Development
After crossing the Egyptian border, Malik ben Zaar asks Joseph, who is stunned, why he is shocked. Joseph says he has never seen such a magnificent and developed place before. Malik said that the Egyptians were polytheistic, did not look kindly upon monotheists, and that he should not speak to them about his faith. Malik sadly puts Joseph, a Canaanite who, like himself, believes in one God, up for sale at an Egyptian slave market. At that moment, the angel Gabriel, in human form, catches the attention of Potiphar (an Egyptian nobleman) and mentions a child slave. Potiphar is very impressed by Joseph's bright eyes and appearance. He buys Joseph as a palace slave for 3,000 dirhams to give to his wife as a gift.
When Potiphar's wife (or Zuleikah) saw 12-year-old Joseph, she felt as if she had known him before and, like everyone else, was very impressed by his good looks. Joseph grew up in the comfort of the palace, being educated, reading books to Potiphar, who could not read, and doing light work. In his early twenties, Joseph becomes a well-equipped and respected palace official. Potiphar's wife, who began to harbor feelings for Joseph, started making increasingly poor decisions because of her love for him. She became addicted to wine and parties, doing everything she could to forget him, but she couldn't forget Joseph, and this did not go unnoticed by the other nobles around her. The other noblewomen reproach Potiphar's wife, saying, "She has fallen in love with her slave. What a great weakness!"
Potiphar's wife, in response to their words, devises a plan to defend herself and showcase Joseph's handsomeness. She organizes a grand banquet in her palace and invites the noblewomen of Egypt. The women are offered fruit, and each is given a knife so they can peel their own fruit. Just then, Potiphar's wife calls Joseph inside. When the women see Joseph, they are amazed by his extraordinary beauty, stunned and almost spellbound. In their astonishment, they cut their hands. The women say, "He is not a man; he must be a beautiful angel." Joseph didn't look anywhere but the road ahead.
After a while, Potiphar's wife succumbs to her love and lust and summons Joseph to her private chamber seven doors away. She tells him that he is her slave and cannot refuse her wishes, and Joseph does not suspect anything at first. Joseph, who never makes eye contact, feels uncomfortable when Potiphar's wife approaches him. Potiphar's wife lowers the veil on her face in front of Joseph and makes her desire for sexual relations clear by saying, "I am ready to give myself to you." Joseph, however, angrily refused and told her that he would not betray her or her husband Potiphar, that it would be adultery. Joseph tells her that he will only carry out her righteous commands. When Potiphar's wife saw that Joseph was unwilling and spoke like this, she slapped him. At that moment, Joseph felt the angel Gabriel calling out to him and delivering a message. Gabriel said to him, "O Prophet of God, Potiphar's wife is a traitor. Do not retaliate against her slap, and flee from this trap of the devil toward the door." Joseph knows the door is locked, but he trusts Gabriel completely. Then the locks on the seven doors begin to open automatically, starting with the first one.
A smile replaced the look of anger on his face, and Joseph began to run away. Seeing this, Potiphar's wife, frightened, began to chase after him. When he reached the last door, Joseph, overcome with excitement, made a mistake and couldn't pull the door toward himself, and Potiphar's wife took advantage of this opportunity and grabbed him by his tunic. Joseph opened the door, but his tunic was torn at the back. As soon as he opened the last door, Potiphar appeared right in front of them. The room fell silent, and finally Potiphar confronted them. While everyone supported Potiphar's wife, Joseph was left alone. Just as Potiphar was about to order his execution, he told Joseph that he would be pardoned if he could find a witness. Joseph, however, is quiet and calm. Finally, he hears the crying baby and senses that it is a miracle from God, and he asks for it as a witness. Potiphar initially thinks this is a joke, but they call the baby without upsetting Joseph. The baby miraculously speaks, saying with poor diction, "God's command is this: If Joseph's tunic is torn from the front, Joseph is guilty. But if it is torn from the back, Joseph is innocent, and Zuleikah is guilty."
