As for the words of Allah Most High:

“Had he not seen his Lord’s proof,”

this is a statement from Allah Most High that he saw his Lord’s proof. His Lord is Allah, as he said to his two fellow prisoners:

“That is part of what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah.”

His words, “my master,” parallel his words to the man who had the dream:

“Mention me to your master.”

Allah Most High said:

“But Satan made him forget the remembrance of his lord.”

It has been said that Joseph was made to forget the remembrance of his Lord when he said, “Mention me to your master.”

It has also been said that, rather, Satan made the one of the two who was released forget to mention Joseph to his master. This is the correct interpretation, for it corresponds to his words, “Mention me to your master.” Allah Most High said, “But Satan made him forget the remembrance of his lord.” A pronoun refers to the nearest antecedent unless there is evidence to the contrary. Moreover, Joseph did not forget the remembrance of his Lord; rather, he continued to remember Him.

Before interpreting their dreams, he had called them both to believe in his Lord, saying to them:

“O my two fellow prisoners! Are separate lords better, or Allah, the One, the All-Subduing?

“You worship nothing besides Him but names you and your forefathers have devised, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to Allah alone. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.”

Before that, he had said to them, “No food will come to you as provision”—meaning, in a dream—“unless