Previously we saw how Yusuf (as) preferred prison over the seductive plots of the women of the city, the main perpetrator being Aziz’s wife.
Something that we need to understand is this: whatever happens in the life of this world is temporary. The one who chooses the Dunya (over the Akhirah) by indulging in sin, may find some pleasure. But that pleasure is short-lived. As for the one who chooses the pleasure of Allah, by refraining from sin, may suffer in the Dunya for a bit, but he will have eternal pleasure in the Akhirah.
Yusuf (as) made a choice. He chose the Akhirah and the Pleasure of Allah. And so he chose to go to prison in order to save himself and preserve his Iman.
Time in prison provided him with solitude. And solitude is essential for self-development, reflection and contemplation.
When he was in the house of Aziz, he got to see life from an elite point of view. In prison, now he was going to see the perspective of the lower class.
While in prison, he meets two young men, who were both accused of poisoning the King. One was the Royal cup-bearer and the other was the Royal baker.
These two men had a dream. One saw himself pressing wine. And the other saw himself carrying bread on his head, from which birds were eating.
During their incarceration, they started observing Yusuf (as) closely and were greatly impressed by his good character. So they approached him in an effort to seek an interpretation to their dreams.
Now the type of people that you would normally find in prison are of the rough and tough type. But Yusuf (as) did not allow his circumstances affect him. He stayed true to his values and principles. And he maintained his good character and his virtues. He did Ihsan (utmost good) despite the environment he found himself in. And this is what ultimately drew the two young men to him.
Lesson: Do Ihsan (Utmost Good) in whatever situation you find yourself in. Don’t let the weather, or the environment, or the people or the trends change you who truly are. Don’t compromise on your principles and maintain a good character wherever you are.
Before Yusuf (as) interprets the dreams, he first invites them to Tawheed. In other words, he took this as an opportunity to do Dawah.
Lesson: If you’re a professional (Doctor, Dentist, Hairdresser etc), and people come to you seeking your services, use these opportunities for Dawah.
Yusuf (as) then proceeds to interpret the dreams. One of them, he says, will give his master a drink of wine. And the other will be crucified and the birds will eat from his head.
He then asked the one whom he knew would be released (i.e. the Cup Bearer), to mention his situation to the King. However, the Cup Bearer forgot this request and Yusuf (as) remained in prison for a few more years. Allah has certainly fixed a time for everything, and this was just not the time for Yusuf (as) to be released.
Lesson: Remember that Allah has fixed a time for everything in your life. Sometimes we feel like there is no end to our hardships or problems. But in this we need to remember that everything that happens to a Believer is good for him. And that Allah will help his believing slaves through ways they could have never imagined!
One day, the King had an unusual dream. He gathers his chiefs and his nobles and says to them: “Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions”
But his nobles could not interpret it and they just disregarded this as a mixture of false dreams. Nothing to it, basically.
The Cup Bearer heard about the King’s dream and he suddenly remembered Yusuf (as) after all these years. He said that he could inform them of it’s interpretation and he sought permission to go to prison to visit Yusuf (as).
And so Yusuf (as) interprets the dream. He says:
“You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat. Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you saved for them, except a little from which you will store. Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes]”
So to summarize:
- 7 fat cows = 7 years of prosperity
- 7 lean cows = 7 years of drought
- 7 lean cows eating 7 fat cows = in the 7 years of drought you will consume the food you had stored from the 7 years of prosperity
- 7 green spikes = fresh grain for 7 years. Whatever you harvest in these seven years, eat little and save more. When you save it, ensure it is in its original spikes so that the grains are preserved for longer.
- 7 dry spikes = you will consume the dried harvest that you stored for the 7 years of drought.
- Towards the end of the 7 years of drought, the people would have consumed the majority of what they had stored, except a little in the form of seeds which will be used for future agriculture.
- After the 7 years of drought, things will return to normal and there will be one year in which they will be given rain and they will press their olives and grapes.
So the Cup-Bearer took this interpretation and went back to the King. Now the King was very impressed and he ordered for Yusuf (as) to be released from prison immediately.
However Yusuf (as) was in no hurry. He wanted to know what became of the women who cut their hands. Are they still persisting in their old ways? Yusuf (as) was a Prophet of Allah, so his record had to be clear. He wanted his innocence declared publicly.
So the King summoned the women – including Aziz’s wife – and asked them about this matter. The wife of Aziz spoke up and testified to the truthfulness of Yusuf (as), and that it was in fact she who tried to seduce him and not the other way round, ultimately admitting her mistake.
Lesson: Just because someone has done something wrong, does not mean that they become inherently evil for the rest of their lives. Remember the doors of tawbah are always open!
The matter was cleared and Yusuf (as) was eventually released from prison.
The King wanted to appoint Yusuf (as) as his personal consultant or advisor. However Yusuf (as) wanted to be appointed over the storehouses of the land, so that he could benefit the people.
Read Part 4: A Meeting after Many Years
