Analysis of al-Āyāt al-Mutashābihāt in Qurʾān: The Case Study of Joseph's Confrontation With Zulaykhā and Other Egyption Women

One of the effective solutions in removing the apparent ambiguity of the verses is the Quranic strategy of referring al-Mutashābihāt to al-Muḥkamāt. By considering this strategy in various verses of the Qurʾān and especially al-Mutashābihāt in the lives of the Prophets, we can find verses that do not have a clear and obvious meaning. Among these verses, the Qurʾānic story of Yūsuf can be cited as an example, where there are ambiguities in some of its Mutashābih verses. Diverse and possibly contradictory interpretations which in some cases contradicting the infallibility (ʿIṣma) of the Prophets indicate the existence of these ambiguities. Part of these ambiguities can be seen in the story of Zulaykhā's relationship with Yūsuf. It is from thiese cases that it is said Wa laqad Hammat Bihi Wa Hamma Biha and the question arises as to what Yūsuf worked hard on; Also, when Yūsuf is quoted as saying about his desire for Egyptian women that Illā taṣrif ʿānnī kaydahūnna āṣbbu ilayhin there is a question as to what Yūsuf's desire was exactly. In the same way, other expressions in other parts of the story are questionable and commentators have given different answers to them based on their theological bases. In this study, relying on the mentioned strategy, we will examine and criticize and evaluate different interpretation opinions. For this purpose, based on the strategy of referring al-Mutashābihāt to al-Muḥkamāt and based on the acceptance of the separation of the Quranic Muḥkamāt in the life of the Prophets into three categories (general, special and more special), we will try to achieve a more realistic understanding and closer to the meaning of the Qurʾān.