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Al-'Azeez (Potiphar)

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Al-'Azeez (Potiphar)

العزيز

Al-'Azeez, an influential minister in ancient Egypt, holds a significant place in the Quranic narrative of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), as beautifully recounted in Surah Yusuf. He is the esteemed figure who purchased Yusuf as a young slave, showing immediate compassion and foresight by instructing his wife, [Make his residence comfortable. Perhaps he will benefit us, or we will adopt him as a son]. This act of kindness was instrumental in Allah's divine plan to [establish Joseph in the land], setting the stage for his extraordinary journey. Yusuf himself held his master in high regard, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and respect. When tempted by Al-'Azeez's wife, Yusuf sought refuge in Allah and acknowledged his master's good treatment, declaring, [Indeed, he is my master, who has made good my residence]. When the truth of the incident came to light, Al-'Azeez's wisdom shone through as he discerned the deceit, concluding, [Indeed, it is of the women's plan]. His recognition of Yusuf's character, despite the societal scandal, proved crucial for Yusuf's initial protection and eventual rise to a position of great power and wisdom, illustrating how Allah orchestrates events through various individuals to fulfill His grand design.

Quran 8 verses

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

Wa qaalal lazish taraahu mim Misra limra atiheee akrimee maswaahu 'asaaa any-yanfa'anaaa aw nattakhizahoo waladaa; wa kazaalika mak-kannaa li-Yoosufa fil ardi wa linu'allimahoo min taaweelil ahaadees; wallaahu ghaalibun 'alaaa amrihee wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa ya'lamoon

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 Joseph 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.

اور مصر میں جس شخص نے اس کو خریدا اس نے اپنی بیوی سے (جس کا نام زلیخا تھا) کہا کہ اس کو عزت واکرام سے رکھو عجب نہیں کہ یہ ہمیں فائدہ دے یا ہم اسے بیٹا بنالیں۔ اس طرح ہم نے یوسف کو سرزمین (مصر) میں جگہ دی اور غرض یہ تھی کہ ہم ان کو (خواب کی) باتوں کی تعبیر سکھائیں اور خدا اپنے کام پر غالب ہے لیکن اکثر لوگ نہیں جانتے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Described in the previous verses was an early account of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) as to how the people from the caravan took him out of the well, and how his brothers made him out to be their escaped slave and traded him for a few dirhams. First of all, they did not know the value and...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And he of Egypt who purchased him Potifar the Court Officer Qitfīr al-‘azīz said to his wife Zulaikha Zulaykhā ‘Give him an honourable place an honourable residence with us. Maybe he will be useful to us or we may adopt him as a son’ — for he was chaste. Thus just as We delivered him from being kill...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Yusuf in Egypt Allah mentions the favors that He granted Yusuf, peace be on him, by which He made the man from Egypt who bought him, take care of him and provide him with a comfortable life. He also ordered his wife to be kind to Yusuf and had good hopes for his future, because of his firm righteous...

وَرَٰوَدَتْهُ ٱلَّتِى هُوَ فِى بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلْأَبْوَٰبَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّىٓ أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَاىَ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

Wa raawadat hul latee huwa fee baitihaa 'an nafsihee wa ghallaqatil abwaaba wa qaalat haita lak; qaala ma'aazal laahi innahoo rabbeee ahsana maswaay; innahoo laa yuflihuz-zaalimoon

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."

تو جس عورت کے گھر میں وہ رہتے تھے اس نے ان کو اپنی طرف مائل کرنا چاہا اور دروازے بند کرکے کہنے لگی (یوسف) جلدی آؤ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ خدا پناہ میں رکھے (وہ یعنی تمہارے میاں) تو میرے آقا ہیں انہوں نے مجھے اچھی طرح سے رکھا ہے (میں ایسا ظلم نہیں کرسکتا) بےشک ظالم لوگ فلاح نہیں پائیں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Moving to verse 23, the words of the text are: وَرَ‌اوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الْأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ And she, in whose house he was, seduced him away from his (resisting) self and bolted the doors, and said, 'come on!'. From the first verse, we know t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And she in whose house he was — namely Zulaykhā — attempted to seduce him that is she asked him to lie with her and she closed the doors of the house. And she said to him ‘Come!’ hayta laka the lām of laka is for clarification; a variant reading has hīta laka or haytu laka. ‘God forbid!’ I seek refu...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Wife of the `Aziz loves Yusuf and plots against Him Allah states that the wife of the `Aziz of Egypt, in whose house Yusuf resided and whose husband recommended that she takes care of him and be generous to him, tried to seduce Yusuf! She called him to do an evil act with her, because she loved him ...

وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Wastabaqal baaba wa qaddat qameesahoo min dubu rinw wa alfayaa saiyidahaa ladal baab; qaalat maa jazaaa'u man araada bi ahlika sooo'an illaaa any-yusjana aw azaabun aleem

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?"

اور دونوں دروازے کی طرف بھاگے (آگے یوسف اور پیچھے زلیخا) اور عورت نے ان کا کرتا پیچھے سے (پکڑ کر جو کھینچا تو) پھاڑ ڈالا اور دونوں کو دروازے کے پاس عورت کا خاوند مل گیا تو عورت بولی کہ جو شخص تمہاری بیوی کے ساتھ برا ارادہ کرے اس کی اس کے سوا کیا سزا ہے کہ یا تو قید کیا جائے یا دکھ کا عذاب دیا جائے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Described in the previous verses was the time when the wife of the Aziz of Misr was busy enticing Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) into sin, and he, on his part, was trying to stay away from it. But, there was the natural struggle with that non-voluntary thought too. So, to help his honourabl...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And they raced to the door Joseph making for it in order to escape while she in order to grab hold of him caught hold of his garment and pulled him towards her and she tore his shirt from behind whereupon they encountered her master her husband at the door. She composed herself and then said ‘What i...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا (What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife...), in reference to illegal sexual intercourse, إِلاَ أَن يُسْجَنَ (except that he be put in prison) أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (or a painful torment) tormented severely w...

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيْدِكُنَّ إِنَّ كَيْدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٌ

Falammaa ra-aa qamee sahoo qudda min duburin qaala innahoo min kaidikunna inna kaidakunna 'azeem

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.

اور جب اس کا کرتا دیکھا (تو) پیچھے سے پھٹا تھا (تب اس نے زلیخا سے کہا) کہ یہ تمہارا ہی فریب ہے۔ اور کچھ شک نہیں کہ تم عورتوں کے فریب بڑے (بھاری) ہوتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the last two (28 29) of the verses cited above, it has been stated that the ` Aziz of Misr had already realized by having heard the child speak in the manner he did that some special supernatural situation was there to demonstrate the innocence of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) . After that, accor...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So when he her husband saw that his shirt was torn from behind he said ‘Indeed this — that is your saying ‘What is to be the requital of him who intends …’ to the end of the verse Q. 1225 — is of the guile of you O women. Verily your guile is great.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا (What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife...), in reference to illegal sexual intercourse, إِلاَ أَن يُسْجَنَ (except that he be put in prison) أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (or a painful torment) tormented severely w...

وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ

Wa qaala niswatun filma deenatim ra atul'Azeezi turaawidu fataahaa 'an nafsihee qad shaghafahaa bubbaa; innaa lana raahaa fee dalaalim mubeen

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."

اور شہر میں عورتیں گفتگوئیں کرنے لگیں کہ عزیز کی بیوی اپنے غلام کو اپنی طرف مائل کرنا چاہتی ہے۔ اور اس کی محبت اس کے دل میں گھر کرگئی ہے۔ ہم دیکھتی ہیں کہ وہ صریح گمراہی میں ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: So, after having pointed out to Zulaikha her error, the ` Aziz of Misr said to Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) : يُوسُفُ أَعْرِ‌ضْ عَنْ هَـٰذَا :'O Yusuf, ignore this matter' - that is, do not speak about it before others so there be no disgrace because of this. Then he addressed Zulaikha and said: وَا...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And some of the women in the city the city of Egypt said ‘The Court Officer’s wife has been seducing her boy her servant. Indeed he has smitten her heart with love hubban is for specification in other words ‘her love of him has entered her heart’s pericardium shaghāfa qalbihā that is its inner casin...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The News reaches Women in the City, Who also plot against Yusuf Allah states that the news of what happened between the wife of the `Aziz and Yusuf spread in the city, that is, Egypt, and people talked about it, وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ (And women in the city said...), such as women of chie...

ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

Summa badaa lahum mim ba'di maa ra-awul Aayaati layasjununnahoo hatta heen

Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that al-'Azeez should surely imprison him for a time.

پھر باوجود اس کے کہ وہ لوگ نشان دیکھ چکے تھے ان کی رائے یہی ٹھہری کہ کچھ عرصہ کے لیے ان کو قید ہی کردیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: So, said at the end of the verse (35) was: ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا رَ‌أَوُا الْآيَاتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ Later on, even after having seen the signs, they [ the ` Aziz of Misr and his advisers ] deemed it proper [ or expedient ] to imprison him for a time. Thus, to the prison he ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then it seemed it appeared good to them after they had seen the signs indicating Joseph’s innocence that they should imprison him for a while until such time as people ceased to talk of him. He was thus imprisoned.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Yusuf is imprisoned without Justification Allah says, `Then it occurred to them that it would be in their interest to imprison Yusuf for a time, even after they were convinced of his innocence and saw the proofs of his truth, honesty and chastity.' It appears, and Allah knows best, that they impriso...

قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُنَّ إِذْ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ قُلْنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ مِن سُوٓءٍ قَالَتِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْـَٰٔنَ حَصْحَصَ ٱلْحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ

Qaala maa khatbukunna iz raawattunna Yoosufa 'annafsih; qulna haasha lillaahi maa 'alimnaa 'alaihi min sooo'; qaalatim ra atul 'Azeezil 'aana hashasal haqq, ana raawat tuhoo 'an nafsihee wa innahoo laminas saadiqeen

Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allah! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-'Azeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.

بادشاہ نے عورتوں سے پوچھا کہ بھلا اس وقت کیا ہوا تھا جب تم نے یوسف کو اپنی طرف مائل کرنا چاہا۔ سب بول اٹھیں کہ حاش َللهِ ہم نے اس میں کوئی برائی معلوم نہیں کی۔ عزیز کی عورت نے کہا اب سچی بات تو ظاہر ہو ہی گئی ہے۔ (اصل یہ ہے کہ) میں نے اس کو اپنی طرف مائل کرنا چاہا تھا اور بےشک وہ سچا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary When the royal emissary delivered to Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) the order of his release and invited him to see the king, he asked him to first have his case investigated through the women who had cut their hands. His approach was based on many wise considerations. Allah Ta ala bestows ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He said ‘What was your business women when you solicited Joseph?’ did you find on his part any inclination towards you? ‘God preserve us!’ they said. ‘We know of no evil in him.’ The Court Officer’s wife said ‘Now the truth is out now it has become clear; it was I who attempted to seduce him and he ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The King investigates what happened between the Wife of the `Aziz, the Women in the City, and Yusuf Allah narrates to us that when the king was conveyed the interpretation of his dream, he liked Yusuf's interpretation and felt sure that it was true. He realized the virtue of Prophet Yusuf, recognize...

ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَخُنْهُ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى كَيْدَ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ

Zaalika liya'lama annee lam akhunhu bilghaibi wa annal laaha laa yahdee kaidal khaaa'ineen

That is so al-'Azeez will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allah does not guide the plan of betrayers.

(یوسف نے کہا کہ میں نے) یہ بات اس لیے (پوچھی ہے) کہ عزیز کو یقین ہوجائے کہ میں نے اس کی پیٹھ پیچھے اس کی (امانت میں خیانت نہیں کی) اور خدا خیانت کرنے والوں کے مکروں کو روبراہ نہیں کرتا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the second (52) of the two verses cited above, Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) has himself pointed out to two considerations implied in the way he acted and in the option of delaying his release. The first consideration was: ذٰلِكَ لِيَعْلَمَ اَنِّىْ لَمْ اَخُنْهُ بِالْغَيْبِ. It means: I delayed my...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: ‘That plea of innocence is so that he the Court officer may know I did not betray him with regard to his family in his absence bi’l-ghayb is a circumstantial qualifier and that truly God does not guide to success the guile of the treacherous; he Joseph then humbled himself before God and said
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The King investigates what happened between the Wife of the `Aziz, the Women in the City, and Yusuf Allah narrates to us that when the king was conveyed the interpretation of his dream, he liked Yusuf's interpretation and felt sure that it was true. He realized the virtue of Prophet Yusuf, recognize...

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