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Joseph's Imprisonment

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Joseph's Imprisonment

سجن يوسف

Joseph's imprisonment is a profound episode in his life, detailed extensively in Surah Yusuf, offering timeless lessons on faith and perseverance. Despite his innocence, he was [imprisoned for a time] due to false accusations by Zulaykha, the wife of al-Azeez. Even within the confines of the prison, Joseph's noble character shone brightly. He patiently endured his hardship, displaying unwavering trust in Allah. During this period, he interpreted dreams for [two young men], demonstrating his wisdom and prophetic insight, and calling them to monotheism. Though he asked one inmate to [mention me before your master], Satan caused forgetfulness, prolonging his stay for several years. This extended trial allowed Joseph's reputation as a dream interpreter to grow, eventually leading to the king's attention. When finally called upon, Joseph, ever principled, refused to leave until his innocence was publicly cleared, asking the king to [ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands]. This period of incarceration was not a punishment but a divine plan, refining his character and preparing him for his destined role as a leader and a prophet, ultimately bringing justice and revealing the wisdom behind his trials.

Quran 4 verses

ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ

Summa badaa lahum mim ba'di maa ra-awul Aayaati layasjununnahoo hatta heen

Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that al-'Azeez should surely imprison him for a time.

پھر باوجود اس کے کہ وہ لوگ نشان دیکھ چکے تھے ان کی رائے یہی ٹھہری کہ کچھ عرصہ کے لیے ان کو قید ہی کردیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: So, said at the end of the verse (35) was: ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَا رَ‌أَوُا الْآيَاتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ Later on, even after having seen the signs, they [ the ` Aziz of Misr and his advisers ] deemed it proper [ or expedient ] to imprison him for a time. Thus, to the prison he ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then it seemed it appeared good to them after they had seen the signs indicating Joseph’s innocence that they should imprison him for a while until such time as people ceased to talk of him. He was thus imprisoned.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Yusuf is imprisoned without Justification Allah says, `Then it occurred to them that it would be in their interest to imprison Yusuf for a time, even after they were convinced of his innocence and saw the proofs of his truth, honesty and chastity.' It appears, and Allah knows best, that they impriso...

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

Wa dakhala ma'ahussijna fata yaan; qaala ahaduhumaaa inneee araaneee a'siru khamranw wa qaalal aakharu inneee khubzan taakulut tairu minh; nabbi 'naa bitaaweelihee innaa naraaka minal muhsineen

And there entered the prison with him two young men. One of them said, "Indeed, I have seen myself [in a dream] pressing 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."

اور ان کے ساتھ دو اور جوان بھی داخل زندان ہوئے۔ ایک نے ان میں سے کہا کہ (میں نے خواب دیکھا ہے) دیکھتا (کیا) ہوں کہ شراب (کے لیے انگور) نچوڑ رہا ہوں۔ دوسرے نے کہا کہ (میں نے بھی خواب دیکھا ہے) میں یہ دیکھتا ہوں کہ اپنے سر پر روٹیاں اٹھائے ہوئے ہوں اور جانور ان میں سے کھا رہے (ہیں تو) ہمیں ان کی تعبیر بتا دیجیئے کہ ہم تمہیں نیکوکار دیکھتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Mentioned in the verses cited above is a supplementary event relating to the story of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) . It has been repeatedly stressed that the Holy Qur’ an is no book of history, or of stories and tales. When a story or historical event is mentioned in it, the sole objectiv...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And there entered the prison with him two youths two young men servants of the king one of whom was his cup-bearer the other his food-taster. They noticed that he interpreted dreams and so they said ‘Let us try him’. One of them the cup-bearer said ‘I dreamed that I was pressing wine’ that is grapes...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Two Jail Mates ask Yusuf to interpret their Dreams Qatadah said, "One of them was the king's distiller and the other was his baker." Each of these two men had a dream and asked Yusuf to interpret it for them.

وَقَالَ لِلَّذِى ظَنَّ أَنَّهُۥ نَاجٍ مِّنْهُمَا ٱذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ فَأَنسَىٰهُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ذِكْرَ رَبِّهِۦ فَلَبِثَ فِى ٱلسِّجْنِ بِضْعَ سِنِينَ

Wa qaala lillazee zanna annahoo najim minhumaz kurnee 'inda rabbika fa-ansaahush Shaitaanu zikra Rabbihee falabisa fis sijni bad'a sineen

And he said to the one whom he knew would go free, "Mention me before your master." But Satan made him forget the mention [to] his master, and Joseph remained in prison several years.

اور دونوں شخصوں میں سے جس کی نسبت (یوسف نے) خیال کیا کہ وہ رہائی پا جائے گا اس سے کہا کہ اپنے آقا سے میرا ذکر بھی کرنا لیکن شیطان نے ان کا اپنے آقا سے ذکر کرنا بھلا دیا اور یوسف کئی برس جیل خانے میں رہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: After that, to the person about whom Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) had gathered from the interpretation of his dream that he would be released, he said: When you are released from the prison, mention me before your master as the innocent person who is still languishing in the prison. But, once releas...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then he said to the one whom he deemed whom he was certain would be saved of the two — and this was the cup-bearer ‘Mention me to your lord’ your master and say to him ‘There is a young man in jail who has been wrongly imprisoned’. So he the cup-bearer departed but Satan caused him that is the cup-b...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Yusuf asks the King's Distiller to mention Him to the King Yusuf knew that the distiller would be saved. So discretely, so that the other man's suspicion that he would be crucified would not intensify, he said, اذْكُرْنِى عِندَ رَبِّكَ (Mention me to your King.) asking him to mention his story to th...

وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱئْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُ ٱلرَّسُولُ قَالَ ٱرْجِعْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَسْـَٔلْهُ مَا بَالُ ٱلنِّسْوَةِ ٱلَّٰتِى قَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ إِنَّ رَبِّى بِكَيْدِهِنَّ عَلِيمٌ

Wa qaalal maliku'toonee bihee falammaa jaaa'ahur rasoolu qaalar-ji ilaa rabbika fas'alhu maa baalun niswatil laatee qatta'na aydiyahunn; inna Rabbee bikaidihinna 'Aleem

And the king said, "Bring him to me." But when the messenger came to him, [Joseph] said, "Return to your master and ask him what is the case of the women who cut their hands. Indeed, my Lord is Knowing of their plan."

(یہ تعبیر سن کر) بادشاہ نے حکم دیا کہ یوسف کو میرے پاس لے آؤ۔ جب قاصد ان کے پاس گیا تو انہوں نے کہا کہ اپنے آقا کے پاس واپس جاؤ اور ان سے پوچھو کہ ان عورتوں کا کیا حال ہے جنہوں نے اپنے ہاتھ کاٹ لیے تھے۔ بےشک میرا پروردگار ان کے مکروں سے خوب واقف ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ (And the king said, 'Bring him to me.' ). It means that the king gave the order that Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) be taken out of the prison and be produced before him in his court. So, some emissary of the king arrived at the prison with the message of the king. Obv...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And the king after the messenger had come to him and informed him of its the dream’s interpretation said ‘Bring him to me!’ that is the one who interpreted it. And when the messenger came to him that is to Joseph and summoned him in order to depart from the prison he said — with the intention of man...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The King investigates what happened between the Wife of the `Aziz, the Women in the City, and Yusuf Allah narrates to us that when the king was conveyed the interpretation of his dream, he liked Yusuf's interpretation and felt sure that it was true. He realized the virtue of Prophet Yusuf, recognize...

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