Surat Yusuf and the MeToo Movement: A Reflection

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Halla Attallah

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Readers of the Qur’an often interpret the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha as a love story or as the story of a prophet who nearly succumbs to the “guile of women.” Fewer, however, consider it as a tale of sexual violence embedded within codes of power. This essay brings the Qur’an into conversation with Tarana Burke’s MeToo Movement. I argue that the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha both obscures and exposes the mechanisms of power that normalize sexual violence. On the one hand, the text deemphasizes the value of believing victims, favoring instead the testimony of a mysterious witness. Furthermore, it relies on the trope of the guileful woman, signified by the term “kaydakunna/kaydahunna,” thereby maintaining the stereotype that only powerful men can be the victims of sexual abuse. On the other hand, the Qur’an clearly outlines the systems of power characterizing al-Aziz’s household, valorizing the connection between patriarchal structures and abuse. The text identifies the positionalities of each character at each step of the story. A MeToo reading of the Qur’an highlights these prevalent textual elements overlooked by authoritative interpretations. It also allows for the Qur’an to speak back, enriching discussions about sexual violence, credibility, and accountability.