WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 00:00:04.690 --> 00:00:07.089 The story of Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:00:07.290 --> 00:00:09.289 with the wife of the 'Aziz. 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:12.679 Truthfulness has clear signs. 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:16.859 Indeed, Allah's promise is true and never fails, 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:22.660 and Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has promised to grant victory to His prophets and messengers, saying: 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:34.039 “Lo! We verily do help Our messengers, and those who believe, in the life of the world and on the day when the witnesses arise,” (40:51) 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:39.039 “The day when their excuse availeth not the evil-doers, and theirs is the curse, and theirs the ill abode.” (40:52) 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:44.039 "and theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode." 00:00:47.380 --> 00:00:50.380 And He also promised to defend the believers generally, 00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:52.380 as He, the Exalted, said: 00:00:52.380 --> 00:00:58.890 “Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate.” (22:38) 00:00:59.890 --> 00:01:06.890 “Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate.” (22:38) 00:01:07.890 --> 00:01:12.530 How, then, did Allah grant victory to Yusuf, peace be upon him, in this incident? 00:01:13.530 --> 00:01:14.750 The details of the scene 00:01:15.750 --> 00:01:20.750 revolve around the accusation brought by the wife of the 'Aziz against Yusuf, alleging that he tried to assault her. 00:01:21.750 --> 00:01:27.750 Yusuf, peace be upon him, refuted this accusation, stating that she was the one who sought to assault him. 00:01:28.849 --> 00:01:32.849 The 'Aziz of Egypt was confronted with two conflicting claims, 00:01:33.849 --> 00:01:37.849 one of which inevitably had to be true, and the other false, 00:01:38.849 --> 00:01:42.849 for two opposites can never be reconciled, neither logically nor according to the sacred law. 00:01:43.939 --> 00:01:46.939 Here, a third party intervened with an appeal to pure rational deduction, 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:49.939 which guided them toward discerning the truthful party from the liar. 00:01:50.939 --> 00:01:53.939 That was the witness whom Allah mentioned in His saying: 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:56.939 “(Joseph) said: She it was who asked of me an evil act. And a witness of her own folk testified: If his shirt is torn from before, then she speaketh truth and he is of the liars.” (12:26) 00:01:57.939 --> 00:01:59.980 But who was this witness? 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:02.980 And is there any substantial benefit in knowing his exact identity? 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:08.099 The sound methodology that we ought to adhere to 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:13.099 in reflecting upon the Qur'an, comprehending its meanings, and drawing admonition from its exhortations, 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:16.099 is to suffice ourselves with what Allah has related to us in His Book, 00:02:17.099 --> 00:02:22.099 and what the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, clarified for us in his Sunnah regarding the verses. 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:26.259 As for what Allah has concealed from us and left unexplained, 00:02:27.259 --> 00:02:30.259 delving into it will yield no certain conclusion, 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:34.259 nor will the benefit gained from it be of any significant value. 00:02:35.259 --> 00:02:38.259 For had there been an admonition or a benefit for us in knowing it, 00:02:39.259 --> 00:02:41.259 Allah would certainly have mentioned and clarified it for us, 00:02:41.259 --> 00:02:45.259 or His Messenger, peace be upon him, would have elucidated it for us. 00:02:46.259 --> 00:02:49.259 Pursuing this is merely curiosity about obscure and ambiguous matters, 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:53.259 and preoccupying the soul away from the clear, evident truths 00:02:54.259 --> 00:02:56.259 that were recounted to us for contemplation and moral instruction. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:02.300 Indeed, this is the way of Iblis to divert people from understanding the Noble Qur'an. 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:07.550 Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, described the witness as being from her own household. 00:03:08.550 --> 00:03:10.550 His being a witness to the incident 00:03:11.550 --> 00:03:14.550 implies that he was present with the 'Aziz 00:03:15.550 --> 00:03:18.550 when Yusuf and the wife of the 'Aziz raced to the door. 00:03:19.550 --> 00:03:24.580 This means that the 'Aziz was not the only one who witnessed the scene, 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:30.580 making the concealment of such an event from society exceedingly difficult. 00:03:31.650 --> 00:03:33.650 And since the witness belonged to her household, 00:03:34.650 --> 00:03:38.650 what is normally expected is that a woman's family will side with her 00:03:38.650 --> 00:03:45.650 and defend her even through falsehood, because she represents their honor and her conduct reflects disgrace upon them. 00:03:46.650 --> 00:03:48.650 Yet this witness did not do so; 00:03:49.650 --> 00:03:53.650 rather, he treated both disputants with justice: Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:03:54.650 --> 00:03:57.650 and the wife of the 'Aziz, who was his own relative. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:03:59.740 In this lies an important lesson for us: 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:03.740 that we must never show bias toward either party in a dispute 00:04:04.740 --> 00:04:05.740 on account of kinship between us and them, 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:07.740 or out of tribal solidarity, 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:11.740 or due to affiliation with a particular group. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:14.740 For doing so constitutes ruling unjustly by falsehood. 00:04:15.740 --> 00:04:20.740 Indeed, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has commanded us to judge with justice, even if it be against ourselves. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:22.740 He, the Exalted, said: 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:27.870 "O you who have believed, 00:04:28.870 --> 00:04:35.870 be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, 00:04:36.870 --> 00:04:39.870 even if it be against yourselves, 00:04:40.870 --> 00:04:42.870 even if it be against yourselves 00:04:43.870 --> 00:04:46.870 or parents and relatives. 00:04:46.870 --> 00:04:49.870 Whether one is rich or poor, 00:04:50.870 --> 00:04:52.870 Allah is more worthy of both. 00:04:53.870 --> 00:04:58.870 So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. 00:04:59.870 --> 00:05:03.060 And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:08.060 then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted." 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:11.540 Another remarkable aspect concerning this witness 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:14.540 is that he was a sensible, perceptive, and deeply discerning man, 00:05:14.540 --> 00:05:18.540 who utilized his intellect to distinguish truth from falsehood. 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:24.540 He guided them to identify the truthful from the untruthful by examining the circumstantial evidence surrounding the event, 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:28.540 saying: "If his shirt is torn from the front..." 00:05:29.540 --> 00:05:31.540 “(Joseph) said: She it was who asked of me an evil act. And a witness of her own folk testified: If his shirt is torn from before, then she speaketh truth and he is of the liars.” (12:26) 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:35.540 “And if his shirt is torn from behind, then she hath lied and he is of the truthful.” (12:27) 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:38.540 “And if his shirt is torn from behind, then she hath lied and he is of the truthful.” (12:27) 00:05:39.540 --> 00:05:41.769 This logical deduction dictates: 00:05:41.769 --> 00:05:45.769 let us examine the tear in the shirt to see from which side it occurred. 00:05:46.769 --> 00:05:48.769 It can only be one of two possibilities: 00:05:49.769 --> 00:05:51.769 either the tear is from the front, 00:05:52.769 --> 00:05:55.769 which would serve as circumstantial evidence that Yusuf assaulted the woman, 00:05:56.769 --> 00:05:59.769 and that she defended herself by tearing his shirt; 00:06:00.769 --> 00:06:03.769 and in that case, she would be telling the truth in her claim, 00:06:04.769 --> 00:06:06.769 while he would be lying in his; 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:09.899 or the tear is from behind, 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:13.899 which is proof that Yusuf was fleeing from the woman's assault upon him; 00:06:14.899 --> 00:06:18.899 and in that case, Yusuf would be telling the truth in his claim, 00:06:19.899 --> 00:06:21.899 while she would be lying in hers. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:26.060 Thus, it behooves everyone upon whom Allah has bestowed the blessing of intellect 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:30.060 to utilize it in distinguishing truth from falsehood 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:33.060 through the circumstantial evidence that points toward it, 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:36.060 without partisanship toward nationality or lineage, 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:39.060 or affiliation with any particular group. 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:45.060 For such bias obstructs the intellect from arriving at the truth 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:48.060 when conflicting claims are raised 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:53.060 and viewpoints and opinions diverge on any given issue. 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:58.180 Judging on the basis of circumstantial evidence is a valid and recognized proof in Islamic law, 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:01.180 used to discern truth from falsehood, 00:07:02.180 --> 00:07:05.180 to distinguish the truthful from the hypocrites, 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:10.180 and to recognize the true defenders of the religion from the enemies who lie in wait against it. 00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:13.379 Allah the Exalted said concerning the hypocrites: 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:18.379 “And if We would, We could show them unto thee (Muhammad) so that thou shouldst know them surely by their marks. And thou shalt know them by the burden of their talk. And Allah knoweth your deeds.” (47:30) 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:21.379 “And if We would, We could show them unto thee (Muhammad) so that thou shouldst know them surely by their marks. And thou shalt know them by the burden of their talk. And Allah knoweth your deeds.” (47:30) 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:24.379 "and Allah knows your deeds." 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:27.379 And on the authority of Sahl Ibn Sa'd, may Allah be pleased with him, 00:07:28.379 --> 00:07:30.379 'Uwaymir came to 'Asim Ibn 'Adiyy, 00:07:31.379 --> 00:07:33.379 who was the chief of the Banu 'Ajlan, 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:35.379 and said: 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:39.379 "What would you say about a man who finds another man with his wife? 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:42.379 Should he kill him, whereupon you would kill him in retaliation, 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:45.379 or what should he do? 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:48.379 Ask the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, about that." 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:52.379 So 'Asim went to the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:55.379 and said, "O Messenger of Allah..." 00:07:56.379 --> 00:07:59.379 but the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, disliked such inquiries. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:02.379 Then 'Uwaymir asked him, 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:06.379 and he said that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:09.379 disliked such inquiries and criticized them. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.379 'Uwaymir said: 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:17.379 "By Allah, I will not rest until I ask the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, about this." 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:20.540 So 'Uwaymir came and said: 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:22.540 "O Messenger of Allah, 00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:25.540 a man finds another man with his wife; 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:28.540 should he kill him, whereupon you would kill him in retaliation, 00:08:29.540 --> 00:08:30.540 or what should he do?" 00:08:30.540 --> 00:08:33.539 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:37.539 "Allah has revealed the Qur'an concerning you and your wife." 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:44.539 So the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, commanded them to perform the mutual imprecation (li'an) as Allah designated in His Book. 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.539 Thereupon, he invoked the curse upon her, 00:08:47.539 --> 00:08:48.539 and then said: "O Messenger of Allah, 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:51.539 if I were to keep her, I would have wronged her," 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.539 so he divorced her. 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:58.539 And that became a Sunnah for all those who engage in mutual imprecation after them. 00:08:58.539 --> 00:09:01.539 Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 00:09:02.539 --> 00:09:03.539 "Look: 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:06.539 if she gives birth to a child who is blackish with intensely black eyes, 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:08.539 large buttocks, 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:10.539 and plump calves, 00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:14.539 then I cannot but think that 'Uwaymir spoke the truth regarding her; 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:18.539 but if she gives birth to a reddish child looking like a gecko, 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:22.539 then I cannot but think that 'Uwaymir lied against her." 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:27.539 She then delivered the child matching the description given by the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:09:28.539 --> 00:09:30.539 that corroborated 'Uwaymir's truthfulness; 00:09:31.539 --> 00:09:33.539 consequently, the child was thereafter attributed only to his mother. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:36.860 Al-Shinqiti, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:38.860 "It is understood from this verse 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:45.860 that it is necessary to judge by clear circumstantial evidence that indicates the truthfulness of one disputant and the falsehood of the other. 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:48.860 For Allah's mention of this story 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:53.860 in the context of accepting the deduction drawn from that circumstantial evidence as proof of Yusuf's innocence 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:58.860 indicates that judging by such means is both true and sound. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:02.860 For the fact that the shirt was torn from the back 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:06.860 is clear proof that he was fleeing from her, 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:08.860 while she was grabbing him from behind." 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:12.049 Indeed, Allah's defense of Yusuf 00:10:13.049 --> 00:10:15.049 and His granting him victory came through this unexpected avenue, 00:10:16.049 --> 00:10:19.049 which the wife of the 'Aziz never anticipated would turn against her: 00:10:20.049 --> 00:10:22.049 namely, that the witness was from her own household, 00:10:22.049 --> 00:10:25.049 yet he gave testimony that proved the falsity of her claim. 00:10:26.049 --> 00:10:30.049 For she had expected that he would side with her and support her, 00:10:31.049 --> 00:10:35.049 but Allah subjected him to aid Yusuf, peace be upon him, 00:10:36.049 --> 00:10:41.049 so that people may know that Allah grants victory to His allies from sources they could never fathom. 00:10:42.049 --> 00:10:44.049 But what was the reaction of the 'Aziz 00:10:45.049 --> 00:10:49.049 when he saw the conclusive result and the clear evidence demonstrating his wife's falsehood? 00:10:49.049 --> 00:10:51.299 The discourse remains to be continued; 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:55.299 we shall continue in our next session, if Allah wills, 00:10:56.299 --> 00:11:01.330 the story of Yusuf with the wife of the 'Aziz.