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qāla lā yaʾtīkumā ṭaʿāmun turzaqānihī ʾillā nabbaʾtukumā bi-taʾwīlihī qabla ʾan yaʾtiyakumā dhālikumā mimmā ʿallamanī rabbī ʾinnī taraktu millata qawmin lā yuʾminūna bi-llāhi wa-hum bi-l-ʾākhirati hum kāfirūna
He said, ‘Before the meals you are served come to you I will inform you of its interpretation. That is among things my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I renounce the creed of the people who have no faith in Allah and who [also] disbelieve in the Hereafter.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Yusuf – Verse 37
37. “He said: ‘There shall not come to you the food with which you are fed but I will inform you both of its interpretation before it comes to you. This is of what my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter’.”
In the first part of the verse, it is probable that the Qur’an is hinting that Yusuf said he also knew from the side of Allah what kind of food that would be served to them, and that he could also interpret their dreams just as easily. In this case, the implication would be that in addition to interpreting dreams, Yusuf also knew about other things as well, which he used to foretell. This ability is similar to that of Hadrat Isa (as) who used to read the minds of those around him regarding what they used to eat or what they had stored in their houses.
Question: Why did Hadrat Yusuf (as) not interpret their dreams then and there but postpone their interpretation for later? Fakhr Razi provides the answer to this question as follows:
1. He wanted to make them wait so that he could advise, admonish, and convert them, perhaps that person might believe before his execution.
2. He wanted to build up their confidence by foretelling the kind of food before the food had been served.
3. He wanted to tantalize them so that they would lend their ears more carefully to what he had to say.
4. As the interpretation of one of the dreams was that that person was going to be executed, Yusuf was postponing the issue so that that person might not lose heart too suddenly.
At any rate, Yusuf, who would not miss any opportunity to provide guidance and counseling, made the most of the two prisoners’ requests for the interpretation of their dreams, and used them as a means for introducing and explaining important facts which were helpful not only for their lives, but also for all human beings. At first, in order to build their confidence, he told them that he would tell them the meanings of their dreams before their food had arrived.
The verse says:
“He said: ‘There shall not come to you the food with which you are fed but I will inform you both of its interpretation before it comes to you...”
Then, the faithful and theistic Yusuf, whose whole entity was filled with Monotheism, made it quite clear that this knowledge of interpreting dreams was among those things taught him by Allah and that nothing could take place without His Will. The verse continues saying:
“…This is of what my Lord has taught me...”
To counter any misconception that the Almighty would give anything to anyone without conditions, he added that he had abandoned the way of those who did not believe in Allah and the Day of Resurrection, alluding to the idol worshipping people of Egypt and Kan‘an, and that it was this enlightening faith and virtue which made him deserve such a blessing. The verse says:
“…Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter’.”
The Messages Conveyed in this Verse:
1. In order to impress others more deeply, it is sometimes necessary to show one’s scientific ability and knowledge and one’s perfections and virtues.
2. He who escapes the dark shadows of polytheism, arrives at the enlightenment of knowledge and Truth.
3. Belief in monotheism and resurrection along with other doctrines is a requirement in all religions.
4. The basis of faith rests upon distancing oneself from polytheism and unbelief /tabarri/ and reliance upon the saints of Allah, as is mentioned in the verse quoted above and the next verse, saying:
“…Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people who do not believe in Allah...” “And I have followed the religion of my fathers, ’Ibrahim...”