يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ 46
Translations
[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."
Transliteration
Yusuf ayyuha al-siddiq aftina fi saba' baqarat siман ya'kuluhunna saba' 'ijaf wa saba' sunbulat khudur wa ukhra yabisат la'allي arji'u ila al-nas la'allahum ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Egyptian king's counselor appeals to Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), acknowledging his truthfulness and integrity, to interpret a mysterious dream involving seven fat cows being consumed by seven lean ones, and seven green ears of grain alongside seven withered ones. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this dream was a divine warning of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of drought and famine, which Yusuf would later interpret with precision, demonstrating his wisdom and prophetic knowledge. The address 'O al-Siddiq' (the truthful one) reflects the established reputation Yusuf had gained even in his imprisonment, validating his character and divine favor.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the historical narrative of Yusuf's life in Meccan Surah Yusuf (revealed during the Meccan period). The context depicts Yusuf's moment of deliverance after years of wrongful imprisonment; the king's dream becomes the catalyst for Yusuf's release and elevation to a position of authority. This narrative illustrates divine providence and the eventual vindication of the truthful and patient.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain hadiths affirming the interpretive science of dreams ('ilm al-ru'ya) and the trustworthiness of righteous servants, supporting the thematic validation of Yusuf's character and prophetic insight.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that integrity and truthfulness establish a reputation that precedes one even in difficult circumstances, and that patience through trials ultimately leads to vindication and positions of trust. For modern believers, it emphasizes that maintaining honest character is an investment that attracts respect and opens unexpected doors of opportunity.
Related Ayahs
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ
So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allāh! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel."
۞ رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allāh is most knowing of what you describe."
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allāh is the one sought for help against that which you describe."