While in jail, Joseph became well known for his prowess in interpreting dreams.
One day two inmates came to ask him to interpret some dreams they saw.
The first one saw himself in his dream carrying a breadbasket over his head from which some birds were feeding. The other saw himself in his dream squeezing wine for his master.
Joseph interpreted the dreams as follows: As for the first, he told him that he would be put to death. He tells the second that he will be released from jail soon and will be back serving his master. He further asks to tell his story( Joseph’s story) to his master to hasten his release from jail. Both dreams come true.
The guy released from jail forgot about Joseph until such a time when the king had a dream that was repeated several times, and nobody was able to interpret it for him. It was then that the ex-inmate remembered Joseph and asked for permission to visit him in jail.
Upon telling Joseph about the king’s dream, Joseph interprets it as follows: In the next seven years, the kingdom will witness plentiful harvests. Most of the produce should be stored in silos because there will follow seven years of famine where little or no grain will be produced. Relief will follow during the year after.
When the King heard about the interpretation, he wanted to know more about Joseph and why he was in jail. The answer came that he was innocent of any wrongdoing. Thereupon, the king orders his immediate release and to be brought to him forthwith. The king offered Joseph any job he wanted, and Joseph requested the position of master of all provisions and so it was.
During the lean years, people turned to the king for their provisions, and among those were the brothers of Joseph who was able to recognize them, but they did not recognize him. In the course of talking to them, he quizzes them about Benjamin, who was not with them, and they tell him that their father does not trust them with him with his favorite son after he lost Joseph. Joseph then urges them to bring him with them next time to earn an extra provision, otherwise there will be none for them.
They were able to convince their father, who had lost his eyesight in sorrow for Joseph, to take Benjamin with them. While they are getting their new provisions, Joseph can reveal secretly his identity to Benjamin and he then orders his servants to insert the Measuring cup into the sack of Benjamin. And Just before leaving a crier calls out that someone stole the king’s measuring cup. They inspect every sack before reaching to Benjamín’s and finding it there. Thereupon, Joseph orders retention. The brothers plead with him to take any one of them instead, but he refuses on the basis it would not be fair.
Upon returning home and telling their father their story asking to confirm what happened with the rest of the caravan that they came with, but the father indicates that something is happening so may God return them all to him save and sound. Jacob orders his sons to return to Egypt and seek more information about their missing brothers.
When they meet Joseph, he reveals his identity and forgives his brothers for their plotting against him and asks them to go back and bring their parents with them so they could live together once again.
For more details on the story, we refer to reader to chapter 12 of the Quran named in Joseph’s honor, and more specifically to verses 81–87 and also verses 96- 98.
This biblical story as well as all other biblical stories are retold in the Quran to drive home the lessons derived from them. In the case of Joseph, the reader could seduce the following lessons:
1- A preferential treatment between brothers/sisters invites Satan to play his dirty role.
2- Raising upright kids, will always serve them well later.
3- Patience always pays off with dividends.
4- Putting one’s trust in God, as Jacob did for over twenty years without fail, also pays off.
5- The truth always triumphs at the end.