سُوْرَةُ يُوسُفَ
Surah Yusuf (12) — Ayah 46
يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿46﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(He said): "O Yûsuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people, and that they may know."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يُوسُفُ
yūsufu
Yusuf
أَيُّهَا
ayyuhā
O
ٱلصِّدِّيقُ
l-ṣidīqu
the truthful one
أَفْتِنَا
aftinā
Explain to us
فِى
fī
about
سَبْعِ
sabʿi
(the) seven
بَقَرَٰتٍۢ
baqarātin
cows
سِمَانٍۢ
simānin
fat
يَأْكُلُهُنَّ
yakuluhunna
eating them
سَبْعٌ
sabʿun
seven
عِجَافٌۭ
ʿijāfun
lean ones
وَسَبْعِ
wasabʿi
and seven
سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ
sunbulātin
ears (of corn)
خُضْرٍۢ
khuḍ'rin
green
وَأُخَرَ
wa-ukhara
and other
يَابِسَـٰتٍۢ
yābisātin
dry
لَّعَلِّىٓ
laʿallī
that I may
أَرْجِعُ
arjiʿu
return
إِلَى
ilā
to
ٱلنَّاسِ
l-nāsi
the people
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 46) ➊ Before {يُوْسُفُ اَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيْقُ …: ’’ يُوْسُفُ ‘‘}, the vocative particle such as {’’ يَا ‘‘} is omitted, due to which it is mabni ‘ala al-dham. In the active participle of {’’ الصِّدِّيْقُ ‘‘ ’’صَدَقَ‘‘}, there is hyperbole, meaning someone who is always truthful in his speech, actions, and state; whose habit is always to speak the truth, whose words are true, and whose actions and state are in accordance with that. There are many levels of Siddiqiyyah: a believer is also a Siddiq compared to a disbeliever (see Hadid: 19), and Abu Bakr is also a Siddiq, and in the Ummah, there is no Siddiq of his rank. Regarding Ibrahim and Idris (peace be upon them), in Surah Maryam (41, 56), {’’ صِدِّيْقًا نَّبِيًّا ‘‘} is mentioned; Yusuf (peace be upon him) is also a Siddiq. The cupbearer had already witnessed his being a Siddiq even before the interpretation, which is why he said: «{ اِنَّا نَرٰىكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِيْنَ }» [ یوسف : ۳۶ ] Then, after the interpretation came true exactly as stated, his being a Siddiq was further confirmed.
➋ Here, observe the attitude of the cupbearer: there is no mention of any apology for forgetting, and see the vastness of Yusuf’s (peace be upon him) heart—he did not even ask why the cupbearer hadn't remembered Yusuf the Siddiq after such a long time, or what he had come for now. This is the difference between people of self-interest and those who do good.
➌ The cupbearer did not mention the dreamer, but he narrated the dream in exactly the same words as the king’s, because even a single word’s difference can change the meaning. In the Qur’an, in both places, there is mention of the lean cows eating the fat cows, but the mention of the dry ears wrapping around the green ears—where did the commentators get this from? Allah Almighty knows best. The cupbearer requested: give us a verdict (interpretation) about this dream; people are waiting, so that I may go and inform them, and they may also know.
➋ Here, observe the attitude of the cupbearer: there is no mention of any apology for forgetting, and see the vastness of Yusuf’s (peace be upon him) heart—he did not even ask why the cupbearer hadn't remembered Yusuf the Siddiq after such a long time, or what he had come for now. This is the difference between people of self-interest and those who do good.
➌ The cupbearer did not mention the dreamer, but he narrated the dream in exactly the same words as the king’s, because even a single word’s difference can change the meaning. In the Qur’an, in both places, there is mention of the lean cows eating the fat cows, but the mention of the dry ears wrapping around the green ears—where did the commentators get this from? Allah Almighty knows best. The cupbearer requested: give us a verdict (interpretation) about this dream; people are waiting, so that I may go and inform them, and they may also know.
