This is as Allah Most High says:

“Among people are those who say, ‘We believe in Allah,’ but when they suffer harm for Allah’s sake, they regard people’s persecution as though it were Allah’s punishment.”

And as He says:

“Among people are those who worship Allah on the fringe: if good comes their way, they are content with it, but if a trial befalls them, they turn back on their faces, losing both this world and the Hereafter. That is the clear loss.”

“They invoke besides Allah what can neither harm nor benefit them. That is straying far indeed.”

“They invoke those whose harm is closer than their benefit. What an evil protector and what an evil companion!”

Everyone in this world must inevitably suffer harm. If a person will not patiently endure harm in obedience to Allah, but chooses disobedience instead, the evil that befalls him will be far greater than what he fled from.

“Among them are those who say, ‘Give me leave, and do not put me to trial.’ Surely, into trial they have fallen!”

Whoever chooses to endure humiliation and harm in obedience to Allah rather than enjoy honor and prestige in disobedience to Him—as Joseph, peace be upon him, and other prophets and righteous people did—will have a favorable outcome in this world and the Hereafter. The harm he suffered will turn into bliss and joy, just as the pleasure sinners derive from their sins will turn into sorrow and ruin.

Joseph, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, feared to sin against Allah, but did not fear people’s harming or imprisoning him for obeying Allah. Rather, he preferred imprisonment and harm accompanied by obedience to honor, prestige, the gratification of desires, and the attainment of authority and wealth accompanied by disobedience. For had he yielded to the wife of al-‘Azīz, he would have satisfied his desire, and the woman would have honored him with wealth and authority