Yusuf 31–37
A banquet held to silence gossip ends with the guests wounding their own hands because they are mesmerized, and Yusuf prefers prison to complying with the indecent request.
Verses 31-35 continue the story of Yusuf with the ruler's wife and explain that she was very angry after hearing that the case had spread among the women of Egypt. So she gathered them and prepared for each of them a knife. Then she ordered Yusuf to pass before them. As Yusuf passed, they were amazed and mesmerized by seeing Yusuf's handsomeness and said: This is not an ordinary human, but a noble angel.
So mesmerized by seeing Yusuf, the knife had wounded their hands without their awareness. Then the ruler's wife said: This is why you should not mock me. I attempted to seduce him but he rejected it. Because he refused to comply with my order, he must be imprisoned so he will become insignificant. Then Yusuf said: O Allah, prison is more beloved to me than complying with their indecent request. If You do not protect me from their deceit, I will surely fall into ignorance—violating Allah's system. Then Yusuf was imprisoned for several years, even though the facts showed Yusuf was innocent.
Verses 36 & 37 explain that two young fellow prisoners with Yusuf asked him to interpret their different dreams. One dreamed of squeezing grapes and the other dreamed of bread on his head being eaten by birds. Yusuf took advantage of that situation to preach to them and said: Before food comes to you I will inform you. This knowledge is a gift from Allah. I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah and the Hereafter.
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