Editing Joseph in Islam (section)

=== <span class="anchor" id="God's plan to save Joseph"></span> Divine intervention ===
[[File:Yusef Zuleykha.jpg|thumb|alt=Colorful miniature painting|Yusuf and Zulaikha ([[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph]] chased by Potiphar's wife), 1488 [[Persian miniature]] by [[Behzād]]]]

A passing caravan takes Joseph after it stops by the well to draw water and sees the boy inside. The brothers, nearby, sell Joseph for a very low price, only wanting to get rid of him. The caravan rescue him and sell him into slavery in Misr ({{langx|ar|مصر}}, [[Egypt]]), to a rich man, the King’s vizier, known as Al-'Aziz ({{langx|ar|ٱلعزيز|lit=the dear one}})<ref>{{cite quran|12|30|s=ns}}</ref> in the Quran and [[Potiphar]] in the Bible.<ref>Genesis, {{bibleverse-nb||Genesis|39:1|1000}}</ref> 'Aziz is also known as Qatafir or Qittin.<ref name=al-Tabari/>{{Rp|p=153}} Joseph is taken into 'Aziz's home, and the man tells his wife to treat him well. 

{{Quote|Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)&nbsp;... He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed him as a treasure. But God knoweth well all that they do.<br>The (Brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!<br>The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honourable:  maybe he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams (and events). And God hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.<br>When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right.|Qur'an, Surah 12 (Yusuf) Ayat 19{{endash}}22<ref>{{cite quran|12|19|e=22|s=ns}}</ref>}}

Scholars of Islam cite this point as central to Joseph's story. Joseph rises to a high position in Al-'Aziz's household and, when his brothers later come to Egypt, they do not recognize him.<ref name="Tottoli 2013 1">{{cite journal|last=Tottoli|first=Roberto|title=Aziz Misr|journal=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three|year=2013|page=1}}</ref> He reaches manhood, and 'Aziz's wife tries to seduce him. Al-Tabari and others note that Joseph is also attracted to her, and al-Ṭabari writes that he does not succumb to her because when they were alone, the "figure of Jacob appeared to him, standing in the house and biting his fingers&nbsp;... God turned him away from his desire for evil by giving him a sign that he should not do it."<ref name=al-Tabari/>{{Rp|p=156}}

{{Quote|But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: "Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "Allah forbid! Truly (thy husband) is my lord! He made my sojourn agreeable! Truly to no good come those who do wrong!"<br> And (with passion) did she desire him, and he would have desired her, but that he saw the evidence of his Lord: thus (did We order) that We might turn away from him (all) evil and shameful deeds: for he was one of Our servants, sincere and purified.|Qur'an, Surah 12 (Yusuf) Ayat 23{{endash}}24<ref>{{cite quran|12|23|e=24|s=ns}}</ref>}}

Zulaikha, the wife of Al-'Aziz, rips the back of Joseph's shirt as they race one another to the door where her husband is waiting. She tries to blame Joseph, suggesting that he had attacked her, but Joseph's account of Zulaikha's attempted seduction is confirmed by a member of the household; {{"'}}Azīz believed Joseph and told his wife to beg forgiveness."<ref name=Wheeler/>{{Rp|pp=133–134}} The household member tells 'Aziz to check Joseph's shirt. If the front is torn, Joseph is guilty; if the back is torn, Zulaikha is guilty. The shirt is torn in the back, and 'Aziz reprimands his wife for lying.<ref name=al-Tabari/>{{Rp|pp=157–158}}

Zulaikha's friends think that she is [[infatuate]]d with Joseph, and ridicule her for falling in love with a slave. She invites them to her home, and gives them apples{{Dubious|date=November 2023|reason=Apples were not cultivated in Ancient Egypt; likely a substitution for familiarity}} and knives to peel them with. Zulaikha then has Joseph walk through the room; the women are so distracted by his [[handsomeness]] that they cut their fingers with the knives, and she says that she sees Joseph every day.<ref name=al-Tabari/>{{Rp|pp=157–158}} Joseph prays, saying that he would prefer prison than succumbing to Zulaikha and her friends. According to al-Ṭabari, 'Aziz later "grew disgusted with himself for having let Joseph go free&nbsp;... It seemed good to them to imprison him for a time."<ref name=al-Tabari/>{{Rp|p=160}} The popular [[Yusuf and Zulaikha|story of Joseph and Zulaikha]] differs in the Quran from the Biblical version, in which Potiphar believes his wife and imprisons Joseph.<ref>Genesis, {{bibleverse-nb||Genesis|39:1-23|1000}}</ref> According to some scholars, after 'Aziz's death, Joseph reportedly marries Zulaikha.<ref name="Tottoli 2013 1"/>