THE KING'S DREAM

 FAJR REMINDER: THE KING'S DREAM 

By: Umm ‘Affān

Rajab 23, 1447 (13-January-2026)

While Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) was still imprisoned, the king of Egypt experienced a dream that Allāh would ultimately use as a means to free Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām), preserving his honor and reputation. Allāh informs us:

وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ سَبْعَ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعَ سُنبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَفْتُونِي فِي رُؤْيَايَ إِن كُنتُمْ لِلرُّؤْيَا تَعْبُرُونَ

And the king (of Egypt) said: “Verily, I saw (in a dream) seven fat cows, which seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry. O notables! Explain to me my dream, if it be that you can interpret dreams.”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 43]

The king was perplexed and anxious, so he sought the interpretation from those around him (i.e., the priests, chiefs, and princes). However, they were unable to provide an explanation. Allāh conveys:

قَالُوا أَضْغَاثُ أَحْلَامٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَأْوِيلِ الْأَحْلَامِ بِعَالِمِينَ | وَقَالَ الَّذِي نَجَا مِنْهُمَا وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ أَنَا أُنَبِّئُكُم بِتَأْوِيلِهِ فَأَرْسِلُونِ

They said: “‘Mixed up false dreams, and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams.’ Then the man who was released (one of the two who were in prison) finally remembered and said: ‘I will tell you its interpretation, so send me forth.’”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verses 44-45]

Claiming that the dreams were “mixed-up false dreams” was merely an excuse to disguise their ignorance of the interpretation. One of the two who had sought Prophet Yūsuf's interpretation while in prison recalled him after Shayṭān caused him to forget. Thus, Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) was contacted. Allah informs:

يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِي سَبْعِ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ لَّعَلِّي أَرْجِعُ إِلَى النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

(He said): “O Yūsuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows, which 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.”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verse 46]

With the knowledge that Allāh had bestowed upon him, he interpreted the dream. Allah informs us:

قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدتُّمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِي سُنبُلِهِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ | ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ سَبْعٌ شِدَادٌ يَأْكُلْنَ مَا قَدَّمْتُمْ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّمَّا تُحْصِنُونَ | ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ عَامٌ فِيهِ يُغَاثُ النَّاسُ وَفِيهِ يَعْصِرُونَ

[Yūsuf (Joseph)] said: “For seven consecutive years, you shall sow as usual, and that (the harvest) which you reap you shall leave in ears, (all) - except a little of it which you may eat. Then will come after that, seven hard (years), which will devour what you have laid by in advance for them, (all) except a little of that which you have guarded (stored). Then, thereafter, will come a year in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will press (wine and oil).”

[Sūrah Yūsuf (12) Verses 47-49]

According to Imām Ibn Kathīr (Raḥimahullāh), Prophet Yūsuf (‘Alayhi Salām) interpreted the cows to represent years, as cows till the land to produce fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the green ears of corn in the dream. He advised them to preserve the harvest from the first seven fertile years except for the amount needed for consumption. He also cautioned them against extravagance, urging them to conserve what remains for the drought years that would follow, represented by the seven lean cows consuming the seven fat cows.

Remember, Allāh says:

وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

“And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance. Certainly, He (Allāh) likes not Al-Musrifūn (those who waste by extravagance).”

[Sūrah Al-A'raf (7): 31]

I beseech Allāh to grant us more goodness. Aameen.