“And they are the worst conquerors of those they conquer,”

he asked him to repeat it, and said:

“And they are the worst conquerors of those they conquer.”

How, then, could she not dominate such a husband and prevent him from punishing Joseph? People have known many men dominated by their wives—Tatar women and others. A wife may harbour an illicit desire for her husband’s young male servant or her own, and do whatever she wishes with him. If her husband wants to investigate or punish him, she prevents him and resists him. Indeed, she humiliates him and unleashes all manner of trouble upon him, through her own actions, her family and her retinue, by demanding her dower, and by other means, until the man wishes only to escape her on even terms. This happens even when the man possesses protective jealousy; how much more so when that jealousy is weak!

All this shows that what prompted Joseph to refrain from the indecent deed was fear of Allah, not fear of his master. Thus he said:

“My lord has indeed treated me well. Surely wrongdoers never prosper.”

It may be said: This illustrates Joseph’s virtues, his regard for the rights of Allah and of His creatures, and his repelling evil in the best manner. For adultery with another man’s wife violates two rights, each independently sufficient to make it forbidden. The indecent deed is forbidden because of Allah’s right, even if the husband consents; and wronging the husband with respect to his wife is forbidden because of his right. Thus, even if repentance absolves the offender of violating Allah’s right, it does not extinguish the husband’s right concerning his wife. Likewise, if someone wronged him, took his wealth, and repented of violating Allah’s right, that would not extinguish