Yusuf (Joseph) was the beloved son of Prophet Jacob, who also had 11 other sons. Benjamin, who was youngest, was from the same mother as Yusuf, while the rest were older half-brothers. Yusuf, still a young boy, awoke one glorious morning delighted by a pleasant dream he just had. He ran to his father in excitement and said, “O my father, indeed I have seen eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me.” Jacob was overjoyed in realization that his dear son was indeed chosen by Allah to be bestowed with Prophethood. However, Jacob was concerned about his older sons’ possible reaction to this narration, for even though he treated them the same, they harbored jealousy towards Yusuf. He therefore warned Yusuf against relating his dream to his brothers, lest they plot for his downfall. During Yusuf’s time in jail, he was bestowed with the ability to interpret dreams. Two of Yusuf’s cellmates, mesmerized by his piety, sought him to have their dreams explained. One dreamt that he was serving the king wine and the other was carrying bread on his head which two birds were eating up. Yusuf initially called them to Allah, then interpreted, “O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed, about which you both inquire.” And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, “Mention me before your master.” But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and Jacob remained in prison several years. One day, the king of Egypt had an odd dream. He summoned his men and said, “Indeed, I have seen 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 cup bearer, who immediately remembered his companion in prison, informed the King of Yusuf and his impeccable dream interpretations. The King sent off his cup bearer to prison to meet with Yusuf and inquire about the peculiar dream. Yusuf was overjoyed at the sight of his companion and knew that this was indeed the plan of Allah. He narrated to him, “You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat. Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you advanced [saved] for them, except a little, from which you will store. Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes].” Amazed, the king ordered Yusuf to be presented before him. Yusuf, however, refused to leave prison until his innocence was proved. The king thus summoned the women relating to Yusuf’s incident. The women who had their hands cut, spoke of Yusuf’s innocence before the King, “Allah forbid! We know about him no evil.”
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