قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ 33
Translations
He said, "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant."
Transliteration
Qala rabbi as-sijnu ahabbu ilayya mimma yad'oonanni ilayh wa illa tasrif anni kaydhahunna asbu ilayhinna wa akun mina al-jahileen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) calls upon Allah, expressing that imprisonment is preferable to succumbing to the seduction of Potiphar's wife and her companions, and he beseeches Allah to avert their schemes from him lest he be tempted and become among the ignorant. This statement demonstrates Yusuf's profound piety and recognition of human weakness; he does not claim self-sufficiency but acknowledges that without Allah's protection and guidance, he could fall into sin. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Yusuf's invocation shows the highest degree of moral consciousness and reliance upon Allah (tawakkul), making this ayah a powerful example of how true righteousness involves both personal resolution and complete dependence on divine assistance.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf's trial in Egypt, where the wife of al-'Aziz (Potiphar) attempts to seduce him. The broader context of Surah Yusuf (a Meccan surah) presents the story as a test of faith and moral integrity; this specific verse reflects the moment when Yusuf faces intense temptation and chooses to invoke Allah's protection rather than rationalize or justify yielding to desire.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this statement, the theme resonates with the Hadith Qudsi in which Allah praises those who abstain from sin despite ability and opportunity: 'Whoever abandons a sin for My sake, I shall forgive him.' (Transmitted in various collections). Additionally, the principle of seeking Allah's help against temptation aligns with numerous prophetic traditions encouraging du'a (supplication) for steadfastness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true virtue lies not merely in avoiding sin externally, but in actively seeking Allah's guidance and acknowledging one's vulnerability to temptation—a lesson for believers that righteousness requires both conscious effort and sincere reliance upon Allah's mercy and protection.