Surah Yusuf 12:30
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ · Meccan · Verse 30 of 111
۞ وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌۭ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا ۖ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
Translation
Some women of the city said, ‘The governor’s wife is trying to seduce her slave! Love for him consumes her heart! It is clear to us that she has gone astray.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In this powerful verse from Surah Yusuf, we overhear a conversation among women in the city about the wife of Al-Aziz. Their words reveal not just the unfolding drama, but also the nuanced way the Quran uses language to convey deep meaning. They are speaking about the wife of Al-Aziz, criticizing her actions, seeing her in clear error for her infatuation with Yusuf (peace be upon him).
The Buzz in the City
The verse begins, "وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِي ٱلْمَدِينَةِ" (And women in the city said). It's interesting to note that the verb "قال" (said) is in the masculine form, even though it refers to "نسوة" (women). Scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain this is because "نسوة" is a singular noun that refers to a group of women, and its grammatical femininity is not "real" in the same way as a single feminine noun. Or, as al-Zamakhshari notes, the verb preceding the subject can drop the feminine marker. This highlights a subtle grammatical point, reminding us that the Quran's linguistic precision is not arbitrary.
A Deeply Entrenched Love
The women’s gossip continues: "ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۖ قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا" (The wife of Al-Aziz tries to seduce her young man from himself; love has deeply pierced her heart). The use of the present tense verb "تُرَٰوِدُ" (taraawidu – she tries to seduce) is significant. Ibn Ashur points out that even though the seduction had already occurred, the Quran uses the present tense to bring the "strange situation to life" (استحضار الحالة العجيبة), making it vivid and emphasizing their disapproval. "فَتَىٰهَا" (fataahaa) literally means 'her young man,' but here it specifically refers to her servant or slave, as Ibn Ashur clarifies, indicating Yusuf's status in the household.
The phrase "قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا" (love had already pierced her heart) is particularly striking. Scholars like al-Razi, al-Zamakhshari, and al-Jalalayn explain "شَغَف" (shaghaf) as the membrane covering the heart or the core of the heart itself. So, "شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا" means love had so deeply penetrated or completely enveloped her heart that it reached its innermost parts. Al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari also mention an alternative reading, "شعفها" (sha'afahaa), which implies love had burned her heart or reached its highest peak, conveying an even more intense, consuming passion. This reveals the women understood the depth of her emotional turmoil.
Clear Error
They conclude with "إِنَّا لَنَرَاها فِي ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ" (Indeed, we see her in clear error). Ibn Ashur highlights the strong emphasis created by "إِنَّا" (inna – indeed, we) and the letter "لَ" (laam) before "نَرَاها" (naraahaa – we see her). This double emphasis underscores their firm conviction and perhaps preempts any thought that they might be jealous. The "ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ" (clear error) here, as Ibn Ashur explains, does not refer to religious misguidance but to a profound deviation from proper conduct and sound judgment, indicating she was "مَفْتُونَةُ الْعَقْلِ بِحُبِّ هَذَا الْفَتَى" (her mind was captivated by the love of this young man).
Through these precise word choices and grammatical structures, the Quran masterfully portrays the human dynamics of gossip, intense emotion, and societal judgment, inviting us to reflect on the power of attraction and the consequences of unrestrained passion.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Qur'anic Worlds
This verse opens a new scene in the unfolding drama of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). Allah narrates how the private affairs of the wife of Al-Aziz and Yusuf became the talk of the town, specifically among the women of the city of Egypt.
The Buzz in the City
The verse begins, "وَقَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِي ٱلْمَدِينَةِ" (And women in the city said). This immediately draws us into the "World of Past Nations," specifically ancient Egypt. We learn that despite efforts to keep the previous incident (Yusuf's refusal to succumb to temptation) concealed, the news had spread. These women, described by commentators like al-Baghawi and Mufti Shafi as likely wives of high officials, were gossiping about the wife of Al-Aziz. Sayyid Qutb points out the universal truth that even within palace walls, secrets eventually emerge and become "spicy news" for public gatherings.
A Scandalous Affair
Their conversation revolved around the wife of Al-Aziz: "ٱمْرَأَتُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ تُرَٰوِدُ فَتَىٰهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ" (The wife of Al-Aziz is trying to seduce her young servant). The term "فَتَىٰهَا" (her young servant) is significant. It highlights the social dynamic and the perceived impropriety of her actions. As Sayyid Qutb notes, in that society, it might have been particularly scandalous for a woman of such high status, the wife of the Prime Minister, to be infatuated with a foreign, purchased servant. This reveals the moral framework and social expectations of the time.
Overwhelming Love and Clear Error
The women further observed, "قَدْ شَغَفَهَا حُبًّا" (love has deeply penetrated her heart). Scholars like al-Tabari, al-Baghawi, and Ibn Kathir explain that "شَغَفَهَا" refers to love reaching the *shaghaf*, which is the thin membrane or covering of the heart, signifying an overwhelming, all-consuming passion. This isn't just a fleeting fancy, but a deep-seated infatuation. Yet, despite the intensity of her emotion, the women conclude, "إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰهَا فِي ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ" (Indeed, we see her in clear error). This "ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ" (clear error) reflects the societal judgment against her actions, indicating that even in ancient Egypt, chasing forbidden desires, especially in a manner that transgressed social norms, was seen as a grave moral misstep. This narrative reminds us of the timeless human tendency for gossip and judgment, and how actions, regardless of their hidden nature, can eventually come to light and be weighed by societal standards.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), Ibn Kathir
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Yusuf 12:30 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Yusuf 12:30 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.