12. Yusuf

(And when she heard of their sly talk, she sent to them) an invitation (and prepared for them a cushioned couch) to lie on and then she had meat and bread brought to them (and gave to every one of them a knife) for they did not eat of meat except that which they could cut with their knives (and said) Zelicha said to Joseph: (Come out unto them!) O Joseph! (And when they saw him they exalted him and cut their hands, exclaiming: Allah Blameless!) Allah forbid! (This is not a human being. This is no other than some gracious angel) gracious in the sight of his Lord.

(She said) Zelicha said to them: (This is he on whose account you blamed me) and vilified me. (I asked of him an evil act) I wanted him to sleep with me, (but he proved continent) but he refused out of continence, (but if he do not my behest he verily shall be imprisoned, and verily shall him of those brought low) he will be humiliated in prison.

These women said to Joseph. �Obey your mistress!� (He said) Joseph said: (O my Lord! Prison is more dear than that unto which they urge me) of adultery, (and if Thou fend not off their wiles) their scheming (from me I shall incline unto them and become of the foolish) who ignore Your blessing; it is also said that the foolish here refer to adulterers.

(So his Lord heard his prayer and fended off their wiles from him. Lo! He is Hearer) of prayers, (Knower) of His answer; it is also said Hearer of the ladies' talk and Knower of their scheming.

(And it seemed good to them) to the Chief Official (after they had seen the signs (of his innocence)) the torn shirt and the judgement of her brother (to imprison him for a time) a few years; it is also said that (for a time) means: until people stopped talking about it.

(And two young men) two slaves of the king: his cupbearer and his cook-he got angry with them and put them in prison-(went to prison with him) they stayed together five years. (One of them), the cupbearer, (said: I dreamed that I was pressing wine) pressing grapes to make wine and giving it to the king. This cupbearer saw in a dream that he entered a vineyard and there he saw a pleasant bough with three offshoots and on the offshoots bunches of grapes. He picked the grapes, pressed them and gave it to the King. Joseph said: �As for the vineyard, it is the job you had; the bough represents the expertise you have in your job; its pleasantness represents your position and merit in that job. The three offshoots mean that you will be released in three days and shall return to your job. The pressed grapes you gave to the king means that he will give you your job back, honour you and treat you well�. (The other) the cook, who prepared the king's bread (said I dreamed that I was carrying upon my head bread whereof the birds were eating) he saw in his dream that he was coming out of the king's kitchen carrying on his head three baskets of bread when birds came and ate from the bread on the baskets. Joseph said: �You have seen an evil thing. As for your going out of the King's kitchen, this means that you will lose your job; the three baskets means that you will stay in prison for three days. The birds eating from the baskets means that the king will get you out of prison in three days to crucify you and the birds will eat of your head�. Before Joseph interpreted their dreams for them, the two men said to him: (Announce unto us the interpretation) interpret for us our dreams, (for we see thee of those good) towards the prisoners; it is also said that this means: you are of those who are truthful in their speech.

(He said) Joseph said to them, because he wanted to inform them about his knowledge of interpreting dreams: (The food which ye are given (daily) shall not come unto you but I shall tell you the interpretation) i.e. of its colour and type (ere it cometh unto you) so can I fail to interpret your dreams? (This) the interpretation of dreams (is of that which my Lord hath taught me. Lo! I have forsaken the religion of folk) I did not follow the religion of a people (who believe not in Allah and are disbelievers in) they are deniers of (the Hereafter) resurrection after death.

(And I have followed the religion of my fathers) I held firm to the religion of my forefathers, (Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It never was for us) it was not permissible for us (to attribute aught) any idols (as partner to Allah. This) pure Religion, prophethood and Islam with which Allah has honoured us (is of the bounty of Allah unto us) a blessing that Allah blessed us with (and unto mankind) by sending us to them; it is also said that this means: this is a bounty unto the believers through the blessing of faith; (but most men) the people of Egypt (give not thanks) do not believe in this.

(O my two fellow prisoners!) He said this to the prison master as well as to the prisoners (Are diverse lords better) is the worship of numerous gods better, (or Allah the One, the Almighty?) or the worship of Allah, the One Who has no son or partner, the All-Conquering over His created beings.

(Those whom ye worship beside Him) besides Allah (are but names) lifeless idols (which ye have named, ye and your fathers) you and your fathers called them gods. (Allah hath revealed no sanction) no Scripture or proof (for them) for your worship of them. (The decision) the judgement of commands and prohibitions; it is also said that this means: judgement in the life of this world and in the Hereafter (rests with Allah only, Who hath commanded you) in all revealed Scriptures (that ye worship) that you profess the divine Oneness of (none save Him) save Allah. (This) profession of divine Oneness (is the right religion) the established Religion that He is pleased with: i.e. Islam, (but most men) the people of Egypt (know not) this nor believe in it.