Transliteration:( Falammaa ra-aa qamee sahoo qudda min duburin qaala innahoo min kaidikunna inna kaidakunna 'azeem )
"When he saw that the shirt was torn from behind, he said, 'Indeed, this is the cunning of you women. Indeed, your cunning is great [59].'"
In this verse, Aziz of Egypt acknowledges the cunning of women, remarking that their deceit is greater than that of men. This could mean that women's accusations are often easily accepted, or that a woman's deception is greater than that of Shaitaan, as she openly carries out her deceit, unlike Shaitaan, who works in the shadows.
The Deceit of Women: The verse may suggest that women are inherently deceitful. However, this is a generalization that must be understood in context. It is stated that the few women who gained nearness to Allah were blessed through the influence of men. The analogy used here is that water, by nature, is cold, but when it is exposed to fire, it becomes hot. Similarly, a woman's character can be influenced and shaped by the guidance and blessings of righteous men. Even though these words are spoken by Aziz of Egypt, they are narrated by Allah without refutation, suggesting a broader truth about the challenges posed by deception. A Hadith also mentions that a woman is the devil's trap through whom he tries to deceive men.
The Mischief of Women: The mischief of women is said to be the worst type of mischief, with the first murder in history (the killing of Habeel by Qabeel) being related to a woman. This highlights the profound effect that a woman's actions can have in the context of trials and mischief.
Comparing the Deception of Women and Shaitaan: The deception of women is considered more intense than that of Shaitaan. Allah Almighty says, "No doubt, your deceit is great" in reference to women’s deceit, while regarding Shaitaan, Allah says, "The devil’s deceit is weak" (S4:V76). This comparison emphasizes the power and influence a woman’s deceit can have over others, particularly in social and relational matters.
Not All Women Are Deceitful: It is important to note that not all women are deceitful. In fact, many believing and pious women are highly virtuous and even superior to angels. For example, Sayyidah Mariam (on whom be peace) was chosen above all other women, as Allah Almighty says, "And He has chosen you from amongst the women of the world" (S3:V42). Similarly, the wives of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were distinguished with a high honor: "O wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women" (S33:V32). This demonstrates that women who possess faith and piety are far from deceitful and hold a place of elevated honor in Islam.
The tafsir of Surah Yusuf verse 28 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Yusuf ayat 25 which provides the complete commentary from verse 25 through 29.
(12:28) So when the husband saw Joseph’s shirt torn from behind he exclaimed: “Surely, this is one of the tricks of you women; your tricks are indeed great.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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