{'So when she heard of their plotting'}, meaning: their backbiting, {'she sent for them'}, intending to cause them to fall into that which she had fallen into. {'And she prepared'}, meaning: she made ready, {'for them a banquet'}. Mujahid said: meaning, a place to sit and recline.

Yahya said: It is also recited as (mutkan). Some of them said: It is citron.

Muhammad said: (Al-mutta'ka') with the emphasis, is that which one reclines upon for conversation, food, or drink.

{'And gave each one of them a knife'}, so that they might cut and eat, and she said to Joseph: {'Come out before them.' So when they saw him, they greatly admired him}, meaning: they deemed him too great to be a human. {'And cut their hands'}, meaning: they slashed them, not realizing what they were doing. {'And said: "Far be it from Allah!"'}, Mujahid said: meaning, I seek refuge in Allah. {'"This is not a man; this is none other than an angel,"'} from the angels of Allah, {'"noble"'} in the sight of Allah.