grapes that he would be pardoned for the allegations and would be set free and that he would return to his old employment of serving drinks to his master. He told the other intern that he would be crucified for his deeds and birds of prey would feed on his body after his death. Joseph then asked the first prisoner to make a plea for his release as soon as he got out of the prison. But the man forgot his promise.
Then the king saw a dream over successive nights that got him concerned. His courtiers and astrologers failed to satisfy him through any plausible interpretation. At that time, one of the prisoners who had survived, remembered Joseph. He told the ruler that he could find the interpretation of his dreams if he was allowed to visit Joseph in the prison. He was permitted to do so.
He greeted Joseph and narrated the dream to him. The ruler, in his dream, had seen seven fat cows emerging from the river, followed by seven weak ones. The weak cows devoured the fat ones. He then saw seven green and healthy ears of wheat followed by seven dry ones. The dry ones ate up the green ones.
Joseph said that both the dreams had the same interpretation. The seven fat cows and the seven healthy ears consist of seven years during which the country would see high- productivity. That would be followed by seven years of famine. Unless the years of high productivity were managed wisely, the years of famine would totally destroy the kingdom. He told me ruler that it would be prudent to save for the years of famine because the famine would be wide spread.
The ruler carefully listened to the interpretation of his dreams by Joseph and he knew that it must be true. He called Joseph back to his court and restored his position with full respect. Zulaikhah, by now, had admitted her mistake.
Joseph rises to the highest status in Egypt
The ruler made Joseph the chief administrator of the country’s products. He gave Joseph his ring that testified his total authority on his behalf. Joseph was only thirty years of age at that time. He went straight to work and began implementation of methods to enhance the products. He built large graineries for
storage. He conserved resources over expenditure in preparation for the bad times he had predicted.
Brothers of Joseph in Egypt
As foretold, famine struck the land of Egypt as well as the lands arround Egypt. The news of the graineries of Egypt had already spread far and wide. People flocked to Egypt for jobs and food. Thus Egypt flourished with cheap labor even during the days of wide spread famine. This was a clear sign of the intelligence and foresight of Joseph.
Like other lands, famine visited the land of Canaan as well. Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to procure grain. When they were in the presence of Joseph in their wretched attire, they could not recognise their own brother who was wearing his royal attire and had grown into handsome manhood. But Joseph recognised them. He gave them love, affection, shelter and food but did not reveal his identity to them. He asked them about their family and they told him about his father who had lost his eyesight from crying over the loss of his beloved son. When they were leaving with grain. Joseph insisted that they had to leave behind one of them as security. They must also bring their youngest brother when they return, otherwise they would not be given additional grain. They had no choice and one of them had to stay in Egypt.
Joseph s brothers returned to Egypt with their youngest brother Benjamin who was his sibling from the same mother. They brought the price of the previous cargo and gifts from their old and ailing father. The reminiscence of his childhood and separation from his beloved parents made Joseph cry. He revealed his identity to his brothers and sent them back laden. with gifts and grain. He invited them to come and live in Egypt because the famine was to last for a few years.
They returned to Egypt with their parents as well as other members of their clan. They bowed to him as subjects do before the king. This indeed was the true interpretation of the dream that Joseph had had as a child. Although his brothers had reacted to that dream with such cruelty, yet Joseph paid them
back with sympathy, love and forgiveness.
The death of Jacob
Jacob lived for seventeen years in Egypt before his death. He called his sons at his deathbed and advised them on matters of their mutual benefit and wished that upon his death his body should be carried back to Canaan for burial near his forefathers. His wishes were carried out with royal ceremonials.
The death of Joseph
Joseph lived for one hundred and ten years. He was buried in Egypt according to the rituals of the land and when Moses finally took the children of Israel out of Egypt, he took me coffin of Joseph to Canaan, to be buried alongside his ancestors.
References: The Qur’an: Sura Yusuf and Mo’min.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 