Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Yūsuf (Joseph) | FROM PRISON TO PALACE
become the subject of conversation among the public, and not confined to the
aristocracy. It was, therefore, necessary to protect the reputation of high class
families. Since the men in these families have been unable to safeguard their own
reputation and that of their women, they are certainly able to throw a young man in
prison, knowing that he has committed no offence other than not responding to the
temptation of an aristocratic woman. After all, it is his resistance of temptation that
made her the talk of all classes.
A Platform to Advocate True Faith
“Two young men went to prison with him.” (Verse 36) We will presently know that
they belonged to the King’s private staff.
The sūrah does not dwell on what happened to Joseph in prison, and how he was
recognized as a man of integrity and kindness, and that he soon won the trust of all
those around him. There must also have been quite a few among them who had had
the misfortune to work in the palace or for courtiers, yet had incurred the anger of
their masters for one reason or another, and, as a result, were now in jail. All this is
omitted. For the sūrah immediately moves on to portray a scene of Joseph, in prison,
speaking to two young men who had found him to be a man of wisdom. They
related their dreams to him, requesting that he interpret them.
One of them said: I saw myself [in a dream] pressing wine.’ The other said: And I saw
myself [in a dream] carrying bread on my head, and birds were eating of it.’ ‘Tell us
the meaning of these dreams, for we can see that you are a man of virtue.’ (Verse 36)
Joseph seizes the opportunity to speak to the prisoners about his faith, which is the
true faith. The fact that he is in prison does not exempt him from his duty to preach
the true faith and to criticize any situation that assigns lordship to human rulers. For
submission to such rulers means that they usurp the rights of lordship and become
pharaohs.
Joseph starts at the point which preoccupies his fellow prisoners. He reassures
them that he will give them the correct interpretation of their dreams because his
Lord has given him special knowledge as a result of his dedication in worshipping
Him alone and his associating no partners with Him. In this way Joseph makes it
clear that he follows the faith of his forefathers who were similarly dedicated. At the
very outset then, he wins their trust, stating that he will rightly interpret their
dreams. At the same time he also presents his faith in appealing guise.
[Joseph] answered: ‘Your food which is provided for you will not have come to you
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