THE STORY OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH - Joseph Interprets the Dream of the King and Becomes the Treasurer of the State

One day, the King of Egypt summoned the ministers, advisers, scholars and fortune tellers. After everyone gathered, the King of Egypt began the conversation. The Egyptian king told them that he had dreamed and in that dream he saw seven fat cows eaten by seven thin cows. He also saw seven green wheat stalks and seven dried wheat stalks. The dream made the Egyptian King wonder what his dream really meant. So he ordered prominent people who came to interpret the King's dream.

Surah Yusuf verse 43:

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ إِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰ سَبۡعَ بَقَرَٰتٖ سِمَانٖ يَأۡكُلُهُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافٞ وَسَبۡعَ سُنۢبُلَٰتٍ خُضۡرٖ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَٰتٖۖ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمَلَأُ أَفۡتُونِي فِي رُءۡيَٰيَ إِن كُنتُمۡ لِلرُّءۡيَا تَعۡبُرُونَ  ٤٣

43.  And [subsequently] the king said, "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."

The leading people tried to think about what their King's dream meant. But they were unable to find the meaning of the dream correctly. Finally they surrendered and told the King of Egypt that they thought the dream was meaningless. The king is not satisfied with their answers and feels disappointed. Fortunately, a drinks servant who survived after being in prison with Joseph, he remembered Joseph. He remembered that Joseph had the ability to interpret someone's dreams correctly. He had forgotten Joseph for years. So the servant of the drink told the King of Egypt about Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. He wants to meet Joseph to solve the King's problem. So the king sent the servant of the drink to meet Joseph.

Surah Yusuf verses 44-45:

قَالُوٓاْ أَضۡغَٰثُ أَحۡلَٰمٖۖ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِتَأۡوِيلِ ٱلۡأَحۡلَٰمِ بِعَٰلِمِينَ  ٤٤ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِي نَجَا مِنۡهُمَا وَٱدَّكَرَ بَعۡدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا۠ أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأۡوِيلِهِۦ فَأَرۡسِلُونِ  ٤٥

44.  They said, "[It is but] a mixture of false dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."

45.  But the one who was freed and remembered after a time said, "I will inform you of its interpretation, so send me forth."

The drinks servant arrived at the prison and met Joseph. He asked Joseph for help to interpret the dream of the King of Egypt. After hearing and understanding what the servant said, Joseph began to interpret the dream. Joseph also gave a solution about the meaning of the King's dream. Joseph said that Egypt would experience fertility for seven years. That's when the people grow crops and harvest crops. Some of the harvest in that period must be kept well, not squandered. Then after that period seven years of famine will come. Crops that have been stored can be consumed during famine. After a difficult period will come the rainy season and the Egyptian people squeeze wine. The drink servant is relieved to know the meaning of King's dream. So he said goodbye to Joseph to return to the King.

Surah Yusuf verses 46-49:

يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفۡتِنَا فِي سَبۡعِ بَقَرَٰتٖ سِمَانٖ يَأۡكُلُهُنَّ سَبۡعٌ عِجَافٞ وَسَبۡعِ سُنۢبُلَٰتٍ خُضۡرٖ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَٰتٖ لَّعَلِّيٓ أَرۡجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ  ٤٦ قَالَ تَزۡرَعُونَ سَبۡعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبٗا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمۡ فَذَرُوهُ فِي سُنۢبُلِهِۦٓ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّمَّا تَأۡكُلُونَ  ٤٧ ثُمَّ يَأۡتِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبۡعٞ شِدَادٞ يَأۡكُلۡنَ مَا قَدَّمۡتُمۡ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّمَّا تُحۡصِنُونَ  ٤٨ ثُمَّ يَأۡتِي مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَامٞ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعۡصِرُونَ  ٤٩

46.  [He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people; perhaps they will know [about you]."

47.  [Joseph] said, "You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.

48.  Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you saved for them, except a little from which you will store.

49.  Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes]."

The drinks servant had faced the King and told him what he got from Joseph. After learning about the meaning of the dream, the King felt relieved and happy. The king requested that Joseph be able to come to meet the King. Then the servant returned to meet Joseph in prison and conveyed the King's order. However, Joseph wants his case with Zulaikha to be resolved correctly first. Then, servant of the drink told the King about the real cause of Joseph going to jail. Then Joseph's case was discussed again. The king will rectify what really happened because Joseph was actually not guilty.

Surah Yusuf verse 50:

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱئۡتُونِي بِهِۦۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرۡجِعۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسۡ‍َٔلۡهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسۡوَةِ ٱلَّٰتِي قَطَّعۡنَ أَيۡدِيَهُنَّۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي بِكَيۡدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٞ  ٥٠

50.  And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."

The king summoned the woman guests who saw Joseph to be questioned as a witness. The women said that Joseph was a good person, never committed sin. Zulaikha also claimed that he was the one who made the mistake of teasing Joseph. After the case of Joseph and Zulaikha was investigated, it was proven that Joseph was innocent. The King freed Joseph from prison with honor and was clean of all charges.

Surah Yusuf verses 51-53:

قَالَ مَا خَطۡبُكُنَّ إِذۡ رَٰوَدتُّنَّ يُوسُفَ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦۚ قُلۡنَ حَٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا عَلِمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ مِن سُوٓءٖۚ قَالَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡـَٰٔنَ حَصۡحَصَ ٱلۡحَقُّ أَنَا۠ رَٰوَدتُّهُۥ عَن نَّفۡسِهِۦ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ  ٥١ ذَٰلِكَ لِيَعۡلَمَ أَنِّي لَمۡ أَخُنۡهُ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهۡدِي كَيۡدَ ٱلۡخَآئِنِينَ  ٥٢ ۞وَمَآ أُبَرِّئُ نَفۡسِيٓۚ إِنَّ ٱلنَّفۡسَ لَأَمَّارَةُۢ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيٓۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ  ٥٣

51.  Said [the king to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allah! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-'Azeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and indeed, he is of the truthful.

52.  That is so al-'Azeez will know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that Allah does not guide the plan of betrayers.

53.  And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

The Egyptian king then called Joseph to come to meet the King. Then the King conversed with Joseph. During the conversation, the King understood that Joseph was a polite, friendly, holy, clean, righteous person, and possessed many knowledge and abilities. Even Joseph has provided solutions to the problems that will be experienced by Egypt. The king became amazed and increasingly interested in Joseph's personality. So the King of Egypt offered Joseph a high position in the palace. Humbly, Joseph accepted the King's offer. Joseph asked to be made treasurer of the Egyptian state. Yusuf is a smart person in guarding and watching over things. Thus, the King of Egypt appointed Joseph to be the treasurer of the state. Joseph leads in the field of state logistics supplies.

Surah Yusuf verses 54-57:

وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱئۡتُونِي بِهِۦٓ أَسۡتَخۡلِصۡهُ لِنَفۡسِيۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُۥ قَالَ إِنَّكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَدَيۡنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٞ  ٥٤ قَالَ ٱجۡعَلۡنِي عَلَىٰ خَزَآئِنِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٞ  ٥٥ وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنۡهَا حَيۡثُ يَشَآءُۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحۡمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجۡرَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ  ٥٦ وَلَأَجۡرُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ خَيۡرٞ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَكَانُواْ يَتَّقُونَ  ٥٧

54.  And the king said, "Bring him to me; I will appoint him exclusively for myself." And when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you are today established [in position] and trusted."

55.  [Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."

56.  And thus We established Joseph in the land to settle therein wherever he willed. We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good.

57.  And the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believed and were fearing Allah.