PROTECTION FROM ZINĀ'

 FAJR REMINDER: PROTECTION FROM ZINĀ' 

By: Umm ‘Affān

Rajab 15, 1447 (5-January-2026)

Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) was a righteous servant of Allāh and a chosen prophet, who successfully resisted the temptation of Shayṭān (to engage in illicit sexual behavior). Allāh states:

وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ

“And indeed she did desire him, and he would have inclined to her desire, had he not seen the evidence of his Lord. Thus, it was that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our chosen, guided slaves.”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 24]

As Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) fled towards the door to escape, she (the wife of his master) pursued him to bring him back. In her haste, she grasped his shirt from behind, reminiscent of someone desperately clinging to a lifeboat, tearing it so severely that it slipped off his back. Allāh reveals:

وَاسْتَبَقَا الْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَى الْبَابِ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوءًا إِلَّا أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

“So they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back. They both found her lord (i.e. her husband) at the door. She said: ‘What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife, except that he be put in prison or a painful torment?’”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 25]

Consider this! The cunning woman quickly resorted to deceit, cleared her own name, and accused Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salam). Changing her tone, she displayed the torn portion of the shirt to her husband, asserting that he had attempted to assault her while portraying herself as innocent. Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām), not remaining passive, proclaimed his innocence and clarified the betrayal he was falsely accused of. Allāh reveals his defensive words:

قَالَ هِيَ رَاوَدَتْنِي عَن نَّفْسِي وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ | وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

He [Yūsuf (Joseph)] said: “It was she who sought to seduce me, and a witness of her household bore witness (saying): ‘If it is that his shirt is torn from the front, then her tale is true and he is a liar! But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 26-27]

Illegal sexual acts! I beseech Allāh to protect us from them. Aameen.