إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَـٰجِدِينَ 4
Translations
[Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me."
Transliteration
Idh qala Yusuf li-abih ya abati inni ra'aytu ahada ashara kawkaban wa ash-shams wa al-qamar ra'aytu-hum li sajidun
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, young Prophet Yusuf recounts his dream to his father Sayyidna Ya'qub, describing eleven stars, the sun, and the moon all prostrating to him. Classical exegetes like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this dream symbolically: the eleven stars represent his eleven brothers, the sun represents his father, and the moon represents his mother, all signifying that Yusuf would attain a position of honor and authority over them. This dream foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of Allah's decree regarding Yusuf's elevated status.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Yusuf, a Meccan chapter that narrates the complete story of Prophet Yusuf with remarkable detail. The context here is the opening of the narrative where Yusuf, as a young boy, shares his divinely-inspired dream with his father. This dream serves as the catalyst for the subsequent trials and tribulations that would eventually lead to Yusuf's elevation in Egypt.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The best stories are those of Yusuf' (Ahsan al-Qasas). Additionally, authentic hadith collections mention that true dreams are among the 46 parts of prophethood, linking Yusuf's dream to divine inspiration.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that divine dreams can carry profound meanings and serve as glimpses into Allah's divine plans for our lives. Young believers should trust in Allah's wisdom even when circumstances seem unclear, knowing that trials and apparent setbacks are often part of a greater divine purpose leading toward honor and success.
Related Ayahs
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَيَسْجُنُنَّهُۥ حَتَّىٰ حِينٍ
Then it appeared to them after they had seen the signs that he [i.e., al-ʿAzeez] should surely imprison him for a time.
يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."
وَجَآءَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ فَدَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُۥ مُنكِرُونَ
And the brothers of Joseph came [seeking food], and they entered upon him; and he recognized them, but he was to them unknown.