And the man from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay [with us] honourable; he may well be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son. And thus We gave unto Joseph a firm place on earth; and [We did this] so that We might impart unto him some understanding of the inner meaning of happenings. For, God always prevails in whatever be His purpose: but most people know it not. 21 When he reached the prime of life We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus We reward those who are good. 22 And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him (to do an evil act), she closed the doors and said: "Come on, O you." He said: "I seek refuge in Allah (or Allah forbid)! Truly, he (your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! (So I will never betray him). Verily, the Zalimun (wrong and evil-doers) will never be successful." 23 She started towards him, and he would have succumbed to her, if he had not seen a sign from his Lord -- We did this in order to keep evil and indecency away from him, for he was truly one of Our chosen servants. 24 And the twain raced to the door, and she rent his shirt from behind, and the twain met her master at the door. She said: What is the meed of him who intended evil toward thy household except that he be imprisoned, or a torment afflictive? 25 He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me - from my (true) self." And one of her household saw (this) and bore witness, (thus):- "If it be that his shirt is rent from the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar! 26 "But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!" 27 And when [her husband] saw that his tunic was torn from behind, he said: "Behold, this is [an instance] of your guile, O womankind! Verily, awesome is your guile! 28 Joseph, overlook this: but you [wife], ask forgiveness for your sin, for you have done wrong." 29