“They said, ‘A jumble of dreams, and we do not know how to interpret dreams.’ * Then the one of the two who had been saved remembered after a long time and said, ‘I will tell you its interpretation, so send me forth.’ * ‘Joseph, O man of utmost truth, advise us concerning seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others that were dry, in the hope that I may return to the people and that they may know.’ * He said, ‘You will sow for seven consecutive years. Whatever you harvest, leave it in its ears, except for a little that you eat. * Then after that will come seven severe years that will consume what you have stored for them, except for a little of what you keep in reserve. * Then after that will come a year in which the people will be granted rain and in which they will press their produce.’”

“They said, ‘A jumble of dreams’”—that is, dreams with no substance and no interpretation.

This was a categorical assertion on their part concerning something they did not know, and an attempt to excuse themselves [with something that was no excuse] (1). They then said, “And we do not know how to interpret dreams.” That is, they meant: We interpret only true dreams; as for dreams that come from Satan or arise from a person’s own thoughts, we do not interpret them.

Thus, they combined ignorance with the categorical assertion that these were a jumble of dreams, as well as self-conceit, for they did not simply say, “We do not know their interpretation.” This is unbecoming of people of religion and sound judgment.

This was also part of Allah’s gracious care for Joseph (peace be upon him). Had Joseph interpreted the dream immediately—before it was presented to the notables and scholars of the king’s people, who proved unable to interpret it—it would not have made the same impression. But once it had been presented to them, they had failed to answer, and the king had become deeply concerned about it, Joseph interpreted it, and his interpretation made a tremendous impression upon them.

This resembles Allah’s demonstration of Adam’s superiority over the angels through knowledge: after He questioned them and they did not know, He questioned Adam, who informed them of the names of all things, thereby making Adam’s superiority all the more evident. It is also like the way the excellence of the best of His creation, Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), will be manifested on the Day of Resurrection. Allah will inspire creation to seek intercession first from Adam, then Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all), but they will excuse themselves from undertaking it. They will then come to Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who will say, “I am the one for it! I am the one for it!” He will intercede for all creation and attain the Praiseworthy Station, which will be the envy of all earlier and later generations.

How perfect is He whose gracious workings are hidden and subtle in bringing goodness and beneficence to the most distinguished of His chosen servants and allies.

“The one of the two who had been saved said”—that is, one of the two young men. He was the one who had dreamed that he was pressing wine, and the one whom Joseph had instructed to mention him to his master. “He remembered after a long time”—that is, he remembered Joseph, what had occurred when Joseph interpreted their two dreams, and what Joseph had asked him to do. He realized that Joseph was fully capable of interpreting this dream, even after so many years, and therefore said, “I will tell you its interpretation, so send me forth”—to Joseph, so that I may ask him about it.

They sent him, and he came to Joseph. Joseph did not rebuke him for forgetting; rather, he listened to his question and answered him. The man said, “Joseph, O man of utmost truth”—that is, one who is consistently truthful in his words and deeds—“advise us concerning seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain and others that were dry, in the hope that I may return to the people and that they may know,” for they were eager to learn its interpretation and deeply concerned about it.

⦗400⦘

Joseph interpreted the seven fat cows and the seven green ears as seven years of abundance, and the seven lean cows and the seven dry ears as years of drought. Perhaps the reason for this—and Allah knows best—is that agriculture depends upon abundance or drought. When there is abundance, the crops and cultivated fields grow strong, become pleasing in appearance, and produce plentiful yields; drought brings the opposite. Cows were generally used to plow the land and draw water for the crops, while ears of grain constitute one of the greatest and finest staple foods. He therefore interpreted them in this manner because of the correspondence between them.

In his interpretation, he combined an explanation of the dream with guidance about what they should do, preparing through prudent management during the years of abundance for the years of drought. He said, “You will sow for seven consecutive years.”

“Whatever you harvest” from those crops, “leave it in its ears,” because this preserves it longer and makes it less likely to attract attention, “except for a little that you eat.” That is, carefully regulate your consumption during these fertile years as well. Let what you eat be little, so that what you store will be plentiful and its benefit and effect will be great.

“Then after that will come”—after those seven fertile years—“seven severe years,” meaning years of extreme drought. “They will consume what you have stored for them”—that is, they will consume everything you have stored, however plentiful it may be—“except for a little of what you keep in reserve,” meaning what you protect and do not bring out for those years.

“Then after that will come”—after the seven severe years—“a year in which the people will be granted rain and in which they will press their produce.” That is, rain and floodwaters will be plentiful, crops will abound and exceed their food requirements, to the point that after meeting their needs they will press grapes and similar produce.

Perhaps Joseph inferred the coming of this fertile year, even though it was not expressly mentioned in the king’s dream, because he understood from the specification (2) of seven severe years that the year following them would bring their severity to an end. It is well known that a drought lasting seven consecutive years can be brought to an end only by a year of exceptional abundance; otherwise, specifying the number would serve no purpose. When the messenger returned to the king and the people and informed them of Joseph’s interpretation of the dream, they were amazed and rejoiced exceedingly.