In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon him.
A woman possesses the ability to manipulate words and alter facts.
This behavior is found in both men and women.
However, women are more adept than men at this action.
What is remarkable is that a woman will undertake this action without fear or apprehension of her manipulation of words and alteration of facts being discovered.
Perhaps this stems from her knowledge of men's nature, their tendency to believe women more than they believe men when they speak.
The wife of Al-Aziz utilized this ability to manipulate words and alter facts in a remarkable way.
To absolve herself of blame and place it upon the Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him.
When she was surprised by Al-Aziz and those with him behind the door, Allah the Almighty said:
"And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind, and they met her husband at the door."
She said, "What is the penalty for one who intended evil toward your family, other than imprisonment or a painful punishment?"
Upon contemplating the scene that this verse recounts for us, it can be summarized as follows:
The wife of Al-Aziz was in her full adornment and beauty.
Yusuf was opening the door to escape from inside the enclosed space, with the wife of Al-Aziz behind him.
Al-Aziz and the palace guards with him were behind the door, surprised by this sight.
Here, the wife of Al-Aziz initiated the conversation to create a mental image of the event in the minds of Al-Aziz and those with him.
To cut off their path of thinking and deduction regarding the circumstances of the scene.
And to cast the blame onto Yusuf and exonerate herself.
And to shape the decision she desired in Al-Aziz's mind.
So that he would not act in a way that would make her lose hope of trying again with Yusuf in the future.
And to send a message to Yusuf that she was the one in charge in the palace and that her command was obeyed.
So she said in a single sentence, through which she achieved all of the above.
“And they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from behind, and they met her lord and master at the door. She said: What shall be his reward, who wisheth evil to thy folk, save prison or a painful doom?” (12:25)
This is an ability that a man does not possess, because it is based on the great capability within a woman, which is cunning.
Tahir Ibn Ashour, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"And she rushed to speak to him, to an extreme degree of slander, such that she did not falter."
She made it seem to him as if she were in the right, and she cast her words into a general mold to take the form of a law.
And to be a principle whose intended meaning is unknown.
So the addressed person has no choice but to acknowledge her.
And perhaps she feared that Al-Aziz's love for Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him,
might prevent him from punishing him.
So she cast her words into a general mold.
And she intended by this that her husband should not feel that she desired someone other than him.
And to frighten Prophet Yusuf, peace be upon him, with her cunning, so that he would not refuse her again.
And Muhammad Rashid Rida, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"And this statement was a stratagem and deception to her husband in several ways."
The first is to make her husband imagine that Yusuf had assaulted her in a way that would displease him and her.
The second is that she did not explicitly state his sin, lest his anger intensify and he punish him in a way she did not desire, such as selling him, for example.
The third is a threat and warning to Yusuf, making him aware that his affair was in her hands, so that he would submit to her and obey her.
And this is not the only incident.
Indicating a woman's ability to manipulate words and alter facts.
Rather, it has been exhibited by other women.
And these are some examples.
Abu Sa'id, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
A woman came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, while we were with him.
And she said, "O Messenger of Allah,
my husband, Safwan Ibn Al-Mu'attal, beats me when I pray,
and breaks my fast when I fast.
And he does not pray the dawn prayer until the sun rises."
Safwan was present.
He said, so he asked him about what she said.
He said, "O Messenger of Allah,
as for her saying that he beats me when I pray,
it is because she recites two chapters, and I have forbidden her."
He said, so he said:
"If one chapter were sufficient for people."
"And as for her saying that he breaks my fast,"
"it is because she goes and fasts,"
"and I am a young man, so I cannot be patient."
Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said on that day:
"A woman should not fast except with her husband's permission."
"And as for her saying,"
"that I do not pray until the sun rises,"
"we are a household known for that."
"We can hardly wake up until the sun rises."
He said, "Then when you wake up, pray."
Narrated by Abu Dawud.
So reflect, my sister,
how the wife of Safwan Ibn Al-Mu'attal twisted the facts,
in the presence of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
and in the presence of her husband and a group of the Companions.
And she did not fear that her matter would be exposed.
Even though this noble female Companion
fasts by day and prays by night.
And another example:
From Ikrimah, that Rifaa' divorced his wife.
So Abdur-Rahman Ibn Az-Zubayr Al-Qurashi married her.
Aisha said:
And she had a green veil.
So she complained to her and showed her the greenness of her skin.
When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came,
and women support each other,
Aisha said:
"I have never seen anything like what the believing women endure."
"Her skin is greener than her garment."
He said:
"And he heard that she had come to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him."
So he came, and he had two sons with him from another woman.
She said:
"By Allah, I have no fault with him."
"Except that what he has with him is no more beneficial to me than this."
And she took a fringe from her garment.
So he said:
"By Allah, she is lying, O Messenger of Allah."
"I have intercourse with her vigorously like tanning leather."
"But she is rebellious and wants Rifaa'."
So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"Then if that is the case, she is not lawful for him,"
"or she has not made herself right for him,"
"until he tastes her sweetness."
He said:
"And he saw two sons with him."
So he said:
"Are these your sons?"
He said, "Yes."
He said:
"This is what you claim, what you claim."
"By Allah, they resemble him more than a crow resembles a crow."
Narrated by Bukhari.
So this one also alters facts,
in the presence of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
regarding a matter that might not be easily discovered.
Yet, she does not fear that her matter will be exposed.
And this trait offers a lesson to anyone who takes on
the task of resolving marital problems:
that they should be wary of the way a woman speaks
about her husband and about the problem.
And nothing should prevent a woman from using this method
in presenting her problem,
except piety and fear of Allah.
So be cautious, my sister, of falling into injustice and slander
by your manipulation of words.
To be continued.
We will continue in a future meeting, Allah willing.
The story of Yusuf with the wife of Al-Aziz.