Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Preferred Attribution of the Phrase “mā ubarriʾu nafsī” “I do not absolve myself” to the Wife of the ʿAzīz of Egypt Based on Contextual (Siyāq) Evidence

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
hamed Shariatiniyasar 1
vaisi , mahmood 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Quran and hadith Studies. faculty of Quran and Hadith Studies . international university of Islamic denominations . Tehran. Iran
2 Asistant Professor Department of Shafi'i Law and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence,International University of Islamic Denominations,Tehran,Iran
10.22034/iscw.2025.2070847.1193
Abstract
Context—how textual phrases interconnect to convey meaning—is a decisive issue in interpretation, particularly of Qurʾānic verses, and offers solutions to exegetical challenges in difficult passages. The expression “mā ubarriʾu nafsī” (مَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِی) in verse 53 of Sūrat Yūsuf is one such contested point among exegetes. Scholars have advanced divergent views regarding the speaker, attributing it to the ʿAzīz of Egypt, his wife, or Yūsuf (ʿalayhi al-salām).
This study, conducted through a descriptive–analytical approach and employing library-based data collection, examines the phrase through contextual indications. These include syntactic and textual context, the broader framework of the sūrah and verse, referents of pronouns, lexical and morphological evidence, and situational context. The analysis demonstrates that the most persuasive interpretation attributes the statement to the wife of the ʿAzīz, reflecting her admission of fault, remorse for carnal temptation, and attempt to incriminate Yūsuf (ʿalayhi al-salām).
Alternative views—such as reading the phrase as Yūsuf’s humility or as a declaration by the ʿAzīz—prove less consistent with the contextual flow of the sūrah. The study’s merit lies in reducing dogmatism by avoiding reliance on a single interpretation and in employing siyāq (contextual analysis) as a novel exegetical method. This approach not only clarifies the verse but also provides a practical model for analyzing problematic Qurʾānic passages.
By integrating linguistic, syntactic, and situational cues, the research highlights the interpretive richness of contextual analysis. It underscores the importance of moving beyond rigid readings toward nuanced approaches that respect textual coherence. Thus, the study contributes both to the specific debate on mā ubarriʾu nafsī and to broader methodological innovation in Qurʾānic exegesis.
Keywords
Aziz of Egypt
Contextual semantics
Humility
Chapter Yusuf (Joseph)"
Subjects
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Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World
Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 8
February 2026
Pages 193-233

  • Receive Date 15 September 2025
  • Revise Date 28 December 2025
  • Accept Date 29 December 2025
  • First Publish Date 29 December 2025
  • Publish Date 21 January 2026