It became apparent to them that the doer was concealed, due to the indication of what explains it, which is: 'Surely, he will be imprisoned.' The meaning is: it became apparent to them, meaning: a view appeared to them that he will be imprisoned. The pronoun in 'to them' refers to the Aziz and his family after they saw the signs, which are the witnesses to his innocence. And this was only due to the woman being brought down to her husband and her weaving him in the high and low. [The saying 'and her weaving him in the high' means her turning from behind his deception. This was clarified in the Sahih.] And he was submissive to her and beautifully compliant, with the reins in her hand, until this made him forget what he witnessed from the signs and he acted upon her opinion in imprisoning him and associating the young ones with him as she promised him. This was because she had despaired of his obedience to her, or out of her hope that the prison would humiliate him and make him submissive to her. And in the reading of Al-Hasan: 'Surely, he will be imprisoned,' with the 'ta' for addressing: some of them addressed the Aziz and those close to him, or the Aziz alone in a manner of glorification, 'until a time,' as if she suggested that he be imprisoned for a while until she sees what will come from him. And in the reading of Ibn Mas'ud: 'until a time,' which is the language of Hudhail. And it is reported that Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, heard a man reciting 'until a time' and said: 'Who taught you this?' He said: 'Ibn Mas'ud.' So he wrote to him: 'Indeed, Allah revealed this Qur'an and made it Arabic and revealed it in the language of Quraysh, so teach the people in the language of Quraysh and do not teach them in the language of Hudhail. And peace.'