Surah 12. Yusuf, Ayah 42
| وَقَالَ لِلَّذِي ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ نَاجٍ مِنْهُمَا اذْكُرْنِي عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنْسَاهُ الشَّيْطَانُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِ فَلَبِثَ فِي السِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ |
| Transliteration | : | wa- qaala li- 'alladhe z.anna 'anna -hu naaji(n) min -humaa udhkur -ne cinda rabb -ka fa- ansaa -hu ash- shayt.aan dhikr rabb -hi fa- labitha fe as- sijn bid.c sinen |
| Pickthall | : | And he said unto him of the twain who he knew would be released: Mention me in the presence of thy lord. But Satan caused him to forget to mention it to his lord, so he (Joseph) stayed in prison for some years. |
| Asad | : | And [thereupon Joseph] said unto the one of the two whom he considered saved: "Mention me unto thy lord [when thou art free]!" But Satan caused him to forget to mention [Joseph] to his lord, and so he remained in prison a few [more] years. |
| Malik | : | Then, to the one who he thought would be released, he said: "Mention me to your lord." But Shaitan made him forget to mention (Yusuf) to his lord, so he remained in the prison a few more years. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | And of the two to that one whom he considered about to be saved he said: "Mention me to thy lord." But Satan made him forget to mention him to his lord: and (Joseph) lingered in prison a few (more) years. 1697 1698 1699 |
Note - 1697Joseph never mentioned himself in interpreting the dream,
nor ever thought of himself in his kindness to his
fellow-sufferers in prison. It was afterwards, when the
cup-bearer's dream came true, and he was being released
on being restored to favour, that we can imagine him
taking an affectionate leave of Joseph, and even asking
him in his elation if he could do anything for Joseph.
Joseph had no need of earthly favours,- least of all,
from kings or their favourites. The divine grace was
enough for him. But he had great work to do, which he
could not do in prison-work for Egypt and her king, and
the world at large. If the cup-bearer could mention him
to the king, not by way of recommendation, but because
the king's own justice was being violated in keeping an
innocent man in prison, perhaps that might help to
advance the cause of the king and of Egypt. And so he
said, "Mention me to Pharaoh."
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Note - 1698The eternal Plan does not put Allah's Prophets under
obligations to men commanding mere worldly favour or
earthly power. If they are given a chance, the obligation
is on the worldly men, however highly placed...In this
case, the poor cup-bearer was but human. When he was in
the midst of the Court, he forgot the poor
fellow-prisoner languishing in prison. In this he yielded
to the lower part of his nature, which is guided by
Satan.
|
Note - 1699A few (more) years: bidh' in Arabic signifies a small
indefinite number, say up to 3, 5, 7 or 9 years.
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Joseph never mentioned himself in interpreting the dream, nor ever thought of himself in his kindness to his fellow-sufferers in prison. It was afterwards, when the cup-bearer's dream came true, and he was being released on being restored to favour, that we can imagine him taking an affectionate leave of Joseph, and even asking him in his elation if he could do anything for Joseph. Joseph had no need of earthly favours,- least of all, from kings or their favourites. The divine grace was enough for him. But he had great work to do, which he could not do in prison-work for Egypt and her king, and the world at large. If the cup-bearer could mention him to the king, not by way of recommendation, but because the king's own justice was being violated in keeping an innocent man in prison, perhaps that might help to advance the cause of the king and of Egypt. And so he said, "Mention me to Pharaoh." |
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The eternal Plan does not put Allah's Prophets under obligations to men commanding mere worldly favour or earthly power. If they are given a chance, the obligation is on the worldly men, however highly placed...In this case, the poor cup-bearer was but human. When he was in the midst of the Court, he forgot the poor fellow-prisoner languishing in prison. In this he yielded to the lower part of his nature, which is guided by Satan. |
