Almighty Allah related the scene of the banquet in His
words: So when she heard of their accusation, she sent for them and prepared a
banquet for them; she gave each one of them a knife (to cut the foodstuff
with), and she said (to Joseph): "Come out before them." Then, when
they saw him, they exalted him (at his beauty) and (in their astonishment) cut
their hands. They said: "How perfect is Allah (or Allah forbid)! No man is
this! This is none other than a noble angel!"
She said: "This is he (the young man) about whom you
did blame me (for his love), and I did seek to seduce him, but he refused. And
now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and
will be one of those who are disgraced." Surah 31-32
He said: "0 my Lord! Prison is more to my liking than
that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will
feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve
blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorants."
So his Lord answered his invocation and turned away from him
their plot. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the AllKnower. Surah 12: 33-34
That evening, Zulaikha convinced her husband that the only
way to save her honor was to put Joseph in prison; otherwise she would not be
able to control herself or to safeguard his prestige. The chief minister knew
Joseph was absolutely innocent, that he was a young man of honor, a loyal
servant, and he loved him for these reasons. It was not an easy decision for
him to put an innocent man behind bars.
However, he was
left with no choice. He reasoned that Joseph's honor would also be safeguarded
if he was kept out of Zulaikha's sight. That night, with a heavy heart, the
chief minister sent Joseph to prison.
Prison was Joseph's third test. During this period Allah
blessed him with an extraordinary gift: the ability to interpret dreams. At
about the same time two other men landed in the prison. One was the cupbearer
of the king; the other was the king's cook. The two men sensed that Joseph was
not a common criminal, for an aura of piety glowed on his face. Both men had
vivid dreams, and they were anxious to have them explained. The king's cook
dreamed that he stood in a place with bread on his head, and two birds were
eating the bread. The cupbearer dreamed that he was serving the king wine. The
two went to Joseph and told him their dreams, asking him to give them their
meaning.
First, Joseph called them to Allah. Then he said that the
cook would be crucified until he died and that the cupbearer would return to
the service of the king. Joseph told the cupbearer to remember him to the king
and to say that there was a wronged soul called Joseph in the prison. What
Joseph predicted did happen; the cook was crucified and the cupbearer returned
to the palace.
After the cupbearer returned to service, Satan made him
forget to mention Joseph's name to the king. Therefore, Joseph remained in
prison for a few years, but he made patience his own, praying to Allah.
Almighty Allah narrated: And there entered with him two
young men in the prison. One of them said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a
dream) pressing wine." The other said: "Verily, I saw myself (in a
dream) carrying bread on my head and birds were eating thereof" (They
said): "Inform us of the interpretation of this. Verily, we think you are
one of the Muhsineen (doers of good)."
He said: "No food will come to you (in wakefulness or
in dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its
interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has
taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not
in Allah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter. And I have followed the
religion of my fathers, - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and never could we attribute
any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to
mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah, nor
worship Him).
"0 two companions of the prison! Are many different
lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible? You do not worship
besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers,
for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgment) is
for none but Allah. He has commanded (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true)
straight religion, but most men know not.
"0 two companions of the prison! As for one of you, he
(as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord (King or master) to drink; and
as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head. Thus
is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire."
And he said to the one whom he knew to be saved: 'Mention me
to your lord (i.e. your King, so as to get me out of the prison)." But
Satan made him forget to mention it to his lord or Satan made (Joseph) to
forget the remembrance of his Lord (Allah) as to ask for His Help, instead of
others. So (Joseph) stayed in prison a few (more) years. Surah 12: 36-42
The scene in the prison closes; a new scene opens in the bed
chamber of the king. The king is asleep. He sees himself on the banks of the
Nile river. The water is receding before him, becoming mere mud. The fish begin
to skip and jump in the mud. Seven fat cows come out of the river followed by
seven lean cows. The seven lean ones devour the seven fat ones. The king is
terrified. Then seven ears of green grain grow on the river banks and disappear
in the mud. On the same spot grow seven dry ears of grain.
The king awoke frightened, shocked, and depressed, not
knowing what all this meant. He sent for the sorcerers, priests and ministers,
and told them his dream.
The sorcerers said: "This is a mixed up dream. How can
any of that be? It is a nightmare."
The priests said: "Perhaps his majesty had a heavy
supper."
The chief minister said: "Could it be that his majesty
was exposed and did not draw the blanket up at night?"
The king's jester said, jokingly: "His majesty is
beginning to grow old, and so his dreams are confused."
They reached a unanimous conclusion that it was only a
nightmare.
The news reached the cupbearer. He recollected the dream he
had had in prison and compared it to the king's dream, and, therefore Joseph
came to mind. He ran to the king to tell him about Joseph, who was the only one
capable of interpreting the dream. The cupbearer said: "He had asked me to
remember him to you, but I forgot." The king sent the cupbearer to ask
Joseph about the dream.
Joseph interpreted it to him: "There will be seven
years of abundance. If the land is properly cultivated, there will be an excess
of good harvest, more than the people will need. This should be stored.
Thereafter, seven years of famine will follow, during which time the excess
grain could be used."
He also advised that during the famine they should save some
grain to be used for seed for the next harvest. Joseph then added: "After
seven years of drought, there will be a year during which water will be
plentiful. If the water is properly used, grapevines and olive trees will grow
in abundance, providing plenty of grapes and olive oil."
The cupbearer hurried back with the good news. The king was
fascinated by Joseph's interpretation.
Almighty Allah narrated this incident thus: And the king (of
Egypt) said: "Verily, I saw
(in a dream) seven
fat cows, whom seven lean cows were devouring - and (seven) green ears of corn,
and seven others dry. 0 notables! Explain to me my dream, if it be that you can
interpret dreams."
They said: 'Mixed up false dreams and we are not skilled in
the interpretation of dreams."
Then the man who was released (one of the two who were in
prison), now at length remembered and said: "I will tell you its
interpretation, so send me forth."
(He said): "0 Joseph, the man of truth! Explain to us
(the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven
green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people,
and that they may know." (Joseph) said: "For seven consecutive years,
you shall sow as usual and that (the harvest) which you reap you shall leave in
ears, (all) - except a little of it which you may eat. Then will come after
that seven hard (years), which will devour what you have laid by in advance for
them, (all) except a little of that which you have guarded (stored). Then
thereafter will come a year in which people will have abundant rain and in
which they will press (wine and oil)." Surah 12: 43-49
The king was greatly astonished. Who could this person be?
He commanded that Joseph to be set free from prison and presented to him at
once. The king's envoy went to fetch him immediately, but Joseph refused to
leave the prison unless his innocence was proven. Perhaps they accused him of
cutting the ladies' hands, or of trying to rape them. Perhaps any other false
accusation was made.
We do not know exactly what was said to the people to
justify Joseph's sentence
to prison. The envoy
returned to the king. The kings asked him: "Where is Joseph?
Did I not command you
to fetch him?"
The envoy replied: "He refused to leave until his
innocence is established regarding the ladies who cut their hands."
The king ordered: "Bring the wives of the ministers and
the wife of the chief minister at once." The king felt that Joseph had
been harmed unfairly but he did not know exactly how.
The wife of the chief minister came with the other
ministers' wives. The king asked: "What is the story of Joseph? What do
you know about him? Is it true that...?" .
One of the ladies interrupted the king exclaiming:
"Allah forbid!"
A second said: "We know of no evil he has done."
A third said: "He enjoys the innocence of angels."
The eyes of everyone turned to the wife of the chief
minister. She now wore a wrinkled face and had lost weight. She had been
overwhelmed by sorrow over Joseph while he was in prison. She boldly confessed
that she had lied and he had told the truth. "I tempted him; but he
refused." She confirmed what she said, not out of fear of the king or the
other ladies, but for Joseph to know that she had never betrayed him during his
absence, for he was still in her mind and soul. Of all creation he was the only
one she cared for, so she confirmed his innocence before all.
The king was greatly astonished. Who could this person be?
He commanded that Joseph to be set free from prison and presented to him at
once. The king's envoy went to fetch him immediately, but Joseph refused to
leave the prison unless his innocence was proven. Perhaps they accused him of
cutting the ladies' hands, or of trying to rape them. Perhaps any other false
accusation was made.
We do not know exactly what was said to the people to
justify Joseph's sentence to prison. The envoy returned to the king. The kings
asked him: "Where is Joseph? Did I not command you to fetch him?"
The envoy replied: "He refused to leave until his
innocence is established regarding the ladies
who cut their hands."
The king ordered: "Bring the wives of the ministers and
the wife of the chief minister at once." The king felt that Joseph had
been harmed unfairly but he did not know exactly how.
The wife of the chief minister came with the other
ministers' wives. The king asked: "What is the story of Joseph? What do
you know about him? Is it true that...?" .
One of the ladies interrupted the king exclaiming:
"Allah forbid!"
A second said: "We know of no evil he has done."
A third said: "He enjoys the innocence of angels."
The eyes of everyone turned to the wife of the chief
minister. She now wore a wrinkled face and had lost weight. She had been
overwhelmed by sorrow over Joseph while he was in prison. She boldly confessed
that she had lied and he had told the truth. "I tempted him; but he
refused." She confirmed what she said, not out of fear of the king or the
other ladies, but for Joseph to know that she had never betrayed him during his
absence, for he was still in her mind and soul. Of all creation he was the only
one she cared for, so she confirmed his innocence before all.
Almighty Allah said: And the king said: "Bring him to
me. But when the messenger came to him (Joseph) said: "Return to your lord
and ask him, 'What happened to the women who cut their hands? Surely, my Lord
(Allah) is WellAware of their plot.
(The king) said (to the women): 'What was your affair when
you did seek to seduce Joseph?" The women said: 'Allah forbid! No evil
know we against him!" The wife of
Al- 'Aziz said: "Now the truth is manifest (to all), it
was I who sought to seduce him,
and he is surely of the truthful."
(Then Joseph said. "I asked for this enquiry) in order
that he (Al- 'Aziz) may know that I betrayed him not in secret. And, verily!
Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers. And I free not myself (from the
blame). Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord
bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful." Surah 12: 50-53
No comments:
Post a Comment