Yusuf was later sold in Egypt. He was transferred from one country to another and from one hand to another until he was settled in the house of al-Aziz. Al-Aziz was the Minister of Treasury in Egypt at that time and he saw in Yusuf resourcefulness and righteousness.
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 وَلَٰكِنَّ 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 Yusuf in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know." - [QS.12:21]
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
"And when Yusuf reached maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good." - [QS.12:22]
There was a great difference between the people of the caravan who sold Yusuf for a miserable price, a few Dirhams, and al-Aziz. The Brethren sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! But al-Aziz considered him to be a priceless jewel. Even payments with heaps of gold and silver would be insufficient.
But Yusuf's trials were to continue in pursuit of him.
وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ ۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
"And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "Come, you." He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah. Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed." - [QS.12:23]
In Arabic text of the Qur'an, there is a word "al-murawadah", which means seeking to seduce. It really means trickery and deception. That is conspiring and plotting against someone in a very nice way and using clever deceit.
Yusuf with his strong faith, morality and piety, did not want to betray or deceive al-Aziz. The one who had put him up and was so generous to him. The one who put him up in his house and considered him a son. He did not want to meet good with evil and generosity with betrayal and deception. This was a great wrong doing and the wrong doers are never successful. This is the morality of a Muslim in all conditions.
In a firm and dignified manner with honor, strength and faith, Yusuf said, "Allah forbid! Truly thy husband is my lord! He made my sojourn agreeable! Truly to no good come those who do wrong! "
But the woman was insistent and had prepared for every eventuality. The wife of al-Aziz had made her decision. She desired him and he would have desired her, if it weren't for the fact that he had seen the evidence of his Rabb again.
وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرْهَٰنَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلْفَحْشَآءَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ
"And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Rabb. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants." - [QS.12:24]
Faced with the uncontrolled desire of this woman, Yusuf could not do anything except try to escape to the door. She chased him and held him and in trying to free himself of her, his shirt was ripped in the back. Yusuf's shirt later became the evidence of his innocence as it was the evidence against Yusuf's brothers before.
Then came help as his lord, al-Aziz appeared at the door which brought the scene to an end for Yusuf's benefit. All happening are from the mercy and grace of Allah. Some are signs of mercy which Allah showers upon his servants and supporters to facilitate their way. Others are slips and trips in which the enemies of Allah fall similar to the way a moth falls into the fire.
Hence, the coming of al-Aziz at that crucial moment was undoubtedly one of the signs of Allah. It manifested Allah's mercy and grace as it revealed a constant protection for that servant who was being prepared for the office of prophethood. A Muslim does not betray his trust or deceive others and if a calamity befalls him, he is ever steadfast. Also, a Muslim does not succumb or weaken in the presence of temptations.
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
"And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?" - [QS.12:25]
قَالَ هِىَ رَٰوَدَتْنِى عَن نَّفْسِى ۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ
"[Yusuf] said, "It was she who sought to seduce me." And a witness from her family testified. "If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars." - [QS.12:26]
وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
"But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful." - [QS.12:27]
فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ ۖ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ
"So when her husband saw his shirt torn from the back, he said, "Indeed, it is of the women's plan. Indeed, your plan is great." - [QS.12:28]
يُوسُفُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرِى لِذَنۢبِكِ ۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلْخَاطِـِٔينَ
"Yusuf, ignore this. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you were of the sinful." - [QS.12:29]
Al-Aziz who was the Minister of Treasury of Egypt with his insight, knowledge, and expertise saw the generosity and good morality of Yusuf. This led him to bear witness that Yusuf was speaking the truth. Some other commentators have mentioned that an infant was in the house and that infant supported Yusuf's testimony. This was related by Abu Hurayrah and Ibn Abbas, (رضی اللہ عنھم)
The woman exaggerated in the defense of her chastity and purity by asking for the imprisonment of Yusuf or a tough punishment. Yusuf, who was true with his Rabb, strongly and confidently defended himself saying. "It was she who sought to seduce me from my true self."
He said this without the need to confirm the truth with emphasis, evasion, or by swearing an oath. He left the truth flowing according to its nature, without the need to follow the ways of those who commit falsehood and lies by swearing and talking too much to hide the truth with falsehood. This is the way for a Muslim in his life. His way must be the way of truth and his saying must be the truth and he should not fear abiding by the truth or reproach.
Thus we can see that the innocence of Yusuf was proven. He was acquitted from the falsehood and accusations which the wife of al-Aziz had stated. The wisdom, expertise, and experience of al-Aziz in many matters was manifested when he came to his wife not to accuse her alone, but to show the universality of this trait in the female sex.
Her husband said, "Behold! It is a snare of you women! Truly, mighty is your snare!" Then al-Aziz combining advice, guidance, and reproach for his wife turned to Yusuf and said, "O Yusuf, pass this over!"
This meant that Yusuf should avoid talking about this matter. Then turning to his wife, he said, "O wife, ask forgiveness for thy sins, for truly thou hast been at fault! "
In Arabic text of the Qur'an, the word "al-khateen" means, "exactly, thou has been from those men and women who are at fault." This is used instead of al-khteaat which means "exactly, that thou has been from those women who are at fault." This is done as a mitigation or lessening of the accusation directed at her to make this sin applicable to both the male sex and female sex, as every child of Adam is liable to fall into sin. She must confess this sin, at least to herself, and ask her Rabb for forgiveness and repentance.
This incident was soon spread in the form of a rumour on the lips of people throughout the city. This occurred even though the incident was known only to a very closed circle which included al-Aziz, his wife, and Yusuf. Among the people, the women were the majority of those searching for the secrets of the houses and they were the most capable of uncovering these secrets and divulging them.
The incident of al-Aziz soon became known among the women
and became the subject of gossip.
وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
"And women in the city said, "The wife of al-'Azeez is seeking to seduce her slave boy; he has impassioned her with love. Indeed, we see her [to be] in clear error." - [QS.12:30]
When this gossip reached al-Aziz and his wife, the wife thought long and hard on how to entrap these women who were gossiping about her. She prepared food and comfortable seating for them and she gave everyone of them a knife to use on their food. She then asked Yusuf to appear amongst them while they were inattentive.
When Yusuf came before them in his handsome appearance and presence, they without thinking cut their hands as they were looking at him. After having filled their eyes with the angelic appearance of Yusuf, they realized that their wounds were bleeding. They then cried out from the depths of their hearts.
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
"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 Yusuf], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allah! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." - [QS.12:31]
The women told her that she was not to be blamed or reproached after what they had seen. Yusuf was endowed with a portion of beauty as has been proven in the narration of al-Isra (the ascension of the Prophet (ﷺ)). The wife of al-Aziz proved undoubtedly that Yusuf was loved for his handsome appearance, mannerism, and morality. She confessed that she had sought to seduce him from his true self.
قَالَتْ فَذَٰلِكُنَّ ٱلَّذِى لُمْتُنَّنِى فِيهِ ۖ وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ فَٱسْتَعْصَمَ ۖ وَلَئِن لَّمْ يَفْعَلْ مَآ ءَامُرُهُۥ لَيُسْجَنَنَّ وَلَيَكُونًا مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰغِرِينَ
"She said, "That is the one about whom you blamed me. And I certainly sought to seduce him, but he firmly refused; and if he will not do what I order him, he will surely be imprisoned and will be of those debased." - [QS.12:32]
The addition of al-Aziz in this verse is to show the magnitude of the sinfulness of the incident. People are inclined to listen to the news of those in power.
We deduce from this, that anyone who is in a high position is required to care more about his reputation than others and is to be an example in everv matter. But the righteous and God-fearing Yusuf, who was be'ing prepared by Allah for his message, challenged the power of his lady lord by resorting to Allah to provide him with his mercy, care, and protection and to avert evil from him.
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱلسِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّى كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ
"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." - [QS.12.33]
The one who take refuge in Allah and comes under his protection and is truthful in his faith must get from Allah his request.
فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
"So his Rabb responded to him and averted from him their plan. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing." - [QS.12:34]
A Muslim should always seek refuge in Allah and pray with sincerity to Him. A Muslim should not take refuge in human beings like himself, even if such persons do manifest worldly power and strength. They, like himself, are powerless.
If a matter of Allah has already been decreed it cannot be advanced or delayed, and it cannot be repelled by evil or harm, except by the command of Allah.
Yusuf chose prison to escape temptation (fitna). This was what Allah decreed in order to remove him from the temptation of the situation. In Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated Aboo Hurayrah, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,
