Surah Yusuf Tafseer

But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!

Had Yusuf run away from her, and this is what truly happened, and she set in his pursuit, she would have held to his shirt from the back to bring him back to her, thus tearing his shirt from the back.

There is a difference of opinion over the age and gender of the witness mentioned here.

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Ibn Abbas said that,

وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا

(and a witness of her household bore witness),

"was a bearded man," meaning an adult male.

Ath-Thawri reported that Jabir said that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said that Ibn Abbas said,

"He was from the king's entourage."

Mujahid, Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ishaq and others also said that;

the witness was an adult male.

Al-Awfi reported that Ibn Abbas said about Allah's statement,

وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا

(and a witness of her household bore witness),

"He was a babe in the cradle."

Similar was reported from Abu Hurayrah, Hilal bin Yasaf, Al-Hasan, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim, that;

the witness was a young boy who lived in the Aziz's house.

Ibn Jarir At-Tabari preferred this view.

Allah's statement