Surah Yusuf — Verse 50

Word Meanings:

• "Ma bal" (مَا بَالُ): What is the matter or affair; what is the story behind something.
• "Qatta'na aydiyahunna" (قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ): The women who cut their hands (with knives) — referring to the incident when they were astonished by Yusuf's beauty and inadvertently slashed their own hands.
• "Kaydihinna" (كَيْدِهِنَّ): Their cunning scheme, deceit, or plotting — referring to the women's attempts to seduce and trap Yusuf.

Tafsir (Explanation):

When the king heard the correct interpretation of his dream from the cupbearer, he realized that Yusuf was a man of immense knowledge and wisdom. So he commanded his courtiers: "Bring him to me!" He wanted Yusuf to be released from prison and brought before him to serve as an advisor.

However, when the king's messenger arrived at the prison and summoned Yusuf, Yusuf — despite his desperate longing for freedom — refused to leave until his honor was fully vindicated. He said to the messenger: "Go back to your master, the king, and ask him: 'What is the story of the women who cut their hands?'"

Yusuf was referring to the incident in the house of Al-Aziz (the minister of Egypt), when the women, upon seeing his extraordinary beauty, were so overwhelmed that they cut their hands with knives. By asking this question, Yusuf wanted the truth to be exposed publicly — that he was innocent of any wrongdoing, and that it was these women who had tried to seduce him and trap him in their schemes. He deliberately did not mention the minister's wife by name, out of respect and courtesy for her position and dignity, even though she was the one who had initiated the plot against him.

Yusuf concluded: "Indeed, my Lord is fully aware of their cunning plots against me." He placed his complete trust in Allah, knowing that Allah — who sees all things and knows every hidden intention — would protect his reputation and reveal the truth. Yusuf's behavior here is a profound lesson: he did not seek revenge or public humiliation of others; rather, he simply sought to clear his own name and establish justice.

A Call to Reflection:

This verse teaches us a magnificent lesson in patience, dignity, and trust in Allah. Yusuf (peace be upon him) was unjustly imprisoned for years, yet when the door of freedom opened, he did not rush out blindly. Instead, he insisted on truth and justice first. He teaches us that true honor lies not in escaping hardship, but in emerging from it with a clear conscience and an untarnished reputation.

Notice how Yusuf, even in his moment of vindication, was gracious — he did not expose the minister's wife by name, nor did he seek to humiliate those who wronged him. This is the character of a believer: even when you have the upper hand, you choose mercy and dignity over revenge.

And above all, Yusuf's words — "Indeed, my Lord is fully aware of their cunning" — remind us that Allah is always watching. No matter how people plot against you, no matter how false accusations may spread, Allah knows the truth. So hold firm to your integrity, trust in His justice, and never compromise your principles for the sake of worldly gain. Allah's help always comes to those who remain patient and righteous.