THE STORY OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH - Joseph Becomes a Servant and was Seduced by Zulaikha

Joseph was taken as a merchandise by the group that took Joseph out of the well. When the group arrived in Egypt, they sold Joseph at a low price. Then came a buyer who was an Egyptian official known as Al-Aziz (royal minister) known as Qitfir / Kitfir. The minister bought Joseph and gave Joseph to his wife, according to a history known as Zulaikha. Joseph will occupy a good place to live. Qitfir and Zulaikha also intended to make Yusuf as an adopted child. They took Joseph back to their home.

Surah Yusuf verses 20-21:

وَشَرَوۡهُ بِثَمَنِۢ بَخۡسٖ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعۡدُودَةٖ وَكَانُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ  ٢٠ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِي ٱشۡتَرَىٰهُ مِن مِّصۡرَ لِٱمۡرَأَتِهِۦٓ أَكۡرِمِي مَثۡوَىٰهُ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَنفَعَنَآ أَوۡ نَتَّخِذَهُۥ وَلَدٗاۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُۥ مِن تَأۡوِيلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِيثِۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِهِۦ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ  ٢١

20.  And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.

21.  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.

Now Joseph lives in an Egyptian royal noble environment. Joseph grew older, it seemed that Joseph was a handsome young man, had a lot of knowledge, and was smart. Joseph works as a smart servant.

Surah Yusuf verse 22:

وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥٓ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗاۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ  ٢٢

22.  And when Joseph reached maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.

Because of Joseph's good looks and friendly attitude, growing interest to Joseph in Zulaikha's heart. That feeling was not a feeling between mother and child, but Zulaikha was attracted to Joseph like a woman to an adult youth.

One day, Zulaikha's husband was out. At home there are only Zulaikha and Joseph. Zulaikha dressed as well as possible. With an attractive appearance Zulaikha approached Joseph and teased him. The doors of the house have also been closed. Zulaikha invited Joseph to approach her and do what Zulaikha wanted. Joseph still tried to restrain himself by taking refuge in Allah SWT and warned Zulaikha to be aware. Joseph also felt that he did not deserve to do this deviant act.

Surah Yusuf verse 23:

وَرَٰوَدَتۡهُ ٱلَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيۡتِهَا عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَغَلَّقَتِ ٱلۡأَبۡوَٰبَ وَقَالَتۡ هَيۡتَ لَكَۚ قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّهُۥ رَبِّيٓ أَحۡسَنَ مَثۡوَايَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ  ٢٣

23.  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."

 However, the temptation of Zulaikha whose heart and mind have been dominated by Satan is getting stronger. Joseph, who is a man, certainly felt his heart trembling at Zulaikha's appearance, but Allah always protected His faithful servants. Joseph was able to master himself.

Surah Yusuf verse 24:

وَلَقَدۡ هَمَّتۡ بِهِۦۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّءَا بُرۡهَٰنَ رَبِّهِۦۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصۡرِفَ عَنۡهُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَٱلۡفَحۡشَآءَۚ إِنَّهُۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ  ٢٤

24.  And she certainly determined [to seduce] him, and he would have inclined to her had he not seen the proof of his Lord. And thus [it was] that We should avert from him evil and immorality. Indeed, he was of Our chosen servants.

Joseph immediately ran towards the door to get out. Zulaika also chased Joseph and managed to hold the back of Joseph's clothes. She hoped Joseph would stop and want to obey her wishes. Joseph continued to run so that Zulaikha's clothes were torn in the back. Apparently at that time Qitfir was at the door and saw Joseph and Zulaikha. Zulaikha immediately told her husband that Joseph had been seductive and had a bad desire for her. Joseph immediately denied by telling the truth that Zulaikha had tempted and forced Joseph. Qitfir did not know who was right and who was wrong.

In the midst of the dispute, someone came to try to solve the problem. He had understood the dispute and gave instructions. If the front of Joseph's shirt is torn (it is assumed that Zulaikha tried to free herself from Joseph and pulled the front of Joseph's shirt to tears), then Joseph made the mistake of forcing Zulaikha to commit evil. And if the back of Joseph's shirt is torn (the process has already taken place and is true), then Zulaikha forced Joseph to deviate so that Joseph fled.

Surah Yusuf verses 25-27:

وَٱسۡتَبَقَا ٱلۡبَابَ وَقَدَّتۡ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٖ وَأَلۡفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلۡبَابِۚ قَالَتۡ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنۡ أَرَادَ بِأَهۡلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسۡجَنَ أَوۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ  ٢٥ قَالَ هِيَ رَٰوَدَتۡنِي عَن نَّفۡسِيۚ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٞ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِهَآ إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٖ فَصَدَقَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلۡكَٰذِبِينَ  ٢٦ وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٖ فَكَذَبَتۡ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ  ٢٧

25.  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?"

26.  [Joseph] 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.

27.  But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."

From the instructions, Qitfir examined Joseph's shirt and apparently it was torn in the back. Qitfir was shocked and felt ashamed to find out the fact, it turned out that his own wife was wrong. He felt angry with Zulaikha.

Surah Yusuf verse 28:

فَلَمَّا رَءَا قَمِيصَهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٖ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ مِن كَيۡدِكُنَّۖ إِنَّ كَيۡدَكُنَّ عَظِيمٞ  ٢٨

28.  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.

Qitfir also told Joseph to forget and conceal the incident he had experienced. And Qitfir said to Zulaikha to repent and ask forgiveness from God for the sin that was committed.

Surah Yusuf verse 29:

يُوسُفُ أَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ هَٰذَاۚ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرِي لِذَنۢبِكِۖ إِنَّكِ كُنتِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَاطِ‍ِٔينَ  ٢٩

29.  Joseph, ignore this. And, [my wife], ask forgiveness for your sin. Indeed, you were of the sinful."