the truth has come to light. It was I who sought to seduce him, and he is indeed among the truthful. This is so that he may know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not bring the schemes of the treacherous to success. And I do not absolve myself.”
Anyone who attributes these words to Joseph must supply an unstated “he said,” for which the wording provides no evidence whatsoever. In such a case, the words introducing a speaker are not omitted, lest confusion arise. At most, the passage could admit either interpretation; it is therefore unquestionably more appropriate to regard it as part of the preceding speech.
Second: Joseph, peace be upon him, was not present when she said this. Rather, he was in prison when she uttered the words, “Now the truth has come to light.” The context clearly and unambiguously establishes this. When the king sent for him, he told the messenger:
“Return to your master and ask him about the women who cut their hands.”
The king then summoned the women, including his wife, and questioned them. In Joseph’s absence, they testified to his innocence and integrity, and could say nothing but the truth. The women said:
“Allah forbid! We know of no evil on his part.”
The wife of al-‘Azīz said:
“It was I who sought to seduce him, and he is indeed among the truthful.”
If it is objected: “Yet the words, ‘This is so that he may know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that Allah does not bring the schemes of the treacherous to success,’ are more appropriately understood as Joseph’s words, peace be upon him. That is: I delayed coming with the king’s messenger only so that the king might know that I had not betrayed him with his wife during his absence, and that Allah does not bring the schemes of the treacherous to success. Then Joseph, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
‘I do not absolve myself. Indeed, the soul constantly urges one towards evil, except when my Lord bestows His mercy. Surely my Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’
“This reflects the fullness of his knowledge of his Lord and of himself, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Having demonstrated his integrity and innocence of the accusation levelled against him, he described the condition of his own soul: he did not declare it pure or absolve it, for it constantly urges one towards evil. Rather, it was his Lord’s mercy and grace that protected him. Thus, after establishing his innocence, he attributed the matter to Allah.”
The answer is: Although a group of scholars have said this, the correct view is that these words continue her speech. All the pronouns form a single, consistent sequence that indicates this: the women’s statement, “We know of no evil on his part,” and the statement of the wife of al-‘Azīz, “It was I who sought to seduce him, and he is indeed among the truthful.” These contain five pronouns, some explicit and some implicit. They are then followed directly by the words: