Surah Yusuf (Joseph) 12 : 46
Translations
Pickthall
Yusuf Ali
Qur'an Dictionary
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| (12:46:1) |
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| (12:46:2) |
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| (12:46:3) l-ṣidīqu the truthful one |
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| (12:46:4) aftinā Explain to us |
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| (12:46:5) |
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| (12:46:6) sabʿi (the) seven |
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| (12:46:7) baqarātin cows |
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| (12:46:8) simānin fat |
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| (12:46:9) yakuluhunna eating them |
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| (12:46:10) sabʿun seven |
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| (12:46:11) ʿijāfun lean ones |
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| (12:46:12) wasabʿi and seven |
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| (12:46:13) sunbulātin ears (of corn) |
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| (12:46:14) khuḍ'rin green |
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| (12:46:15) wa-ukhara and other |
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| (12:46:16) yābisātin dry |
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| (12:46:18) arjiʿu return |
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| (12:46:19) ilā to |
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| (12:46:20) l-nāsi the people |
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| (12:46:21) |
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| (12:46:22) yaʿlamūna know |
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Explanatory Note
He requests leave to go and see the man who was certain to give a true interpretation of the dream no one else dared interpret. The curtains drop here, and when they are raised again we are in the prison looking at Joseph and his former companion asking him to interpret the King’s dream: “‘Joseph, man of truth, tell us of the seven fat cows being devoured by seven emaciated ones, and seven green ears of wheat next to seven others dry and withered, so that I may return to the people [of the court], and that they would come to know.’” (Verse 46)
The man, who is the drink master of the King, calls Joseph a ‘man of truth,’ which is testimony that Joseph always tells the truth according to the man’s own experience with him. “Tell us of the seven fat cows...” Here the man quotes the King’s own words in relating the dream. Since he was asking for an interpretation of the dream, he had to quote the description accurately. The sūrah uses the same words again to indicate the accuracy of the reporting, and to enable the interpretation to immediately follow the statement.
3. Surah Overview
The subject matter of this Surah indicates that it was revealed during the last stage of the Prophet’s residence at Makkah when the Quraysh were considering the question of killing, exiling or imprisoning him. At that time, some of the disbelievers asked a question to test his claim to prophethood: “Why did the Israelites go to Egypt?” They knew that the story was not known to the Arabs, since there was no mention of it in their traditions, and the Prophet had never referred to any knowledge of it in the past. Therefore they expected that he would not be able to give a satisfactory answer or would evade it and enquire about it from the Jews, which would expose him as a fraud. Contrary to their expectations, God revealed the whole story of Prophet Joseph and the Prophet recited it on the spot. This put the Quraysh in a very awkward position because it not only foiled their scheme but also cautioned them to consider their behaviour and compare it to the treachery displayed by the brothers of Prophet Joseph.
The fact is that by applying this story to the conflict, the Qur’an had made a bold and clear prophecy which was fulfilled literally by the events that happened in the succeeding ten years. Hardly two years had passed after its revelation when the Quraysh conspired to kill the Prophet like the brothers of Prophet Joseph and he had to emigrate from Makkah to Madinah where he gained the same kind of power as Prophet Joseph had gained in Egypt. Again in the end the Quraysh had to humble themselves before him just like the brothers of Prophet Joseph when they humbly requested ‘Show mercy to us for God rewards richly those who show mercy’ (v. 88) and Prophet Joseph generously forgave them (even though he had complete power to wreak vengeance on them) saying ‘today no penalty shall be inflicted on you. May God forgive you: He is the greatest of all those who forgive’ (v. 92). The same story of mercy was repeated when after the conquest of Makkah the fallen Quraysh stood meekly before the Prophet who had the power to inflict vengeance on them for their cruelty towards him. But instead he merely asked them ‘What treatment do you expect from me now?’ They replied ‘You are a generous brother and the son of a generous brother’. At this he very generously forgave them, saying ‘I will give the same answer to your request that Joseph gave to his brothers: ‘. . . 'today no penalty shall be inflicted on you, you are forgiven.’
Qurtubi mentions that the Jews asked the Prophet about the story of Yusuf and hence this surah was revealed.
10. Wiki Forum
11. Tafsir Zone
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Overview (Verses 46 - 49) The King’s Dream Interpreted He requests leave to go and see the man who was certain to give a true interpretation of the dream no one else dared interpret. The curtains drop here, and when they are raised again we are in the prison looking at Joseph and his former companion asking him to interpret the King’s dream: “‘Joseph, man of truth, tell us of the seven fat cows being devoured by seven emaciated ones, and seven green ears of wheat next to seven others dry and withered, so that I may return to the people [of the court], and that they would come to know.’” (Verse 46) The man, who is the drink master of the King, calls Joseph a ‘man of truth,’ which is testimony that Joseph always tells the truth according to the man’s own experience with him. “Tell us of the seven fat cows...” Here the man quotes the King’s own words in relating the dream. Since he was asking for an interpretation of the dream, he had to quote the description accurately. The sūrah uses the same words again to indicate the accuracy of the reporting, and to enable the interpretation to immediately follow the statement. However, what Joseph gives is not a passive interpretation of the dream. Instead it is coupled with advice on how best to cope with the consequences of what is going to happen. “He replied: ‘You shall sow for seven consecutive years.” (Verse 47) These are seven years without a gap when there is a rich harvest. Hence they are depicted in the dream as seven fat cows. “But let the grain you harvest remain in its ear,” (Verse 47) because that would protect the crop against insects and atmospheric effects that may cause it to decay. “Except for the little which you may eat.” (Verse 47) What you need for eating you may take out of its ear. The rest must be stored for the following seven years of poor harvest which are depicted in the dream as seven emaciated cows. “Then after that there will come seven hard years,” (Verse 48) when the land produces little or nothing. Hence these hard years “will devour all that you have laid up for them except a little of what you have kept in store.” (Verse 48) It is as if these years are the ones which do the devouring themselves. Their lack of harvest is described here as hunger. And they will eat all except a little which is kept from them. “Then after that there will come a year of abundant rain, in which the people will be able to press [oil and wine].” (Verse 49) This brings to an end the hard years without harvest. They are followed by a year of abundance when people will have plenty of water and a plentiful harvest. Their vineyards will yield richly and they will be able to press their wine. They will have plenty of sesame and olives which they will then press into oil. We note here that this plentiful year is not symbolized in the King’s dream. Joseph mentions it, however, on the basis of the knowledge given to him by God. He gives the happy news of the approach of this year to the man who will transmit it to the King and the people. They will be happier that the seven hard years will be followed by a year of rich harvest.
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Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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Overview (Verses 46 - 49) The King’s Dream Interpreted He requests leave to go and see the man who was certain to give a true interpretation of the dream no one else dared interpret. The curtains drop here, and when they are raised again we are in the prison looking at Joseph and his former companion asking him to interpret the King’s dream: “‘Joseph, man of truth, tell us of the seven fat cows being devoured by seven emaciated ones, and seven green ears of wheat next to seven others dry and withered, so that I may return to the people [of the court], and that they would come to know.’” (Verse 46) The man, who is the drink master of the King, calls Joseph a ‘man of truth,’ which is testimony that Joseph always tells the truth according to the man’s own experience with him. “Tell us of the seven fat cows...” Here the man quotes the King’s own words in relating the dream. Since he was asking for an interpretation of the dream, he had to quote the description accurately. The sūrah uses the same words again to indicate the accuracy of the reporting, and to enable the interpretation to immediately follow the statement. However, what Joseph gives is not a passive interpretation of the dream. Instead it is coupled with advice on how best to cope with the consequences of what is going to happen. “He replied: ‘You shall sow for seven consecutive years.” (Verse 47) These are seven years without a gap when there is a rich harvest. Hence they are depicted in the dream as seven fat cows. “But let the grain you harvest remain in its ear,” (Verse 47) because that would protect the crop against insects and atmospheric effects that may cause it to decay. “Except for the little which you may eat.” (Verse 47) What you need for eating you may take out of its ear. The rest must be stored for the following seven years of poor harvest which are depicted in the dream as seven emaciated cows. “Then after that there will come seven hard years,” (Verse 48) when the land produces little or nothing. Hence these hard years “will devour all that you have laid up for them except a little of what you have kept in store.” (Verse 48) It is as if these years are the ones which do the devouring themselves. Their lack of harvest is described here as hunger. And they will eat all except a little which is kept from them. “Then after that there will come a year of abundant rain, in which the people will be able to press [oil and wine].” (Verse 49) This brings to an end the hard years without harvest. They are followed by a year of abundance when people will have plenty of water and a plentiful harvest. Their vineyards will yield richly and they will be able to press their wine. They will have plenty of sesame and olives which they will then press into oil. We note here that this plentiful year is not symbolized in the King’s dream. Joseph mentions it, however, on the basis of the knowledge given to him by God. He gives the happy news of the approach of this year to the man who will transmit it to the King and the people. They will be happier that the seven hard years will be followed by a year of rich harvest.
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