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222
THE QUR'ÂN.
XII, 26-35.
a witness from among her family bore witness: 'If his shirt be rent from in front, then she speaks the truth and he is of the liars; but if his shirt be rent from behind, then she lies and he is of the truth tellers.'
And when he saw his shirt rent from behind he said, “This is one of your tricks; verily, your tricks are mighty! Joseph! turn aside from this. And do thou, woman, ask pardon for thy fault; verily, thou wert of the sinners.'
[30] And women in the city said, “The wife of the prince desires her young man for his person; he has infatuated her with love: verily, we see her in obvious error.' And when she heard of their craftiness, she sent to them and prepared for them a banquet, and gave each of them a knife; and she said, “Come forth to them!' And when they saw him they said, 'Great God!' and cut their hands 1 and said, 'God forbid! This is no mortal, this is nothing but an honourable angel.' Said she, 'This is he concerning whom ye blamed me. I did desire him for his person, but he was too continent. But if he do not what I bid him he shall surely be imprisoned and shall surely be among the small !' Said he, My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do; and unless Thou turn from me their craftiness I shall feel a passion for theni and shall be among the ignorant!' And his Lord answered him and turned from him their craftiness; verily, He both hears and knows!
[35] Then it appeared good to them, even after they had seen the signs ?, to imprison him until a
time.
* In their sudden emotion at his beauty.
Of his innocence.
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