The recent allegations and confession that president Clinton had
a sexual relationship with the White House intern, Monica Lewinsky,
has raised a lot of concerns.
Some of these concerns are about the moral standard of the
man who rules the strongest country in the world and who presents
himself as a family man, a man who concerns himself with issues like
women's rights and child care.
As Muslims living in this country we will have the
chance to reflect on the position of Islam, and specifically Quran
on allegations or actual sexual misconduct.
________________________________________________
Summary: Islam (Submission) condemns sexual
misconduct and
also condemns in the strongest language the spread of rumors
or allegations of sexual misconduct. God warns the people in the Quran
from spreading allegations of sexual misconduct that have not been
proven or have been denied by any of the parties involved. If the
accuser cannot prove his/her accusations in the face of denial by
the accused, then the word of the accused would be accepted. God
however, warns the accused that if he/she is lying to save him/herself,
to
expect a miserable requital in this life and in the Hereafter. God promised
His curse upon those who would lie in this mater. God reminds us with
two incidents in history, one involving Joseph and the other involved
Aysha,
the Prophet Muhammed's wife.
Islam (Submission in English) , Like the other two great religions,
Judaism and Christianity, strongly condemns sexual misconduct
and considers it a gross offense. See 17:32, 27:54
Islam (Submission) does not only condemn sexual misconduct
but it also condemns the false accusations of people with
such an offense and spreading rumors about such accusations.
God, the Most Merciful, knows that accusing innocent people
with such a crime is detrimental to the society and to the
spirit of the people living in such a society.
Accusations of people with sexual misconduct has been the
new game of today's society in an attempt to destroy the life,
the career or the credibility of people, usually those in a
prominent position.
From the presidents, presidential hopefuls, the
prominent politicians or writers, Congressmen, Religious
Leaders, top executives of big corporations...and many
others, no-one was saved such an accusation. In many
circumstances it is the word of the accuser
against the word of the accused that is considered. The tendency
among the people is usually to accept the word of the accused
or of the accuser, depending on their political, social or religious stand
in the society.
The rule usually reverses in a democratic society compared to an
oppressive society.
In the USA, for example, it is usually the word of the accuser
against the word of the accused. In some other societies, if
the accused belongs to a higher social class, his/her word
will be accepted instead of the accuser.
God in the Quran does not take but the side of Justice and
well-being of the society as a whole. The message that comes
out of the Quran is that accusation of someone with sexual
misconduct or spreading rumors with such accusations is a very
serious matter and is not looked upon lightly by God.
God used the strongest language possible to
admonish those who commit such an offense by spreading
rumors and repeating accusations of sexual misconduct for
which they do not have a proof. The proof here is the
personal knowledge of a proof and not just hearing about a proof.
Sura 12 (Joseph) (Yousuf in Arabic) and Sura 24 (The Light )
(Al-Noor in Arabic)like all the other suras of the Quran, have
great lessons for all of us.
"In their history, there is a LESSON for those who
possess intelligence. This is not a fabricated narration (hadith);
this (Quran) confirms all previous scriptures, and
provides the details of everything. It is a beacon and
mercy for those who believe." 12:111
God insists on reminding us with the reasons for telling
us the history of previous messengers, prophets,
communities and nations.
".......God thus cites the examples for the people,
that
they may take heed." 14:25
Let us take heed and reflect on the Quranic
Justice in this important issue, the issue of accusations
of sexual misconduct and spreading rumors about such accusations.
This issue is so important, that God explained it in detail
in Sura 24 and gave us a great example of it in Sura 12.
After studying this issue in the Quran we will know "How to handle
the rumors or allegations of sexual misconduct in our society?"
The incident in Sura 24 is in reference to the false accusation
of Aysha, the Prophet's wife with sexual misconduct,
for which the prophet Muhammed was very upset and disturbed. God
meant by that incident to teach His true believers a great lesson.
Read every word in these verses slowly and reflect on the implications
that God put in these words and these verses.
24:11-13
"A Gang among you produced a big lie. Do
not think that it was bad for you, in fact it was good
for you (as a lesson). Meanwhile, each one of them has
earned his share of guilt. And the one who initiated
the whole incident has incurred a terrible retribution.
When you heard it, the believers should have had better
thoughts about themselves, and should have said, "This
is obviously a big lie." You should have demanded four
witnesses. If the WITNESSES were NOT PRODUCED, then
they are according to God, LIARS."
Accusations of sexual misconduct that is carried out against
anybody who denies them and without verifiable proofs,
are considered by God a gross sin.
The failure to produce four witnesses means this
person or these persons should be considered according
to God, LIARS.
"You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the
rest
of you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You
thought it was simple, when it was, according to God,
gross." 24:15
YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SIMPLE, WHEN IT WAS,
ACCORDING TO GOD, GROSS.
What should they do ?
24:16
"When you heard it, you should have said, "We will
not
repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood."
Many Muslims missed these lessons but again God reminds them in
24:17
"GOD ADMONISHES YOU THAT YOU SHALL NEVER DO THIS
AGAIN,
IF YOU ARE REALLY BELIEVERS."
...............SHALL NEVER DO IT
AGAIN..........
Stories and history in the Quran are meant to teach us
today, great lessons for our everyday life and
was never meant only for the previous generations.
Our generation, needs this guidance and this kind of
justice now as much as the previous
generations needed them and even more.
Even for those who might have missed 24:17, God gave us
another great lesson in 49:6,
"O you who believe, if a wicked person brings news
to
you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit
injustice towards some people out of Ignorance, then
become sorry for what you have done."
It is God's Quranic justice system that requires
four witnesses to prove an accusation of sexual
misconduct of a man or a woman, See 24:3-9.
However, the utmost justice is represented by the
fact that, if you have no witness then it is the
word of the ACCUSED against the word of the ACCUSER
and it is God who will then judge among them and condemn
the liar.
WHEN THERE IS NO WITNESS, GOD REFUSED TO
GIVE THE JUDGMENT TO US (Humans), knowing
that man is biased by nature, where hatred, politics, prejudice,
ignorance and jealousy may influence his judgment.
The judgment then rests with God and His law
in the Quran.
For those who falsely accuse women of sexual misconduct, God
specified the punishment for them in this life, as well as
His wrath in the Hereafter.
24:4
"Those who accuse married women of adultery, then
fail to
produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty
lashes, and do not EVER accept any testimony from them; they
are wicked."
24:23
"Surely, those who falsely accuse married women
who are
pious believers have incurred condemnation in this life
and in the Hereafter; they have incurred a horrendous
retribution."
For the accusations of sexual misconduct that is exchanged
between husbands and wives, God set their rule also in Sura 24.
24:6-10
"As for those who accuse their own spouses, without
any
other witnesses, then the testimony may be accepted if he
swears by GOD four times that he is telling the truth.
The fifth oath shall be to incur GOD's condemnation upon
him, if he was lying.
She shall be considered innocent if she swears
by GOD
four times that he is a liar.
The fifth oath shall incur GOD's wrath upon her if he was
telling the truth.
This is GOD's grace and mercy towards you. GOD
is
Redeemer, Most Wise." 24:6-10
God spared no words to tell us that He means every
order in these verses of Sura 24.
" A sura that we reveal, and DECREE as a law. We
reveal
in it CLEAR revelations, that you may take heed." 24:1
"We have revealed to you clarifying revelations
and
examples from the past generations, and an
enlightenment for the righteous." 24:34
ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND THE
MESSENGER OF GOD:
The prophets and messengers, being humans like us,
had been subjected to all kinds of crimes that can be
committed against a human being. They were subjected to
everything from accusations of sexual misconduct to murder
and anything in-between. The prophet Muhammed was verbally
abused , physically assaulted and emotionally insulted by those
who lived around him and could not accept his message
of worshipping God alone.
They even insulted his beloved wife Aysha by
falsely accusing her of sexual misconduct and spreading
rumors about it.
As we know now these insults and accusations did not
represent the weakness of the prophet Muhammed, but
rather the strength of his message.
People with poor issues need not be attacked
because their message will fall apart by itself. People
with strong issues are like a tree full of fruits
at which people throw all kinds of rocks. Nobody throws
rocks at a dry fruitless tree.
History will repeat itself. When the people
cannot face the issues, they try to assail the
character - a game one may play in politics, but not
with God. The example given to us in sura 12, is
almost a reflection of what some misguided people can do
these days.
A messenger of God, Joseph, was accused of sexual
misconduct with his master's wife. Although he was
innocent, he was thrown into the prison. According to
the misguided people, Joseph is a fraud, because he
was accused, convicted and jailed.
Despite that, Joseph was chosen as a messenger of God even
before he was sent to the prison. God could have spared
him these false accusations and the prison, but God
wants to teach us a lesson. What happened to Joseph
did not change the fact that Joseph was a messenger of
God and did not change his message of worshipping God
alone.
Accusations, insults, physical abuses or murders
are part of our testing, we, the human beings. We are put
through these tests to have the disbelievers and the
hypocrites exposed and to purify the true believers and advance
them to higher ranks.
"We must test you with some fear, hunger, and loss
of
money, lives and crops and give good news to the
steadfast." 2:155
More important is the fact that these accusations,
insults or murders of the messengers, the prophets
and/or the ordinary people will not change the truth, or the message,
because the truth will always prevail. The message will
always be the same, WORSHIP GOD ALONE.
"They want to put out God's light with their
mouths,
but God insists upon perfecting His light, in spite of
the disbelievers." 9:32.
The lessons in Sura 12 and Sura 24 cannot be disregarded except by
those who refuse to believe God in His own book, the Quran.
For them, to call themselves Muslims is an insult to Islam
(Submission), an insult to GOD of the book and an insult to
the Prophet who brought that same book.
Here, I will reproduce Sura 24 and part of Sura 12, for those
who are interested, from the English Translation of the Quran
by Dr. Rashad Khalifa. The whole translation can be downloaded
for free at our
DOWNLOAD
STATIONS.
Sura 24, Light , Al-Noor (in Arabic)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[24:1]
A sura that we have sent down, and we have decreed as
law. We have revealed in it clear revelations, that you
may take heed.
[24:2]
The adulteress and the adulterer you shall whip each of
them a hundred lashes. Do not be swayed by pity from
carrying out GOD's law, if you truly believe in GOD and
the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their
penalty.*
*24:2 Social pressure, i.e., public witnessing of the
penalty, is the basic punishment (see also 5:38). The
lashes shall be symbolic, not severe.
[24:3]
The adulterer will end up marrying an adulteress or an
idol worshiper, and the adulteress will end up marrying
an adulterer or an idol worshiper. This is prohibited for
the believers.
[24:4]
Those who accuse married women of adultery, then fail to
produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty
lashes, and do not accept any testimony from them; they
are wicked.
[24:5]
If they repent afterwards and reform, then GOD is
Forgiver, Merciful.
[24:6]
As for those who accuse their own spouses, without any
other witnesses, then the testimony may be accepted if he
swears by GOD four times that he is telling the truth.
[24:7]
The fifth oath shall be to incur GOD's condemnation upon
him, if he was lying.
[24:8]
She shall be considered innocent if she swears by GOD
four times that he is a liar.
[24:9]
The fifth oath shall incur GOD's wrath upon her if he was
telling the truth.
[24:10]
This is GOD's grace and mercy towards you. GOD is
Redeemer, Most Wise.
[24:11]
A gang among you produced a big lie.* Do not
think that
it was bad for you; instead, it was good for you.
Meanwhile, each one of them has earned his share of the
guilt. As for the one who initiated the whole incident,
he has incurred a terrible retribution.
*24:11 This refers to a historical incident where the
Prophet Muhammad's wife Aysha was left in the desert by
mistake, and later found by a young man who helped her
catch up with the Prophet's caravan. This triggered the
famous `Big Lie' against Aysha.
[24:12]
When you heard it, the believing men and the believing
women should have had better thoughts about themselves,
and should have said, "This is obviously a big lie."
[24:13]
Only if they produced four witnesses (you may believe
them). If they fail to produce the witnesses, then they
are, according to GOD, liars.
[24:14]
If it were not for GOD's grace towards you, and His mercy
in this world and in the Hereafter, you would have
suffered a great retribution because of this incident.
[24:15]
You fabricated it with your own tongues, and the rest of
you repeated it with your mouths without proof. You
thought it was simple, when it was, according to GOD,
gross.
[24:16]
When you heard it, you should have said, "We will not
repeat this. Glory be to You. This is a gross falsehood."
[24:17]
GOD admonishes you that you shall never do it again, if
you are believers.
[24:18]
GOD thus explains the revelations for you. GOD is
Omniscient, Wise.
[24:19]
Those who love to see immorality spread among the
believers have incurred a painful retribution in this
life and in the Hereafter. GOD knows, while you do not
know.
[24:20]
GOD showers you with His grace and mercy. GOD is Most
Kind towards the believers, Most Merciful.
[24:21]
O you who believe, do not follow the steps of Satan.
Anyone who follows the steps of Satan should know that he
advocates evil and vice. If it were not for GOD's grace
towards you, and His mercy, none of you would have been
purified. But GOD purifies whomever He wills. GOD is
Hearer, Knower.
[24:22]
Those among you who are blessed with resources and wealth
shall be charitable towards their relatives, the poor,
and those who have immigrated for the sake of GOD. They
shall treat them with kindness and tolerance; do you not
love to attain GOD's forgiveness? GOD is Forgiver, Most
Merciful.
[24:23]
Surely, those who falsely accuse married women who are
pious believers have incurred condemnation in this life
and in the Hereafter; they have incurred a horrendous
retribution.
[24:24]
The day will come when their own tongues, hands, and feet
will bear witness to everything they had done.
[24:25]
On that day, GOD will requite them fully for their works,
and they will find out that GOD is the Truth.
[24:26]
The bad women for the bad men, and the bad men for the
bad women, and the good women for the good men, and the
good men for the good women. The latter are innocent of
such accusations. They have attained forgiveness and a
generous reward.
[24:27]
O you who believe, do not enter homes other than yours
without permission from their inhabitants, and without
greeting them. This is better for you, that you may take
heed.
[24:28]
If you find no one in them, do not enter them until you
obtain permission. If you are told, "Go back," you must
go back. This is purer for you. GOD is fully aware of
everything you do.
[24:29]
You commit no error by entering uninhabited homes wherein
there is something that belongs to you. GOD knows
everything you reveal, and everything you conceal.
[24:30]
Tell the believing men that they shall subdue their eyes
(and not stare at the women), and to maintain their
chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant
of everything they do.
[24:31]
And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and
maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts
of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They
shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code
in the presence of other than their husbands, their
fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the
sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their
brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the
male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been
nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty.
They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order
to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All
of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may
succeed.*
*24:30-31 Dressing modestly, therefore, is a trait
of the
believing men and women. The minimum requirements for a
woman's dress is to lengthen her garment (33:59) and to
cover her chest. Tyrannical Arab traditions have given a
false impression that a woman must be covered from head
to toe; such is not a Quranic or Islamic dress.
[24:32]
You shall encourage those of you who are single to get
married. They may marry the righteous among your male and
female servants, if they are poor. GOD will enrich them
from His grace. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.
[24:33]
Those who cannot afford to get married shall maintain
morality until GOD provides for them from His grace.
Those among your servants who wish to be freed in order
to marry, you shall grant them their wish, once you
realize that they are honest. And give them from GOD's
money that He has bestowed upon you. You shall not force
your girls to commit prostitution, seeking the materials
of this world, if they wish to be chaste. If anyone
forces them, then GOD, seeing that they are forced, is
Forgiver, Merciful.
[24:34]
We have revealed to you clarifying revelations, and
examples from the past generations, and an enlightenment
for the righteous.
[24:35]
GOD is the light of the heavens and the earth. The
allegory of His light is that of a concave mirror behind
a lamp that is placed inside a glass container. The glass
container is like a bright, pearl-like star. The fuel
thereof is supplied from a blessed oil-producing tree,
that is neither eastern, nor western. Its oil is almost
self-radiating; needs no fire to ignite it. Light upon
light. GOD guides to His light whoever wills (to be
guided). GOD thus cites the parables for the people. GOD
is fully aware of all things.
[24:36]
(God's guidance is found) in houses exalted by GOD, for
His name is commemorated therein. Glorifying Him therein,
day and night -
[24:37]
People who are not distracted by business or trade from
commemorating GOD; they observe the Contact Prayers
(Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and
they are conscious of the day when the minds and the eyes
will be horrified.
[24:38]
GOD will certainly reward them for their good works, and
will shower them with His grace. GOD provides for
whomever He wills without limits.
[24:39]
As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a
mirage in the desert. A thirsty person thinks that it is
water. But when he reaches it, he finds that it is
nothing, and he finds GOD there instead, to requite him
fully for his works. GOD is the most efficient reckoner.
[24:40]
Another allegory is that of being in total darkness in
the midst of a violent ocean, with waves upon waves, in
addition to thick fog. Darkness upon darkness - if he
looked at his own hand, he could barely see it. Whomever
GOD deprives of light, will have no light.
[24:41]
Do you not realize that everyone in the heavens and the
earth glorifies GOD, even the birds as they fly in a
column? Each knows its prayer and its glorification. GOD
is fully aware of everything they do.
[24:42]
To GOD belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the
earth, and to GOD is the final destiny.
[24:43]
Do you not realize that GOD drives the clouds, then
gathers them together, then piles them on each other,
then you see the rain coming out of them? He sends down
from the sky loads of snow to cover whomever He wills,
while diverting it from whomever He wills. The brightness
of the snow almost blinds the eyes.
[24:44]
GOD controls the night and day. This should be a lesson
for those who possess eyes.
[24:45]
And GOD created every living creature from water. Some of
them walk on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and
some walk on four. GOD creates whatever He wills. GOD is
Omnipotent.
[24:46]
We have sent down to you clarifying revelations, then GOD
guides whoever wills (to be guided) in a straight path.
[24:47]
They say, "We believe in GOD and in the messenger, and we
obey," but then some of them slide back afterwards. These
are not believers.
[24:48]
When they are invited to GOD and His messenger to judge
among them, some of them get upset.
[24:49]
However, if the judgment is in their favor, they readily
accept it!
[24:50]
Is there a disease in their hearts? Are they doubtful?
Are they afraid that GOD and His messenger may treat them
unfairly? In fact, it is they who are unjust.
[24:51]
The only utterance of the believers, whenever invited to
GOD and His messenger to judge in their affairs, is to
say, "We hear and we obey." These are the winners.
[24:52]
Those who obey GOD and His messenger, and reverence GOD
and observe Him, these are the triumphant ones.
[24:53]
They swear by GOD, solemnly, that if you commanded them
to mobilize, they would mobilize. Say, "Do not swear.
Obedience is an obligation. GOD is fully Cognizant of
everything you do."
[24:54]
Say, "Obey GOD, and obey the messenger." If they refuse,
then he is responsible for his obligations, and you are
responsible for your obligations. If you obey him, you
will be guided. The sole duty of the messenger is to
deliver (the message).
[24:55]
GOD promises those among you who believe and lead a
righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on
earth, as He did for those before them, and will
establish for them the religion He has chosen for them,
and will substitute peace and security for them in place
of fear. All this because they worship Me alone; they
never set up any idols beside Me. Those who disbelieve
after this are the truly wicked.
[24:56]
You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give
the obligatory charity (Zakat), and obey the messenger,
that you may attain mercy.
[24:57]
Do not think that those who disbelieve will ever get away
with it. Their final abode is Hell; what a miserable
destiny.
[24:58]
O you who believe, permission must be requested by your
servants and the children who have not attained puberty
(before entering your rooms). This is to be done in three
instances - before the Dawn Prayer, at noon when you
change your clothes to rest, and after the Night Prayer.
These are three private times for you. At other times, it
is not wrong for you or them to mingle with one another.
GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you. GOD is
Omniscient, Most Wise.
[24:59]
Once the children reach puberty, they must ask permission
(before entering) like those who became adults before
them have asked permission (before entering). GOD thus
clarifies His revelations for you. GOD is Omniscient,
Most Wise.
[24:60]
The elderly women who do not expect to get married commit
nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they
do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain
modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower.
[24:61]
The blind is not to be blamed, the crippled is not to be
blamed, nor is the handicapped to be blamed, just as you
are not to be blamed for eating at your homes, or the
homes of your fathers, or the homes of your mothers, or
the homes of your brothers, or the homes of your sisters,
or the homes of your fathers' brothers, or the homes of
your fathers' sisters, or the homes of your mothers'
brothers, or the homes of your mothers' sisters, or the
homes that belong to you and you possess their keys, or
the homes of your friends. You commit nothing wrong by
eating together or as individuals. When you enter any
home, you shall greet each other a greeting from GOD that
is blessed and good. GOD thus explains the revelations
for you, that you may understand.
[24:62]
The true believers are those who believe in GOD and His
messenger,* and when they are with him in a
community
meeting, they do not leave him without permission. Those
who ask permission are the ones who do believe in GOD and
His messenger. If they ask your permission, in order to
tend to some of their affairs, you may grant permission
to whomever you wish, and ask GOD to forgive them. GOD is
Forgiver, Most Merciful.
*24:62 This verse refers to God's Messenger of the
Covenant; by adding the gematrical value of "Rashad"
(505) plus the value of "Khalifa" (725), plus the verse
number (62), we get 1292, a multiple of 19 (1292=19x68).
See Appendix 2.
[24:63]
Do not treat the messenger's requests as you treat each
others' requests. GOD is fully aware of those among you
who sneak away using flimsy excuses. Let them beware -
those who disobey his orders - for a disaster may strike
them, or a severe retribution.
[24:64]
Absolutely, to GOD belongs everything in the heavens and
the earth. He fully knows every condition you may be in.
The day you are returned to Him, He will inform them of
everything they had done. GOD is fully aware of all
things.
Sura 12, Joseph or Yousuf (in Arabic)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[12:7]
In Joseph and his brothers there are lessons for the
seekers.
[12:8]
They said, "Joseph and his brother are favored by our
father, and we are in the majority. Indeed, our father is
far astray.
[12:9]
"Let us kill Joseph, or banish him, that you may get some
attention from your father. Afterwards, you can be
righteous people."*
*12:9 We learn from Joseph's dream that he was destined
for a bright future. Thus, while his brothers met to
decide his fate, his fate was already decided by God.
Everything is done by God (8:17), and is already recorded
(57:22).
[12:10]
One of them said, "Do not kill Joseph; let us throw him
into the abyss of the well. Perhaps some caravan can pick
him up, if this is what you decide to do."
[12:11]
They said, "Our father, why do you not trust us with
Joseph? We will take good care of him.
[12:12]
"Send him with us tomorrow to run and play. We will
protect him."
[12:13]
He said, "I worry lest you go away with him, then the
wolf may devour him while you are not watching him."
[12:14]
They said, "Indeed, if the wolf devours him, with so many
of us around, then we are really losers."
[12:15]
When they went away with him, and unanimously decided to
throw him into the abyss of the well, we inspired him:
"Some day, you will tell them about all this, while they
have no idea."
[12:16]
They came back to their father in the evening, weeping.
[12:17]
They said, "Our father, we went racing with each other,
leaving Joseph with our equipment, and the wolf devoured
him. You will never believe us, even if we were telling
the truth."
[12:18]
They produced his shirt with fake blood on it. He said,
"Indeed, you have conspired with each other to commit a
certain scheme. All I can do is resort to a quiet
patience. May GOD help me in the face of your
conspiracy."
[12:19]
A caravan passed by, and soon sent their waterer. He let
down his bucket, then said, "How lucky! There is a boy
here!" They took him along as merchandise, and GOD was
fully aware of what they did.
[12:20]
They sold him for a cheap price - a few dirhams - for
they did not have any need for him.
[12:21]
The one who bought him in Egypt said to his wife, "Take
good care of him. Maybe he can help us, or maybe we can
adopt him." We thus established Joseph on earth, and we
taught him the interpretation of dreams. GOD's command is
always done, but most people do not know.
[12:22]
When he reached maturity, we endowed him with wisdom and
knowledge. We thus reward the righteous.
[12:23]
The lady of the house where he lived tried to seduce him.
She closed the doors and said, "I am all yours." He said,
"May GOD protect me. He is my Lord, who gave me a good
home.* The transgressors never succeed."
*12:23 Joseph worded this statement in such a way that
the governor's wife thought that he was talking about her
husband, when in fact he was talking about God.
[12:24]
She almost succumbed to him, and he almost succumbed to
her, if it were not that he saw a proof from his Lord. We
thus diverted evil and sin away from him, for he was one
of our devoted servants.
[12:25]
The two of them raced towards the door, and, in the
process, she tore his garment from the back. They found
her husband at the door. She said, "What should be the
punishment for one who wanted to molest your wife, except
imprisonment or a painful punishment?"
[12:26]
He said, "She is the one who tried to seduce me." A
witness from her family suggested: "If his garment is
torn from the front, then she is telling the truth and he
is a liar.
[12:27]
"And if his garment is torn from the back, then she lied,
and he is telling the truth."
[12:28]
When her husband saw that his garment was torn from the
back, he said, "This is a woman's scheme. Indeed, your
scheming is formidable.
[12:29]
"Joseph, disregard this incident. As for you (my wife),
you should seek forgiveness for your sin. You have
committed an error."
[12:30]
Some women in the city gossiped: "The governor's wife is
trying to seduce her servant. She is deeply in love with
him. We see that she has gone astray."
[12:31]
When she heard of their gossip, she invited them,
prepared for them a comfortable place, and gave each of
them a knife. She then said to him, "Enter their room."
When they saw him, they so admired him, that they cut
their hands.* They said, "Glory be to GOD, this
is not a
human being; this is an honorable angel."
*12:31 This is the same word used in 5:38 regarding
the
hand of the thief, and the sum of sura and verse numbers
(12+31 and 5+38) are the same. Therefore, the thief's
hand should be marked, not severed as practiced by the
corrupted Islam (see Footnote 5:38).
[12:32]
She said, "This is the one you blamed me for falling in
love with. I did indeed try to seduce him, and he
refused. Unless he does what I command him to do, he will
surely go to prison, and will be debased."
[12:33]
He said, "My Lord, the prison is better than giving in to
them. Unless You divert their scheming from me, I may
desire them and behave like the ignorant ones."
[12:34]
His Lord answered his prayer and diverted their scheming
from him. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
[12:35]
Later, they saw to it, despite the clear proofs, that
they should imprison him for awhile.
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The rest of the Sura is very beautiful and should be read also.
Let us pray to God to guide us to His straight path, the path of those
He blessed , not the path of those who deserved wrath. |
