing the significance of the beauty mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that steadfastness in righteousness and refusal to compromise moral principles, despite social pressure and temptation, ultimately leads to vindication and honor, while lustful desires and mockery of the virtuous lead to shame and disgrace. It reminds modern readers that true beauty and nobility lie in character and integrity, not merely in physical appearance, and that divine protection accompanies those who remain steadfast in their faith.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِى ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِٱمْرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكْرِمِى مَثْوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, "Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son." And thus, We established Joseph in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events [i.e., dreams]. And Allāh is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was it [i.e., the Qur’ān] a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
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?
وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."