12:36
Now with him there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: “I see myself (in a dream) pressing wine.” said the other: “I see myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head, and birds are eating, thereof.” “Tell us” (they said) “The truth and meaning thereof: for we see thou art one that doth good (to all).”
The Prison Companions of Prophet Yūsuf and Their Dreams
During his imprisonment, Prophet Yūsuf (Joseph) displayed exemplary character and conduct that deeply impressed those around him. His noble behavior, combined with the spiritual dignity associated with his prophetic status and his remarkable physical beauty, attracted the admiration of fellow prisoners as well as prison authorities. Some reports indicate that even the jailer expressed a sense of reverence toward Yūsuf, suggesting that if he had possessed greater authority, he might have felt hesitant to confine such a distinguished individual.
At some point, two additional prisoners were brought into the prison. According to classical exegetical traditions, these individuals had been implicated in a conspiracy to assassinate the king of Egypt. One of them served as the royal cupbearer responsible for preparing and serving drinks, while the other worked as a baker responsible for preparing bread for the royal household. Both men were allegedly bribed to poison the king. However, the cupbearer later reconsidered his involvement and decided to withdraw from the plot.
When the bread was presented to the king, the cupbearer warned him not to consume it because it had been poisoned. In response, the baker attempted to implicate the cupbearer by cautioning the king not to drink the beverage that had been served. To determine the truth, the king ordered the cupbearer to drink the beverage he had prepared. The cupbearer complied without hesitation and suffered no harm. When the baker was then instructed to eat the bread he had prepared, he refused. The bread was subsequently given to an animal, which died after consuming it. As a result, the king ordered that both men be arrested and detained pending further investigation.
While imprisoned, both men experienced dreams that they found puzzling and significant. One of them—the cupbearer—reported seeing himself pressing grapes to produce wine. The other—the baker—described a dream in which he was carrying bread on his head while birds were eating from it. Recognizing Yūsuf’s reputation for righteousness and wisdom, the two prisoners approached him and requested that he interpret their dreams. They addressed him with respect, stating that they regarded him as a man of upright character and asked him to explain the meaning of their visions.
References:
Madani, Muhammad. Anwar ul Bayan. (vol. 3 p. 64).