Page 26 - The School of Yusuf (as)
P. 26

THE SCHOOL OF YUSUF

                 Entering the School of Yusuf

                 After Yusuf (as) had been placed in the well, some travelers
             found him, and sold him to an Egyptian governer for a small
             amount of money. Thus, Allah placed Yusuf (as) in Egypt and
             taught him “the true meaning of events.” And, when he grew up,
             he was given knowledge and right judgment. (Surah Yusuf, 21-22)
                 The events that lead to Yusuf’s (as) imprisonment begin with

             the governer’s wife seeking to seduce him (as). Yusuf (as) re-
             sponded to her advances in the following way:
                 The woman whose house it was solicited him. She barred
                 the doors and said, “Come over here!” He said, “Allah is my
                 refuge! He is My lord and has been good to me with where I
                 live. Those who do wrong will surely not succeed.” (Surah
                 Yusuf, 23)
                 After speaking these words, Yusuf (as) heads for the door, but
             the woman persists, and the back of his shirt is torn by her in the

             doorway. Just then, however, her husband arrives. Without the
             slightest hesitation, she says: “How should a man whose intention
             was to harm your family be punished for what he did except with
             prison or painful punishment?” (Surah Yusuf, 25). Thus she slan-
             dered Yusuf (as), and sought to have him imprisoned by inciting
             those around her against him. In response to this allegation, Yusuf
             (as) expressed his innocence and said:

                 He said: “It was she who tried to seduce me.” (Surah Yusuf,
                 26)
                 Then, a woman close to the governer’s wife suggested the fol-
             lowing:
                 … A witness from her people then declared, “If his shirt is
                 torn in front, she speaks the truth and he has clearly told a


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