Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 30

(Ayah 30){ وَ قَالَ نِسْوَةٌ فِي الْمَدِيْنَةِ … : ’’ نِسْوَةٌ، نِسَاءٌ‘‘} and {’’ نِسْوَانٌ ‘‘} are all plurals of {’’اِمْرَأَةٌ‘‘}, but not from the word {’’ اِمْرَأَةٌ ‘‘}. (Qamoos) Because {’’ نِسْوَةٌ ‘‘} is not a real plural of {’’ اِمْرَأَةٌ‘‘}, instead of the verb {’’ قَالَتْ نِسْوَةٌ ‘‘}, : {’’ قَالَ نِسْوَةٌ ‘‘} has been used, because in the case of a non-real plural, this happens. In the entire Quran, {’’نِسَاءٌ‘‘} has been used everywhere; only in this verse and in verse (50) of this surah, {’’ نِسْوَةٌ ‘‘} has been used twice in total. The reason for this is that {’’ نِسْوَةٌ ‘‘} is the pattern of a plural of paucity, which is used for three to ten, unlike {’’ نِسَاءٌ‘‘} and others, which are also used for abundance. It appears that the wife of Aziz had invited only a few select women to this gathering. {’’ شَغَفَهَا ‘‘} refers to the membrane of the heart, meaning it has entered inside the membrane of the heart. Some have also interpreted shighaf as "suwaida al-qalb" (the core of the heart). {’’ تُرَاوِدُ فَتٰىهَا ‘‘} (she seduces her slave): these women used the present tense instead of the past tense {’’ رَاوَدَتْ‘‘} (she seduced), indicating that she still does not refrain from it, rather she continues to seduce him.