Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yusuf, son of Yaqub, son of Ishaq, son of Khalilur Rahman Ibrahim, was the noble son of a noble, son of a noble, son of a noble. If I (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) had stayed in prison as long as Yusuf (peace be upon him) stayed, and a caller had come to summon me, I would have accepted his word (immediately). But when the messenger came to him, he said: «فَاسْأَلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ اللَّاتِي قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ» 'Ask him, what is the real story of those women who cut their hands?' (12-Yusuf:50) And may Allah have mercy on Lut (peace be upon him), he wanted to take refuge in a strong support. When he said to his people: «لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ» 'If only I had strength to resist you or could take refuge in a strong support.' (11-Hud:80) So after them, whenever Allah sent a prophet, He sent him among a large group of his people."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I am greatly amazed at my brother Yusuf (peace be upon him)—may Allah forgive him—for his patience and generosity. When the message was sent to him to interpret the dream, if I had been there, I would have come out (of prison) before interpreting it. So, I am greatly amazed at his patience and magnanimity, and may Allah forgive him. A man came to him so that he could come out, but he did not come out until he had clarified his excuse. If I had been there, I would have rushed to the door. If it were not for the statement, 'Mention me to your lord' (Surah Yusuf: 42), he would not have stayed in prison, as he sought relief from distress from other than Allah."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "If I (Muhammad, peace be upon him) had stayed in prison for as long as Yusuf (peace be upon him) stayed, and a caller had come to summon me, I would have accepted his word (immediately). But when the messenger came to him, he said «ارْجِعْ إِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاسْأَلْهُ مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ اللَّاتِي قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ إِنَّ رَبِّي بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ» 'Ask him, what is the real story of those women who cut their hands? Surely my Lord is aware of their plot.' (12-Yusuf:50) And may Allah have mercy on Lut (peace be upon him), he wished to take refuge in a strong support. When he said to his people: «لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ» 'If only I had strength to resist you or could take refuge in a strong support.' (11-Hud:80) So after them, whenever Allah sent a prophet, He sent him among a large group of his people."