قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍ ۖ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحْلَـٰمِ بِعَـٰلِمِينَ 44
Translations
They said, "[It is but] a mixture of false dreams, and we are not learned in the interpretation of dreams."
Transliteration
Qalu adghathu ahlamin wa ma nahnu bi ta'wili al-ahlami bi alimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
The courtiers of Pharaoh dismiss the king's dreams as confused visions without real meaning, claiming they lack knowledge of dream interpretation. This response reflects their spiritual blindness and arrogance, as they reject the possibility of divine revelation through dreams, a common means of communication in the Quranic narrative. Ibn Kathir notes that their disbelief in the validity of dreams prevented them from recognizing the truth when Yusuf later provided the correct interpretation.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Yusuf (Joseph) in Surah al-Kahf's companion surah. The context depicts Pharaoh's troubled dreams and his summoning of his advisors for interpretation. Their dismissal sets the stage for Yusuf's eventual prominence when he succeeds where they fail, demonstrating divine wisdom working through unexpected means.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The truest dreams are those of the pious believers' (Sahih Muslim 2263). Additionally, the Quran and Sunnah affirm that dreams can contain truth and divine messages, contrasting with the courtiers' skepticism in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that those in positions of power and authority can be spiritually blind when they reject guidance, and that true wisdom comes from Allah rather than human status or collective opinion. We should remain humble about the limits of our knowledge and open to signs from unexpected sources.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ ۖ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِى فِى رُءْيَـٰىَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّءْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ
And [subsequently] the king said, "Indeed, I have seen [in a dream] seven fat cows being eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry. O eminent ones, explain to me my vision, if you should interpret visions."
وَٱسْتَبَقَا ٱلْبَابَ وَقَدَّتْ قَمِيصَهُۥ مِن دُبُرٍ وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَا ٱلْبَابِ ۚ قَالَتْ مَا جَزَآءُ مَنْ أَرَادَ بِأَهْلِكَ سُوٓءًا إِلَّآ أَن يُسْجَنَ أَوْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And they both raced to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back, and they found her husband at the door. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment?"
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you 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 Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَجْتَبِيكَ رَبُّكَ وَيُعَلِّمُكَ مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ وَيُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰٓ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ كَمَآ أَتَمَّهَا عَلَىٰٓ أَبَوَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of narratives [i.e., events or dreams] and complete His favor upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He completed it upon your fathers before, Abraham and Isaac. Indeed, your Lord is Knowing and Wise."