وَدَخَلَ مَعَهُ ٱلسِّجْنَ فَتَيَانِ ۖ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَآ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَعْصِرُ خَمْرًا ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰنِىٓ أَحْمِلُ فَوْقَ رَأْسِى خُبْزًا تَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ ۖ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّا نَرَىٰكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ 36
Translations
And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing [grapes for] wine." The other said, "Indeed, I have seen myself carrying upon my head [some] bread, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of those who do good."
Transliteration
Wa dakhal ma'ahu as-sijnu fatayani qala ahaduhuma inni ara'ani a'siru khamran wa qala al-akharu inni ara'ani ahmilu fawqa ra'si khubzan ta'kulu at-tayru minhu nabbilna bi-ta'wilih innna naraka mina al-muhsinin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Two young men enter the prison with Yusuf and each shares a dream—one sees himself pressing wine, the other sees himself carrying bread on his head with birds eating from it—requesting Yusuf to interpret their visions. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that these two inmates recognized Yusuf's virtue and spiritual excellence, prompting them to seek his interpretation despite their imprisoned status. This ayah demonstrates how Yusuf's character and wisdom were evident even to strangers, establishing the foundation for the dreams' interpretation that would eventually lead to his release and elevation.
Revelation Context
This occurs during Yusuf's imprisonment in Egypt following his false accusation by Zulaykha. The context shows how Allah positioned Yusuf in circumstances that would ultimately vindicate him and fulfill the earlier dream revealed to him as a child. The two cellmates serve as instruments of divine providence in Yusuf's eventual liberation.
Related Hadiths
While no direct hadith specifically narrates this incident, the broader narrative of Yusuf is confirmed in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, which reference his righteousness and Allah's protection of the virtuous. The principle of interpreting dreams is supported by the hadith: 'The best of dreams are those of the truthful' (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
Even in dire circumstances of imprisonment, maintaining integrity and spiritual excellence attracts others to seek guidance from you; trust in Allah's plan during trials, as He orchestrates seemingly coincidental encounters for profound purposes.