The Story of Joseph (part 5 of 7)
- Categories: Stories of the Prophets -
{O my Lord! Prison is more to my
liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away
their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one of
those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do the deeds of
the ignorant.} [Quran 12:33]
{قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ
مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ
أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ}
[يوسف:٣٣]
Transliteration: Qāla Rabbi As-Sijnu 'Aĥabbu 'Ilayya
Mimmā Yad`ūnanī 'Ilayhi Wa 'Illā Taşrif `Annī Kaydahunna 'Aşbu
'Ilayhinna Wa 'Akun Mina Al-Jāhilīna
Joseph believed living in prison was preferable to living in the
house of Al Aziz. The environment was filled with lust and greed,
and with unlawful beauty and seduction, perhaps similar to many
societies today. He believed prison would be preferable to
succumbing to the fitnah[1]
around him. God answered Joseph's supplication and rescued
him.
{So his Lord answered his invocation
and turned away from him their plot. Verily, He is the All-Hearer,
the All-Knower. Then it appeared to them, after they had seen the
proofs (of his innocence) to imprison him for a time.}
[Quran 12:34-35]
{فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ
عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
﴿٣٤﴾ ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا
رَأَوُا الْآيَاتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ}
[يوسف:34-٣٥]
Transliteration: Fāstajāba Lahu Rabbuhu Faşarafa
`Anhu Kaydahunna 'Innahu Huwa As-Samī`u Al-`Alīmu(34) Thumma Badā
Lahum Min Ba`di Mā Ra'aw Al-'Āyāti Layasjununnahu Ĥattá
Ĥīnin
Although convinced of Joseph's innocence, Al Aziz, chief Minister
of Egypt put Joseph in prison. He could see no other way of
safeguarding the reputation of his name and position.
Joseph in
Prison
Imprisoned with Joseph, were two men who recognised his piety and
righteousness. Both had been plagued by vivid dreams and now hoped
Joseph would be able to interpret the dreams for them. One man saw
a dream in which he was pressing wine, the other; saw a dream in
which birds were eating bread from his head. Joseph said, "I will
inform you of the meaning of these dreams before your next meal is
served".
{He said, 'No food will come to you
(in wakefulness or in dream) as your provision but I will inform
(in wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes.
This is of that which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have
abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in God and are
disbelievers in the Hereafter. And I have followed the religion of
my fathers, - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and never could we
attribute any partners whatsoever to God. This is from the Grace of
Allah to us and to mankind, but most men think not (i.e. they
neither believe in Allah nor worship Him).'} [Quran
12:37-38]
{قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ
تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَن
يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي ۚ إِنِّي
تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم
بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ
مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن
فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ
النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ} [يوسف:37-٣٨]
Transliteration: Qāla Lā Ya'tīkumā Ţa`āmun
Turzaqānihi 'Illā Nabba'tukumā Bita'wīlihi Qabla 'An Ya'tiyakumā
Dhālikumā Mimmā `Allamanī Rabbī 'Innī Taraktu Millata Qawmin Lā
Yu'uminūna Billāhi Wa Hum Bil-'Ākhirati Hum Kāfirūna (37) Wa
Attaba`tu Millata 'Ābā'ī 'Ibrāhīma Wa 'Isĥāqa Wa Ya`qūba Mā Kāna
Lanā 'An Nushrika Billāhi Min Shay'in Dhālika Min Fađli Allāhi
`Alaynā Wa `Alá An-Nāsi Wa Lakinna 'Akthara An-Nāsi Lā
Yashkurūna
Notice the demeanor of Joseph. When they ask him a question about
dreams he immediately reminds them that it is God who provides
their sustenance, as well as his own knowledge of dream
interpretation. Joseph is very careful to make a distinction
between what is from God and what is from himself. He makes his
religion clear. He does not believe the religion being practiced
around him but believes in the true religion that includes belief
in the Hereafter. Joseph asserts that his family, the family of
Abraham, hold the knowledge of the Oneness of God, and that his
religion and family do not attribute partners to God. Although the
people of Egypt knew about God they choose to worship other deities
as partners or intercessors.
After informing his companions that false gods have no substance
and explaining the Omnipotence of God, Joseph interprets the
dreams. He says, one of you will become a close associate of the
King, the other will be crucified and birds will eat from his
head.
{As for one of you, he (as a servant)
will pour out wine for his lord to drink; and as for the other, he
will be crucified and birds will eat from his head. Thus is the
case judged concerning which you both did inquire.} [Quran
12:41]
{يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَمَّا
أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِي رَبَّهُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ
فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ الطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِ ۚ قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ
الَّذِي فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ} [يوسف:٤١]
Transliteration: Yā Şāĥibayi As-Sijni 'Ammā
'Aĥadukumā Fayasqī Rabbahu Khamrāan Wa 'Ammā Al-'Ākharu Fayuşlabu
Fata'kulu Aţ-Ţayru Min Ra'sihi Quđiya Al-'Amru Al-Ladhī Fīhi
Tastaftiyāni
Joseph approached the companion who destined to be close to the
King and said "please remember me to your King". He hoped that the
King would look into his case, see his oppression and free him.
However, the whisperings and subterfuge of Satan, caused the
companion to forget to mention Joseph and consequently he remained
in prison for a few more years. The scholars of Islam hold two
different opinions about the nature of the forgetfulness. Ibn
Katheer mentions that the companion forgot to mention Joseph,
whereas other scholars focus on the possibility that Joseph forgot
to seek the help of God, and thus the companion forgot to mention
him. Whatever the case, Joseph remained in prison and continued to
trust in God with patience and fortitude.
The King's
Dream
The King dreamed he was standing on the banks of the Nile watching
seven fat cows emerge from the river, followed by seven lean ones.
The seven lean cows devoured the fat ones. Next, the dream changed
and he watched seven green ears of grain growing on the banks of
the Nile. They disappeared into the mud and on the same spot grew
seven dry ears of grain. The King awoke shocked and frightened, and
sent for his sorcerers, priests and ministers. They failed to
interpret the dream and reached the unanimous conclusion that it
was just a nightmare. Joseph's companion from the prison came to
hear of the dream and remembered Joseph. With the King's
permission, he rushed to the prison and asked Joseph to interpret
the dream.
{Joseph said, 'For seven consecutive
years, you shall sow as usual and that the harvest which you reap
you shall leave in ears, all --except a little of it which you may
eat. Then will come after that seven hard years, which will devour
what you have laid by in advance for them, all except a little of
that which you have guarded (stored). Then thereafter will come a
year in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will
press wine and oil.'} [Quran 12:47-49]
{قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ
دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِي سُنبُلِهِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِن
بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ
إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾
ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَامٌ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ النَّاسُ
وَفِيهِ يَعْصِرُونَ} [يوسف:47-٤٩]
Transliteration: Qāla Tazra`ūna Sab`a Sinīna
Da'abāan Famā Ĥaşadtum Fadharūhu Fī Sunbulihi 'Illā Qalīlāan Mimmā
Ta'kulūna(47) Thumma Ya'tī Min Ba`di Dhālika Sab`un Shidādun
Ya'kulna Mā Qaddamtum Lahunna 'Illā Qalīlāan Mimmā Tuĥşinūna(48)
Thumma Ya'tī Min Ba`di Dhālika `Āmun Fīhi Yughāthu An-Nāsu Wa Fīhi
Ya`şirūna
The King was astonished at this interpretation, not only did Joseph
give the meaning but also recommended a course of action. The King
demanded Joseph be bought before him. However, Joseph refused to
leave prison and insisted the messenger return to the King and ask
him, {What happened to the women who
cut their hands?} [Quran 12:50]
{مَا بَالُ النِّسْوَةِ اللَّاتِي
قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ} [يوسف:٥٠]
Transliteration: Mā Bālu An- Niswati Al-Lātī
Qaţţa`na 'Aydiyahunna
Joseph did not want to leave the prison until his innocence was
established.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
[1] Fitnah is an Arabic word
that does not translate easily into English. It means a time of
trial or tribulation. Most particularly a situation that prevents
one from worshipping God correctly, or causes acts of disobedience
or disbelief..
By Aisha Stacey
IslamReligion.com