Surah 12. Yusuf, Ayah 36
| وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ السِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ إِنِّي أَرَانِي أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِي خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ الطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ |
| Transliteration | : | wa- dakhala maca -hu as- sijn fatayaan qaala 'ah.ad -humaa 'inni -y araa -ne acs.ir khamr(an) wa- qaala al- 'aakhar 'inni -y araa -ne ah.mil fawqa ra's -e khubz(an) ta'kul at.- t.ayr min -hu nabbi' -naa bi- ta'wel -hi 'in(na) -naa naraa -ka min al- muh.sinen |
| Pickthall | : | And two young men went to prison with him. One of them said: I dreamed that I was pressing wine. The other said: I dreamed that I was carrying upon my head bread whereof the birds were eating. Announce unto us the interpretation, for we see thee of those good (at interpretation). |
| Asad | : | NOW two young men happened to go to prison at the same time as Joseph.35 One of them said: "Behold, I saw myself [in dream] pressing wine." And the other said: "Behold, I saw myself [in a dream] carrying bread on my head, and birds were eating thereof." [And both entreated Joseph:] "Let us know the real meaning of this! Verily, we see that thou art one of those who know well [how to interpret dreams]."36 |
| Malik | : | Two young men also entered the prison along with him. One day one of them said: "I saw in a dream that I was pressing wine." The other said: "I saw in a dream that I was carrying bread on my head, of which birds were eating." Tell us the interpretation of these dreams, for we see that you are a man of virtue. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | Now with him there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: "I see myself (in a dream) pressing wine." Said the other: "I see myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head and birds are eating thereof." "Tell us" (they said) "the truth and meaning thereof: for we see thou art one that doth good (to all)." 1685 1686 1687 |
Note - 35Lit., "entered the prison with him". According to the
Biblical account (not contradicted by the Qur'an), they
were the King's cup-bearer and baker, both of them
imprisoned for unspecified offences.
|
Note - 36This is the meaning given by Baghawi, Zamakhshari and
Baydawi to the expression al-muhsinin in the above
context, adopting the tropical use of the verb ahsana in
the sense of "he knew [something]" or "he knew [it]
well". Thus, the Qur'an indicates here in its elliptic
manner that Joseph's reputation for wisdom and
dream-interpretation preceded him to prison.
|
Note - 1685Now opens another chapter in Joseph's life. The Plan of
Allah develops. The wicked might plot; the weak might be
swayed by specious arguments; but everything is used by
the Universal Plan for its own beneficent purposes.
Joseph must get into touch with the Pharaoh, in order to
work out the salvation of Egypt, and yet it must be
through no obligation to smaller men. And he must diffuse
his personality and teach the truth to men of all sorts
in prison.
|
Note - 1686Two men came to the prison about the same time as Joseph.
They were both apparently officers of the king (the
Pharaoh), who had incurred his wrath. One was a
cup-bearer (or butler or chief steward) whose duty was to
prepare the king's wines and drinks. The other was the
king's baker, whose duty was to prepare the king's bread.
They were both in disgrace. The former dreamed that he
was again carrying on his duties and pressing wine; the
latter that he was carrying bread, but it did not reach
his master, for the birds ate of it.
|
Note - 1687Both these men saw the Signs of Allah about Joseph. They
felt not only that he had wisdom, but that he was kind
and benevolent, and would give of his wisdom even to
strangers like themselves. They therefore told him their
dreams and asked him to interpret them.
|
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Lit., "entered the prison with him". According to the Biblical account (not contradicted by the Qur'an), they were the King's cup-bearer and baker, both of them imprisoned for unspecified offences. |
| |
This is the meaning given by Baghawi, Zamakhshari and Baydawi to the expression al-muhsinin in the above context, adopting the tropical use of the verb ahsana in the sense of "he knew [something]" or "he knew [it] well". Thus, the Qur'an indicates here in its elliptic manner that Joseph's reputation for wisdom and dream-interpretation preceded him to prison. |
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Now opens another chapter in Joseph's life. The Plan of Allah develops. The wicked might plot; the weak might be swayed by specious arguments; but everything is used by the Universal Plan for its own beneficent purposes. Joseph must get into touch with the Pharaoh, in order to work out the salvation of Egypt, and yet it must be through no obligation to smaller men. And he must diffuse his personality and teach the truth to men of all sorts in prison. |
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Two men came to the prison about the same time as Joseph. They were both apparently officers of the king (the Pharaoh), who had incurred his wrath. One was a cup-bearer (or butler or chief steward) whose duty was to prepare the king's wines and drinks. The other was the king's baker, whose duty was to prepare the king's bread. They were both in disgrace. The former dreamed that he was again carrying on his duties and pressing wine; the latter that he was carrying bread, but it did not reach his master, for the birds ate of it. |
