Part-2: Trial and Temptation in Life Story between Prophet Yusuf (AHs) and Zuleika, the Wife of al-Aziz:
The last episode we talk when Prophet Yousuf was tested when his brothers put him in a desert well. This episode we will discuss when chief Minister Aziz wife wanted to seduce her
Allah swt states in the Quran, the purpose of describing these stories
وَكُلاًّ۬ نَّقُصُّ عَلَيۡكَ مِنۡ أَنۢبَآءِ ٱلرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِۦ فُؤَادَكَۚ وَجَآءَكَ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَمَوۡعِظَةٌ۬ وَذِكۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١٢٠) سُوۡرَةُ هُود
{So [Muhammad], We have told you the stories of the prophets to make your heart firm and in these accounts, the truth has come to you, as well as lessons and reminders for the believers.} (Hud 11:120)
The trial and temptation of Prophet Yousuf (AHS) as Allah swt states
وَرَٲوَدَتۡهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيۡتِهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلۡأَبۡوَٲبَ وَقَالَتۡ هَيۡتَ لَكَۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَاىَۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ (٢٣) سُوۡرَةُ یُوسُف
And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him (to do an evil act), and she closed the doors and said: “Come on, O you.” He said: “I seek refuge in Allâh (or Allâh forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my master! He made my living in a great comfort! (So I will never betray him). Verily, the Zâlimûn (wrong and evil-doers) will never be successful.” (12.23)
The Quran states that it was she who seduced him. She closed the doors and made the environment suitable for her purpose.
In reaction to this, prophet Yusuf behaved in a very civilized manner. He reminded her of her husband’s favors on him. Therefore, he cannot cheat on him and cannot show disloyalty to him.
Prophet Yusuf was aware that adultery is a grave sin and those who commit it will never prosper and be saved from punishment.
The verses mention that he would have succumbed to her if he had not seen evidence of his Lord.
Suddenly, they found al-Aziz at the door. She ran to her husband and accused prophet Yusuf of seducing her. Prophet Yusuf tried to defend himself and told al-Aziz that it was his wife who seduced him.
’ A member of her household suggested, ‘If his shirt is torn at the front, then it is she who is telling the truth and he who is lying, but if it is torn at the back, then she is lying and he is telling the truth.’ When the husband saw that the shirt was torn at the back, he said, ‘This is another instance of women’s treachery: your treachery is truly great. Joseph/Yousuf , overlook this; but you [wife], ask forgiveness for your sin– you have done wrong.’} (Yusuf 12:23-29)
Yousuf Innocent: Though al-Aziz saw prophet Yusuf’s shirt torn from the back and this is an indication that he tried to escape, he listened to the advice of his wife and imprisoned him.
She made a very clear statement that it was she who seduced him but he resisted the temptation.
She decided to put him in prison and he accepted the decision because imprisonment was better than what these women were calling on him to do. God answered his prayer and protected him from their plot.
We can notice Prophet Yusuf’s sincerity and seek refuge in God from the women’s plot against him.
Although the wife of Al-Aziz confessed her guilt in front of all these women, they remained silent and did not defend Yusuf.
Also, Al-Aziz himself did not object to his wife’s advice and threw Yusuf in prison.
Yousuf Accept Prison:
We read what means:
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا رَأَوُاْ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لَيَسۡجُنُنَّهُ ۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ۬ (٣٥) سُوۡرَةُ یُوسُف
{In the end, they thought it best, after seeing all the signs of his innocence, that they should imprison him for a while.} (Yusuf 12:35)
The Slander against Ayesha (RA) (Mother of the Believers) and her Vindication by Allah
The hypocrites and few misinformed Muslims during Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) levied against the mother of the believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). This was an important event in Islamic history that also led to the revelation of important verses in Surah Nour in which Allah vindicated her movement to help survivors of sexual violence, find pathways to healing. As per recorded in social media, about 1.8 Million women have experienced the sexual violence in the developed countries alone. If we estimate with different countries we can multiply it 2 times more, 50 Million women: Powerful Men in position exploiting subordinate women
Allah swt also clearly stated that any calamity befalls on us is with his wisdom to purify us, and to raise our status
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ڪِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن نَّبۡرَأَهَآۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ (٢٢) لِّكَيۡلَا تَأۡسَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَفۡرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَٮٰڪُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ۬ فَخُورٍ (٢٣)
No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allâh. (57.22) In order that you may not grieve at the things that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allâh likes not prideful boasters. (57.23)
Lessons to be Learned from this story :
1) Patience and submission to God’s destiny. In difficult situations, we should put our trust in God and seek refuge in Him. We should be sure that there is always a way out for the believers.
- Plot by Evil Persons: We should guard ourselves against the plots made by the enemies by asking God’s for help and not surrendering to temptations.
- Guard Gaze: Yusuf lived in the house with her and the other domestic staff whilst her husband was away at work, and it is probable that his youth and handsomeness caught her gaze. We know that the gaze is the starting point of zina or adultery if left unchecked.
- Mixing Opposite Gender: In addition, being alone with a person of the opposite gender who is not a mahrum, also becomes an invitation for Satan to call the shots towards adultery.
- Trial and Temptation: May Allah swt protect us from such a big trial and temptation account for such a trial.” Yusuf was young and unmarried; trapped inside a locked room with a woman calling him to herself – a woman dominant to him in social standing. Yet, not only did he openly refuse her, but ran when she persisted. It was when he refused outright that Allah’s help came to him, and he saw a clear proof that prevented him from wanting her too. Allah’s help comes when we take the first step to remove the temptation and avert it from ourselves.
- Courage to speak Truth: Despite being caught by Aziz at the door, and being slandered by his wife; Yusuf spoke the truth in face of his oppressor.
- Guide for present day Muslims in school/college/office: This conduct should be a guide for young Muslim men nowadays. The first thing a guy usually does when a member of the opposite sex expresses her interest in him is to boast of his image to his circle at his school/college/office.
- Men to be Careful with Opposite Gender: The more exploitative of such men go ahead and ‘have a good time’ with the lady in question, even if they are not interested in her.
- Forgiveness and still be Good: As for Yusuf, not only did he forgive Aziz’s wife and overlook what she did to him (seduction plus slandering his chastity), but also continued to obey her as mistress of the house thereafter.
- Forgiving women who are outright liars and slanderers, upholding virtuous behavior no matter what, and going on as if nothing ever happened.He said, “My Lord, the prison is preferable to me than what they call on me to do.
- Prefer Prison /Hard Life: Allah again responds to Yusuf’s sincere plea, and notice how He calls Yusuf’s going to prison as “turning point away from evils away
- Adverse Event is Blessing: A great lesson for us: that sometimes, adverse events are a blessing in disguise – Allah saves us from major trials and sins by making us endure unfavorable circumstances, such as living in a threadbare condition.
- Accept Allah’s Decree: We should try to be happy with Allah’s decree, with the faith that what He decrees is better for us, even if we are not sure how it is better.
- Reflect on past Events: Wise people reflect on past lives, find how certain bad events were better for them in the long term, but when an event happens, they were mostly complaining, as their wisdom & insight was not mature to see the big picture.
- Relinquish Comfort: To save our faith from corruption and our selves from falling into sin, we should be willing to relinquish comfortable environments to go to places that might be adverse for the living, but better for safeguarding our Deen and morality.
- Be Proactive from Evil People: we have to take the proactive step first, and ask Allah to help us in protecting ourselves from the evil of people; only then does Allah’s help come. We cannot be weak and lazy in our actions, and then claim that, “Why does Allah not guide me?”
- Take High Road of Sacrifice: Yusuf could have given in to the plot of the women,. However, he ‘took the high road ‘to avoid disobeying Allah. Apparently, he lost out – he didn’t lie, he didn’t succumb to his mistress’ advances, and he didn’t seek to take revenge on her. He forgave her, and thus she got the chance to try to trap him again.
- A Way Out from Allah SWT: He was thus thrown into prison for no crime, except his “ihsan” – lofty moral conduct. Being the good guy, he “lost”. However, this “loss” was only short-term, as we will find out later.