Surah Yūsuf

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

Section

Concerning the words of Joseph—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—when the wife of al-‘Azīz said to him:

“‘Come to me.’ He said, ‘Allah forbid! He is my master, who has treated me well. Indeed, wrongdoers never prosper.’”

According to the more correct of the two views, “my master” here refers to her husband, Joseph’s master, who bought him in Egypt and said to his wife:

“Treat him well. Perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.”

Allah Most High said:

“Thus We established Joseph in the land, so that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah prevails in His purpose, but most people do not know.”

Since he had instructed his wife concerning Joseph, saying, “Treat him well,” Joseph said, “He is my master, who has treated me well.” This is why he said, “Indeed, wrongdoers never prosper.” The pronoun in “He” refers to someone known to both of them: her master.