And ˹one day˺ the King said, “I dreamt of seven fat cows eaten up by seven skinny ones; and seven green ears of grain and ˹seven˺ others dry. O  chiefs! Tell me the meaning of my dream if you can interpret dreams.”12:43

One day, the king had a dream. He asked his ministers if any of them could interpret his dream but none could and thought they were just random confused dreams with no meaning.

They replied, “These are confused visions and we do not know the interpretation of such dreams.”12:44

At this, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and that he had forgotten to tell them of his truthfulness and ability to interpret dreams.

˹Finally,˺ the surviving ex-prisoner remembered ˹Joseph˺ after a long time and said, “I will tell you its interpretation, so send me forth ˹to Joseph˺.”12:45

˹He said,˺ “Joseph, O  man of truth! Interpret for us ˹the dream of˺ seven fat cows eaten up by seven skinny ones; and seven green ears of grain and ˹seven˺ others dry, so that I may return to the people and let them know.”12:46

Joseph then interpreted the dreams explaining what was to happen. He said there would be 7 years of good plentiful harvest and 7 years of famine that will follow. After this, there will be a year of abundant rain where plants will grow again.

Joseph replied, “You will plant ˹grain˺ for seven consecutive years, leaving in the ear whatever you will harvest, except for the little you will eat.12:47

Then after that will come seven years of great hardship which will consume whatever you have saved, except the little you will store ˹for seed˺.12:48

Then after that will come a year in which people will receive abundant rain and they will press ˹oil and wine˺.”12:49

Joseph also advised that in the first 7 years, some of the harvest be stored in the ears of the corn and a small amount eaten. Furthermore, as there was to be no rain in the second 7 years, they should not plant any of their grain as it would go to waste. This wisdom was bestowed upon Joseph by Allah.

After hearing this foresight, the king demanded Joseph be brought to him and included in his close circle of advisers. But, before Joseph left prison, he wanted to ensure it was known that he was imprisoned unjustly, referencing the incident when the wife of Aziz invited her guests.

The King ˹then˺ said, “Bring him to me.” When the messenger came to him, Joseph said, “Go back to your master and ask him about the case of the women who cut their hands. Surely my Lord has ˹full˺ knowledge of their cunning.”12:50

The King asked ˹the women˺, “What did you get when you tried to seduce Joseph?” They replied, “Allah forbid! We know nothing indecent about him.” Then the Chief Minister’s wife admitted, “Now the truth has come to light. It was I who tried to seduce him, and he is surely truthful.12:51

Some say that this confession was made by Joseph but the stronger opinion in this confession came from the wife of Aziz.

From this, Joseph should know that I did not speak dishonestly about him in his absence, for Allah certainly does not guide the scheming of the dishonest.12:52

And I do not seek to free myself from blame, for indeed the soul is ever inclined to evil, except those shown mercy by my Lord. Surely my Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”12:53