The Egyptian who bought him said to his wife, "Lodge him honourably, he may prove of benefit to us, or we may even adopt him as our son." Thus We established Joseph in the land, so that We might teach him the true meaning of events. God has power over all things. However, most people do not know this. 21 And when Joseph reached the age of maturity, We granted him judgement and knowledge. Thus do We reward those who do good. 22 And it so happened that the lady in whose house Joseph was living, sought to tempt him to herself, and one day bolting the doors she said: "Come on now!" Joseph answered: "May Allah grant me refuge! My Lord has provided an honourable abode for me (so how can I do something so evil)? Such wrong-doers never prosper." 23 But the woman desired him, and he would have desired her but for the indication he received from his Lord. This was so that We may avert both evil and lechery from him, for he was one of Our chosen devotees. 24 And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?" 25 He (Joseph) said: 'It was she who sought to seduce me' and a witness (an infant) of her people bore witness, saying: 'If his shirt is torn from the front, she is speaking the truth and he is one of the liars, 26 But if the shirt is torn from behind then she is a liar, and he speaks 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 Ignore this affair, O Joseph; and you, O woman, ask forgiveness for your sin, for you were surely errant." 29