Page 27 - The School of Yusuf (as)

The Life Of Yusuf (as)

shameless lie. If his shirt is torn at the back, then she has lied
and he has clearly told the simple truth.” (Surah Yusuf, 26-27)
Yusuf’s (as) innocence was evident, and the woman’s husband,
now recognizing what had actually happened, said:
He saw the shirt torn at the back and said, “The source of

this is women’s deviousness. Without a doubt your guile is
very great. Yusuf, ignore all this, and you, my wife, should
ask forgiveness for your evil act. There is no doubt that you
are in the wrong.” (Surah Yusuf, 28-29)
As these verses reveal, Yusuf’s (as) innocence was well con-
firmed, and even the other women of the city knew of it, and yet,
Yusuf (as) was imprisoned for his chastity, and for not acquiescing

to their lifestyle. The governer’s wife herself attests to this. Almost
the entire city is aware of Yusuf’s (as) innocence and wrongful im-
prisonment:
She said, “You see! It’s him you blamed me for. I tried seduc-
ing him but he refused. If he does not do what I order him,
he will be put in prison and humiliated.” (Surah Yusuf, 32)
Another verse announces the following:
Then, after they had seen the Signs, they thought that they
should nevertheless imprison him for a time. (Surah Yusuf, 35)

The verses reveal that all knew of Yusuf’s (as) innocence, but
that they decided to imprison him nonetheless. The reason for their
punishing Yusuf (as) so was in reality because of his faith in and de-
votion to Allah. Just as Yusuf (as) suffered from his brothers’ envy
and enmity for his faith and morality, he earned the hostility of
these for the very same reasons.
Yusuf’s (as) exemplary conduct, faith in Allah, and determina-

tion, in the face of these unjust accusations, slander and then pun-

25