“And the other”—the baker—said, “Indeed, I saw myself carrying bread upon my head, from which birds were eating.” This was because he said: “I saw as though there were three baskets upon my head, containing bread and various kinds of food, while birds of prey were tearing at it.”

“Inform us of its interpretation”: that is, tell us its explanation, its interpretation, and what the matter of this dream will ultimately lead to.

“Indeed, we see you to be among the righteous”: that is, among those knowledgeable in the interpretation of dreams; here, excellence means knowledge.

It is related that al-Dahhak ibn Muzahim was asked about the words, “Indeed, we see you to be among the righteous”: “What was Joseph’s excellence?” He replied: “Whenever someone in the prison fell ill, he would visit him and attend to him. Whenever someone found the gathering too cramped, he would make room for him; and whenever someone was in need, he would collect something for him. Along with this, he strove in worship and spent the entire night standing in prayer.” (1) (2)

It was also said: (3) When he entered the prison, he found people there whose affliction had become severe, whose hope had been cut off, and whose sorrow had long endured. He began to comfort them, saying, “Take heart and be patient, and you will be rewarded.” They would say, “May Allah bless you, young man! How fine are your appearance, character, and speech! We have truly been blessed through being near you. Who are you, young man?” He said, “I am Joseph, son of Jacob, the one chosen by Allah; son of Isaac, the sacrifice of Allah; son of Abraham, the close friend of Allah.” (4)

The prison warden said to him, “Young man, by Allah, if I were able, I would set you free. But I shall treat you well during your stay, and you may reside in whichever quarters of the prison you wish.”

It is also related that, when the two young men saw Joseph, they said to him, “We have loved you ever since we saw you.” Joseph said to them, “I implore you by Allah not to love me. By Allah, no one has ever loved me without his love bringing affliction upon me. My aunt loved me, and affliction came upon me; then my father loved me, and I was cast into the well; and the wife of al-Aziz loved me, 182/b and so I was imprisoned.”

When they related their dreams to him, Joseph disliked interpreting for them what they had asked about, because he knew that it entailed something unpleasant for one of them. So he turned away from their question and spoke of something else, demonstrating the miracle and calling them to tawhid (the worship of Allah alone). (5)

“He said, ‘No food will come to you that you are given as provision except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah, and who disbelieve in the Hereafter.’” (37)

“He said, ‘No food will come to you that you are given as provision’: It was said that this refers to dreams; that is, no food that you are given in your dreams will come to you “except that I will inform you of its interpretation” while awake.