The Quran

Preface

وَلَقَد هَمَّت بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِها لَولا أَن رَأىٰ بُرهانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ لِنَصرِفَ عَنهُ السّوءَ وَالفَحشاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِن عِبادِنَا المُخلَصينَ

Yusuf Ali

And (with passion) did she desire him, and he would have desired her, but that he saw the evidence¹ of his Lord: thus (did We order) that We² might turn away from him (all) evil and shameful deeds: for he was one of Our servants, sincere and purified.

She was blinded with passion, and his plea had no effect on her. He was human after all, and her passionate love and her beauty placed a great temptation in his path. But he had a sure refuge-his faith in God. His spiritual eyes saw something that her eyes, blinded by passion, did not see. She thought no one saw when the doors were closed. He knew that God was there and everywhere. That made him strong, and proof against temptation.
The credit of our being saved from sin is due, not to our weak earthly nature, but to God. We can only try like Joseph, to be true and sincere: God will purify us and save us from all that is wrong. Tempted but true, we rise above ourselves.