AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

*Hazrat Yusuf (Peace be upon him) – Part 3*

Then, even after they had seen the signs, they decided to imprison Yusuf for some time. And two young men entered the prison with him. One of them said: “Indeed, I saw in a dream that I was pressing grapes for wine.” The other said: “I too saw a dream: I was carrying bread on my head, and birds were eating from it. Tell us its interpretation; indeed, we see you as one of the righteous.” 

Yusuf said: “The food you are provided will not come to you but I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. This is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah and who deny the Hereafter. And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim, Is’haq, and Yaqub. It is not for us to associate anything with Allah. This is from the favor of Allah upon us and upon the people, but most of the people are not grateful. 

O my two companions of the prison, are separate lords better or Allah, the One, the Prevailing? You worship not besides Him except names you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know. 

O my two companions of the prison, as for one of you, he will pour wine for his master to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified, and birds will eat from his head. The matter about which you inquired has been decided.”

And the king said: “I saw in a dream seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and seven dry ones. O chiefs, explain to me my dream if you can interpret dreams.” They said: “Confused dreams, and we do not know the interpretation of such dreams.” 

Then the man who was saved from the two prisoners, and who remembered after a time, said: “I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me to the prison.” He came to Yusuf and said: “O Yusuf, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears and seven dry ones, so that I may return to the people; perhaps they will know.” 

He said: “You will plant for seven years consecutively. And what you harvest, leave it in its ears, except a little from which you will eat. Then will come after that seven hard years which will consume what you advanced for them, except a little from what you store. Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [fruit and oil].”

The king commanded: “Bring him to me.” But when the messenger came to him, Yusuf said: “Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan.” The king said to the women: “What was your condition when you sought to seduce Yusuf?” They said: “Allah forbid! We know about him no evil.” The wife of Al-‘Aziz said: “Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.” 

Yusuf said: “That is so Al-‘Aziz will know that I did not betray him in his absence and that Allah does not guide the plan of betrayers. And I do not absolve myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon whom my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”