The words of the Almighty: {He said, "My Lord, prison is more beloved to me than that to which they invite me"}1. "Prison" (al-sijn) is a name applying to the Mim; meaning: the Mim is more beloved to me than you.
(534) It was related from Lord Muhammad—exalted be his glory—that he said: "The world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the disbeliever, and the Mim is his Lord." So He pointed to it: "My Lord, the prison is more beloved to me than that to which they invite me."
His saying: {And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and be of the ignorant}2. If this were the word of Yusuf, then he would not be a prophet. This speech is only directed by way of Cloaking (al-talbis) so that he who was preceded by the best from God might remain firm, and he whose foot is established during trial and testing.
(535) As our Master—exalted be his glory—said: "I am the servant of God and the brother of His Messenger." Its meaning: I am the servant of God according to your claim and as you think, and the brother of His Messenger as you claim. So he who recognized Him recognized Him at this statement, and he who denied Him denied Him.
{So his Lord responded to him and averted from him their plan. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing}3. This also is from the completion of Cloaking and Testing.
(536) Like the saying of the Lord Mim—exalted be his glory: "I am the Prophet and Ali is the Successor." [230] And like His saying—exalted be his glory: "I and Ali were created from a single clay."