The scholars derived the permissibility of relying on circumstantial evidence in judicial rulings from Surat Yusuf.

The Shaykh : For this reason, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) derived many benefits from Surat Yusuf regarding legal rulings in judicial matters and others. They derived from it the practice of acting on circumstantial evidence when issuing a judgment, based on the saying of the Exalted: They said this is circumstantial evidence, because if the shirt was torn from the front, then the man was the one who seized her, and she tore her shirt. If it was torn from the back, then she was the one who accused him, and he tore her shirt until it was torn. This is the circumstantial evidence by which the ruling was established. The scholars relied on this circumstantial evidence, even though there are other matters in the Sunnah that indicate ruling by circumstantial evidence besides this issue.