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wa-qāla lladhī shtarāhu min miṣra li-mraʾatihī ʾakrimī mathwāhu ʿasā ʾan yanfaʿanā ʾaw nattakhidhahū waladan wa-ka-dhālika makkannā li-yūsufa fī l-ʾarḍi wa-li-nuʿallimahū min taʾwīli l-ʾaḥādīthi wa-llāhu ghālibun ʿalā ʾamrihī wa-lākinna ʾakthara n-nāsi lā yaʿlamūna
The man from Egypt who had bought him said to his wife, ‘Give him an honourable place [in the household]. Maybe he will be useful to us, or we may adopt him as a son.’ Thus We established Joseph in the land and that We might teach him the interpretation of dreams. Allah has [full] command of His affairs, but most people do not know.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yusuf - Verse 21
21. “And he of Egypt who bought him said to his wife: ‘Receive him honorably, maybe he will profit us, or we shall adopt him as a son.’ Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land, and that We might teach him the interpretation of tales (dreams). And Allah is predominant over His affair; but most people do not know.”
The adventurous story of Yusuf and his brothers, which culminated in them throwing him down the bottom of the well, came to an end and a new chapter in the life of this small boy began in Egypt. Yusuf was eventually taken to Egypt and, according to the usual procedure, he was put up for sale. Evidently he was seen as a valuable piece of property and was sold to the ‘Aziz (the Great One) of Egypt who enjoyed a high rank in the Pharaoh’s court, very much like the position of Prime Minister today.
The holy Qur’an implies that the ‘Aziz of Egypt, who had bought him, told his wife to receive Yusuf honorably and not treat him as a slave for he might be useful to them or else they could adopt him as their son. It says:
“And he of Egypt who bought him said to his wife: ‘Receive him honorably, maybe he will profit us, or we shall adopt him as a son.’...”
One can conclude from this sentence that the ‘Aziz had no children and aspired to have one. As soon as his eyes fell upon the beautiful and dignified boy, he was immediately attracted to him and thought that he could fill the role of a son for him. Then the Qur’an in this holy verse continues saying:
“…Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land...”
After that, the verse also adds that this opportunity was made available in order to teach him the interpretation of tales. It says:
“…and that We might teach him the interpretation of tales (dreams)...”
The “interpretation of tales” here signifies the art of interpreting dreams through which Yusuf could have access to any important secret of the future. At the end of the verse, the Qur’an says:
“…And Allah is predominant over His affair; but most people do not know.”