Transliteration:( Falammaa sami'at bimak rihinna arsalat ilaihinna wa a'tadat lahunna muttaka anw wa aatat kulla waahidatim min hunna sikkeenanw wa qaala tikh ruj 'alaihinna falammaa ra aynahooo akbarnahoo wa qatta'na aydiyahunna wa qulna haasha lillaahi maa haaza basharaa; in haazaaa illaa malakun kareem )
"Then when she heard their accusations, she invited them, prepared for them reclining couches, and gave each of them a knife. She then said, 'Come out to them.' When they saw him, they admired him greatly and cut their hands, saying, 'Glory be to Allah! This is not a mortal; this is none other than a noble angel [68].'"
The word "MAKR" in this context refers to a secret device or plan. Zuleikha arranged a private gathering for the women, where they would see Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace) and, in turn, her actions would be exposed. It was a secretive setup, which is why the term "Maqr" (meaning a secret plot) is used to describe this encounter.
Each woman was given a knife in preparation for the meal, as they were about to cut and eat fruit and meat. During this time, eating while reclining on a pillow and using a knife for cutting food was a common practice. Islam later made it unlawful to eat while reclining on pillows, and eating with knives was also not in accordance with the prophetic tradition.
At that time, Purdah (veiling) or Hijaab was not yet obligatory, and Zuleikha insisted that Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace) appear before the women. If he had refused, it would have posed a grave danger for him, so he complied due to the helplessness of the situation. Additionally, there was a hope that upon seeing the extraordinary beauty of Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace), some of the women might embrace faith.
The beauty of Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace) was a miracle, and showing miracles is part of the propagation of truth. Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace) would be rewarded for this act as it was part of his mission to carry Allah's message. The reward for carrying out propagation is immense.
From this incident, we learn that a person in an unconscious state is not held accountable for their actions. Although it is a serious criminal act to harm oneself, these women were not censured for cutting their hands in their state of unconsciousness, driven by the overwhelming beauty of Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace).
Similarly, Zuleikha should not be degraded. The intention of sin that arose within her was due to her unconscious state of love, not malice or bad character. The Qur'an later mentions Zuleikha's repentance, stating: "I had desired to allure his heart" (S12:V51). She was not a woman of bad character, and she was destined to be the wife of a Prophet, with Allah Almighty protecting her from indecency.
Thus, there is no proof of her immorality, and Allah Almighty protected her from any sinful act.
The women of Egypt were not only captivated by the intense beauty of Hazrat Yusuf (on whom be peace) but also by the chastity, modesty, and honor reflected in his image. They cut their hands in a state of unconscious admiration, exclaiming that he was not a mortal but an angel. This does not mean they literally saw angels, but rather, the purity and chastity of Hazrat Yusuf’s (on whom be peace) face radiated so strongly that it resembled the pure nature of angels.
The reflection of his purity was evident in every detail of his appearance, similar to how the warmth of the sun touches everything in its path. This miraculous beauty was not just physical but spiritual, embodying both beauty and honor. (Tafseer Roohul Bayaan)
The tafsir of Surah Yusuf verse 31 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Yusuf ayat 30 which provides the complete commentary from verse 30 through 34.
(12:31) Hearing of their sly talk the chief’s wife sent for those ladies, and arranged for them a banquet, and got ready couches,[26] and gave each guest a knife. Then, while they were cutting and eating the fruit, she signalled Joseph: “Come out to them.” When the ladies saw him they were so struck with admiration that they cut their hands, exclaiming: “Allah preserve us. This is no mortal human. This is nothing but a noble angel!”
26. The ancient Egyptians used to place pillows and cushions in such feasts for the guests to recline. And this is confirmed by the archaeological remains in Egypt.
There is no mention at all of this banquet in the Bible but it has been described in the Talmud in a way quite different from that of the Quran. Needless to say that while this narrative in the Quran is natural, life like and teaches moral lessons, the one in the Talmud lacks all these things.
[593]- So distracted were they at the sight of him. [594]- In His ability to create such beauty.
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