In this text, Taberî discusses from a grammatical perspective the hidden subject in the phrase 'bada lahum' (it appeared to them—referring to the decision to imprison Joseph) and the inclusion of the lam of oath in the phrase 'liyasgjunnahu'. He also notes that the reading of 'al-haqq' (the truth) with nasb in different recitations are equivalent in meaning, and that those who read with either recitation are correct. He reports through narrations that the signs of Joseph's innocence (the shirt torn from behind, the face scratched) are supported by reports.

وأولى الأقوال في ذلك عندي بالصواب أن يقال: إنهما قراءتان مستفيضتان في قرأة الأمصار، فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فمصيب لصحة معنييهما

According to Zemahşerî, the hidden subject in the phrase 'then it appeared to them' is clarified by the clause 'liyasgjunnahu' (they must surely imprison him); that is, despite the evidence of Joseph's innocence being present, the Aziz and his family arrived at the view of imprisoning Joseph. This decision came about as a result of the woman manipulating her husband to her advantage and becoming dominant over him, fulfilling her promise to him regarding imprisoning Joseph and humiliating him; this stemmed either from the woman losing hope that Joseph would not obey her, or from her hoping that imprisonment would soften him and make him submit to her.

والمعنى : بدالهم بداء ، أي : ظهر لهم رأي ليسجننه ، والضمير في { لهم } للعزيز وأهله وهي الشواهد على براءته ، وما كان ذلك إلا باستنزال المرأة لزوجها ، وفتلها منه في الذروة والغارب

According to this exegete, the word 'bada' means a change of opinion from a previous view, and what is intended in the verse is that Joseph was imprisoned despite his innocence being established by the tearing of his shirt from behind and the scratching of his face. He also notes that there is discussion among grammarians regarding whether the verb in the verse should be attributed to a noun rather than a verb, that the majority holds the view that a report cannot be derived from a verb, and that he himself considers the opposite to be permissible. Finally, he states that the duration of imprisonment (hin) cannot be determined with certainty, and there are different reports such as five years, seven years, or twelve years, but the correct view is that it was a long period.

والصحيح أن هذه المقادير غير معلومة ، وإنما القدر المعلوم أنه بقي محبوسا مدة طويلة لقوله تعالى

According to Kurtubî, the phrase 'then it appeared to them' in the verse means that the Aziz and those around him, after seeing the evidence of Joseph's innocence (the shirt torn from behind, the witness's testimony, the women cutting their hands, their haste), found it appropriate to imprison Joseph so that this matter would not spread among the people. He also notes that regarding the duration of the phrase 'hatta hin', various reports among exegetes have been transmitted such as six months, three years, five years, seven years, nine years, and twelve years. Joseph's remaining in prison is mentioned according to Ibn Abbas as one of the three hardships that befell him.

أي ظهر للعزيز وأهل مشورته من بعد ما رأوا الآيات أي علامات براءة يوسف من قد القميص من دبر وشهادة الشاهد وحز الأيدي وقلة صبرهن عن لقاء يوسف أن يسجنوه كتمانا للقصة الا تشيع في العامة وللحيلولة بينه وبينها

According to Beydâvî, the phrase 'bada lahum' describes how the decision to imprison Joseph emerged even after the evidence showing the Aziz and his family Joseph's innocence (the child's testimony, the shirt torn from behind, the women cutting their hands, Joseph's self-protection) had become clear. The reason for this is that the woman manipulated her husband and had Joseph imprisoned for a period, either because she wanted people to think he was the real culprit. Then two young men enter the prison, one a wine-maker and the other a baker; they tell Joseph their dreams and ask for his interpretation because they have seen that he is someone who does good to those in the prison and is skilled in dream interpretation.

ودخل معه السجن فتيان أي أدخل يوسف السجن واتفق أنه أدخل حينئذ آخران من عبيد الملك شرابيه وخبازه للاتهام بأنهما يريدان أن يسماه.